I’ve seen SO many comments about Ace & Peter reuniting at my party, Kiss (as usual), the R&R Hall and Gene’s comments about Ace & Peter not playing, and more. Last night on the radio show had MANY calls on the topic with many opinions. I welcome all opinions as usual if based in some level of reality and not just blind worshipers one way or the other that drink the Kool Aid they are served. The biggest question I have heard from many is why would Gene & Paul (Gene most recently) continue to talk about what fuck ups these guys are (he hasn’t played with them in over ten years), talk about them being drunk or on drugs (both have been sober for many years now), and say they can’t play at a Hall induction when Kiss has not even been inducted yet (no matter how you feel, that is just INSANE!). The answer is simple. Gene is the ultimate salesman. He prides himself on this, that is no secret. His job is to sell THIS Kiss. Just like it was to sell all the other lineups when that was happening. Explains why he will tell you THIS Kiss is bigger than anything, when in reality they CO HEADLINE tours with Motley Crue instead of HEADLINING arenas in the US. Explains why he takes subtle shots about Ace & Peter doing signing shows, when he and Paul sell signed played guitars to fans after shows. Not a huge difference from what I see? But it’s about selling whatever he is doing and Kiss is doing now, which will soon be a sanctioned Kiss tribute with no original members. And who knows, that might be a pretty good band. Many will say the same old “Eddie is just backing up his friends, only cares about the original band”. Yes Ace & Peter are friends and did an amazing thing playing together for me recently. But I’m more just trying to offer some balance and objectivity as a lifelong Kiss fan myself, who HAS supported and loved all the replacement members and lineups. I simply chose not to support what they have been doing lately because the impersonation rubs me (and MANY others who won’t say it) the wrong way. That’s my huge sin to some I guess, so be it.
The real reason these barbs in the press from them continue at Ace & Peter is because they know the avalanche that would happen if they ever played with them again from fans and the media. Example? I was at the 1996 MTV Unplugged taping. Then they were all about the non makeup lineup with Singer and Kulick. That’s what they were selling then. When Ace & Peter came out for a brief appearance on a couple songs the entire crowd went nuts. From the second they stepped on that stage the electricity was insane, and they knew they had no choice but to go back to that band no matter how hard they were selling the Singer/Kulick band and about to release a new album with them. I felt a very similar energy in the crowd when Ace & Peter walked out on stage together at my event last Wednesday, right down to the ear to ear smiles from every fan and musician in the building! So I see it as a big defense mechanism by Gene & Paul. They know another reunion, even for a song, would ignite a huge fire once again. For the record I do NOT think there should be another original Kiss reunion. For a couple songs at a long overdue Hall induction, for sure! But for a tour, no way. I don’t think ANY of the original members could deliver enough of a high energy show to do the legacy justice at this stage. As I have said MANY times the current Kiss can and should do whatever they want. The fact that it’s not for me doesn’t matter. If you are cool with it enjoy what’s left of it. But the idea of the original band FINALLY getting into the Hall (and I must stress they were nominated before and passed over once already, so NOT a done deal!) and Ace & Peter not being invited and welcome to at least play a song or two would be a travesty to even the most hardcore Kiss fan. I look forward to your comments.
173 Responses
ET, first of all lets not make the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame a legitimate organization. You have said several times on TMS and your radio shows that the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame does not deserve our respect. I do agree that Gene is out of line with his sales tactics at the expense of Ace and Peter. However, we have to appreciate what Ace and Peter are doing now even though it does not involve world tours or heavily produced stage acts. True fans know the real story of KISS and the contributions from the original members. I guess it’s tough to sometimes control our emotions since we are such passionate fans, but I guess the thrust of my message here is to not legitimize the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and respect Ace and Peter’s clean bills of health.
Regardless if we like it or not the R&R Hall IS the institution for this music at the moment. Many have NO IDEA so many iconic bands are NOT in already. That’s why I call attention to it. Thanks
“WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE 1ST ANNUAL EDDIE TRUNK ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HALL OF FAME!! FOR REAL BANDS, REAL ARTISTS AND VOTED FOR COMPLETELY BY THE PEOPLE WHO MATTER: THE FANS!!!” PLEASE WELCOME YOUR HOST……..EDDIE TRUNK!!!”
