It Just Gets Worse...
By: AJ

After reading the "Sound Off" submissions of my fellow fans, I had to write in to offer my 2 cents.

First of all, let me give you a background so you know where I coming from. I first heard KISS blaring out of my cousin's bedroom when I was six years old. I swear the sound was hypnotic. After asking what that unbelievable sound was, my cousin holds up Destroyer and says "the new KISS record". When I saw what they looked like, I was hooked. From then on, birthdays and Christmas, all I asked for was anything that had the band name on it. Every Halloween, I was always my favorite member, Ace. Well, almost 23 years later, I'm still here... but not for long. And I'm quite sure there are a lot of stories out there just like mine. Now, please allow me to "Sound Off."

To begin with, it seems painfully obvious that Gene & Paul know it's over. They've thrown their efforts into other projects that have nothing to do with KISS and simply benefit their egos. I don't blame Paul for doing the Phantom, but you don't put the brakes on a tour unless people aren't buying cds and tickets. They've admittedly done it with other tours and now again. If Psycho Circus and the subsequent mini tour had sold somewhat better, I bet the band would be doing a second US leg right now. Instead, Paul is busy trying to act, Gene is busy doing everything else and Ace & Peter are left to their own devices probably regretting they agreed to anything past the Reunion Tour. So now the fans are left in the cold wondering what happened to a tour that was supposed to be the tour to end all tours. I am especially pissed and let me tell you why.

On the Reunion Tour, I saw them twice. The first show in San Jose, the night after in Sacramento. Well, I was lucky enough to get 10th row seats for the first show and 16th row for the next. Yes, I had a great time at both shows and lost my voice singing along. When I heard they were coming back, I couldn't wait, especially after hearing about Paul's new flying trick. Well, a year or so later, tickets go on sale for shows in Reno and San Francisco. I get up way too early in the morning on a Saturday to get in line for Reno tickets and do the same on Sunday for the SF show. I was lucky enough to get 3rd row for Reno and 2nd row, dead center for San Francisco. And then, the un-f*ckin-believeable..... shows are cancelled! We were told that the last dates of the US tour had to be cancelled due to the fact that KISS had to be in Germany to do a festival and would not be able to get all their gear to Germany in time if they did the last three dates. Yes, let's screw the US fans, the ones that have supported us from day one to go please Festival goers in Germany that probably didn't know who KISS was until the late 70's. KISS, in some sort of weak effort to apologize, tells magazines and fans, "We will make it up to them on the next tour by starting there". How long has it been since the Dodger stadium show?? Can you tell I'm a little bitter?

If they actually listened to the fans, the band would either be on tour or working on a new record that would only include the four. I think if KISS was smart (yeah, right), they would let everyone know this is it, it's over. They would go do another convention tour with every member who has ever been in the band as a final tour. It would open at noon and go until midnight. It would basically have the same format has the previous convention tour with some minor changes. Instead of hotel ballrooms or whatever, they would hold them at actual convention centers. They could have footage from different eras of the band on different projection screens. They could have demos, rare live material, etc. playing over the PA. They could do a much longer Q&A. Finally, when they have there jam session, they would actually focus on songs they have never played live before and since all the members are there, they can cover their entire catalog. I would love to hear live versions of X In Sex, Mr. Blackwell, Torpedo Girl, Not For The Innocent, Charisma, not to mention side 4 of Alive II. Finally, they would hand out the infamous box-set to all the fans which would come with the price of admission. You could then get in line to have the boxset and/or whatever else autographed by whichever member you wanted. This would also be an opportunity for the band to say thanks for making us millionaires several times over, for sticking with us when everyone else thought we sucked, for actually spending $100.00 on things that cost them $15.00 to manufacture.

They need to admit it's over. They have done things that no other band will be able to do, but they have lost their ability to go out on top. They will not top the Reunion Tour. They will not put out an album that makes fans of 70's KISS happy. In fact, I doubt they will put out another album with new material on it period. We have seen all their tricks and we are tired of them milking it until the cow is dead. The cow has been dead for a while now and the carcas stinks.

I will always love this band and cherish the memories and certain collectibles I have attained over the last 20 years. It is now time to move on and say "We Love You, Good Night" for a final time.

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