Quit Complaining -- It's Only Rock And Roll
By: David C. Hill

From what I can see from the various "Sound Off"s" posted on the Asylum, it seems to be rather trendy at the moment to complain about how the band conducts itself. I said rather trendy at the moment, but now that I think of it, there's always been a certain faction of the KISS Army (if they, indeed, are in the supposed Army) that has taken it upon themselves to complain -- ad nauseum -- about the band's every move, because it somehow doesn't fit their agenda, or some pre-conceived notion of how they think the band should operate.

THE MERCHANDISE: Hey, I don't know everyone else's situation, but when I was a teenager/adolescent, neither I nor my Mom had a lot of extra money to spend on the merchandise. I always had the money for the new album, and some of the trading cards, notebooks, magazines -- but I never saw a Mego doll in Wal-Mart at the time, nor a Van, or record player. What's more, the stuff I did have got lost and tore up over the years from being a careless kid (except for the beach towel -- and that's a real keeper).

Now that I can afford it, I buy quite a bit of the merchandise available now (and some of the old stuff too when I can find it). Some merchandise I find overpriced or unappealing, but I don't usually see too many things where both adjectives apply. Got all three sets of action figures, all the cars, the wine, first edition Beanies, XL headliners, the phone, trading cards, books, posters, money, plates, figurines.

Every artist these days is merchandised to some degree: Black Sabbath has die casts, Ozzy has action figures, country music singers have teddy bears AND cars, everybody has a T-shirt. So KISS has everything -- let 'em. They paved the way -- and not just 20 years ago, but even since the Reunion Tour -- for other artists to market themselves.

And if you don't like it -- don't buy it. Just quit complaining about it. KISS is as KISS does.

THE REUNION: I've been a fan for many years -- each and every year. I got to see them for the first time on the Dynasty tour in '79. The original band splintered, I'm still a fan. Some of the music in every decade with every line up was great -- some if it wasn't. Revenge AND Carnival of Souls were great albums. Hot in the Shade was a great tour. But the reunion was -- well, it was just a dream come true.

But some of the same faction of the Army will propose that the original group should have NEVER broken up -- or, that when they had the opportunity, they should have NEVER gotten back together. Life is a journey and an evolution -- and KISS is certainly no exception to that. If "the faction" has such clear cut ideas on how the group should operate on a day to day basis, how come their names aren't lighting up a stage -- complete with pyro, of course?

Sting can get involved in movies -- so can Bon Jovi, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Gloria Estefan, Reba McIntire, U2, and on down the line. But let Simmons produce a movie -- or Stanley appear in theater -- and "the faction" is all up in arms, clucking away about how such diversions are destroying the group.

Once again, KISS is as KISS does. If you don't think they're "doing the right thing", then go ahead and think it. Just quit complaining about it.

PSYCHO CIRCUS: Who played what, who wrote what, who sang what -- WHO CARES? You've got to judge the album on it's own merits in the end. While it's not their best -- I enjoy it immensely. It's better than a lot of the dreck that passes itself off as rock and roll in the '90's. Frehley didn't play on "Sweet Pain" or "Alive II" studio songs; Criss didn't play on Dynasty or Unmasked. Big whoop.

Apparently, "the faction" seems to think that KISS are the only performers in history to have studio musicians on a record while the performer's face was on the album cover. Terribly, terribly naive.

Perhaps "the faction" can accompany KISS into the studio on the next album and produce it. Then they can have everyone play exactly what they want them to, and the songwriting credits will be divided to their personal satisfaction.

IN THE END: KISS supplies what the public demands -- not what a small group of fans who think they deserve special treatment demands.

If "the faction" feels so cheated/used/taken advantage of -- time and time again, why do they continue to portray themselves as fans? If KISS is so bad, and doing so many wrong things, why doesn't "the faction" start their own fan club -- something along the lines of "We Call Ourselves KISS Fans, But They Don't Do Every Little Thing The Way We Think They Should, So We're Going To Complain About It Constantly".

In the end, KISS is as KISS does.

And in the end, I'm glad you're still doing it boys.

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