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
Doug R and Rattlehead, your ancient fan resume impresses no one. All of KISS is awesome. Every era with any of the other band members made great music. Love all of it. Stay home if you don’t want to celebrate their last tour. By the way, the Alice Cooper analogy is goofy and makes no sense. I will only be upset if TBoz and Chili replace Left Eye in TLC.
Who? What?? Anyway, I actually agree with you, d7, every era of KISS absolutely made great music, all the way up to Sonic Boom! And of course, Carnival Of Souls, ugh! You’re missing the point though, I would’ve supported Tommy & Eric as much as I supported Eric Carr, Vinnie Vincent, Mark St. John, Bruce Kulick, and every other “secret” member of KISS if they were allowed to just be themselves! Think about it.
Dcinsc, you must be new to rock music if you don’t understand the Alice Cooper analogy and if you don’t understand the Ace/Peter character issue. Yes, all of KI$$ is awesome, right before they became a glorified KI$$ tribute band after the first “Farewell” tour.. I can’t look at band pictures with the imposter Spaceman and Catman characters, nor can i support the current version of the band. If you want to support them with your money as you stated in your previous post, then good for you…better your money than mine…
LOL….that was entertaining, on the one hand, you got these guys nitpicking Kiss to death….look, I get it, I would rather see Ace and Peter up there but if I find myself at Kiss’s show, like I did for Sonic Boom and last year’s Chicago Open Air, I’m going to enjoy the moment and appreciate the show….I’ve just been through too much with Paul and Gene to hold a grudge against them….Tommy and Eric work better with them and the music industry has changed since the 80’s and 90’s…..i.e., they couldn’t have gotten away with it then but they have to make a living and I appreciate the free market….and it’s not like Tommy and Eric are disrespecting the brand….. IT IS WHAT IT IS and I can always go into my own personal Kiss trip and put on those classic records and watch vintage Kiss to appreciate what was the best American rock and roll band in history.
Then, you get these slobbering Kiss fans who just blindly follow Paul and Gene like they’ve brainwashed…LOL….
Wow, I am surprised, KISS missed out on a very obvious product they could be selling: KISS Kool Aid.
Hey, Mr. Simmons, if you are reading this, you saw it here it, first. Pay me-LOL!!!
D 🙂
I’ve never been a fan of “Kool-Aid,” but now KISS Rock And Roll Over Cherry Kola? Hell yeah! KISS Destroyer Kola? KISS Army Root Beer? Lick It Up! 😉
Will there be any need for a comment section after KISS is gone ??
Well, the band said they will become a franchise. So, you may have KISS, with Tommy and Eric, and other musicians wearing Gene and Paul’s makeup. So, I am sure there will be plenty of discussion about that topic, if and when, it should ever happen.
I’m not sure exactly what Paul is supposed to say to make some of these commenters happy. He’s now admitted his voice isn’t what it was. People act as if he PURPOSELY sings badly. Should they have called it a day a few tours ago? Probably. But it’s too late now. If you think he’s so bad that you won’t attend the final tour, then don’t attend.
As for “imposters” in Ace and Peter’s makeup and how Paul and Gene are “disrespecting” the band’s legacy, here’s something no one’s actually EVER brought up in the Comments section: Perhaps they’re RESPECTING the iconic nature of the original band by not introducing Ostrich-Boy and Zebra-Man. As for the “all they care about is money” and “KI$$,” if that were actually true, then Paul/Gene were stupid not to introduce new characters for Eric and Tommy because they could’ve made so much more money merchandising two additional characters. Who among you doesn’t want a “collector’s item” Ostrich-Boy Beanie Baby to add to their KISS shrine?
As someone said so brilliantly earlier, will the comments section even be necessary once Paul Stanley – in particular – hangs it up?
That’s ridiculous. Zebra-Man, Beanie Baby, really? Beyond silly. I think Paul & Gene could do better than that, if they wanted to.
They didn’t introduce new characters cuz the band was well established in its career, closer to the band’s ending rather than it’s beginning. It of course was about money and they knew the best business decision was to continue with the established characters, even though it’s blasphemy to many, including me.
Hi All,
Since I am moderating all of these comments, I have a question, would you have been offended if Thayer, and Singer, wore Carr’s Fox and Vincent’s Ankh Warrior makeup, as well? Or would that have been deemed more acceptable?
