Meeting Paul Stanley and KISS
On marketing and limits
Meeting my Heroes is an occasional essay series from Matt Carmichael.
“Once upon a time there was a band that gave its all on stage and shook the stage with bombs and dazzled an audience,” Paul Stanley, the star-painted lead singer and guitarist of Kiss told me in a piece I wrote for Live Nation that appeared in the Sun-Times. It was a phone interview, but I got to meet him, too.
Like Joey Ramone, the dudes from KISS believe fully and full-throatedly that KISS is the best band in the history of the world. I respect that attitude, as mentioned. Other things, I respect less…
KISS is absolutely a great band and a fun one and one that leans into the entertaining spectacle of it all. It’s possible that if you haven’t seen them, you’ve missed your chance. Or at least to see the humans of the band. Supposedly they’ll be back as holograms or avatars or some tech-enabled representation of what used to be some of the best, loudest, explosive and raucous shows around. I saw them a couple of times at what was then the Tweeter Center, where I was house photographer. As such, I was asked to shoot a meet-and-greet for VIPs (fans who had paid extra for the chance to get their picture taken with their heroes.) Some of the venue staff also hopped in for pictures, and I asked if Paul and Gene Simmons would sign some photos I took of them at a previous performance. Gene is, the bassist and arguably the brains and long-tongued face of the brand and machine that is KISS, the corporation. He’s also a hit with the ladies.
In the spirit of the Albert Maysels line I’ve used before, the job of the photographer is to see what everyone else sees but notice more. I like to watch the interactions of the band and especially what’s going on away from the spotlight. Sometimes, like with Poi Dog, I catch the sly glances, the non-verbal communications and try to capture all the things that maybe others miss.
With KISS, the moment I remember was a bit less subtle.
Mid-show, I saw Gene seemed to be scanning the crowd. Then I realized he had a guy helping him. Gene would point to (almost all blond) women in the audience, or the guy would shine a flashlight at someone and Gene would nod or shake his head. At one point Gene pointed and the guy shone his flashlight and Gene seemed to approve of the choice. But the guy shook his head. Gene looked at him like, “What? What’s the problem, dude.” The guy pantomimed a wedding ring. Again, Gene looked at him like, “What? What’s the problem, dude.”
It’s rough getting older. And having times change around you. Not that that was ever right, but even 20 years ago it was way wrong.
But that little vignette aside, I always appreciated their music, but more importantly their work ethic and their ability to market themselves and find all kinds of ways to entertain and connect with fans, from action figures to comic books and now to digital avatars. There will always be room for KISS on stage and off, although maybe not-so-much with the backstage anymore.
Here’s the piece I wrote for the Sun-Times advertorial section.
KISS promises to pump it up at Tweeter Center
“Once upon a time there was a band that gave its all on stage and shook the stage with bombs and dazzled an audience,” Paul Stanley, the star-painted lead singer and guitarist of Kiss told the Sun-Times.
While Stanley spins it like a fairy tale, Kiss shows are truly the subject of rock myth. Pyrotechnics, flying band members, broken guitars and outrageous costumes are the norm. And then there’s the music: full-length over- powering sets of nonstop anthemic sonic assault. The ageless rock ’n’ roll extravaganza that is Kiss will return to the Tweeter Center in Tinley Park this summer with Poison on July 9. (Tickets, $25 to $78, are on sale now.)
The Sun-Times caught up with Stanley as he and the rest of Kiss were gearing up for a three-night stay at Tokyo’s legendary arena, Budokan, and he gave us a little preview of the show and what the fans can expect to get for their hard-earned buck.
Kiss, which played the second-ever show at what was then the World Music Theater in 1990 and returned last year on a huge double bill with Aerosmith, can’t wait to get back to the south suburban amphitheater.
Q. ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING OUTDOORS AGAIN?
A. “It’s beyond empowering, it’s gorgeous to see as far as the eyes can see—humanity—and hands waving and lighters in the air,” said Stanley. “The amount of energy from a group of people that size being directed toward you is astounding. It’s like a locomotive coming out at you—a very good-looking locomotive I’ll add. There’s something about an outdoor show that’s very unlike an arena show. It’s a very unique feeling. The Tweeter Center is one of the better facilities, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s filled with people from Chicago.
Q. ARE YOU EXCITED BY THE MATCH UP WITH POISON?
A. “They’ve always been a party band. And going out during summer, particularly doing these outdoor venues, they’re the perfect atmosphere for a summer party and celebration. That’s part of the beauty of these outdoor venues. We thought they would be a great band to get things going. And they will! They’re determined to go out there and give the fans what they’re expecting. So it’s going to be a great summer night of rock ’n’ roll.”
Q. YOU’VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR SO LONG, HOW DO YOU KEEP IT FRESH FOR YOURSELF? A. “There’s something great about being in a band that you’re also a fan of. I’m not only a member of this band, I’m a big fan. The reason people come out to see us is because they know when they’re spending hard- earned money that they’re going to receive something for it, and that it’s going to be worth it. You’re not going to pay top dollar for a ticket to see us and see us come out and sit on stools on an oriental rug. You know where your money’s going. It’s around you and bombarding you sonically and visually and we’re going to work our ----- off. So it goes back to the old Kiss philosophy. ‘Were not doing you a favor by being there, you’re doing us a favor’ and now we have to work to be worthy of that.”
Q. WHAT CAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO FROM THE SET?
A. “The band is so energized and charged up. The show changes from night to night. It’s not unusual on any given night to hear ‘Makin’ Love’ or ‘Hotter than Hell’ or ‘Come On and Love Me’ or ‘Goin’ Blind’ or ‘All the Way’— songs that just have not been in the set list.
“There’s a whole lot more flexibility at this point. I think we became prisoners to our set lists in the sense that we and some of the fans believed that there were prerequisite songs that had to be in the set, and although that’s true, you can do that to such a degree that the set list doesn’t change.
“We’re blessed and cursed by having so many songs that are considered ‘Kiss classics’ that it’s easy to play those and find that you used up your whole time on stage.”
Q. TELL US ABOUT THE NEW STAGE SET-UP.
A. “Oh, the usual subtle things: people flying around and winding up in the middle of the audience. The stage has video walls incorporated into the amp lines for all kinds of effects.
“Kiss remains Kiss. The last thing we want to be is new Kiss. New Coke didn’t go over too well. We stick with what’s tried and true and what we believe in. What we wanted to do is polish it up and put some new features on the car.”
Q. WILL YOU BE BACK? HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO HANG UP THE PLATFORM BOOTS FOR GOOD?
A. “I’m the only one who can determine that. Some people determine that by how many people are coming to see them and that really is not of any consequence to me because you do something first and foremost because you love it.
“If on one tour there were 20,000 and on another 20, that’s probably 19 more people than you'll ever play for.”