FACES
How’s life in KISS, Ace?
ACE FREHLEY
It’s great to be sober and it’s great to be back with KISS and it’s fun to put the make-up back on again, and the audience has just been spectacular. Life is good, what can I say?
FACES
What does it feel like being on stage together after all these years?
ACE FREHLEY
We’re genuinely having fun with each other again which is nice. You can’t fake that. I’m not that good an actor (laughs). I remember before we decided to do this, we all sat down and said, Listen, we really have to work out our problems with each other and talk through it, bury all the old hatchets and get rid of all the old demons. Because kids are going to pick up on it we’re just going to get up there and do it for the money. We gatta do this because we want to do this, and have fun doing it. It’s going to be a two-year tour.
FACES
How did you guys sit down and get rid of all those old demons?
ACE FREHLEY
Me and Peter got rid of our demons a while ago. That was a big stumbing block towards the end. We all struggled with demons whether it be chemicals or alcohol or groupies. We all have our vices.
FACES
What were the New York shows like for you?
ACE FREHLEY
It was really fun for me because my daughter was sitting in the front row. I walked over to her and gave her a high five. She just turned sixteen. She was at the Garden for the first two shows. And Sebastian (Bach,Skid Row vocalist and KISS buddy) was bodyguarding her the second night right in front row. The second show she decided to sit in the front row and he was giving people the elbows going, « Don’t fucking push her, this is Ace’s daughter! » I got a lot of vicarious pleasure out of watching her. She was real proud of me. It was special too when Paul said « This is our hometown. » It just made that more special and exiting for me. Things couldn’t have gone any better than they did.
FACES
Would you have foreseen 4 nights at the Garden?
ACE FREHLEY
I thought we’de be able to do three wich would have matched what we did in the past at the height of our popularity in the 70s. But to do four…Doc McGhee (current KISS manager) actually told me we could have done five but we couldn’t get the room. It was booked for something else. We could have sold another one.
FACES
So it says that you’re bigger than you were at the height of your popularity?
ACE FREHLEY
Yeah. It’s pretty bizarre without even a hit record out or anything.
FACES
Did you think the tour would get this big?
ACE FREHLEY
I knew it was going to be big, but I didn’t know it was going to be this big.
FACES
After the Unplugged taping, what happened next?
ACE FREHLEY
Gene approached my manager because, at the time, Peter and I were touring together and my manager George Sewitt manages Peter also. George was on the road with us, and he and Gene started negotiating it. Gene,Paul and George are responsible for the reunion tour.
FACES
When did you first plug in and play together?
ACE FREHLEY
It wasn't until we were signed,sealed and delivered, contracts were signed. Gene and Paul and Peter live on the West Coast and I live on the East Coast. It wasn't until I flew out and got into the rehearsal studio and plugged in my Les Paul ans just started to jam on the old songs. But we knew. They knew Peter ans I had been playing together. They'd heard tapes and they knew we had our shit together.
FACES
Did it take a while for all of you to get together on the old material?
ACE FREHLEY
It took a while for me to relern some of the guitar solos because some of the solos I wrote when I was a little spaced-out. A perfect example, the solo on a "100,000 Years." I would never write a solo like that today. I'm saying to myself. "God, I wrote this fucking solo. It's wacky." some of the solos I'm saying "Wow." My head was in a different place that day. I wanted to be able to reproduce the solos pretty much like they were on the record. I can see the kids faces when I play the solos note for note. They really get off on it. Above and byond rehearsing we were working out with personal trainers to get in shape for this very physically taxing tour. We were working out five days a week, doing photo sessions, press,preparing merchandising. I designed the morph at the end of "Black Diamond" that comes up on the video. I did that on my Mac.
FACES
What's it like on tour for you now as opposed to the 70s?
ACE FREHLEY
In the old days I'd get up and crack open a beer.Now I'm drinking coffee. I've got three computers in my room. One's rendering animation, and I've got my laptop checking out some data and finances.
FACES
So you spend your off time with your laptop and not ate the bar?
ACE FREHLEY
Spending time in my room, with my friends. I fly my friends out, my daughter out. She'll spend some time with me on the road.