Come on Ed, you know you want to do it!!!! Then all those bands that get ignored….stop getting ignored.
Plus, it could be a great way of helping the RJD charity. Example: “Tickets cost $20 each, $5 goes to RJD charity. Attendance for the event is say 5,000, charity makes $25,000.” Not even Gene Simmons would think of this!!! (I mean, giving money away!!)
I might just have to start putting this idea around!!
P.S: “As I have given you this great idea which I know you really want to do, I have first refusal in inducting Black Sabbath…..And I’m not refusing!!!
I have been working on it, still am..
Eddie, I hope you will at least consider the side I choose to take by still loving and enjoying this band. Again I respect you and what you do for genre. i adore Ace and Peter as well as Eric and Tommy. To me a band is a team..much like say a football team..Drew Pearson and Michael IRvin wore star on their helmet and#88 . This doesn’t make Dez Bryant an impersonator of Irvin.. I respect each original member designed their own makeup but misled or not both Ace and Peter surrendered their rights to that make up. I look at the 4 designs as uniforms and hallowed Kiss tradition…war paint of all Kiss embodies for us fans to love and escape withi Eric’s 16 yrs with band and drum style even in Cat makeup does not IMPERSONATE Peter,claim he is Peter and never has Gene or Paul tried to say he was. If Tommy only Impersonated Ace why live does Tommy play part of solo behind his head like he did with Black n Blue?..that’s not an Ace trait live! Tommy guitar doesn’t smoke and catch fire live..shoots rockets yes but not the other out of respect to Ace. I don’t drink the “koolaid”..I love ALL KIss past and present. Paul n Gene deserve credit for keeping band going 40yrs. I respect all of you guys..just consider the fans that can acc
I respect all opinions and you are entitled to how you feel of course. But your comparison to football and makeup design doesn’t work at all for me. But appreciate all feedback. Thanks
If an athlete makes a particularly important contribution to the history of a team, don’t they often retire his number? That’s what should’ve happened with Ace and Peter’s make-up. Peter IS the Catman and Ace IS the Spaceman – anyone else wearing that make-up is just an impersonator, period. These are personas, not characters, and seeing a rock’n’roll band perform shouldn’t feel like you’re watching a play with actors performing roles. Eddie, as many others have pointed out, you’re 100% correct about what Kiss has become (and believe it or not, I’ve been a Kiss fan even longer than you). Keep up the good work, Eddie.
Eddie…more so than ok the football uniform battle gear comment….I meant more emphasis on my cited performance traits live by Tommy and Eric…not EVERYTHING they do are exactly Ace or Peter Like..exampl..Tommy doing behind head soloing,Eric style of showmanship….that’s all I’m saying and TOMmy and Eric themselves respect Ace and Peter as I do…my earlier posts that in my opinion..tommy and especially Eric after 16urs don’t have to paint themselves differently for me to appreciate them as musicians as well..again I love and respect you Eddie and all you do for the best genre in music..God Bless u Eddie
I for one am enjoying the Kool Aid. My favorite band is still touring and putting out good music (my opinion) forty years later. I would never say Id rather have the current incarnation over the original. But the original KISS is long since dead and I got over that long ago. They tried to reunite for the rather lame Psycho Circus . Monster and Sonic were both better as well as most of the albums with Bruce and Eric were better. To me it’s about the music. I didn’t like tommy and Eric in the make up, but I am over that. The make up is secondary for me. I am very thankful KISS did not go away when Ace and peter left. No, they are not the huge band they were in 1977, but they are still doing pretty well. Not bad for one of the most dis-respected bands of all time. Long live KISS. They have survived drug abuse, alcohaulism, numerous car crashes, drownings etc…..As far as the HOF goes, who cares . It is a joke. Yes ,I do hope the original four perform if they are chosen. But, I think we will see LL Cool J instead.
I like Psycho Circus way more than either of the last two albums, and it’s NOT because the original band played on it, because guess what, they didn’t outside of one song! way better songs and production in my view despite the fact that Kiss themselves bash it when selling their latest albums.
