If only we could "Get rid" of Metal head KISS fans......

I'm tired of "Debating" with old-school KISS fans, it's hard to reason with supposed "Fans" of a band who always seem to hate that bands music.

There's ALWAYS a problem...The first three records don't sound good, Destroyer sucks, half of Love Gun sucks, everything from Dynasty to Creatures sucks, the solo records suck, Creatures of the Night is the Ultimate KISS record...how many times do I need to point out that Creatures sounds nothing like KISS ever sounded, if you like Creatures FINE! I get it! I also understand why you barely like anything before it, it's a different band the band prior to Creatures was a Rock n' Roll band, Creatures was a new band, a "Heavy Metal" band, You like Heavy Metal, I don't...makes perfect sense...but what I don't understand is this...

...WHY WERE YOU EVER LISTENING TO KISS IN THE FIRST PLACE...GO AWAY!!!

This is where attempted "debates" between KISS fans break down...You have to make room for the fact that not everyone hears things the way you hear them.

Understand, I wasn't around when The Elder or Unmasked were released and was therefore not part of the KISS backlash of the early 80's.

The Elder, to my ears, is an excellent KISS record where they tried stretching their creative muscles and were 100% successful. The Elder is an ambitious KISS record and a great KISS record, it does everything the right way, where C.O.S did everything the wrong way and to me, is NOT a KISS record. If you'll notice, people who weren't around when it was released and discovered it after the fact have no issues with the Elder.

Oh!! And BTW The Elder was certified Gold several years ago, and including downloads has probably passed platinum by now. This "Hearing without prejudice" is a VERY REAL PHENOMENON and nowhere is that more apparent than with "Unmasked" a record that is enjoying a very real renaissance.

Those hearing Unmasked for the first time unanimously agree it's a power-pop masterpiece, that in of its self isn't surprising, what IS really surprising is several "Re-reviews" that can be found online where people who hated the record back in the day, have gone back and re-reviewed it. These people have done a TOTAL 180 and remarked at how shocked they are that though the record sounds like they remember, they are amazed that the record is 100% BETTER than they remember.

There are some very pleasantly surprised reviewers online and I'd encourage you to find them. I used to produce bands, and one of my favorite things to do was play young bands KISS Unmasked without telling them who it is. These are kids who like the Killers, Katey Perry, Blink 182, Warped Tour-Tweener-pop punk stuff....THEY FLIP OUT...without exception when they find out who it is they are even more shocked.

I suppose debating KISS fans is impossible due to the fact that for some reason, a legion of "Metal Fans" who can't stand KISS (Why should they like KISS? KISS isn't metal...period) identify themselves as KISS fans. But they HATE THE MUSIC.

Its like throwing a house party and having a bunch of mulleted metal heads show up uninvited, all you friends leave and your stuck at home thinking of ways to get rid of these people...house fire??

Just spitballing here.

KISS ARMY NEWS: KISS haters explained. And the real reason for KISS and their feud with Rolling Stone Jan Werner

KISS haters.

We've all met them, (And fought them) as passionate as this band's fabs are they have equally passionate detractors, but why?

KISS shows you something about yourself that you don't like

Now, I know all the KISS haters will come out of the woodwork and complain about how all KISS cares about is money and blah blah...SHUT UP!

Guess what? YOUR favorite band HAS A LOOK,

YOUR favorite bands sell everything they can possible brand.

Your favorite band sells the same overpriced concert tickets and merch that any band you complain about does.

You know why KISS is so hated? So reviled by the music press up until the last few years?

Because in the early 70's Jan Werner and his cronies had quite a little money making scheme going on.

The scam went something like this. "Hey we will sell the general public on the fact that you are culturally relevant rebels who are anti-establishment, well convince them lock-stock-and-barrel, then you go and sell them everything they can possibly buy. They will believe that by buying your T-shirt that they are "Fighting the man" and "Making a difference" when in fact all they will be doing is making us rich.

It was Obama before Obama, a total work with ZERO substance and a whole lot of smoke and mirrors.

While we are on the subject of smoke and mirrors....ALONG COMES KISS

KISS made a mockery of their self-important, pompous pyramid scheme. 