Sometimes Peter flies his daughter out. My daughter and his daughter grew up together, so they're good friends. They can go out shopping in the afternoon and hang out together and have a good time. Last time Peter and I played the House of Blues, Jenilee, his daughter, ended up sleeping over in our suite with Monique. They ended up sleeping out on the balcony covered up in blankets. I knew they were out there smoking cigarettes. I figured, let them have their fun. They hadn't seen each other in a while.
FACES
You and Peter still have a close bond, then?
ACE FREHLEY
Peter and I have always stayed close throughout the years. Peter left the group first, then I chose to leavethe group in'83. It took 9 months of negotiations with attorneys to work out that settlement. Then there were hard feeling. Paul, Gene and I didn't really talk too much after that for a while. I concentrated on my own band. Frehley's Comet.
FACES
Do you see the possibility of this not ending after the tour?
ACE FREHLEY
Sure. It may go on for four or fives years. We may decide to stick together and go off and do our own projects and come back.
FACES
Will KISS record a new album togehter?
ACE FREHLEY
I think it's possible. We haven't relly discussed it. I think if we stay together more than two years there's a chance we might do a studio album, because after two years, we would have player all the markets that we wanted to play. At that point and we can probably knock of an album in a couple of months. I think it will be one of the best things that we've ever done becauses we're all better musicians now. I think another reason why we're getting along a lot a better is because we all have kids now. It blows my mind. I remember at the Garden, Gene's kids coming running in the dressing roon while we're putting on our make-up calling hin Daddy. I remember Gene told me years ago, "I'll never have kids." And all of a sudden he's got two kids running around. It's really hysterical. But peopole change you know. I say, never say never. We're taking it one day a time. Paul said to me, "As long as we're all having fun we should continue to do this." And I agree. As long as the fans want it, I think we'll do it.
FACES
How did yoou decide the set list?
ACE FREHLEY
We got feedback from fans.We rehearsed probably thirty different songs. We basically kept juggling songs around. I walked one day with a set list.We basically decided that we were going to start the set with "Deuce" and originally we were going to end with "Rock N'Roll All Nite". That's what we did for the first few shows. We realized that "Rock N'Roll All Nite" was such an up, exciting song that we should really save that for the last encore, and end the set with "Black Diamond". I'm sure we're going to maybe switch some songs around. Maybe we'll take a crack at "Talk To Me," that was a big hit in Europe.
FACES
Did you all sit down and plan the show together?
ACE FREHLEY
We all consult each other when it comes to creative things. We're already planning more things 'cause we know when we come back to these same markets, we can't do the same exact show. I have another idea for a guitar effect that I can't give away yet 'cause I want to surprise the fans. But the show's going to get bigger, and better, if you can't belive that.
FACES
Sort of the flip side of what was breaking the band up before?
ACE FREHLEY
Yeah. Towards the end everyone sort of went their own way and kind of isolated themselves. There was a time when Paul and Gene weren't talking to each other, and I wasn't talking to anybody except Peter. The only time we'd see each other was when we were on stage. I was miserable. There was a point where we each had our own limousines and we would just leave and do our own thing. And very rarely did we talk to each other unless we had to.
FACES
What's it like with the four of you now?
ACE FREHLEY
Now we go out to dinner together and we'll have lunch together. We have weekly band meetings. Just the other day we had a really good meeting. It was a three hour meeting. There's a couple of things each of has been doing that maybe had been bothering other members. We kind of hashed it out, almost like a group therapy session. And it was very productive. And that was something that we used to do years ago. We used to have a meeting once a week and clear the air. I think that was one of the reasons why the band fell apart was because we stopped having those meetings. As long as we have the meeting and keep doing what we're doing, I think this thing is going to keep going. I'm having a great time.
FACES
What about the controversy about Gene and Paul making more money than you guys?
ACE FREHLEY
That's a crock of shit. I don't know where that came from. It's poppycock.
FACES
How was it the first time you put on the makeup and the outfit again?
