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An Interview with Alexander Krivtsov, PAUL STANLEY's bass playerFrom: KISSRevenge Posted: October 2, 2007 1. Tell us what you've been doing before working with Paul on Live To Win tour? I was born in Leningrad. I started my musical education at age 5 playing classical guitar. One day my Mom read an ad in the paper looking for kids to audition for the kids band "Raduga," but by the time we got to the place across the town they had already chosen the guitar player, so they asked me if I wanted to play bass and the rest is history... After that I got a call from the band "SOUZ" with Igor Romanov from "Zemlyane". That was my first touring gig - I think I was 16 or so... Then my Mom got a call from Vladimir Kisilev of "Zemlyane" and he asked my Mom if she would be OK with it if I joined "Zemlyane." So thats how my professional career started. We did a lot of touring, 9 months out of the year, 4-5 shows a day! 6 days a week! When I tell that to my friends in America, nobody really believes me that was possible. In 1991 Desmond Child, the famous songwriter/producer, was putting together a joint venture project, and I got offered to leave "Zemlyane" and go to the United States, so I did just that. I stayed and worked in NY for one year, then Desmond project fell apart. At that time Valera Gaina of "Cruise" was about to record a record in Nashville, and he asked if I would be interested in joining him. We had a great time doing the record together, he is an amazing musician! After I was done with that I had the choice to go back home and rejoin "Zemlyane" or [stay in the States] so I went to Los Angeles instead with $200 in my pocket. I slept couple of days on the beach, then my friend Boris Zosimov was visiting LA from Moscow and he helped me out and I stayed with his friends until I got a job and was able to get my own place. After a few months in LA, I started checking out the music scene. I then got into a band with Phil Lewis of "LA Guns." We did the summer tour, it was totally different experience from touring in Russia. Then one night, I think it was around 1:00 am, my phone rang, and the guy's voice said "are you Sasha? This is Duff MacKagan from 'Guns and Roses.'" I thought it was someone joking, so I hung up on him!!! He called again and we talked, and he asked me to play with him on his solo record. I did that for about 3-4 months. After that I toured with a band called "New Radicals." I also recorded and toured with Billy Idol for about two years, Then I got the call to do the TV show Rock Star and I did that for two years. That's how PAUL STANLEY discovered us ("The House Band"), he loved the show, and called us to be his band on his tour. And of course we said YES!!!! 2. Who were your influences? I grew up listening to Chic Corea and Stanley Clark. Rock was prohibited back then in the early 80's so I listened to what was available in the black market. 3.Who have you played with before Paul? Like I mentioned before I played with Billy Idol, with New Radicals, Duff McKagan of GNR, Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, I did play on James Blunt's record, and with Badly Drawn Boy. I also played on the sound tracks for the motion pictures "About A Boy", "Shrek 2" and "Collateral." I also recorded with Enrique Englesias and Enaya to name a few... 4.Were you a KISS fan before working with Paul? I was a big Fan of KISS. 5.What do you remember about KISS from your childhood? She was about 5 ft tall with the blue eyes... Ahh, you're asking about the band KISS.... What I remember was that you could go to Jail for listening KISS, they were claimed to be "NAZI" band!!!! What a bunch of bullshit from the Russian Government!!! 6.How long have you know Paul and how did you two meet? After we got the call from Paul, he invited all of us for dinner in this very upscale restaurant. He was unbelievable down to earth, we had a great time. Dinner lasted about 4 hours! 7.What was Pauls' reason for taking you on Live To Win tour? As Paul said, I'm his favorite bass player with the short tongue :) 8.What was your first impression of Paul? Did you have any thoughts on what he would be like before you met him that were totally different from how he actually is? You know, when you meeting star of Paul's caliber you never know what your going to get, but Paul was very easy going and made us feel very comfortable. 9. What do you think about Paul's first CD and how does Live To Win compare to it? Are they similar in any way, very different etc? I think both of the records are great. I think "Live To Win" goes with the time it was done in 2000 era. Great production, great songs. 10.Do you have a favorite song(s) off of Live To Win set-list? What songs did you like to play on Live To Win tour? I love "Lift" and "Live To Win". 11.What was it like playing in front of KISS fans for the first time? The KISS Army and KISS fans are amazing. It was really cool to see 8 years old kids dressed like Paul and their fathers dressed like Paul as well, the age spectrum is crazy! From toddlers to adults. 12.Any memorable jams during sound-checks? What songs were performed at sound-checks that were not on the set-list? We jammed on some Zeppelin tunes, Paul's favorite band. The set was rehearsed before the tour, so we did not add any new songs along the way. 13.What kind of guitars and equipment did you use? I've been endorsed by Music Man for a few years, so they are my main basses. I use Gallien Kruger amps and Cabinets. I normally don't use any pedals. 