Three Sides Of The Coin, a KISS talk show, co-hosted by Michael Brandvold (of Michael Brandvold Marketing), Mitch Lafon (rock journalist) and Tommy Sommers recently celebrated their 50th episode with special guest, Eddie Trunk. For over two and a half hours, the four delved into Trunk’s start in the music business at Megaforce Records, the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame, his love and support of influential guitar hero Ace Frehley, his thoughts about the current KISS line-up, his sometimes shaky relationship with KISS frontman Paul Stanley and much more.
“There will be, very soon, a version of KISS with no original members,” muses Trunk about the band’s near future. “Nobody went to a KISS show in the ‘70s and said ‘I hope I catch a guitar pick from Spaceman tonight’. It was ‘I can’t wait for Ace’s guitar to smoke,’ stated Trunk about the band’s current branding. ‘It didn’t say bass by the Demon on KISS – Alive! It said Gene Simmons. They were the people,” added Trunk emphatically. When speaking of his personal relationship with affable KISS icon, Paul Stanley, Trunk declared, “Paul has always been hot and cold with me.” As for Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer, Trunks says, “they are great musicians. I have no problem with Tommy and Eric. I don’t begrudge them at all for doing this.” Voicing his opinion on the different line-up changes, Trunk throws out, “I’ll never forget hearing Animalize for the first time, I was like ‘Oh, my God – KISS has a shredder in the band (Mark St. John)’ and it was exciting because it was different. That, to me, made line-up changes exciting,” and adds, “one of the beautiful things about being a KISS fan, I think, is that throughout their whole history every record was a different turn. Unmasked was a power-pop record, The Elder was a concept record, Creatures (Of The Night) was an all out metal record; whether or not you like these records is irrelevant. They took these different turns. You had all these different variations.” As for KISS’ being included on the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame’s ballot this year, Trunk says clearly that, “as KISS fans we have fought the perception for years that KISS is nothing, but a manufactured joke that can’t play their instruments or write songs. What’s offensive to me is that we’re here over ten years after they first became eligible and still trying to figure out if they should get in. They should have gone in the first time they were eligible.”
Watch the full interview below.
59 Responses
Hi Eddie thank you for your interview at 3 Sides.I appreciate the time you spent explaining your point of view,some of your history with KISS. What I truly appreciate more is that your OK with people not having the same views as you and you don’t hate current members.I’ve been a KISS fan for a real long time,I’d be lying to myself and others if I said I agree with every decision the band has made.I may not be as vocal as you are,but being vocal is your job not mine.
Par for the course on this one for Eddie. As usual, he speaks out of both sides of his mouth. In one breath, he says he doesn’t have a problem with anyone liking the current band, in the next, he’s calling people “blind followers”.
You can read into things any way you want, while missing the entire point. You can like whatever you want! Blind followers are those that just buy hook line and sinker every statement and thing any band does and never have a differing opinion or question it. Get it? And if that’s what you are then great to. I prefer to express honest objective opinions
Eddie, sorry if I missed your point. There is no way I agree with everything Paul and Gene do, but it’s their band and their career and I’m not going to lose sleep over the stuff they do that I don’t like. Would I prefer Tommy and Eric were their own characters? Absolutely. Does having them in Pete and Ace’s makeup keep me from being a fan? No. If the makeup is so sacred, then why did Pete and Ace sell the right’s to it? Isn’t this makeup “saga” part their fault? And one thing I will disagree with you on. There is no such thing as an objective opinion. Any opinion is “filtered” through yours or my personal belief system before we write it or state it. So, there’s nothing at all objective about that.
I agree with you Lee. Trunk does speak out of both sides of his mouth, always has. One minute he’ll say, “oh I’m not an Ace and Peter guy and I hate when people say that.” The next minute he’ll say that he’s been friends with Ace and Peter a long time. He’s never been honest and objective about Peter or Ace’s solo work. He either says positive things, or says nothing at all. (i.e Peter’s solo album, All For One) There’s nothing positive about this album at all. Peter’s vocals are horrific. Ace’s latest solo album, Anomaly, had a couple of good songs, but a few embarassments as well. Let’s hear the “honest objective” opinions about these issues. I’d have more respect for you if you were just honest about it and said, “Ace and Peter are my friends and that’s why I’m not critical of their work, or their drug/alcohol issues.” Nobody likes to be critical of their friends. That’s just human nature. Oh and to say things like, “my door is always open to Paul and Gene” so we can “sit down like men and discuss these issues,” is very condescending. Why should Paul and Gene even take the time to sit down with you and discuss anything? You seem to have this delusional notion that you are more important than you really are, and that your show has more significance than CNN, MSNBC, or FOX News. And yes, you’ve been doing this for 30 years, I know. You found your niche and made a career out of it. I get it. But then again, what competition did you have? None.