ACE FREHLEY
It was strange. We did that at Gene's house. Once we had all our costumes made Gene said, "Why don't we get together," cause we had a photo session coming up. We said "Let's just put on our costumes and the makeup and see how we look, and see how it is to do it again." And it was strange because I don't remember what I did first. I remember I used to outline the silver stars. And I didn't remember if I put on the silver first, or the white first. The first couple of times I put on the stars, I made them too big. So what i did was take the solo album cover, and put that up in front of my makeup mirror, and use that as a guideline. I didn't want to make the stars look too big.
FACES
How would you sum up the experience of this tour?
ACE FREHLEY
All I can say is: Thank you to the fans. If it wasn't for the fans we wouldn't be here. The fans are making this possible, not the fact that we decided to do it. 'Cause if the fans don't buy the tickets, and buy our merchandising, we wouldn't be out here. I'd just like to thank the fans for being there for us and not forgeting the original four members and staying by us.
FACES
I was talking to Ace,and he said that maybe at the height of your original popularity it was only three nights at the Garden. This was almost like bigger than you ever were?
GENE SIMMONS
Certainly in dollars. Ultimately that's the gauge.People are always awkward about money and I'm very, very comfortable with money. To me, money means completely nothing, except in the Olympics of life, money is the gauge. In the Olympics, the judges hold up numbers. That's all money, beside giving you the freedom to do whatever you want.
FACES
So you don't mind discussing that?
GENE SIMMONS
Oh no! Money's wonderful and anybody who says it isn't is lying.
FACES
What about the rumours that you and Paul are making more cash out of this than Ace and Peter?
GENE SIMMONS
Look, everybody has different amounts of money. People's fascination with what other people are making has always been a peculiar American guilt complex left over from the Puritan ethic. Even though the American dream gives you the freedom, and gives you the flexibility of making as much as you can, there is still a kind of a guilt.
FACES
What's your take on the immense success of the tour?
GENE SIMMONS
KISS is really the alternative to all alternatives. An alternative can't be an alternative if everyone looks the same. If everyone's shirts are wrinkled, you ain't alternative, you're mainstream.People aren't getting bang for for the buck. You pay money for a concert ticket which costs more than a CD and you see bums on stage with wrinkled shirts looking at their shoes. We are here yet again. In every age and every time, when there's a need, we come like superman.
FACES
When you first made the decision to do the tour, did you think it would be as successful?
GENE SIMMONS
Yes. It gets a little cocky sounding but the truth is that having the idea in your mind that you're shooting for the stars actually makes it possible to reach the stars. You can't be the world champion if you're not the first one who believes you're going to be the world champion. As a little fat pudgy kid who gets pushed around, you have dream. I'm going to be the world champ at whatever I do. So once you become the world champion, people say, 'Did you ever think you were going to become the world champion?' ' Well, of course,'or otherwise you would never have become that.
FACES
It seems like you guys are indeed world champs again...
GENE SIMMONS
Yeah. It beats working doesn't it. We don't take it lightly. We are always conscientious and have a working man's point of view about everything. There's no axl Rose in this band. I won't stand for nonsence from myself, or anyone else, whether you're straight or high. So anyone who gets high, or smokes, or drinks, they're gone. Out the door, I don't care what the reason is. Goodbye. The door hits you where the good lord sits you.
FACES
If Ace fell off the wagon tomorrow, what would happen?
GENE SIMMONS
He'd be gone.
FACES
You'd give the whole thing up?
GENE SIMMONS
I wouldn't care I'm too filthy rich to mess around with any but the highest standards. Incidently, there's nothing wrong with anyone doing any thing for money.
FACES
You are merchandising the tour to the limit, too?
GENE SIMMONS
We haven't even touched the surface. A KISS Meets The X-Man comic book is coming in August. We'll have a superhero cartoon show, we'll do the movie, we'll do the Broadway play, we'll bring back the KISS dolls. We'll do everything. Who else's lunchbox are you going to buy? The tickets are not cheap either. And in New York, they wound up with scalpers who were selling them for twice the amount. In London standard it was reported $7000 front row from scalpers. I wasn't aware of that, but the high ticket was $85. I didn't hear a single complaint On the other hand you can pay $15 for one of these cheap shows.
