TWISTED SISTER FRONTMAN DEE SNIDER SAYS KISS ARE INSULTING FANS WITH REPLACEMENT MEMBERS
Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider think KISS are making a terrible mistake by presenting new members in the classic makeup worn by founding members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. Particularly, Tommy Thayer, who took over for Frehley in in 2002.
“I don’t see how people could accept this,” Snider recently told Eddie Trunk. “Tommy Thayer? I’m sorry. It’s insulting. Not only did he play with a tribute band of KISS, he’s imitating Ace in his entire act!”
Thayer worked as a co-writer on KISS’ 1989 release Hot in the Shade and played guitar on 1998′s Psycho Circus, but didn’t officially join the band until the period just before KISS Symphony: Alive IV in 2003.
Thayer has since been part of two albums, 2009′s Sonic Boom and 2012′s Monster, which also include new member Eric Singer, who took over for late drummer Eric Carr.
Singer originally performed without makeup, before Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley reunited with Criss and Frehley in 1996. Singer then began wearing Criss’ makeup when he returned in 2001; a year later, Thayer started dressing as Frehley.
Snider said it’s an insult. “My theory is, they forgave KISS for I Was Made for Loving You, and anything is acceptable after that,” he said. “It was a disco song, people! It’s not okay! It was never okay, and they’re playing it live now. Unbelievable. They play I Was Made for Loving You, a fricking disco song!”
The worst of it, added Snider, is when KISS perform Shock Me, a song associated with Frehley, complete with Thayer mimicking all of Ace’s old moves. “Oh, my God — that’s disgraceful,” he said. “When KISS replaced Ace and Peter, and they brought in guys [Carr and Vinnie Vincent] who had their own makeup and their own thing, that was acceptable. That was awesome. They were their own characters.”
additional source: ultimateclassicrock.com
dee was on point…. except for dissing “I was made for loving you”. I’m not gonna take it.
This is a new and interesting topic.
Now that made me laugh out loud! Given that this is a topic related to KISS, on this site, there will be over 200 comments by the end of the day. I’m not a KISS fan, so I have no emotional investment in this, but I don’t think Tommy and Eric should be wearing Ace and Peter’s makeup. They should have their own personas. Not only for the fans sake, but their own. It makes it look hypocritical and weird that Paul and Gene seem to talk trash about Ace and Peter, but have guys look and act just like them on stage. If they’ve “moved on” from those guys, then move on completely and let Tommy and Eric be their own thing in the band.
As a KISS fan, I love all versions of KISS. Ace chose not to be in the band on his own free will. Peter quit as well. The new version of KISS is just as good as any other line up. I don’t care if they wear the original make up or not. As long as KISS is still making music, I will support them.
Dee seems rather bitter theses days. Doug Aldrich last month, now KISS. Who’s next ?
Podcast coming soon. I disagree with him on Doug FYI
I guess Dee forgot about Leader Of The Pack
Great burn!
Dee hasn’t done anything good since the Widowmaker albums.
jeff, you mean “phantom of the pack”