The Original Was Always The Best
By: Kevin Goocher

As a KISS fan since 1976, like others I remember very clearly the impact they had on me.It was the Halloween season and the band appeared on the Paul Lynne Halloween Special. The show was fluff, all except the three songs "Detroit Rock City", "Beth", and "King of the Night Time World", preformed bt KISS. This moment in time changed my life forever. I went out and bought "Destroyer" the very next day. It took all the allowance I had saved up to that point and well worth ever penny. I remember going to school and everyone talking about KISS on the special and I remember everyone dressing up like KISS for trick or treating without even knowing how to do the make-up correctly. Such fond memories about the kind of events that were happening all over the world, but I didn't know that.

To me, KISS represented youth, freedom, power, excitement, and even sex all wrapped up in a nice little package I came to know as their newest L.P. (that's long play record or album to those of the CD generation). Each album I bought made me more of a fan, only wishing I had started earlier. At first it was Paul, then Gene, and Peter, and then Ace. I think the only reason it came in that order was the fact of who was singing and how many songs were being sung by each. As years went on all four members were writting and singing and that was the pinnacle for me as a fan. I thought of all four members as equals, as heros in my book and it remained that way until Peter and Ace left the band.

Although I've enjoyed the music created after Peter and Ace's departure ("Creatures of the Night" will always be a favorite), the original was always the best for me. Of course, there were many reasons for the fallout between Paul and Gene with Peter and then Ace. The bottom line to me was Gene and Paul ruled the roost. From day one they wrote and sang more songs and even their personas started out as a little larger than the other two. The deck was a little bit stacked, and now that Ace and Peter have returned home, I think it's even more that way now. I'm sure it's all just business and it doesn't make me hate them or love them any less.

KISS has always been larger than life. They've always had the greatest show on earth, but for me it's always been about the music. With the release of "Psycho Circus" my adrenalin shot through the roof with anticipation. I couldn't wait! The original line-up back and recording new music. I loved "Psycho Circus". It's a re-starting point for the band. But, in overview it seems Peter and Ace are getting the backseat a bit and this attitude can not be healthy for the longevity of the reunion. This situation happened before and KISS decided to release simultaneous solo albums. Look what sprung forth from it! Ace ended up with the the album of highest reguard, but all of the KISS organization benifited.

Granted Gene and Paul have stuck with it from the beginning and maybe monitarily they should receive more, but creatively it's the four of them. The originals! The best! I suggest the next release be similar to the solo albums, with each member writting and singing three songs each. All done the way KISS would do them. This totalling twelve songs. Then write one song together, a KISS anthem, to finish out the CD. A great KISS masterpiece leaving all four members their artistic integrity and artistic equality. It would make for a much happier partnership in hopes of keeping them together and here for fans like me just waiting for the next release (CD) and tour to follow.

KISS ASYLUM -- KISS Museum News Archive Features Tour Dates Photos