FACES
At least you're doing your best to give 'em their money's worth!
GENE SIMMONS
It's the biggest show out there in an era where people are obviously taking the easy way out. The easiest thing to do is roll out of bed in your t-shirt and step out on stage. And that's acceptable behavior. Not to me. And that doesn't negate that some bands have that kind of vibe. But please somebody be brave and the individuality of saying, 'I'm not like that. I'm different. I'm this." And I don't think you have to spit blood or breath fire to make something interesting, but clearly if everybody's wrinkling their shirts, it's posing. You can't convince me that an entire generation is depressed. Sorry. There's got to be one or two happy people out there.
FACES
It would be hard to be depressed while watching KISS on stage wouldn't it?
GENE SIMMONS
Yeah. I'm not sure we have a message politically, socially, or otherwise, but there is sort of and uplifting quality about it. We've always believed that since you're seeing us live, yes you want to hear the songs, but 50% of the show's got to be visual otherwise stay at home and listen to the CD. It'll sound better there. So if you're coming to see it, you're going to see something. Everyone's flown out to see the shows.From Smashing Pumpkins in Detroit to Chicago, to all of Metallica who flew into Pittsburg to sit in the audience and watch KISS. It was cool seeing Metallica come backstage, 'cause they wound up putting on the KISS boots. We have photos. It's hilarious. Lars put on Paul's outfit and Kirk put on mt boots. And James just kind of took potshouts at them.
FACES
For the fans, it was the show that everyone expected to see. You literally bring the whole thing back...
GENE SIMMONS
It is a step forward. More bang, more stuff. That video system cost an absolute fortune to run every night because we have more people on the cameras than most bands have on their entire crews. And just for the record we've got thirteen tractor trailers, seven buses, sixty-five people, and seven million bucks worth of equipment. And that stuff gets set up every night and it works. We put money where our mouth is.
FACES
How expensive is the show?
GENE SIMMONS
It costs a little more than the last KISS show without make-up. 'Cause even without make-up we were doing sphinxes whose mouth opened, laser shows, the Statue of Liberty that exploded and that kind of stuff. The band without make-up was doing fine.
FACES
In yours and Paul's case, this had to be a decision that you simply wanted to do this?
GENE SIMMONS
Well we have too much money to do it for any other reason. We've always been paid enormously well. If we sit there and do nothing, we've got 27 or 28 albums that keep selling around the world. So they keep sending you money.
FACES
One thing I noticed was Peter smiling through the whole show...
GENE SIMMONS
He's having just a complete ball. You gotta remember that both Ace and Peter...it may be uncomfortable to talk about, but it's tough for anyone to say 'Yeah, I was playing clubs and I didn't have a record deal, and I was miserable.' They had nothing going on. And egos are fine to protect. But it was clear that it was not a good time in their lives. And Ace and Peter should always have been in KISS. We should never have broken up the original line-up. But a dysfunctional family is a dysfunctional family. If my brother was unhealty, I'd try to reason and if that didn't work out, I'd ask him to walk out. And a family is no different tham KISS.
FACES
How do yourself get along with Ace and Peter now?
GENE SIMMONS
Fabulous. Ace and Peter being straight reminds me how much I love being around them and remembering when they were high how much I hated being around them. And it clearly points to poisons can ruin a family. A family is no different than what we are. And everyone's completely different and never agree on a single thing--never. So what? The problem is only when your not straight. The enemy is drugs and booze.
FACES
Ace mentioned his daughter watching the show from the front row, and your kids were backstage watching you put on the makeup...
GENE SIMMONS
I'v got two kids that I know of, and the little man is fascinated by the X-Men, especially Wolverine. How cool is it going to be for him when KISS Nation comes out and sees KISS Meets the X-Men? He'll be able to take that into school for show n'tell. "See that, thet's Wolverine over there, and that guy breathing fire? That's my Dad." It doesn't get better.
FACES
Do you ever go to school for PTA meetings or stuff like that?
GENE SIMMONS
There was a Halloween thing where I went in there, a charity function, and so I called Marvel and I said send over some superhero guy. There was Spiderman guy who showed up in outfit for charity.
FACES
How old are your kids?