KISS was Jan Werners worst nightmare, a band that TOTALLY EXPOSED all his "Culturally significant" straw men as the scammers they were.

KISS said "B.S this is culturally important, this is a SHOW, and if you pay money to see us, then for that privilege we are willing to give you the best show on earth. We are lucky to be playing for you not the other way round, this is all just entertainment, it's not going to change the world, it's FUN, and we are here to give you more fun for your dollar than any other act out there"

It was the complete antithesis to the "Rolling Stone Scam" and made music fans look at the bands they were supporting who were making lazy records and putting on even lazier concert based solely on how important they were.

KISS showed them up. Without a shadow of a doubt. The other bands looked lazy and their claims at cultural significance didn't hold up in the glare of KISS's exploding cannons.

And thus Jan Werner launched into his 40-year smear campaign of the band that he thought personally attacked his money-making machine.

We all know that KISS had the last laugh when the KISS army forced their induction into the hall of fame. And I'll never forget the satisfaction at seeing Rolling stone's unconditional surrender when they after 40 years published THE KISS ISSUE.

More proof that there are more people in the world willing to celebrate the truth than to buy the lie.

And if that isn't culturally significant I don't know what is.

KISS ARMY NEWS: Paul Stanley is delusional, and the REAL reason the first three records didn't sell

Paul Stanley says some really dumb things sometimes.

Like in his book he claims "People didn't buy the first three records because they didn't like the way they sounded"

What in the hell is Paul talking about? The first 3 didn't sell because listeners DIDN'T LIKE the way they sounded? Really? Who are these people? Names, please Paul because the fact is all the Rock n' Roll/ Punk fans LOVE the sound of KISS and DRESSED TO KILL and all the Grunge guys name HOTTER THAN HELL as the #1 influence on the sound they would adopt.

Yes, the mainstream didn't buy in until Alive, why? I don't know, Alive to me has always been fine, but it's not the revelation everyone makes it out to be if I want to hear a song on the first three records I go to those records not Alive, Why it struck a major chord with the mainstream, I'll wager, is that for all the people who were buying tickets to see the bands show, it was kind of a compromise, they could listen to the songs and remember the shows they attended. Thus with KISS has become not only a national attraction but a curiosity as well that attracted non-fans who wanted to see what the spectacle is all about, a souvenir now could be had, something that you could close your eyes and relive the experience. And so the mainstream music fans decided it was worth buying.

Then came Destroyer and what Paul doesn't seem to remember about Destroyer is that upon release, it sold a solid chuck then STALLED DEAD well short of platinum, Destroyer entered not a holding pattern in the summer of 1976, but an out and out free fall.

The plan to score another hit to follow up Rock n' Roll all night (Live), which reached #12 on the Billboard charts, and was, therefore KISS's very first top 20 hit, using the anthem formula, in this case with Flaming Youth and Shout it out Loud (The latter briefly entered the top 40 before the record stalled) had failed, Casablanca had even made sure there were TWO bullets in the anthem gun to implement this strategy, but both had fired and one only grazed the target, while the other was a complete miss.

The point is, that EVEN WITH DESTROYERS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SONICS, KISS did NOT sell.

Not the first three records, not Destroyer. UNTIL....well get to that in a minute.

I'll play Devil's advocate if Paul were here he would no doubt say "Well, Destroyer wasn't exactly what we were about either" WHOAAA....hold on there Paul, you are on your 4th record of original songs and you STILL haven't sounded "Like yourself" yet? And what does "Yourself" sound like Paul?

"Led Zeppelin"

I have zero doubt that THAT is what Paul would say was he debating me, his entire musical career has been an ill-advised craving to copy Led Zepplin, a craving he satisfied perhaps once (Creatures) but never again, and never before,

Listening to Paul talk about KISS's musical output is to see the man bare his soul without intending too. There is no KISS record, not even Creatures, that escapes his scathing self-hatred, of course, it's never focused on him, it's ALWAYS someone else's fault...

