Issue #14: KISS Unauthorized/Jack Sawyers Interview

Welcome to the 1st Millennium KISS ASYLUM Video Spotlight. This has been many months in the making due to yours truly working on an abundant amount of projects, and of course the daily schedule of my job. I wanted to thank all the readers for their continued interest & support of this little article of mine, as well as an apology (again) for taking so long to complete a new one (AKA sitting my lazy ass down to type one); so now on with the show, or in this case video.

This month I wanted to jump off track and do another home video release. This video, newly released, has caused quite a bit of talk amongst fans. I'm referring to KISS: Unauthorized, a 55 minute journey of 1,000 years (ok 30 years) of KISS's career filled with photos, backstage footage, and fan footage.

The producer of this compilation is none other than Jack Sawyers, producer of "Tale of the Fox" and man behind the scenes of many KISS videos, which we will get into later. "How will we get into it Byron" you ask? Well, kids I have attached here to this review probably the most comprehensive interview with the Jackmeister himself. By comprehensive I mean no stone was left unturned by either of us.

A slew of topics are covered since I was supposed interview him initially when I did all of my Tale of the Fox interviews. However, since I had no recording device & Jack at the time had no computer to where I could e-mail him questions we had to push it off until now. Hopefully you all will agree this interview was worth the wait. Ok, now with my monologue out of the way let's move on to the review & interview.

I'd like to think of this as dessert (the interview) after supper (the review) - if we all agree shake you head up and down three times, do the hokey pokey and read on.

KISS: UNAUTHORIZED

Well, pleasantly surprised could be a way to describe this 55-minute video. However, a two-word review wouldn't make for much reading nor give fans an idea of what to expect with this tape. This tape is filled with never before seen footage, all 1st or 2nd generation quality unlike some of the other non-official pieces of tripe that I've seen filled with bad quality pieces of stuff we've all had for years. I could name names of these other tapes, but I won't since most video fanatics know which ones I'm referring to. You could easily tell that this was done by a fan, for the fans. This all due to the fact it's all stuff I know personally as a KISS fan I've wanted to see for years. Footage such as KISS being inducted at the Rockwalk, as well as separate footage of Peter, Ace along with a posthumous induction of Eric Carr induction's as well are now finally documented for the fans' viewing pleasure. It's nice to finally see the footage of Ace, Peter & Eric getting the induction they well deserved. This tape does have one dragging point though, which is the ego filled interview with the auctioneers of all things KISS when they were inducted in 1993 (can Bruce get a word in edgewise)?

There is also some very interesting backstage footage from the "Hot in the Shade" era with all members of the band - from Paul dry-humping some fan, Gene playing guitar and being served cake (like he really needed it), also we see Gene driving a golf cart with a scared security guard sitting shotgun.

Two pieces seen in collector's circles appear on this video in mint quality form, such as the Gene & Paul Rock Against Drugs PSA (public service announcement). We also get a taste of KISS in present form receiving the star for the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as well as clips of the KISS Farewell press conference.

All in all this video, though short in length, is not short of cool things to watch and was a pleasure to watch for reviewing and pleasure purposes. I've seen fans both in approval, as I am, and disenchanted by this video, so all I could advise is pick up the video and judge for yourself. KISS fans are picky individuals and what one fan may love another may hate, so for the low price this video is going for pick it up and decide for yourself!

Now let's move on to the massive, in-depth interview I completed with the ringmaster of this video, Jack Sawyers.

Byron Fogle: How has the response been from Tale of the Fox and is there a release date for a DVD version?

Jack Sawyers: The response has been great -- we will put out the DVD in a few months.

BF: Will there be any extra footage included that wasn't on the video version?

JS: Yes. We are working on the Eric Carr DVD and it will be completely revamped to include new footage and some bonus stuff. Thoughtscape is not involved in this release. We did the first video with them and it had moderate success; we sold almost all of the first pressing. Thoughtscape in the future will have that first video available again at some point. We have a new distribution company (Music Video Distributors) putting out the new DVD and VHS of Eric 's life. We feel that this new distribution company can take it into the global market where it deserves to be. It will include some rare stuff as well.

BF: Are there any funny things that happened while filming the interview segments or while the production was in progress for the video?