Because my knowledge is rudimentary, I conferred with the expert, and Eddie told me, Simmons and Stanley own the rights to those images, too. So, they could have easily recycled that makeup, as opposed to the Spaceman and the Catman. Therefore, I am wondering if fans would have been equally outraged, especially since Carr is no longer here?
I suppose the easiest solution would have been to create all new characters or wear no makeup at all? Then again, what do I know?
D 🙂
Bingo! See, Dana gets it, and she’s not even a KISS fan! Like I said earlier, after 2001, KISS should’ve continued unmasked! Or at least, at least came up with a cool, ORIGINAL look for Tommy & Eric. Not something stupid or corny like RTunes was referring to, something like they did before with The Fox, or even The Ankh Warrior for Carr & Vincent. They could’ve even had a KISS Army members only contest, – “create and design the new KISS characters,” good idea, huh? I think it would’ve worked, and it would’ve prevented and avoided all this controversy, unless that’s what they wanted??
Dana, IMO, any new band members should get their own characters. That may not be the best business decision to promote the band. but it think it’s the right credible and moral decision.
Tobias Forge of Ghost got it right…..dress up all the musicians the same and keep their identities nameless. This way, when musicians are replaced, nobody knows the difference.
Very smart decision by Tobias Forge, indeed.
D 🙂
The original Kiss isn’t going to mean as much to someone who wasn’t there…I was so it means more to me but I am able to appreciate that and then see this for what it is; Singer as the Fox and Tommy as the Ankh warrior would’ve been a bad move for Kiss….as would new characters….as would no makeup….Gene and Paul have all of the aspects of Kiss in their arsenal and it would be foolish for them not to use them….just like it would be foolish for any of us to hold back anything we have that will help us. Eric and Tommy are up there playing their asses off; those guys deserve to be up there even though it is painful that it isn’t the original lineup but I went through this once with Paul and Gene when Kiss split up the first time so I look at it more from who’s in the band than the makeup and costumes….the Beatles comparison is a good one because Paul and Gene wouldn’t accept the Beatles without George and Ringo but they expect us to accept this version of Kiss but then again, the Beatles weren’t around this long, weren’t in this market where it’s standard practice now for bands to make changes and tour and didn’t already go through lineup changes. I.e., with all of the tribulations that Kiss has already weathered where they’re still standing, I have to respect that over whatever personal issues I have with the original lineup not being up there…and in a way it makes me appreciate what I have with Kiss even more because I was there and I know how magical that was….and these young fans do not. 🙂
The reason they spend a hour every night putting makeup on and getting into uncomfortable costumes is to sell more concert tickets/ merchandise , period !
Instead of retiring the makeup with some dignity in 2000/2001
Its not about the music or respect for the magic that was created by those 4 members.
Its all about the money.
The ostrich and ,beanie baby spin has already been used by Stanley 15 years ago .
As well as : “Ace and Peter sold the rights to the makeup”
As well as : ” Maybe Kiss will continue when Gene and I retire ” ( an excuse to make it seem ok to dress up other guys in Ace and Peter’s makeup) I can guarantee you if Paul or Gene were not able to play/sing Stanley/Simmons would NEVER have found a replacement for themselves.
Noooo, I understand the Alice Cooper analogy. I’m saying it’s goofy and nonsensical. You seem to really hate the band with your vitriolic insults. I question if you are truly a fan. I think you liked them when you were a kid, and then you just changed your musical tastes as you got older. And yes, I will loyally spend my money supporting the greatest band in the world KISS!
d7, not sure if you’re referring to me or my brother, Rattlehead, either way, WHAT INSULTS?? What are you reading? And don’t talk to me about loyalty and being a real fan, between the new solo albums vinyl box set, KISS candles, KISS Kolas AND root beer, I’ve already spent over another grand on KISS this year! Sh-t, merchandise, music (in every format) over 100 concerts, in my lifetime since 1974 I know I have spent over 60-70 grand on KISS and I still listen to their music all the time! So don’t question me about being a fan!
Dcinsc, are you really Paul Stanley? It’s either that, or you’re a newbie fan, or you drank the Kool Aid. And nobody’s insulting the band! Those iconic characters created by the original members made them more than a band… they created heroes!
Doug why would you get that vinyl when it’s harvested from hard drives? I got a Motorhead record and some New York Dolls recently that were from hard drives and they sound terrible…I have the original pressings…the first Hotter Than Hell, Alive, Dressed to Kill and Destroyer, Dynasty… all of the solo albums….you are wasting your money.