This year, he really crossed a line. Whether Rock N' Roll over is your favorite KISS record or not (It isn't mine) few could ever argue that R.A.R.O is the most KISS record KISS ever did, it defines their sound. What people think of when they think of KISS's music is the sound of R.A, R, O. KISS fand fight about everything, agree on nothing and are some of the most contentious people on the planet, but there is ONE thing they all agree on R.A.R.O is a classic career-defining record.

What does Paul think?

He thinks it wasn't very good, the fault? For this, he takes aim at his two favorite targets: The producer and Peter Criss.

This year, Paul called out Eddie Kramer for not doing a great job on R.A.R.O (And one would assume Love gun and side 4 of Alive 2) Before he launched into his usual tiresome "Peter sucks" speech.

THIS is why Paul Stanley should NEVER produce a KISS record, for as much as people credit Paul for KISS it has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Paul doesn't UNDERSTASND KISS (No one who uderstands KISS would burry "It's My Life" possibly the greatest KISS song ever written, because he "didn't like it" but there's more going on there, and I'll do a whole blog on that one song at a latter day, truth be told, you could write a BOOK about it)

I wonder, has it ever occurred to Paul that KISS fans don't generally think Led Zeppelin are all that great? KISS fans like short, energetic, upbeat, fun music and aren't interested in musicianship, only songwriting, and energy.

Has it ever occurred to Paul that millions of people LOVE Peters drumming? I'm not saying he's a great technical drummer, he's not, I'm a professional musician, I've produced records you've quite possibly bought, I understand what a challenge it must have been to record Peter, I've been there. But the end result is the end result, and if you put Bonham himself on any KISS record, that record is going to sound BAD.

..Now, to conclude, let's get back to Destroyer and that fateful summer of 76' when the record was in a freefall, the label, not knowing what to do threw out a double "A" side single with what they thought were the two best songs on the record, Detroit Rock City, and Beth, the rest is history.

You have to remember, as far as glam rock went IT DIDN'T SELL IN AMERICA. Yes, Alice Cooper sold, but music fans could file that under "Theater Rock" a place KISS and their new Destroyer-esqe sound could comfortably sit, all it took was a push...

A study of listening habits reveals that humans search for the familiar when looking for music to listen to and once they are familiar, it is difficult to incorporate something new into their Cannon.

Beth was just such a bridge. It was the familiar piano ballad, that so many other artists had done, it made KISS musically "familiar" to the American mainstream, who had rejected Bowie, T-Rex, Slade, Sweet EVERYONE only Alice Cooper and The Rolling Stones were acceptable listenings in the "Glam" genre, because the public didn't have to consider either act to BE glam, now KISS had bridged the gap and predictably, the record started to sell again...

This blog is just a small biopsy of the creative character of KISS and one of it's greatest flaws, that a guy who doesn't really LIKE what all his fans like about his music is in firm control of it and usually has been.

Since the release of his book, it's been very hip to sing Paul Stanley's praises, I think that is unwise, his low-self-esteem continues to hurt the band's musical output in his never-ending quest to be who he isn't.

If the next KISS record is the last, pray god Paul Stanley isn't producing it, he is the greatest obstacle the band faces and needs to be put back in his place. Singer/Songwriter/Guitar player

NOT PRODUCER

Because I have a saying, it goes like this: 

IF YOU ARENT IN YOUR FAVORITE BAND, THEN YOU NEED TO QUIT AND GO JOIN IT

KISS ARMY NEWS: Paul and Peter....Going for a latte together? And what it mean if they did it again.

I just re-read Paul's book, and was once again struck by the story of Paul and Peter, just going to Starbucks together one day.......just CAUSE!

It's so sad to hear about Paul and Peter getting along, having dinner together, Peter flying to Toronto just to see Paul in "Phantom" than seeing them fall apart again, It's almost surreal to think of Paul and Peter just going to Starbucks together to grab a coffee.

I'm sure Peter made the mistakes Paul accuses him of but I think Paul made a few of his own that he forgets to mention.

