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
Hey Eddie. It was great to hear you on the 3 Sides podcast. I listn to that podcast every Tuesday when they post a new one. I also listen to both of your radio shows every week, so everything you said I’ve heard you say before on your radio shows. But, it was still a great interview and I’m glad you did it. Take care, my friend.
Agreed Todd. There wasn’t anything discussed that Eddie hasn’t talked about elsewhere, however, it was great to have him on ‘Three Sides’… I’m sure he enjoyed simply talking with TRUE Kiss fans as opposed to just being “interviewed”. In any event, yes, it was their best show yet. Congratulations ‘Three Sides’ on your 50th episode. Thank you Eddie for taking part in it!
What a great podcast! Enjoyed every minute of it, I may even say it eas too short! Lots of topics and great perspective from each one of you
Way to go, ET! Love it. Glad you went on this show, since Mike B. is also a good friend, and we all are big fans of KISS. I’m glad you laid it all on the line.
Thoroughly enjoyed your appearance on 3 Sides of the Coin today! Always a pleasure! I’m sure your comments will get a mixed reaction (as always), which is a good thing!!! Thanks, Eddie!!!
Gene & Pail want a Vegas residency “Jersey Boys” and touring “Jersey Boys” Kiss story. They saw the massive numbers and know actor-musicians or just actors will make them serious loot with not a single Kiss member. Wenner hates Kiss, that’s why no HOF. He has it with Ronstadt too. He can’t let Moody Blues in cause their producer has it with Yoko fierce. Everything is through Wenner.