Hello fellow Kiss fans, I've been a lurker for a few weeks and am posting for the first time. Greetings!
Kiss is my favorite band, I also enjoy lots of other music, including just about all the pop music that was on the radio in the 1970's.
I was born in 1965. Been a Kiss fan since 1978. I consider myself of The Elder generation; I was 16 when that album came out, it was the first all-new Kiss album I actively sought. I was an aspiring drummer and I learned every Carr lick. I actually learned the skill of drumming in opposition (hands/feet moving at different speeds) while practicing to Only You.
I've seen Kiss 12 times: Creatures tour, January 22, 1983 in Worcester, MA, opening act was Night Ranger, also a favorite band. I met Kiss that day at Stawberry's Records. Was surprised by the sight of Vinnie, had no idea Ace was out. Not a lot of people were approaching "The Wiz", so I asked him, "Are we going to hear a solo tonight?" He was enthusiastic with his "Yes!" and handshake. I got everyone's autograph on a 8x10 b/w glossy; I've since lost the photo.
At one point in the record store, Paul stood up and held his hands straight in the air. Some jerk from the back threw a Creatures album his way, it flew like a frisbee over the heads of everyone, heading right for Paul. At the last second a fan stood tall and unintentionally took the album to the back of the head. I was sorry for the fan but was glad Paul was spared that throw.
My other shows were Animalize (2 dates, Glens Falls NY, and Springfield MA), Asylum 3 dates (Glens Falls, Worcester, Springfield), Crazy Nights 2 dates (including Manchester NH), Revenge 2 dates (including Great Woods, in MA), an acoustic meet and greet around 1992 in Boston, where Gene, Paul, Bruce and Eric Singer somewhat reluctantly signed my Eric Carr photo (I still have this keepsake). I last saw the band on Psycho Circus in Boston. So I've been fortunate enough to see all the guys play: Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace, Bruce, Eric Carr, Eric Singer, and Vinnie Vincent. I missed Mark St. John on his Pougkipsee, NY gig.
During Asylum, two of the shows I saw were sequential (December 19th and 20th 1985), so I was able to meet the band in their Worcester hotel lobby and hallway. I have a few photos of Gene, Paul, and Bruce. I have a shot of Paul in an elevator; I kept hitting the door open button to say hello. He was cool about it. I told him it was my banner he held up the night before in Glens Falls, he said, "the Merry Kissmas one?" I said "Yeah." I'd been 2nd row center and had chucked the banner (actually a bedsheet) to him just before I Still Love You. He unfurled it, read it privately for a moment to make sure it was OK, then held it up for all to see. He then wrapped it around his shoulder like a shawl and played the song. I took photos of all this but haven't gone thru them in a long, long time.
During Eric's drum solo, his kit was moved forward and we really got to see him play. He was using the Simmons electric drums in his kit for the first time. They sounded great, everyone who's seen that solo knows the tune he played as he would hit the Simmon's, each programmed to a different chord, and then he'd play his acoustic drums to the Simmons chords. Really cool! Unfortunately, I had a bad experience immediately after his drum solo; as he stood on his seat to acknowledge the crowd, he yelled a nasty phrase that I heard clear as a bell, I was that close. I don't know why this happened, or what prompted him to do that. He was not miked. The crowd loved his solo, though.
I was lucky enough to meet Eric Singer at a clinic in 1996ish. I told him I loved his playing on Black Sabbath's The Eternal Idol. He was happy I knew he played on that album. We had a very quick moment to chat so I asked, what was the better experience, Kiss or Sabbath? (as he was now out of Kiss and put on a year's retainer during the reunion talks). He said Musically Sabbath was more rewarding, but as far a working together as a band, and enjoying the experience, Kiss was better.
Being a Kiss fan in the 1981-83 time period was very rough in Massachusetts. Kiss was not highly regarded, not at all. It got a lot better after Lick It Up. But yeah, there was a lot of scorn for Kiss in the early '80's. That was OK, it didn't matter to me. I really loved the band and the whole presentation.
I have lots of stories to share regarding Kiss; I hope to read yours as well!
