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Lots and Lots of Hairspray From: Scranton Times Tribune by Reid Coploff Make-up, metal-studded costumes, fireworks, spandex and hairspray -- lots and lots of hairspray-- invaded Ford Pavilion at Montage Mountain July 23. And if you looked really hard, you might have even be able to see people under all that get-up. But don't look too hard, that would ruin the fun that comes from seeing life-size cartoons prancing around stage, sending light metal riffs careening through the amphitheater. Kiss and Poison, two bands, who a decade apart, were among the most popular bands in the country, brought high energy faux metal nostalgia to Montage. Though neither are touring to support new material, both bands seemingly have enough hits in their oeuvres to keep the faithful in a constant state of rawk. While Poison sports its original recording lineup (singer Brett Michaels, guitarist C.C. DeVille, bassist Bobby Dall and drummer Rikki Rockett), KISS contains only half of its original members. Just bassist GENE SIMMONS and singer/guitarist PAUL STANLEY remain from the band that first burst into the public consciousness in the '70s. Original drummer PETER CRISS and lead guitarist ACE FREHLEY left the band in the '80s (Criss in '80 and Frehley in '82). Both returned in 1996 for a wildly successful reunion tour, but a few years later things began to fall apart again. Criss left the band after its 2000 farewell tour in early 2001, rejoined for a tour with Aerosmith last year and then left again. He was replaced by ERIC SINGER, who had previously been the band's drummer from 1991 to 1996. In 2002, Frehley bolted after Simmons's autobiography featured disparaging remarks about the guitarist. He was replaced by newcomer TOMMY THAYER, formerly of hair metal band Black 'N' Blue. Kiss built a rabidly faithful "Army" of fans based on modestly successful albums and wildly theatrical concerts in the mid-'70s, which culminated with 1975's double live set "Alive!", the band's first top 10 album. The decade found the group laying down a stream of hits including the rollicking "Detroit Rock City," the power ballad "Beth," the disco hit "I Was Made for Loving You" and, of course, the ultimate party anthem "Rock and Roll All Nite." The band's most recent album, "KISS Symphony: Alive IV," was released a year ago and features the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. While the music might have been part of the band's success, the mystique that surrounds the band has certainly played at least an equal hand. From the band's inception until a great unveiling in 1983, the band members were never seen without makeup. The band went on sans the black and white kabuki-style makeup until the 1996 reunion tour. Each musician has an alter ego he becomes thanks to the costume and makeup. Simmons is "The Demon." Stanley is "The Starchild." Criss was "The Cat." And Frehley was "The Spaceman." Though the initial replacement members portrayed different characters, the newest replacements, Singer and Thayer, have made waves by wearing "The Cat" and "The Spaceman" costumes. From its initial rise to fame, KISS has been known for putting their faces on anything that will sell including comic books and the 1978 TV movie "KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park." More recently, KISS has provided its fans with not just the typical T-shirts and stickers, but also KISS Kondoms (a different type for each band member) and the $4700 autographed KISS Kasket. And if you're interested in using the KISS Kasket before you've, you know, died, you should know it doubles as a waterproof cooler. In another "big bucks" endeavor, KISS has teamed up with Clear Channel Entertainment's Instant Live to produce CDs of each show on its tour, which will be available about five minutes after the show. |
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