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
what dee didn’t say is that he prefers “charisma’ to “iwmfly”, but didn’t want to be outed..oops
I agree with Dee about the current lineup of KISS. Thayer and Singer are impersonating the original characters of Ace and Peter in every conceivable way. Both great musicians and talented, but I am of the opinion they should have their own characters. This version of KISS is not for me, and i would rather go see a great tribute band of KISS rather than this current “tribute” version of KISS. At least a great tribute band would probably change up the setlist rather than put on essentially the same show every single night, every single tour.
We already know this Mr Snider. I agree with Dee but at this point it’s safe to say there’s no use for us old school Kiss fans getting upset any more. True Kiss fans know what’s right. Paul and Gene aren’t stupid and therefore I know they know how this subject has become an issue with us old school fans but it’s clear they don’t care. Kiss has become a nostalgic relic of a once important band and people who go to see them live now are mostly two kinds: It’s either fans there to relive an experience they had once upon a time ago or, unfortunately, it’s people who don’t know the band’s history and think they’re seeing the real thing. Either way doesn’t bother me any more. It used to but I really don’t care any more. Like I said, it’s not worth getting upset about. I still have my old Kiss records and what Paul and Gene are doing to the Kiss name now won’t diminish my love for classic albums that I’ll listen to for the rest of my life.
I couldn’t agree more with Dee Snider on this one, but then again I have never been much of a KISS fan. I have always admired their fans though because apparently they are willing to put up with anything. Other bands should be so lucky to have that kind of a following.
Dee doesn’t like Whitesnake, he doesn’t like What Kiss is doing (I Agree with him there). He’s becoming the old guy who yells at people for walking on his lawn.