#930 KISS – You wanted the best?

“You wanted the best. You got the best. The hottest band in the world – KISS!”

As far as I can tell, that famous line was said by JR Smalling, who was the first tour manager for KISS. He said it at the beginning of their 1975 live album ‘Alive’.

I heard something over the weekend that made me smile. It seems KISS is going to be getting a residency at Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. It makes sense really. Hard Rock has a nice 4,500 seat concert venue called The Joint. The Hard Rock Hotel is right across the street from Monster Mini Golf that I mentioned in an earlier post.

I have seen KISS perform live several times and even met bassist Gene Simmons at The Venetian hotel in Las Vegas. The shows are amazing, or at least were then, so I am looking forward to checking them out when they perform in Las Vegas. The article I read said they should be starting up in Fall 2014.

I wonder how much they are getting paid for this? I know they have their hands in so many things and are making bank everywhere they turn. I remember bassist Gene Simmons saying something about a show they played in Brazil brought in five million dollars. It cost one million to put on the show leaving four million for each of the four band members to split. One million dollars for one night’s work. I don’t know if that is true or not and maybe someone could correct or confirm in the comments.

I am not sure when I was introduced to the music of KISS though I do remember it was by my cousin Michael. I suppose it must have been around 1977 because I remember the song Shock Me which was on their 1977 album Love Gun. It was written by lead guitarist Ace Frehley, who made his lead vocal debut. I remember Michael told me Ace could play so fast because there was a button on his guitar that would give Ace a little shock. I think Michael watched too many Wile E. Coyote cartoons.

The kids ate up those sort of stories though. Sadly so did the parents. The parents did not like the kids listening to KISS because they parents were convinced KISS where devil worshipers and smashed puppies with their high heeled boots and drank real blood. They said Gene Simmons had a cow tongue surgically implanted onto his own tongue. Besides, they said, KISS was an acronym for Knights In Satan’s Service so… Fortunately for me Aunt Barbara let us listen all we wanted. She knew better. She knew, like Gene Simmons said, that they were just a band and it was just a business. Guitarist Paul Stanley came up with the name as he, Simmons, and Drummer Peter Criss were driving around New York City. Criss mentioned that he was in a band called Lips, so Stanley said something to the effect of “What about Kiss?”.

I am sure KISS is going to be bringing in plenty more business to Las Vegas when their residency starts at Hard Rock. I know I for one will be there. And I will be all smiles.

What do you think about KISS? Who was / is your fave band member? Ring in in the comments section.