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KISS Still Big Business 35 Years OnFrom: ABC Posted: March 14, 2008 Rock and roll is big business these days and no one understands that more than American band KISS - one of the USA's biggest musical exports. Thirty-five years after their first performance, KISS are back in Australia to kick off another global tour with a concert at the Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne. And underneath the loud music, the big tongues and the make-up, are some astute business brains. The US might be suffering an economic slump but KISS' lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist PAUL STANLEY still says he wants to rock 'n' roll all night. "Good economy or no economy, we gave up doing this for money a long time ago," he said. "We do it because we love it, but we still like being paid, so you can pay us." KISS manager Doc McGhee says despite America's financial woes, the market for live entertainment is as strong as ever. "I think the concert business is pretty much bullet-proof," he said. "People, they're staying home, they're not travelling abroad because they don't have the money. If anything, it helps our economy. We're kind of recession-proof." Forbes magazine estimated that KISS earned $US48 million from its 1996 reunion tour and while those heady days are now gone, concerts are one part of the group's marketing machine. Stanley says the KISS logo can now be found on clothes, toys, even condoms and a funeral casket. "There's not many bands who could do something like that, so we just figured that between that and the condoms we could get you coming or going," he said. The band has a huge range of merchandise. "We sell about 2,700 products around the world, so we're the largest and biggest merchandising band of all times and have been for years," he said. Despite that output, Mr McGhee wants to avoid saturating the market. Some argue an overabundance of products led to a drop in the group's popularity in the 1970s. He says KISS's focus is now on the top end of the merchandise business. "Our displays of dolls and things that we do are collectable, they're not on the same rack as Power Rangers. It's just keeping the quality there," he said. And the deluge of products continues even though KISS's last recording of new songs came out 10 years ago. KISS co-founder GENE SIMMONS is an unashamed capitalist, appearing on Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice and running a marketing business. "Simmons Abrahams Marketing markets for the Indy car series, including the perennial and iconic Indy 500. This is our third year and it's coming to Australia," he said. Although one suspects it will arrive without the face paint and platform boots. |
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