Last night we posted a story in the news section that was sent to me via Twitter about Kiss replacing Gene and Paul and continuing on with a band of no original members. We later found out the original story was from 2008. While the haters will just attack and say it was calculated to further some insane anti – Kiss agenda (love how I am so anti Kiss and STILL PLAY ALL THEIR MUSIC, too funny!), I left it up for two reasons. One the amount of differing opinions on this generated in comments was interesting and ALL views were posted, and two this is still the plan and closer than ever to happening! If this is what they were planning 6 years ago it is really just around the corner now! Clearly the way they do it might be altered but this is still happening and the band has discussed it in the press even recently. So nothing has changed except for it is more imminent! I am hearing maybe two years away from launching at this point with the current (Gene and Paul) band having maybe one more run left after the current tour. What was stunning about this is how many saw it as major news they never heard? This has been talked about and discussed for a long time by Gene and Paul. So no mater where you fall on it I decided to leave it up because I found ALL sides of the reaction interesting and posted ALL response to it. Unlike some I respect and appreciate all opinions and they are represented here as well as my radio and TV shows. But to see this as some crazy dated story that is no longer the plan is not the case. Some may want to live in some fantasy land but all our heroes are getting older (so are we!) and how they handle the end of their careers will be interesting. Who really retires, who stuck around too long, who does bands with no original members. All good debate and all welcome here.
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177 Responses
Eddie,
Gene and Paul talked about this in Guitar World this year. It was pre-HOF and they were on the cover I think.
Talked about it constantly! Most stunning thing is how many don’t know this is coming down! THEY say it, I get accused of making shit up! Can only laugh..
I see Gene and Paul’s mind set with this. It’s like a pro sports team. Twenty years ago no team had the same players, the players change with time, but wear the same uniform, and carry on the same banner. Still, it’s not the same. When players on a sports team change, the dynamics of the team change, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. KISS has had it’s ups and downs through the years with just a handful of members outside of the original four. None will ever have the magic of the original, especially for those that grew up with the band in their early years.
For me, this would be like another KISS Tribute band. If none of the original members are there, it would be something I might want to see on occasion, but not every time they would come around (provided they were a touring band like KISS is now).
I have some questions about this as well. If Gene and Paul would be gone and there were two new members along with Tommy and Eric, who would actually be running the show? I’m guessing Gene and Paul would be behind the scenes, but if this is to continue beyond their lives, who would be in charge of quality control once they’re gone? Would it have the massive amount of money invested in it to continue with a great stage show that would continue to evolve with new technology? Would new costumes be designed every couple years or would it become a run down memory lane with old era costumes and stage sets? If the band continued, would they record new music? Finally if Tommy and Eric did not stick with it and it became basically a tribute band, one would have to wonder how much of a revolving door of musicians there would be.
Tribute bands do draw, but I cannot see a band without any original members being a fraction of the draw KISS is today or was in the past. In a fantasy world it would be great to see a world with KISS lasting forever, but in reality I don’t know that it would be the power house we know as KISS today or KISS in the 70’s…
I’d consider seeing the current Kiss if Tommy & Eric weren’t impersonating Ace & Peter, but looks like I won’t get that chance. And if Gene & Paul do indeed leave at some point but keep the band going, I don’t see it lasting that long. I could be wrong, but it’s hard for me to see it continuing without any original members.
I’ve always believed the KISS franchise will outlive all of us, and that the band would continue without Gene ad Paul. That’s the type of entertainment model they’ve created, and the characters and music are truly larger than life and strong enough to sustain the brand. It’s nice to see that the majority of fans agree with this viewpoint! And hey, whether it’s Elway or Manning under center, I’m still a Broncos fan!
Ron, I listened to that Steeler the other day and it is either the greatest rock and roll album I’ve ever heard or it’s the worst, I can’t tell…but it does have its edge. Like your solo stuff though, you and Dubrow had that screaming in key thing going.
Eddie,
What worries me is there is no one who can actually take Paul’s
or Gene’s places. Someone will, but the music will suffer. I think Sonic Boom and Monster are great albums. It’s one thing to replace members over a long period of time—but all at once? I don’t see how this can work.