Wake Up Guys!
By: Steve Baginskie

I have been a KISS fan since the early seventies. I'm the guy they talk about when they mention their fans defending the "KISS Honor" in grade school with a savage tongue, and bloody fists. I own everything from the complete CD collection, to dolls, to comic books. I've seen them live countless times and have met them all, minus Peter. I love KISS... I love what they stand for! That is until now. Now I see what they really are all about -- $$!! Before everyone starts thinking that I'm just bitching for the sake of bitching, let me explain.

First of all, KISS made a lot of dreams come true when Ace and Peter rejoined the band. I was in Heaven! I bought the KISS Army gear, I went to as many shows as I could afford, I was having fun again; the kind of fun only KISS could bring me! Next came the album, Psycho Circus. We'd been waiting forever and a day for this event. Then the first listen -- no sex song, 10 tracks that don't even last an hour. Then the fact that "hired guns" played on some of the album! OK, I'll deal with it. I read in Metal Edge an interview with Gene Simmons in which he was bragging how this will be the "ultimate KISS concert expierence"! 3-D!! Paul flying out into the crowd!! New songs!! I can't wait!!

The next thing I know, KISS is in Miami for the Super Bowl show. Then that's it until further notice for U.S. tour dates! I live in the Tampa area and I was psyched that they were here!! Imagine my reaction when I could not get tour dates for my area! Imagine my reaction when I heard the U.S. portion of the tour had been postponed! Then to top it all off, how about Paul Stanley taking time off from KISS to do The Phantom of the Opera!?! I thought this time around KISS was to be everbody's FIRST priority!! What happened guys? When can the rest of your fans that you celebrate in song and interviews get to see you? Gene, you talk a lot about money lately -- how about honestly taking care of the fans that put it in your pocket to begin with?!

Wanna know a big reason DRC flopped? Pissed off fans! I must admit that not promoting it on TV, and the crappy lobby poster didn't help either. Again, you counted on your millions of fans flocking to all that is KISS. While I'm at it, let me mention your set list (the one you're playing when you decide to tour that is!), why not non-make-up songs? Who cares if Ace and Peter don't wanna play them? WE bought those albums, WE supported KISS during those years, and WE deserve to hear the songs WE love!!! How often did either Bruce or Eric bitch about playing songs they didn't write? The 80's were an era of KISS that should be remembered.

I guess I've said enough. I do still love KISS... I always will. It's just kinda of like that girlfriend who screws you over: you give her all you can, you devote time and money to her, you fight with family and friends over her, she tells you she loves you... then screws you over! Wake up guys! Start rocking again before we move on and get on with our lives.

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