GENE SIMMONS
I have a seven and a four, but I've never been married. I am not now married and I don't intend on getting married.
FACES
You still have a long-term girlfriend...
GENE SIMMONS
You bet. But I don't want to live my life as a cartoon character, despite what people might think! And the problem with getting married is that you're supposed to live, and you're not supposed to to look at other girls. You're supposed to answer the question,"Where are you going? When are you coming back? and who've you been with?" And I think, that's the height of stupidity. All your life you're living under your mom and dad, and you have to answer to somebody. And you can't wait to grow up so you can be a free spirit and decided for yourself. No sooner do people grow up that they have to answer to somebody else. And I refuse to live in a cage. And marriage is a cage where somebody else can ask you question. You cannot live you life for anybody else. I want every woman in the world. I want everyone of them-the ugly ones, the short ones, the fat ones. I want them all.
FACES
So I take it you're having fun on tour?
GENE SIMMONS
I refuse not to. Life gives you only two choices--you can live it or not. Which one do you want to do?
FACES
Ok, so you're living up to your own personal level of 70s excess?
GENE SIMMONS
Girls are not excess. Girls are life. Excess is drugs and booze.
FACES
Ok then, you're living up to the classic Gene Simmons reputation...
GENE SIMMONS
If I could have Hillary I'd jump on her bones right now.
FACES
Any requests to have sex with the makeup on?
GENE SIMMONS
Oh sure. I'm trying to have sex with Ace all the time with the makeup on. Oh yeah! I asked a girl, why? And she like, "It's that beauty and the beast thing." They want the beast. I understand because I want girls in corsets, and the makeup, the perfume and the the stiletto heels. I want that too. If I want them to get dressed up, why shouln't they want me to get dressed up? I understand. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. Speaking of getting goosed...
FACES
That had to be a big part of why you would do the tour, just for your own enjoyment.
GENE SIMMONS
I've always done it that way. It's never been about the money ironically enough, but if there is money out there, I'll be damned if anybody esle is going to get my money.
FACES
How much dough are you making?
GENE SIMMONS
We're making a fortune. One estimate has it that we will make a hundred million-plus. So we owe it to the fans to get up there every single day and knock ourselves out and really give the best show that we can. It's back-breaking work.
FACES
You've got to be one of the more uncomfortable guys on stage with the blood and all...
GENE SIMMONS
I stink, I'm gooey, my hair's all messed up. And when you're on stage, and the adrenalin's running through you, nothing hurts. I walk off, I've got cuts all over me, not even aware of it on stage. Offstage, yow! There's no better party on the face of the world. I get to be God.
FACES
And you get to fly...
GENE SIMMONS
And I'm scared of heights. Frightened to death every time I do it. From up there it's completely black underneath me. And from the audience it looks like it's sturdy. Wrong. It's moving back and forth. Any step I take it moves and swings.
FACES
How did it feel walking on stage for the first time being the God Of Thunder again?
GENE SIMMONS
Strangely enough, very natural. Second skin. I thought it would take a while to get the vibe, but no. I think it's either a part of you or not. And if it's convincing then it's because it's a part of me. If I put on Paul's make-up, it wouldn't be convincing. Nor would Paul be convincing as me.
FACES
What will the outcome of the tour be?
GENE SIMMONS
This will singlehandedly change the face of rock'n'roll. Not that everyone will start wearing makeup, but it's going to be a red flag that will say, it's okay to put on a show. The idea ultimately is it's got to be in your heart and don't be a cookie cutter band.
FACES
But will you stay together yourselves and do an album?
GENE SIMMONS
It's a possibility, but right now the only thing on the agenda is tons of touring. Because to do a record, you're taking months to write it. I'm not hiding anything. If I didn't want to do it, I'd say I didn't want to do it. And for years I said I will not step up on stage with Ace and Peter. I refuse to. Because the offers were coming in all the time. We were offered a lot of money for it, and there's certain things that we won't do for money. If you can understand that, then you can understand not stepping up on stage with someone who prefers drugs to me. I wouldn't stand for it from my mother, I sure wouldn't stand it from anybody in KISS, and the fans don't deserve it. If we're heroes to them, then my God, let's act like heroes. The next 14-year old kid that picks up a KISS record may not get high, because Gene Simmons doesn't. That's a good goal.
