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KISS & Makeup From: app.com By MARK VOGER Explosions, fireballs, confetti canons, stage blood -- it takes a lot to fuel a KISS concert. But there was a time, before the painted rockers' '70s breakthrough, when any onstage special effects were of the decidedly low-tech variety. "In the club days, of course, we could not do very much of anything," recalls bassist GENE SIMMONS, one of two founding members currently in the band along with singer-guitarist PAUL STANLEY. "I remember there was a red pail. And on the pail of what should have been water, it said 'Fire' on the outside, as in, 'In case of fire, use this pail.' And most people thought there was water inside the pail. "So in the early days before we could afford anything, during (the song) 'Firehouse,' we would fill that up with confetti. And of course, during the song, Paul would grab the pail and dowse the audience with the stuff, and they thought water was going to come out, but -- 'Oh, look at that! Confetti!' And then it was sort of fun." You can bet audiences will get more than a bucket of confetti during KISS' "Rock the Nation" tour, which is set to visit Holmdel on Sunday. Stanley and Simmons are being joined by guitarist TOMMY THAYER and drummer ERIC SINGER (in the costumes of on-again, off-again KISS members ACE FREHLEY and PETER CRISS, respectively). Opening the shows are '80s glam-rockers Poison, who've stolen a few tricks from KISS' makeup bag. When KISS' self-titled debut album hit stores in 1974, the band seemed like little more than a novelty act. But the following year, a hit song ("Rock and Roll All Nite") and platinum-selling live album ("Alive") catapulted the pancake-and-leather-wearing foursome to superstardom. "It was astounding, but on the other hand, we expected it," recalls Stanley. "We were certainly jubilant, but it was a time of adapting to this newfound success, where a year before, people just said, 'KISS who?' And now, we were virtually on the cover of every rock magazine at any given time. If they wanted to sell copies, we were on the cover. It was an amazing time, and we certainly enjoyed it tremendously." Thanks to the makeup, KISS members could enjoy this success in relative anonymity -- that is, except for Stanley. "I was recognized all the time," he recalls. "People wanted to believe that this was a Clark Kent/Superman situation. But the truth of the matter was, if you saw me walking down the street without makeup, I was still in 8-inch heels; I still had black, curly hair way past my shoulders; I was still over 6-feet-tall. "You either knew that the circus was in town, or it was a member of KISS. Because certainly, nobody ever mistook us for doctors." Minus makeup -- and minus Frehley and Criss -- KISS sustained its success through the '80s and '90s. In 1996, the original lineup reunited in costume. Ever since, KISS has worn the makeup onstage. Some KISS members have complained about having to slap on all of that face powder, but not Stanley. "You know, the makeup has always been such an important part of our success," the singer says. "I think to find any downside to it is just showing disrespect or a lack of gratitude for the success we've been given. I always say that if you win the lottery, don't complain about the taxes. "The makeup is a badge of honor. It always has been. It's a way of really magnifying, not necessarily only our personalities, but the personalities of our fans." Stanley and company work hard for that response at shows. The 62-year-old singer is asked if aging ever crosses his mind when contemplating yet another tour. "Aging is a fact of life; it just doesn't have to be death," he says with a laugh. "There's no reason you can't, you know, hold your ground. I have to say that every time I hit the stage, I'm well aware that the people who could come close to what I'm doing can be counted on one hand. And you wouldn't need all of your fingers, either." |
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