The title cut alone on Psycho Circus had the thunder that was reminscent of earlier classics. The rest of the album, especially Ace’s Into The Void was also pretty damn good. As for Gene, I thought We Are One was pretty catchy, and even Peter’s underrated ballad I Finally Found My Way to You though fruity, was a decent enough ballad that could have been a live showcase for him. As for recent albums, they’ve been way spottier, with some high points (Modern Day Delilah, Hell or Hallelujiah, Freak), but a lot of generic stuff. The thing is, back in their classic period, let’s say anything from Kiss through Love Gun, they might not have been Einstein’s at the pen, but at least they weren’t generic sounding. They had a grittier feel and rocking edge that wasn’t overproduced, and was well played. The early classics stand up. The did put out some solid songs after that, but most go under the category of guilty pleasures. The title cut on Psycho Circus to me at least was a startling return to form that they rarely reached after their glory period (I’ll give them Creatures of the Night cuts like Rock ‘n Roll Hell, title Cut, I Still Love You, I love it Loud, some of Revenge (Unholy), but largely they were phoning it on. Anyway, long story short, I wouldn’t be so quick to bash Psycho Circus when the song and most of the album came the closest to their glory years than anything after them.
Eddie, what was the one song they actually all played on ?
Into The Void only songs with all 4 originals
I’m guessing that’s the only song with Peter drumming, and I assumed it was all 4 on the title cut (Psycho Circus). Was it Ace on guitar or Peter on drums on the title cut, or neither of the 2 of them? My guess is Ace, but I can be wrong. Either way, it’s too bad, when they actually reconvened, on their reunion tour, and put out a new studio album, “Psycho Circus”, that it wasn’t a true reunion in the studio, though album turned out OK. I guess that makes Love Gun in ’77 the last album with all 4 throughout as by Dynasty, Peter’s drumming was limited to “Dirty Livin” (underrated song I feel).
Eddie, you are so disingenuous. Right or wrong, you take the side of anyone that is willing to do your show.
Right, that’s how I made it on media for 30 years? That’s why I took the side of Sabbath when Bill Ward DID come on? I take a stand for what I believe always! And just an FYI, if some run from my shows because they can’t stand up to a tough question or an educated interviewer about the topic that kind of says it all…
I agree….Psycho Circus is way better than both Sonic Boom and Monster !
“You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best”
“Into the Void”
title track “Psycho Circus”
i say for the record ace the spaceman was designed by ace himself as its part of him and his love for space/science fiction and all…same way with peter the catman.. its cheapened when these guys in kiss today try to mimic it right down to certain solo’s ace put in alive 1 here’s tommy throwing in his two cents , it just cheapens the whole experience . personally i would like to ask paul how would he love led zepplin today ( which i understand he admires as influence) if they where a different singer replacing robert plant or jimmy page , i seriously doubt he would attend the show..point is no one would want to see led zepplin any other way.. thats my take on kiss in makeup and makeup years only…but for the record eric carr i loved, he did have his on makeup and he was perfect fit for kiss with his makeup with ace…period.. but yeah when kiss did reunion back in 96 they ruled the world on that lineup, i don’t see any think close to that today …i saw kiss over 10 times on that tour and they didn’t have no problems selling them out..no major bands on those bills either i can recall…but today kiss plays co headliners with crue come’on face the facts …that’s my take on it
The worst thing i’ve seen is Eric chewing gum during Black Diamond .
Now we could argue that Eric was just chewing gum. Whats wrong with that ?
Or ,
We could assume that Gene & Paul wanted Eric to chew gum during that song.
I dont know if Peter always chewed gum but i have plenty of video showing that from back in the day .
I also dont know if they have Eric chewing the gum each night during Black Diamond. I just saw video that he was…
OMG! He chewed gum during Black Diamond!? That’s horrible! Good thing he didn’t get a blow job from his lead guitarist…. oh, wait….that did happen, but that was a different drummer.
It was kind of Peter’s trademark look to be chewing gum during certain songs.
Master Gene didn’t have puppet Eric doing it the first few years but then fine tuned the replicating of Peter for Eric to do it too. Pretty pathetic but hey, it pay’s better then the Cooper gig !!
You can read it on page 121 , line’s 3 and 4 of Eric’s contract.
Ahhhh yes it’s one big conspiracy. Or maybe, just maybe, chewing gum helps to keep the mouth moist when a person sings.