 That's my issue with this book, it is so far and above all the other books in every way, that the first instinct is to take it as gospel. Because Paul put in the effort to write a detailed thoughtful introspective and at times even courageous book, it exposes Gene and Ace's books as "fluff" and Peters as lacking in insight,

 But never forget: THIS IS PAUL'S BOOK. He is the hero of his own narrative and the winner of his lifelong love/hate battle for the spotlight with Gene, what he neglects to mention is his REAL mistakes, how much of what he writes is born from envy of Gene's "natural" star power, 

Paul came off as trying too hard many times (as Peter mentions in his book) Gene never needed to try, he oozed star power and would dominate any room he walked into, leaving Paul seething with jealousy. To his credit, I think Gene was largely oblivious to this, it never occurred to him that Paul would resent him for commanding so much attention.

 That's only the tip of the iceberg, Paul has musically handicapped this band for decades, trying to turn it into an 80's metal band, a late 80's hair band and finally a smeared replica of what he believes the original KISS was all about sonically speaking. 

The problem is, like many painters, he's INSIDE THE PAINTING when he looks he sees what he wishes was there, not what actually WAS or IS there. He has a very skewered understanding of what makes great KISS  music. This myopic vision is revealed in his repeated slagging of records and musical aspects of the band that their fans LOVE.

For example, his trashing of the production and overall sound of records like DRESSED TO KILL, ROCK N' ROLL OVER, UNMASKED, even the first record, who's trashy New York Dolls/Rolling Stones/ Slade inspired Glitter rock is beloved by millions and regarded as the TRUE sound of KISS shows that though he may have been a big part of creating it, he doesn't truly UNDERSTAND IT. 

Quotes like: "we weren't that Rock n'' Rolly" when describing the first record leaves the average KISS fan scratching their head. Yes, Paul, YOU WERE that Rock n' Rolly.  And THAT is what people want to hear from a KISS record.

We get it, you love Led Zepplin, but Paul's 40-year quest to try and make KISS SOUND like Zep is a tiresome refrain for most KISS fans to hear about. 

Would Paul be surprised to learn the average KISS fan generally DOESN'T LIKE  Zepplin? The average KISS fan didn't want a Bonham sound-alike drummer in the band? That they regard Peter's unorthodox, big-band-inspired "Ahead of the beat" drumming to be a crucial component of KISS's sound?

It's on these and many other more personal issues, I'll leave alone for now, that Paul is incapable of clear vision,

 Unfortunately, in these final days, he has grabbed a stranglehold of all things KISS and controls the band with Machiavellian tyranny. 

It was Paul who told the great record producer Bruce Fairburn that he didn't know how to do his job, took over and gave us the unfocused mishmash of Psycho Circus.

 Paul alone cannot tell the story of KISS or write effective new chapters in its history, let's hope he realizes it before it's too late.

KISS ARMY NEWS: It's official! Creatures of the night IS NOT a KISS RECORD!

Well, okay, the members of KISS recorded it so I suppose it is technically a KISS record, but, Creatures of the NIGHT is without a doubt THE MOST OVERRATED KISS RECORD EVER!!! 

Why? Because it's a record for people WHO NEVER LIKED KISS TO BEGIN WITH!

 Seriously, how many mulleted metalheads have you heard saying that everything KISS has ever done sucks except for Creatures, Alive and Revenge? 

Got news for you primates, this is THE ONLY KISS RECORD that sounds like this, that means there are how many other? 25 other records that sound NOTHING like this.

This record is the real disingenuous stab at pandering to the public that Unmasked and Dynasty get a bad rep for, but those records honest, you see, KISS was never a Heavy Metal band, not until this record, Paul Stanley actually LOVES disco, that's why he wrote "I was made for loving you" Have you ever heard Gene sound more natural (Not using the stupid Cookie Moster voice) than on the Disco-Dance-Rock strut of "Charisma"?

 THAT is what KISS actual WANTED to sound like, unfortunately back in  1980, popularity cycles and the habits of younger preteen demographics were largely un-studied, thus when KISS hit the inevitable downturn of their first popularity wave, they panicked and blamed it on the music. Which is really odd considering the facts. 

