With KISS, A Dollar Outweights Honesty
By: Wayne Milliken

You know, before I start my opinions on KISS and yadda-yadda-yadda, I hope Gene "Mr. Money Scheme" Simmons and Paul "Stagely" read these essays. I believe that they serve as pulse on what the fans are thinking.

One problem with the current mindset of the band (Chaim and Stan) is that they really believe that the fans are intrested in all this merchandising. No one cares about the beanies. No one cares about the golf balls or whatever. When it comes to KISS, all I care about is that they put out a honest record and a tour that will be talked about for the ages.

I've a KISS fan since 1976. Right around Destroyer was when I realized this sure wasn't the Gay City Rollers or Leif Garrett. Since then, the band had its ups and downs, but throughout it all, they put out an entertaining product, until recently. It all started with "Sucko Circus." I admit, the title track is one of the top 10 KISS songs of all time. The song just comes out and blast you right in the face like a furnace. But the rest of the record makes the Bullet Boys sound like Grammy nominees. The record was predictable and limp, just like a 99 cent hot dog at a car dealership opening. But I held out hope for the tour, hoping it would leave me with a hoarse throat. But noooooo, the song list was horrible. The 3D was cool at first, but then it just got obnoxious. Nothing like the band hyping up a "diamond" of a show and getting a cubic zirconia. I never want to hear "RARAN" or "Let Me Go Rock And Roll" again live. I thought the Super Bowl show was gonna rock. I was hoping they'd play "Psycho Circus'' or "I Love it Loud.'' Wrong!!

For anyone that witnessed that Monday Nitro debacle, that was the lowest point in KISStory. They lipsynced "God of Thunder"!! Heres the kicker, WCW has dropped that Demon character! Liberace may have been fruity, but at least he was honest about what he did.

This band has lost sight of what they do best. They believe KISS fans will accept anything the band puts its name on. Time is running out for these guys. This isn't the right time to pay homage to Lon Chaney. This isn't the right time to put out movies that gross less than an "Ernest" movie. Paul and Gene are listening to what their accountants say, more so than their hearts.

I recall a quote that Gene said recently: "KISS will be putting out golf balls, but I don't know what KISS and golf have in common." That tells me all they care about is the almighty dollar. The band has over-exposed the merchandising of the name, and under exposed sincerity toward the fans. KISS is nothing without fans.

As far as a Farewell Tour goes, that started sometime ago when the dollar meant more than putting out an honest product. This band it seems is getting its own farewell from the fans, when it should be the other way around.

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