14.What was the mood in tour bus with Paul? Any behind the scenes stories you can pass on to us? It was the best tour I've ever done. I had my friends from the House Band with me, and we get to go and Rock out with Paul!!! What else can you ask for! 15.What was the daily routine like on a show day? Wake up, talk to my wife and kids, go to the gym, talk to my wife and kids, sound check around 4 p.m., talk to my wife and kids. Dinner with Paul and the band, singing good night songs to my kids, Play the show....... get on the phone with my wife in my hotel room and play Barry White in the back ground, if you know what i mean:) 16.Were the shows well attended? It was always 75% or more. 17.What's the most surprising thing that happened during Live To Win tour? GENE SIMMONS showing up back stage after the first show. He opens the door to the dressing room and goes: "Aren't you all happy to meet me?" He is really funny guy. 18.So how did you like working with Paul and Live To Win tour team? Loved it! Hope we can do it again . 19. Did you and Paul hang out other than when you were on stage? All the time. We had great dinners together, talk about everything. We flew on his private jet couple of times. 20. What the difference between American and Australian audiences? I don't think it's much of a difference between American and Australian audiences. People come to the show for the love of rock'n'roll and KISS music. 21.Speaking about Australian tour, what did you like about Australia? Was it your first visit to Downunder? That was my first Australian tour. It's a great country with great people. And I had a Kangaroo meat for the first time! 22. Back in 1999 KISS cancelled 3 shows in Russia. Did you hear the reason (directly from Paul) why they cancelled the shows in Russia? I heard from Paul that there was some kind of political discrepancy, so KISS's manager decided that it was not safe for them to be there at that time. 23. Did you ever speak with Paul about possible tour in Russia? I think KISS is planing to go to Russia in the near future. We did talk about Russia a lot. Paul is a very intelligent and well educated man and is fascinated by the Russian culture. 24. Did Paul show you his guitar collection? I did see some of Paul's guitars. And play some of them as well. No magic tricks :) I think guitar is a guitar, It just important how you play it. 25.Would you work with Paul again? Any time, day or night! 26. Does Paul have on plans to tour in Europe? I have not heard about any European plans. 27. Did you ever meet any other members of KISS? Can you tell us how it was?NR?NR? I've met Gene. Ace was supposed to be at the show in Ney York but for some reason did not make it. 28. Recently Paul had a heart attack before the show in San Juan Jacinto on July 27th. KISS performed as a trio! Did you call him to ask if he is OK? To set the record straight it was not a heart attack. Paul has a heart condition that is very common - I have the same thing by the way. It's an irregular heartbeat. It's not to be taken lightly, but it is also not life threatening. 29.When did you speak with Paul for the last time? I spoke to Paul yesterday, He is doing totally fine. I told him that I'm doing interview with you, and he sends his regards to all of the KISS fans of Russia! 30. I read your bio on your Website and it sound like you've had quite the adventure between the music industry and your painting. So are you musician first or painter? I've been a professional musician for most of my life. So I'm definitely a musician first. I love to paint, I bring easel and paints with me on the road and I have a studio in Los Angeles. I paint whenever I have the time. 31. We talked with friends about your paintings and the response to your works has been very positive. How it happens that you started painting? I started drawing from the time I was 5. I started painting seriously since I met my wife Deon (she is Jamaican and Portuguese) about 14 years ago. We both share the love for art. She inspires me to paint and be creative. 32.How you can describe your style of painting? I'm a self taught artist so I got my education from art books and museums. My early works reflect Dali influences. I love Latin artists like Tomayo and Rivera. I love Francis Bacon. I work with oil and industrial paint and I normally don't use brushes, I use knives. 33. Can you tell us about one of your paintings called "KISS"? It seems very similar to the "Been Caught Buttering" (1992) cover from Pungent Stench. I'm going to check on the Been Cought Buttering cover. That's the old painting, I was looking through the photograph book and I saw a picture of two old men kissing, so That's how that painting came along. I have a lot of new paintings, I will update my Website www.desaart.com very soon. 34. Would you have an art exhibit in Russia where we can see and buy your art? I would love to have an exhibit in Russia, specially in my hometown. We'll see if I can make it happen. 35. Are you selling prints or just the paintings? I'm getting in to printing more and more. But I've been selling paintings for the most part. 36. Do you like Paul's paintings? Did you ever visit his art exhibits in US? I've been to Paul's house and I've seen most of his work. It's really good. He is more of an abstract painter. He loves Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollack. 37. You paint, Paul paints, you two have the same desire. You probably spent a lot of times talking the art? We talk about art all the time. He use to hang out with Andy Warhol, Back in New York city. So he has lot's of cool stories. 38. Are you still speaking Russian? I will always speak Russian, I talk Russian to my sister Lena who lives here in Los Angeles as well. I'm trying to speak Russian to my kids, but some times it gets difficult. But it's my goal to make sure that they speak Russian. 39. What's next for you? What are you doing on this moment? Any plans? At this moment I'm packing my bags to go to Russia for 3 weeks with my family. After that there is a possibility to go on the road with Thin Lizzy. We'll see what happens. 40. Anything else you'd like to say to the KISS and Paul fans? Thank you for your support. And to rock out with PAUL STANLEY on the Russian stage would be a dream come true. 42.Thank you for this interview. Also I would like to thank you from all the mighty Russian KISS Army for playing with Paul. We were so proud for you and for our country. Thank you guys it meens a lot to me! Roken roll navsegda!!!!!! |
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