Brian Hiatt of Rolling Stone reports:
Paul Stanley joined the latest episode of the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast to talk in depth about Kiss’ just-announced End of the Road world tour (which they’ve said will mark the end of their touring career) and much more. Highlights from the interview appear below.
On the End of the Road really being their farewell tour, as opposed to their 2000 tour being dubbed a “farewell tour.”:
“Let’s put it into perspective and try to at least get a sense of what’s different. The farewell tour took place 19 years ago. The farewell tour was at the end of the time that we had brought back the two original members [guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss] and it was such drudgery and so difficult and so unhappy that it just seemed like ‘let’s put the horse down.’ And after the tour was over, it didn’t take me very long to realize I didn’t want to say goodbye to the band; I wanted to say goodbye to two members. So that was the differences. We’ve had 19 years of the band. The band has never been better, happier… But with all that in mind, it’s time to think about an end.”
Discussing the possibility of guest appearances by former members:
“I really can’t say. This will be a celebration of KISS and not any individual lineup or any individual members. I wouldn’t rule anything out but it’s not the crux of what we’re doing… and I’m not being coy either. I don’t want to mislead anybody, really that’s not something that’s been given a lot of thought at this point, the majority of our time has gone into what is the stage going to be, what is the show going to be, and we’re actually in the midst of toying with setlists now.”
Stanley responded to the odd swipe Simmons took at him, regarding his singing voice, onstage in Australia:
“Look, Gene and I have been together, I think, 47 years or something around that. He’s out having a great time. He’s doing these – most of them are free concerts, and when he charges tickets they don’t sell a lot of tickets –and I’m sure he’s trying to keep it light for the couple hundred people or whatever, and that’s great. I was just with Gene, obviously, day before yesterday and we have a bond that is enviable…You do come to terms over time with your own mortality, and every singer that I know, probably the first thing we all say to each other is, you know, ‘is this becoming tougher for you?’.. I’ve been doing a lot recently to make sure that my voice is in great form. [But] if you want to hear me sound like I did on KISS Alive!, then put on KISS Alive! “
To listen to the entire podcast with Paul Stanley, please click here.
source: rollingstone.com
56 Responses
My God, what a pathetic excuse regarding the complete loss of his voice. Of course, all these great voices will change over the years, but there are many out out there (e.g. Roger Daltrey, who is about 5 years older, or Jon Anderson of Yes) who still have a singing! (as oppsoed to: croaking, shouting, talking) voice – he does not. Also, “toying around with setlists” … it has been the same 20 odd songs for two decades now, are we really going to expect major surprises here? So, will it take months to find a definitive setlist??? Moreover, I do think that when you announce such a major event, let alone the last major event in such a band’s history, you WILL have a clear and detalled idea of what’s it going to be – who is in and who is not, who will be part of it, what kind of production it will be, you will start negotiating contracts all over the world with concert promoters and finding suitable venues, evaluating how big these should or could be, etc etc. BEFORE you go out and and announce it to the public. These things take a long preparation time, venues of that kind are booked in advance for many months or even years. Also, he could not even let this one opportunity go to again bash Peter and Ace for causing that “drudgery” back then, not one interview in which he leaves that topic untouched. Pathetic and lame. Must be strange and sad things going on in his mind that he has to justify himself over and over again. Also, he clearly shows that from the early 2000s on he has thought of Kiss as his band (“I didn’t want, I …, I …”) So unless they don’t come up with some major additions in terms of stage production (which was rather lame on the last few tours) and members, this last tour will not be as great as they like to annouce it to be.
well said indeed!!!!
Disagree.
Sounds reasonable to me. People who think his voice might ruin the show for them should check out some rec3nt footage on youtube and decide based on that.
I saw them a few years ago and will probably go again if they come to my town.
I’m OK with KISS continuing on after the 2000 farewell tour, but replacing Ace & Peter with another Ace & Peter was a mistake. Tommy & Eric should’ve been allowed to be themselves! Paul is right though on his singing voice, if you want to hear him sound like he did on “KISS Alive!,” then put on “KISS Alive!,” just don’t lip-sync! I’d rather hear Gene sing “100,000 Years” then see Paul lip-sync!
I think it funny how Paul takes an underhanded swipe at Gene with his comments about attendance at Gene’s concerts….
While it’s noticeable Paul’s voice isn’t as strong as it once was, neither are the voices of other aging singers. I think the voices of Tate, Hetfield, and Mustaine aren’t as strong either. Did these guys’ stay too long at the party, too? Yeah, they probably all did, including Paul. But they are still out there, entertaining audiences, and making money doing it. So, as long as there is a dollar to be made, of course they are going to go on.
But with Paul and KI$$, you get a visual stage show. And I think that is one of the primary reasons fans attend KI$$ concerts, not Paul’s vocal ability.
Oh, and I just have to get my dig in….it’s a shame that Tommy and Eric aren’t allowed to be their own characters/identities. Nobody should be allowed to impersonate the original Spaceman and Catman. Again, like my bro Doug R. so eloquently stated “It’s one thing replacing band members. It’s a whole other thing replacing legends!”. There, I’m done…. :o)
I was at Metallica a few weeks ago and Hetfield sounded great; not one bit of slippage and Ulrich is probably using triggers but he still had to play that whole set and he didn’t have any conditioning issues either.
On to Paul Stanley who sees himself as Paul Stanley.
WOW,
I WAS GOING TO SEE THIS LAST SHOW , NOW I’LL JUST PUT ON KISS ALIVE …THANKS PAUL , YOU JUST SAVED ME A GAZILLION DOLLARS AND SAVED MY EARS FROM THAT HORRIFIC SOUND COMING OUT OF YOUR PIEHOLE THAT I THINK IS SUPPOSED TO BE SINGING…….