What facts are those? Glad you asked, Dynasty is the #2 selling KISS studio record (4x platinum) second only to Destroyer (Estimated 6x platinum) and what is the WORST selling KISS record? Hmmm...care to guess? No, It's not The Elder, which actually stands at 482,000 at last count and is (Believe it or not) within striking distance of going GOLD in 2018.....nope, it's CREATURES OF THE NIGHT!! This record didn't sell JACK S**T when it was released....re-released in 1985 with a non-make-up cover, or at any other subsequent time it was shoved down our throats as a great KISS record, hey I'll admit it's a good early 80's Heavy-Metal record, BUT IT'S NOT A GREAT KISS RECORD, Because KISS doesn't sound like this....this is like the same band who apeared years later to record Carnival Of Souls (I didn't include that in worst sellers because I refuse to call it a KISS record)

 KISS was a great Proto-Punk style New York Rock n' Roll band, not some headbanging B**L S**T (To quote the bass player from Spinal Tap) 

You want Metal? Enjoy! But if you want KISS you're going to have to look elsewhere.....by the way....if this record is so great, why didn't any of you meatheads buy it? 

I know I bought my copies of Destroyer, Dynasty, Unmasked, The Elder and Killers (I'm a legend tonight!!!) Hell, I even bought Creatures....more than once, but all you missing links didn't...

..too busy learning how to use the wheel I guess.

KISS ARMY NEWS: Looking back on Alive 2's "Anyway You Want it"

Just listened to "Anyway you want it" from Alive two, and as I wipe tears from my eyes, a few thought spring to mind about the band we all love, (But most seem to hate?)

God, I wish KISS did more of these.

When you hear them playing as a New York proto-punk, rock n' roll band (Chuck Klosterman once wrote: "If KISS had broken up after their first record, they and it would be remembered as a seminal proto-punk masterpiece) which they originally were it sounds so NATURAL.

They weren't far off from the Ramones only difference is they had lead guitar and more straight rock, Rolling Stones songs with some Zepplin inspired riffs thrown in.

And as if to make that point before he died, on the final Ramones tribute record put together by Jonny Ramone just prior to his death, he personally asked KISS to do "Do you remember Rock N' roll Radio?"

 They absolutely STOLE THE SHOW with a devastating rendition that Johhny Ramone called "By far the best song on the record"

KISS chased success in the 80's by trying to pass themselves off as a heavy metal band, which they never were, further to that, they were a pretty f**king awful heavy metal band. But this track was from before a time when KISS wasn't worried about their every next step, from a time when they could just be and sound like themselves.

This is the sound of KISS at it's best, playing simple catchy Rock n' Roll, loud and proud, but without any stupid heavy metal, cliches ruining the experience. This track is a treasure, enjoy it for all it's worth, and in the history of KISS, it's worth a LOT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T4Y1ApNC3A

KISS ARMY NEWS ALERT: Vinny Vincent returns! And he's brought revisionist history and false nostalgia by the bucketload

Well HOOOOORAY!

Vinny Vincent is back! And for all the hype and praise he's getting one might think V.V was, in fact, Jesus's Rock n' Roll pseudonym when he decided he was the only one who could fill Ace Frehley's shoes' in 1982. Because the hype both prior to and following his appearance at the recently concluded Atlanta KISS Expo was of a sort that only Elvis or Jesus returning should have been able to generate.

But apparently, absence makes the heart grow crazier, and when neither the King or the Messiah showed up, the slight figure of what appeared to be my Mother at first glance, but later revealed it's self to be Vinny Vincent soaked up the hero's welcome instead.

How quickly some forget, and you may be one of them, exactly what it is Vinny Vincent brought to KISS and exactly what they were under his two-year reign of terror,

First let's do a little mud-check: How many of you think Creatures of the night and Lick it up are the best KISS records?

Umm huh, ok, now of those people who put their hands up, how many of you feel the rest of KISS's records are garbage? (Except Anamalyze of course)

Ahhhh, that's what I thought.

See, my first and biggest problem with Vinny are that I am a Rock n' Roll fan. The Sex Pistol, Eddie Cochran, The Ramones, The Rolling Stones, The Misfits, Chuck Berry, Blondie, Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, NIN, Ministry........and my favorite KISS exemplify the type of music I prefer.

Did you notice that list did not include Accept, Saxon, Armoured Saint, Testament, and even though I like some of their music Judas Priest or Iron Maiden?

