Some of you reading may know me from the two books I have written about the band, BLACK DIAMOND and BLACK DIAMOND 2. You may also have seen my comments here in there on other websites (along with the Asylum), or even had picked up one of the fanzines I used to do, STRANGE WAYS and KISS FORUM. So, within the past year, I've been pretty visible in KISS circles and some people do feel that I have an idea of what I'm talking about when I write about the band (I said "some" people, I've already heard from the people that don't agree with that statement). Still, I don't expect everyone to know who I am or even about the books necessarily.
I won't bore you with a biography about me (and this relates to something I will make a point about here in a few paragraphs); not only because I don't feel it is that important, but also because I KNOW it will be boring. The reasons I am doing it are several: one, it is a great way for me to keep in touch with fans about the band; two, it may help me come up with topics that I can expand into future writings about the band; and, three, it just keeps me writing. The third reason is very important to me, because, as with any artform, writing is a developmental procedure and one has to keep at it at all times or else one grows stale or simply tired of it.
So, what will the column be about in relation to the band? Well, the first column was pretty easy -- I'm just introducing myself here and getting away with not writing much about the band at all. (It's easy work, if you can find it.) As to columns from this point forward, well, here's a few things they WON'T be about:
1) "So-called KISS fan, (name of person): Dink or scuzzball?"What I hope to do with this column is talk about KISS topics from my perspective. It may be about a tour from the past, or about the next album. It could just be about something that only connects with the band in a small way. Further more, while I am joking a bit in the reasons listed above (and you will soon see that I tend to joke, probably a bit too much), I truly do want to avoid writing columns that are just stories about "Dale Sherman." Too often, writers tends to talk about themselves and not get to the point. I want to avoid this; after all, we are here to talk about KISS. Who cares about the writer?
2) Pictures of my trip to the beach.
3) "I am the KISS writer, bow down before your master!"
4) Pictures of Gene's trip to the beach.
5) The Stan Lee Disease: aimless and mercenary self-promoting of products that I will get a kickback on in some fashion.
6) Pointless discussions of "what if?" sceanrios. (Sure, they can be fun, but I think topics like "what if Vinnie had taken his shark-finned guitar and smashed it over Paul's head during a KISS show in 1983" is hardly getting me as the writer or you as the reader anywhere.)
7) Pictures of Vinnie smashing his shark-finned guitar over Paul's head at the beach.
8) "Who is a better guitarist -- Ace or Bruce?"
9) "Who is the better swimmer at the beach -- " okay, okay, you get the idea.
One final thought, don't expect me to know all the answers, or expect me to think I know all of the answers. Anytime you feel I'm out of step about something, feel free to let me know. In the same vein, allow me the opportunity to say things every so often that reflect my own personal opinions about things related to the band, good or bad. This is a place for discussion as well as news, and I want you to see what I am feeling about a topic just as I want to hear from you with your reactions as well.
Copyrighted (c) 1998 Dale Sherman / The KISS Asylum
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