All For The Sake Of $$$
By: Hunter Goatley

I do feel somewhat vindicated by the "Sound Off!" posts. As many people know and many more never knew, I started the first KISS mailing list on Internet back in '92, and started the second KISS web site (Aure beat me by a week or two). I had been a KISS fan since 1976, through thick and thin, sticking with the band when it was no longer fashionable to do so, sticking all the way through the '80s, and into the '90s. Around the time of the KISS Konventions in '95, I was beginning to think that Gene and Paul were serious about caring about the fans, and just plain enjoying being KISS.

Then the Reunion came. I had no problem with the Unplugged Reunion. Good for them. Then came the news that they were planning a Reunion Tour---no new album, putting the makeup back on, getting rid of Eric and Bruce, and pretending it was 1977 again. All this despite years of Paul saying that it would be pathetic for them to put the makeup back on and go back out that way.

Over the months leading up to the Reunion Tour, I was incredibly skeptical, but still thought maybe it was a one-shot thing. The closer it got, the more I saw that it wasn't. And those first shows, based on video footage I had seen, verified for me that KISS was dead. What had taken its place was the world's best KISS tribute band. At that point, I decided enough was enough. I never attended a Reunion Tour show---why should I? I saw them 3 times back in the '70s, the first time around.

Then the merchandising started again. And everything Gene and Paul had been saying for years was tossed out the window in search of the Almighty Dollar. Well, no more for me. I stopped collecting KISS stuff, I got rid of the stuff I had (except the CDs---I *still* love the *MUSIC*, the one thing KISS seems to care nothing about). And I stopped the KISSARMY mailing list. At the time, I received countless dozens of messages from people criticizing me for not being a real fan, saying that the Reunion would be wonderful, etc. I maintained that I saw things going way overboard, just as they did in the '70s. People told me I was wrong, and, again, that I wasn't a real fan.

So, here we are, some 5 years later, and I see my predictions have come true, and that people are now making the same comments I made 5 years ago, when the rumors first started. Welcome to reality. Gene has once again forgotten that *WE* the fans put KISS where they are. As others have noted, even Paul is doing anything but KISS these days.

For me, KISS died in late 1995, when Eric and Bruce were replaced with the original members all for the sake of more $$$ screwed out of the fans.

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