JS: Yes. Bill Aucoin talked a lot about the old days with KISS and he has some very funny & personal stories. I have some of them on video with him and may include some in the DVD!

BF: Do you have any future projects you'd like to talk about?

JS: I heard I'm going to be doing another KISS related video so I'm really excited about that.

BF: There is a new video out in the market called "KISS Unauthorized" that you produced. What makes Unauthorized so different from all the other "unofficial" KISS videos on the market?

JS: Unauthorized is way different! I went out and bought all of the unofficial videos on the shelf: The interview sessions, Killer KISS, stuff like that. That all seems to be straightforward interviews taken from television shows and it's usually a couple of generations down, video quality wise. When I wanted to do Unauthorized I wanted to put together a video that the fans would watch over and over. I loved editing this one together because I loved watching it over and over. The footage is real, backstage, behind the scenes type stuff thrown in with interviews and press conferences. Most of it is first generation, some is second generation, but it was all transferred over with a TBC to control the video quality.

BF: Are there plans for any more Unauthorized videos or DVD's in the future?

JS: I want to do 1 more KISS related Unauthorized type video. It will NOT be called "Unauthorized 2" because I already have plans for an "Unauthorized 2." But then that will be the last for me and the unofficial KISS videos.

BF: I've seen some comments on the KISS bulletin boards and newsgroups about the video missing musical performances of KISS. Can you explain to those who don't understand why KISS's music or why concert clips were not used in the video.

JS: Well it's really simple! I didn't license any KISS music for the video. That would have been very costly. I could have played the music under the concert clips of KISS performing but I would have had to license the re-recorded music (since KISS was performing and it was being taped it was re-recorded) and that gets expensive. Also there is a thing called synching rights that have to be paid on top of music licensing when you put live performance of songs in a video. That's why when we do official concert type videos like Konfidential we have to pay a publishing and usage fees for the music on top of the budget to produce the video. I think Konfidential was around $180,000.00 to produce the video, plus whatever publishing fees on the music that were paid; it can get pretty expensive. We spent about 10% of that budget editing and producing the Unauthorized so you can see there was no budget to license KISS music. I didn't think having bands doing covers of KISS music would be as cool as an under score. Maybe on the next one!

BF: KISS was approached to participate in "Tale of the Fox." Why didn't they appear in the video?

JS: Gene was approached. I called him to let him know what I was doing and he seemed not interested in participating so he declined to be involved. He didn't want to endorse the video because he felt it wasn't a good idea at the time I guess.

BF: Do you have any funny stories you can reveal during your time working with the band?

JS: Yeah! We were in the editing room and everyone was cracking jokes and Paul starting laughing so hard. I had never heard him laugh so hard before. Another not funny but kind of funny thing was when they were mixing tracks for Alive 3 I would go there a couple of times a week to show them video edits of certain songs and they had this chart on the wall. It was a farting chart. They actually kept track of how many times people would fart. I think Gene & the engineer were neck & neck. It was very funny.

BF: You were at the "God Gave Rock & Roll To You" video shoot. What was the atmosphere like at the time & how did Eric Carr look to you; was he well?

JS: The "God Gave..." video was very cool. I was the production manager for the entire shoot from start to finish. I even sat with the editor and hand picked every shot that went into the video even the vintage stuff- A dream come true!

BF: Since Eric Carr had been diagnosed with cancer how did he look at the time? He looked really good in the video.

JS: Eric was on fire that day and everyone in the band was getting along great! Eric & Paul were even joking around a little; it was a good video shoot and lasted about 18 hours. It was a very long day and I also took a lot of pictures. Maybe we'll use see them in a project.

[KISS ASYLUM Video Spotlight Note: There is a beautiful plaque of Eric that is currently on sale at the KISS Shop http://www.kissasylum.com/kissshop/ The photo used is one of the many shots Jack took that day. If you don't have one, go get one!]

BF: Who else was at the video shoot for "God Gave..." that day? I've heard rumblings that Vinnie Vincent actually attended the video shoot.

JS: I never saw Vinnie, I don't believe he was there. It was just some record company people and members of some other band Paul & Gene were managing at the time through their management company Amazing Management. I don't know who else was there besides wives & girlfriends; it was very busy that day.

BF: Out of all the KISS videos (MTV and home videos) which one holds the best memories and one you are most proud of.

