The Spirit Of KISS Is Alive & Well In The Hearts Of True Fans
By: Bob Brunson

First of all, as a KISS fan now for 18 years, I would like to thank KISS Asylum for a SUPERIOR product; and for providing Kiss fans (true fans) a forum to discuss ideas and opinions. That having been said, I would very much like to offer comment on many of the recent articles posted on "Sound Off". Particularly Mr. Mehta's recent, and very naive, essay, "What Goes Around".

The question he asks: "Does anyone out there actually believe that KISS cares about their music anymore?" Answer . . . a mighty YES!

Psycho Circus is a PERFECT KISS Album, start to finish. Why must we be bombarded with constant comparisons to older albums?!?! Psycho Circus, I Pledge Allegiance, Raise Your Glasses, all classic KISS anthems. Some people don't think Gene should be doing slower songs like 'We Are One'? Wake up! Ever heard Destroyer's 'Great Expectations'? 'We Are One' is the perfect embodiment of KISS' life long allegiance to their fans, and in my opinion, the 2nd best effort on the album. Don't like 'Within'? Give a listen to 'Sweet Pain', also from Destroyer. Bottom line; PC ranks up there with the best of them!

As far as interviews where Gene refers to women as bitches and sluts. . . . name one! I've got magazines and articles going back 20 years! Merchandising? Great! So what?!?! More power to 'em! I for one will be glad to have as many keepsakes as I can when the Band finally does break up. How does that in any way have any bearing, whatsoever on the music! Kiss has ALWAYS combined the two brilliantly. Outside Projects? Who cares! I for one enjoy seeing the different facets and levels of talent that each member possesses. I traveled from LA to Toronto to see Phantom, and agree that Paul was tremendous! And guess what, KISS survived anyway!

I AM a hard-core fan!. Always have been, always will be. Have been since Hotter Than Hell. If I want to hear Comin' Home, Mainline, Love Her All I Can, Anything For My Baby, or other obscure songs that I love, I'll put on a cd. To expect KISS to add these songs to their set list to please a small percentage of their fan base is just silly!

Mr. Mehta also makes the comment that, "It is unfortunate that the Reunion occurred.".

Huh? Yeah. . .spoken like a true fan. Yes Revenge was a tremendous album. However, NO, it was not going to get them back to the level they are now.

Real fans would appreciate that each song, each album, is a like work of art, or a menu at a restaurant; and is important and relevant for that reason alone. To expect KISS to keep churning out 'Cookie-Cutter" versions of old material is like an artist who would simply keep painting the same picture, or a 4-star restaurant with a menu having 50 of the same dishes. Eventually, you would get tired of it. Therefore, the Elder is just as important as Destroyer; Crazy Nights just as good as Dressed To Kill. If you don't agree, that's fine. But I think that would be classified as being a fair weathered fan'. As far as Gene's failure to mature as a human being. . . .GREAT! Who wants to go see a boring, inanimate winy person standing still on stage in jeans and flannel shirts, complaining about the world. That's what Pearl Jam is for!

Life is too be celebrated, not pondered. KISS has done their fans a tremendous service for the past 26 years by reminding us of that. They help us to believe in ourselves and our dreams. That's what it's all about. Not Greenpeace, not politics, not fighting the institution! Not who plays what solo on what song, or how many songs each member has on each album. It's about life, love, and feeling good about who you are! End of story.

You say KISS will never have the respectability that bands like Led Zep and the Stones have?

I say, WHO CARES! You are comparing apples to oranges! The spirit of KISS and what they stand for, from 1973 until now, is alive and well in the hearts of true fans! Everything else is just water under the bridge. It doesn't matter.

KISS matters.

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