Regards,
Ara
Kiss is my favorite band, I also enjoy lots of other music, including just about all the pop music that was on the radio in the 1970's.
I was born in 1965. Been a Kiss fan since 1978. I consider myself of The Elder generation; I was 16 when that album came out, it was the first all-new Kiss album I actively sought. I was an aspiring drummer and I learned every Carr lick. I actually learned the skill of drumming in opposition (hands/feet moving at different speeds) while practicing to Only You.
I've seen Kiss 12 times: Creatures tour, January 22, 1983 in Worcester, MA, opening act was Night Ranger, also a favorite band. I met Kiss that day at Stawberry's Records. Was surprised by the sight of Vinnie, had no idea Ace was out. Not a lot of people were approaching "The Wiz", so I asked him, "Are we going to hear a solo tonight?" He was enthusiastic with his "Yes!" and handshake. I got everyone's autograph on a 8x10 b/w glossy; I've since lost the photo.
At one point in the record store, Paul stood up and held his hands straight in the air. Some jerk from the back threw a Creatures album his way, it flew like a frisbee over the heads of everyone, heading right for Paul. At the last second a fan stood tall and unintentionally took the album to the back of the head. I was sorry for the fan but was glad Paul was spared that throw.
My other shows were Animalize (2 dates, Glens Falls NY, and Springfield MA), Asylum 3 dates (Glens Falls, Worcester, Springfield), Crazy Nights 2 dates (including Manchester NH), Revenge 2 dates (including Great Woods, in MA), an acoustic meet and greet around 1992 in Boston, where Gene, Paul, Bruce and Eric Singer somewhat reluctantly signed my Eric Carr photo (I still have this keepsake). I last saw the band on Psycho Circus in Boston. So I've been fortunate enough to see all the guys play: Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace, Bruce, Eric Carr, Eric Singer, and Vinnie Vincent. I missed Mark St. John on his Pougkipsee, NY gig.
During Asylum, two of the shows I saw were sequential (December 19th and 20th 1985), so I was able to meet the band in their Worcester hotel lobby and hallway. I have a few photos of Gene, Paul, and Bruce. I have a shot of Paul in an elevator; I kept hitting the door open button to say hello. He was cool about it. I told him it was my banner he held up the night before in Glens Falls, he said, "the Merry Kissmas one?" I said "Yeah." I'd been 2nd row center and had chucked the banner (actually a bedsheet) to him just before I Still Love You. He unfurled it, read it privately for a moment to make sure it was OK, then held it up for all to see. He then wrapped it around his shoulder like a shawl and played the song. I took photos of all this but haven't gone thru them in a long, long time.
During Eric's drum solo, his kit was moved forward and we really got to see him play. He was using the Simmons electric drums in his kit for the first time. They sounded great, everyone who's seen that solo knows the tune he played as he would hit the Simmon's, each programmed to a different chord, and then he'd play his acoustic drums to the Simmons chords. Really cool! Unfortunately, I had a bad experience immediately after his drum solo; as he stood on his seat to acknowledge the crowd, he yelled a nasty phrase that I heard clear as a bell, I was that close. I don't know why this happened, or what prompted him to do that. He was not miked. The crowd loved his solo, though.
I was lucky enough to meet Eric Singer at a clinic in 1996ish. I told him I loved his playing on Black Sabbath's The Eternal Idol. He was happy I knew he played on that album. We had a very quick moment to chat so I asked, what was the better experience, Kiss or Sabbath? (as he was now out of Kiss and put on a year's retainer during the reunion talks). He said Musically Sabbath was more rewarding, but as far a working together as a band, and enjoying the experience, Kiss was better.
Being a Kiss fan in the 1981-83 time period was very rough in Massachusetts. Kiss was not highly regarded, not at all. It got a lot better after Lick It Up. But yeah, there was a lot of scorn for Kiss in the early '80's. That was OK, it didn't matter to me. I really loved the band and the whole presentation.
I have lots of stories to share regarding Kiss; I hope to read yours as well!
Regards,
Ara
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