That's because I'm not much of a heavy metal fan and never once in my life did I buy a KISS record for my fix of "Heavy Metal" why would I? KISS was never a heavy Metal band...

...until the man of the hour, VV showed up that is and help construct one record that a lot of people who never liked KISS to begin with, think is their best, but in reality, sold fewer copies than The Elder upon release: Creatures of the night

And another record that up until recently has caused all fans to pinch their noses for fear of catching a whiff of a record that we hoped never to hear again save for its title track and the lone, sans make-up Gene 80's gem (Fits like a glove) we didn't want to breathe in the records metallic fumes, let alone LICK IT UP as we were instructed to do, and for years this record, the one record Vinny truly held sway over (He only Co-wrote 3 songs on Creatures, and possibly played on fewer)  sat near the bottom of nearly all "Best to Worst KISS records" lists.

Ah, but let's not forget REVENGE and Vinny 3 co/writes on that record. He certainly helped up the quality of two of the record's singles, and I'll give him credit for that. But he had no influence over the record it's self, other than what material he co/wrote Paul and Gene decided to use (one of his songs was a complete dud, the "What? how much more time do we have to fill on this thing?" classic Heart of Chrome. And might I add that Revenge was a disappointment in terms of sales and was the first KISS record to fail to reach Platinum status since.....well hey! Lookee here! The last one was LICK IT UP!

So what's my point?

My point is, that if you are gushing with nostalgia over Vinny's return, then you probably never liked KISS much to begin with as his influence took them far away from what they did best, and that you would be best served going back to singing along with your cassette copies of the two INVASION records that you've been playing non-stop for the last 20 years.

As for Vinny being some sort of surviving hero who has weathered the storm of the evil KISS empire and lived to tell the tale (as Eddie Trunk would have you believe) I will refer you to the public record court documents of ANY of Vinny's lawsuits against KISS. They are a textbook for frivolous lawsuits that are jamming up the nation's courts and taking time away from legal matters that actually involve justice. And for character references, I'll say talk to ANYONE who has EVER worked with VV,  Nuff' said on that front.

Now I'm all for forgive and forget, I certainly would never be rude to Vinny if I met him, or deny him a second chance to make a first impression, 20 years is a long time and maybe he has changed? I would certainly give him the opportunity to show that if he claimed it.

And hey, who hasn't been spellbound by the Vinny Vincent story over the past decade? I always say: "Micheal Jackson, Axl Rose, and Vinny Vincent are the true three craziest people music has ever produced" and of those three I find Vinny to be by far the most fascinating.

I was so enthralled with the VV story that two years ago I emailed Bruce Kulick and asked him if he would host a "Searching for Vinny Vincent" documentary. Bruce politely declined, and I let it go.

Until last year, when the Swedish film that claimed to have found him, and that he was now a transexual appeared. I quickly re-emailed Bruce for a quick "I TOLD YOU SO" and a last-ditch invite to revive the project as the Swedish film's authenticity was called into question.

Bruce let me know that this was not his style and he was DEFINITELY not interested, to which I said, "Fair enough, I won't bring it up again"

But I'm not going to let fascination with his story get cross-wired with nostalgic historical re-writes where LICK IT UP is the greatest record ever, and Paul and Gene never did anything but abuse poor Vinny.

Paul and Gene gave Vinny the opportunity to become a household name and to ply his craft on a national stage. Without KISS there would have been no invasion records and there would certainly be no interest in his presence at a KISS expo 30 years later. Vinny owes KISS thanks for his being able to make a buck in 2018, or that anyone even knows who he is.

And THAT is my point, we KNOW who he is....

Yet, some seem in critical need of a reminder, so take this as your wake up call. Unless you think frivolous harassment lawsuits, swindling fans with phony guitars and LICK IT UP are just the greatest things this world has to offer...

...let's reserve some of this adulation for Elvis and Jesus if they do decide to make their returns anytime soon......because I may have never heard Jesus play guitar...

...but I'm pretty sure he plays EXACTLY like Ace..

...And would turn your wine to water if you suggested he trade his Les Paul in for a Jackson Flying V with an 80's whammy (jerk-off) bar.