They Can't Tarnish The Old Memories, Only The New Ones.
By: Dave Picolo

Does anyone remember the good times? I bought my first KISS album in 1978 when I was 12. Actually my mom bought it for me because it was only 3.99 in a cutout bin at Woolworths. It was Double Platinum and we couldn't have picked a better one to start with. I think she was more interested than I was because she had heard so much about the band, a curiosity type of thing. All of the kids in my neighborhood liked KISS, but we were the younger crowd that everyone says made KISS a family group. My parents took me, my brother and sister to see KISS in 1979.

When Paul talks about looking out a window and seeing families lined up at the arenas, he's seeing me and my friends. At least once a week all of the kids in my neighborhood got together and listened to Double Platinum and played air-guitar with our tennis rackets. Once Dynasty came out, we gathered at someone's house every Sunday morning to listen to Casey Casem's Top 40 to see if IWMFLY would go any higher. The only thing we ever collected was the trading cards and you would have to trade several baseball cards just to get one KISS card.

I remember when Unmasked came out. I walked into the record store and saw it on one of the main displays. I looked over to my brother and said, "WOW the new KISS album is out!" One of the punk clerks overheard us and said in a very sarcastic tone, "Well you better run and get mommy so she can buy it for you." I remember feeling stupid when he said that, but it sure didn't deter me. Creatures came out when I was in high school. My god, what a shit kickin' album. KISS died for me when the makeup came off. I still bought all of the albums and saw them on tour when they came around but it was never the same. But I will add that my favorite guitar solo wasn't even from a KISS member. The first half of the solo in "Exciter" off of Lick It Up is my all-time favorite. Those 2 string bends at the beginning just shred. Get the tape, put it in your car and turn it up. You won't be disappointed.

I have lots of great memories that have to do with KISS. I'm probably one of the very few who can say he's seem all members of KISS in Concert. The original lineup in makeup, Eric Carr, Vinnie Vincent, Bruce, Eric Singer and even Mark St John when he played half a show at the Baltimore Arena.

The reunion was cool, but it just wasn't the same. Psycho Circus was a disappointment also, but I still went to see them -- probably always will as long as they're around. As for the merchandising and Gene just being in it for the money.... who cares? I have no problems with him trying to make as much money as possible. Anyone with a family knows that providing for them is the most important thing in the world. They can't tarnish the old memories, only the new ones.

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