So many factual things wrong with your post I wouldn’t even know where to begin. Clearly NO idea of my history and what I have said or done on ALL sides of Kiss world. Stunning when people only hear what they want. And to you I assume Kiss has never done wrong? And honestly the only reason I care if they do my shows is because their FANS ask for it! Remember, it’s all about the FANS! But instead of a true discussion of their career I assume you prefer a giggling news anchor asking a couple softball questions about the latest album? I don’t think my shows are bigger than cable news, I DO think FANS would probably prefer an hour interview vs 60 seconds crammed between world events. Oh yeah, I never had competition in 30 years?.. Wow, amazing! Buy and believe what you want
As usual, you sidestep the points I make about Peter and Ace’s solo efforts. I understand. No need to piss off your friends.
Side step?? Did you not hear me say Second Sighting was awful? And I CO PRODUCED IT! Amazing…
Lee, if there is one person who never talks out of both sides of his mouth, it is Eddie Trunk. Eddie is simply an honest guy who never backs down from simply speaking his mind. That is the greatness of Eddie. That is why he has a long and successful career. He has no interest in stirring the pot but simply expressing his honest opinion when asked a question about Kiss. We’re all individuals who have different takes on the history of Kiss – including lineups and albums. The problem is is that you, like many, do not actually Listen to the facts before speaking. In this case, you heard what you wanted to hear and run with it. Some people, who essentially blindly follow Kiss, have issues with Eddie because he says something you don’t like. Eddie doesn’t care for following the current lineup but doesn’t care either if others do. His comment about blind followers had nothing to do with the current lineup but about those who misinterpret anything Eddie says and twist into something completely false. That is what you did. If you can’t be objective, you probably shouldn’t make any comments.
Ritch……If you are giving your opinion (your view of things), then how can it be objective?
Talk about drinking the kool-aid.
Rich is the perfect example of a blind follower of Eddie “the fraud” Trunk.
Rich, you can’t say ‘we’re all individuals who have different takes’, and then slam Mr. Staples for his take. A little ludicrous if you ask me. I think Eddie’s take is a valid one, and Lee’s is just as valid. KISS is a very polarizing band which people love or hate, and Paul and Gene love it that people still talk about them, regardless of their feelings. But Lee’s point is valid. Gene and Paul get demonized (no pun intended) for what happened with Ace and Peter. Well guess what, Ace and Peter weren’t totally innocent in what has happened. But they’re sure enjoying the martyr roll that they’ve acclimatized themselves to. I’ve heard Eddie slam Gene and Paul, and also heard him talk about the fact that Ace and Peter sold their rights to the band and he’s credited Gene and Paul for keeping it going all these years. I get both sides of the argument. Bottom line, just like any other band that has replacements (VH, Sabbath, etc.), you can enjoy it or not listen to it. But those who enjoy the current lineup shouldn’t be ridiculed as blind followers (sorry Eddie). Its music dude…enjoy.
Best kiss talk ive ever heard….great fun thanx eddie !!
That was fantastic the best 3 sides yet.
Eddie trunk thank you !!
Thought the 3 Sides interview was great. I’ve heard most of your thoughts on Trunk Nation before, but great to hear it all in a 2 hour KISS fest! Actually the early Ace stories with MegaForce was new to me and awesome to finally hear some details about. My take has always been “this KISS is better than no KISS,” but I can respect your opinion on the current KISS. Monster took several listens for me to “get,” but I truly do like it now. Give another listen to some of the songs like “Take Me Down Below,” “Freak,” and “All for the Love of Rock & Roll.” Keep up the good work and hope to hear you on 3 Sides again. See you in Houston next year!
Hey Eddie- great interview with the 3 Sides guys. I’ve known one of them for about 25 years, and I thought he was the biggest Kiss fan ever, then I heard about your friendship with Ace and Peter, and the interaction with Paul and Gene. That distinction belongs to you. I wholeheartedly agree with you on the current state of Kiss. It would be very difficult for me to sit through a show. Makes me glad that I saw a bunch of shows during the reunion days in the ’90s. I love That Metal Show and I’m eagerly awaiting new episodes. I hope to hear more of you on 3 Sides of the Coin.