The Kings Are Dead, Long Live The Kings!
By: "Tuckers"

I am a relatively new person to KISS Asylum, but I can say that I have been amused, inspired and even ^%$*$ off at some of the things written in this forum. As a LONG time KISS fan (and I mean hardcore) I had to give my two cents worth in the OLD vs NEW debate.

Here is a fact. Real KISS ceased to exist after the release of the four Solo records. What do I mean? After their release the band KISS never regained its form. Yes, they put out a lot of albums with KISS logos on them, but those albums sure were not KISS. If you really get out the first 8 albums and then listen to everything after you have to see what I mean. KISS started out as a rock n roll band, and there are not many of those left. Either by poor management or BIG egos it was turned into (in order of appearance) a sick pop band, a strange version of the Moody Blues, a metal band, a spandex and hair band, a metal band again, a grunge band, and finally a band trying to sound like old KISS.

Another thing that makes me laugh is all of the people rating OLD/NEW KISSES against each other! The new "Aces" Vinnie/Mark/Bruce while technically superior guitar players, had not the originality, power or presence of Ace. You could take any of them and plug them in and it did not matter. Ace was the KISS sound. The other three were sidemen to the Paul and Gene SO-CALLED KISS. In stage presence alone Ace blew these other guys off the stage. In fact, during the Animalize tour Bruce played under the name Mysterious Mr. X. That name fits all of KISS's Ace replacements.

I love Eric Carr. I also think his clone Eric Singer is an awsome drummer, but Peter Criss played like no one before or since in rock n roll. His style is so unusual that it made the REAL KISS different from all of those plodding 4/4 time drummers in rock. Peter never had the greatest chops in the world, but all you new young drummers try and play his beats (and I mean play them right, don't just play along to the songs) and you will see what drumming is about. I love Paul and Gene, but they are not KISS. KISS is and always will be Paul/Gene/Ace/Peter -- those four together, no pretenders.

Finally, the KISS albums. I bought 'em as they were released and I know what they are all about.

KISS -- Rock and roll
HOTTER THAN HELL -- Raw rock and roll
DRESSED TO KILL -- Fun rock and roll
ALIVE! -- THE GREATEST RNR ALBUM OF ALL TIME
DESTROYER -- Great Rockers, great sound, great follow up
ROCK N ROLL OVER -- Great return to the classic KISS sound
LOVE GUN -- The weakest of the first eight
ALIVE II -- Some great cuts, some crappy cuts, side 4 ROCKS

All other albums by the original four are basically solo albums and they sound like it. CREATURES was the best album by post Peter KISS. I am also one of the few that enjoy the Elder (it is a hell of a lot better since the put the tracks in the right order -- it actually makes sense!!). The rest are just Paul and Gene solo albums. I look at them the same way as I look at Frehley's Comet or any of Peter's post KISS work. They are good to bad, heck some are even great, but they ain't KISS. PSYCHO CIRCUS I really like, but it seems as though it was only a half hearted try. I read where people on here said that KISS just grew up, that they can't just be fun and rock n roll all nite now that they are men. Stupid comment. All I need to say is AC/DC. They haven't grown up. Why should KISS?

I, on the other hand, have grown up. Face it, KISS doesn't care about us any more. They have their $$. They are just going through the motions trying to collect all of the dough they can grab. They can't even get along for one album. When they were hungry they rocked, but they ain't hungry anymore. I want a REAL new album by the FAB FOUR. Not a counterfeit being passed off as a group effort. If they can't do that what is the point of touring? I know more $$! If they can't do that I wish they would go back to their solo projects, at least I can enjoy those for what they are, little pieces of a once great rock and roll machine.

In closing, I gotta say KISS "the music" is the greatest. KISS the people are just that, people. They are not Gods like I once thought, just four guys making kick ass rock, and they can't even get that right anymore. Maybe they are too old? Maybe I am too old, but when I put on those ELITE EIGHT I feel sixteen again. I still buy all the records, but they don't make the hair on my neck stand up like the first time I put on DESTROYER and "Detroit" pumped outta my stereo.

THE KINGS ARE DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KINGS!

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