FACES
Since we're on the subject, what's your take on the rampant use of heroin in rock, and all the associated ODs that've occured?
GENE SIMMONS
How chic. Fuck em. One less whining waste. If you have the choice of living life or not and you take your life, fuck you, you've got more of a choice than the guy who gats run over by a car. That's tragedy. The guy that died in Smashing Pumpkins, who cares. Rich white kid decides to commit suicide. Fuck off. The one good thing that this schmuck did by killing himself is at least he didn't call a press comference before he did it. At least he had the diginity of doing it quietly. I have no sympathy for anybody who takes the coward's way out.Billy Corgan came over and had breakfast with me in Chicago. And we talked about the same thing, about how he's so anti-this and that. And he doesn't want to do a press conference, and people will misunderstand. I'm going, "You know what? Living by example, that's all you do. If you're straigh, then that's all you can do. And if anybody in your band is using something, you've got to kick them out." So no more posing, no more whinning, please--get a life. And if you can't deal with it, then fucking commit suicide quietly. Have some dignity. I'm so sick of these cowards and idiots. And bands do have responsibility. End of surmon...
FACES
What's the experience of this tour been like for you so far?
PAUL STANLEY
I have to say that every night is amazingly special--every night is the unexpected because we're accomplishing the impossible. We're making a realioty out of the unexpected, this was something that was never going to happen. So every night we step on stage we're breaking ground and defying history. There would be no reason to do this if anyone was going to go home and say, "Yeah, that was okay, but remember when they did it back in the 70's and it was great." I belive that we are making time standstill. The tiome span between the '77 show and this one is more like 17 weeks rather than 17 years.
FACES
What was the deciding factor for yourself in doing the tour?
PAUL STANLEY
I think after we decided, let's try to put this together, the only analogy I can make is, we dated. Everybody was in L.A., and we rehearsed and we did a lot of thing. And even though the word was on the street that we were going to go on tour, there was never a moment where we couldn't call it quits and go home. With rehearsals and spending time with each other, talking things out constantly, and just making sure everybody was focused in the same direction, it was an on-going process. I was real keen to watch that everybody was willing to do what was necessary to make this work, whether it was physical workouts, musical workouts, whatever it was going to take to turn the clock back. Everybody had a daily schedule of workout, rehearsal, getting together just to talk. There's nothing worse than having something come back and tarnish your memory of something that was great, we came back with the thought of "We will pick up where we left off.
FACES
Ace mentioned that you first put the makeup on at Gene's house...
PAUL STANLEY
Right. We were a few days away from doing the Grammys and we wanted to get together and put on the outfits and put on the paint. There was and good room at Gene's house to do it and we just all got together, and sat in the room like we did 20 years ago, and put on the makeup. We looked in the mirror and said "Wow! KISS is back!" It felt great, and very natural. The clothes fit great, the makeup looked great. I felt like my best buddy and sidekick was back--me!
FACES
Did it feel like a different persona?
PAUL STANLEY
No. It just feels like anybody who puts on their favorite blue jeans and boots. Whatever you feel makes you connected as much as you could be your inner self. And that's the outfits. Most people can't stand in 8-inch boots, let alone run and do splits. I just feel like that belongs to me. It's all an extension of me.
FACES
Any fave moments on the tour so far...
PAUL STANLEY
Every night stands out. Every night we're welcomed with open arms and legs by a great audience in every city. And all we have to do is live up to their expectations.
FACES
What's it like on tour with the 4 of you?
PAUL STANLEY
We never got along like we do now. We're men, we don't bullshit. We talk everything out so no one's harboring any grudges. Everybody's clearheaded, so you're not dealing with people's fantasys of what's going on, you're dealing with the reality of what's going on. We have a lot of fun together. We laugh like crazy. Last night we were coming back to the hotel after the show, and we just left 17,000 people screaming, and just out of the blue as we're getting into the elevator Peter goes, "Everyday is awesome. I'm like a kid everyday." That's how it should be. We were lucky enough to wim the lottery once. To win it twice is beyond anything anyone should ever hope for. Hopefully everybody appreciates it for what it is.
