KISS' Tommy Thayer: my top 6 tips for guitarists
The Spaceman talks tone, technique and rocket launchers
Introduction
�As a matter of fact, I�m driving to rehearsal right now,� begins KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer. �We start in about an hour so I�ll tell the guys I spoke to MusicRadar, who say we need to mix the setlist up haha!�
Tommy Thayer and his bandmates are preparing for their European run this May, laughing off any pressure over fitting over four decades of rock �n� roll mastery into just under two hours. The guitarist has learned a thing or two from founding members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley since joining the veterans in 2002�
�There has to be a balance of classics,� he continues. �Everyone wants to hear Detroit Rock City, Rock And Roll All Nite, Shout It Loud, etc, but it�s nice to include songs that go a little deeper or are a little less well-known. You can�t go too far with that because then suddenly you�ll lose the energy that the concert�s been building up. If 90% of people don�t know the song, it kinda kills the excitement levels. We have to keep that in mind and come up with the right order of tracks.