FACES
Is Ace & Peter being sober a big part of everybody getting along?
PAUL STANLEY
Of course. Nobody wants to have a conversation with someone who's drunk or stoned. With success and fame comes all kinds of poisons, and we pick our own. I think you're just as delusional when you have a bunch of people in Hollywood telling you whatever kind of nonsense they're feeding you, and you're hobnobbing with parasites, and making films when you should have an instrument around your neck. It's a shame when the album comes out and fans are scratching their head because they think what they're hearing is crap. We've all fallen prey in our own way to fame. And maybe the greatest thing now is that we've all stopped pointing fingers at each other. And instead, looked in the mirror. It's always easy to blame the person next to you. It takes somebody a lot bigger to look at themselves and say, "I'm part of the problem."
FACES
You seem more diplomatic than Gene, he lays it all on Ace & Peter...
PAUL STANLEY
Quite honestly you only have to look at the things Gene's done in the last 10 or 15 years and it kind of makes you scratch you head. It's easy to point fingers at Ace & Peter, but I have to say that there's a lot of things that Gene did that were extremely detrimental to the band and showed a total lack of appreciation for what the fans gave him and us, and at times looked ha was not giving the band the time, effort, and quality input it deserved. The band is not a springboard for people. If it is, then I belive they should springboard out. Everybody at some point or another has left, whether physically, or emotioally, and I belive that at this point the door has allowed eveyone to come back in. This is a phenomenon that we should all appreciate everday that we have together. And wake up everyday and get on our knees and KISS the ground.
FACES
What's this tour like for you compared to the old days?
PAUL STANLEY
It's great. My only competition is me. And I have to take a look at what I've done in the past and what I've done on stage in the past and say. "Am I measuring up?" Either I'm kidding myself, or I say, "Hell, yeah." The shadow that I'm shadowboxing is me. I'm not the same person that I was in '77, so I appreciate things in different ways. I see things in different ways. We all do. I'd have to be an imbecile if I saw things the same that I did 20 years ago. I'm loving every minute of this.
FACES
You do look the same in makeup as you did 20 years ago!
PAUL STANLEY
(laughs) God forbid we didn't. I look at all the guys on stage and go, "Wow! Dorian Gray." That's cool. KISS should be as close to superheroes and mythical as you can be. That's part of who we are. I think to see a band 20 years later, and see them virtually identical is something that probably only KISS can do. Bands can get back together, but will they look the same? It wasn't something we had to do, we would have sold the tickets anyway. But when the people left the show, would they be disappointed? It's not enough just to come back when you have a history and a legacy like ours. That's stuff you have to live up to, otherwise you should leave it alone.
FACES
Who is KISS' audience?
PAUL STANLEY
It isn't an audience that's coming to relive their past for the most part, it's not an audience that saw us. It's probably an audience that saw videos. It's a new audience that's coming to the show. In a way, it's so much better. I don't want to be judged as a band coming back. I want to be judged against anything that you're listening to or have seen in the last five years. This can't stand up purely on the basis of it being a reunion. It has to stand up next to everything else. For me it has to blow it away. I don't belive we're recreating the past as much as picking up where we left off.
FACES
It would be conceivable to say that at this moment KISS is the biggest rock act in the world...
PAUL STANLEY
This isn't the legion of dedicated KISS followers. This is America saying I want more, I'm not satisfied with what I'm getting. And the legend of KISS sounds like the right idea. There are many people who heard about the colossal shows that we did and never saw them. There's nothing out there that's really entertaining. I'll be damned if I'm going to pay to hear someone sing about how miserable his life is. We are not professional whiners--the only wine I want is with dinner. Life is good, and anyone who doesn't believe life is good, has given up. We're once again surprising the naysayers. There's nothing better than watching somebody eat their own words and have to swallow them. This is a wake-up call. Again KISS is only a mirror of the public, that's all we're ever been. And what the public is saying is "I want more." And nobody will do it better than we will. We're back.
THE END