JS: "Forever" comes to mind first. It was a very cool shoot. "God Gave Rock and Roll To You" was also a cool shoot. Putting "Konfidential" together was the first really intimate one for me where I had some control over a KISS project! "KISS My Ass" was also memorable - going through (Paul & Gene's personal photos and family albums.) They are all special to me because it was KISS. When I was working on videos for Joan Jett, Celine Dion, Firehouse, Foreigner, Winger and so on...; it was cool but it wasn't KISS. I was a very big KISS fan growing up and when I met Eric Carr at the Guitar Center that strange day in 1988 it was a defining factor that would help move my creative career along. I will always be grateful!

BF: What is the worst part of this business that you've come across?

JS: Perfect Question!!! The worst part of this business is only a few percentage of people who don't keep their word. You work hard and bust your ass producing a project and it doesn't get released or it doesn't get the kind of promotion that was promised. That's what pisses me off the most. And those people should go and sell houses or something! You look at all of the great music that's out there with new bands and then the record company doesn't promote it and the band goes away. Or you have a video project that can sell really well but the distributor only wants to make back the budget spent and move on to the next project. It's only a small number of people but when you are a band and your lable doesn't push you hard enough it may as well be the entire industry. Because, that band is only going to have that shot at a hit song or record. I have only had a few problems like that with some of the video productions. But I usually get them worked out one way or another!!!

BF: Has working with KISS changed your opinion of them or do you still feel the same when you were initially just a fan?

JS: When you are growing up as a fan of anything it shapes your mind a certain way. Like when I met Barney Rubble, he was drunk!! (Just Kidding) he wasn't drunk, but he still owes me money! When you meet your idols or heroes you are a fan meeting someone important to you from a certain time in your life. When you end up working for that person behind the hero or idol it's a little different. No one is the same 24/7; people are different all the time. You, me, we aren't in the same mood all the time so it's the same for your favorite rock star. I know people understand that. So if you ask if my opinion has changed of KISS since knowing them I'll tell you NO. I'm still a fan of what I was a fan of back in the late 70's and 80's. Now personally I don't think it is important what people think of them. Unless they are using their music or influence to guide thinking or control media. But KISS doesn't do that. The only politics that KISS are involved in is their own internal politics. They have always sung and sent one message - Party, fuck girls and have a good time. Oh, and buy our albums!!! LOL!! But that is their job to get you to buy their albums! I bought every one at least two times! First the LP's, then the cassettes, then finally the CD's so I'm a fanästill!

BF: How have the members of KISS reacted to your post-KISS video projects?

JS: I get the most passion from Gene. He's not always happy with anything people do KISS related. Bruce has always been supportive, as I'm sure Eric Carr would have been. I haven't spoken with Paul other than seeing him out and saying "Hi" in about 4 years. I worked for KISS at one point and to them it may have only seemed like one minute that I was there. But for me it was a dream come true and seemed like a slow motion dream!

BF: I'm sure Eric's family is thrilled to see all the recognition Eric has been getting with the release of "Tale" & "Rockology." How do you feel as the producer of the video to know you've provided all of Eric's fans and family with such a great tribute?

JS: It felt good to do something for Eric

BF: Eric convinced you to get a start in this industry, to me this video seems like a great way to pay back someone who helped you get your start. Do you feel like that, or were you like myself, tired of seeing Eric getting glossed over by the band in their home videos?

JS: I was working with a few production companies at the time on a few films and music videos. Eric helped me get into one particular company and that made the difference!

BF: Have you received any flack by KISS from the "Tale of the Fox" video or have they been supportive towards it?

JS: No, not from KISS. I think Gene was a little concerned about the content and angle of the video. There was some rumbling at the beginning when the video first came out but after everyone saw it wasn't a KISS bashing video I think everyone eased up a little bit.

BF: While we're on the subject of "Tale of the Fox," I've been receiving some e-mails since I run a mailing list for Eric. Do you know why Thoughtscape has not been returning e-mails or why the 800 number was disconnected?

JS: I have not had any contact with Thoughtscape in awhile myself. I checked into it and it seems that their phones have been disconnected. I don't know what's up with them.

BF: Do you know of any problems with them and as producer of the video have they contacted you at all?

JS: I tried contacting them several times but no luck.

BF: Can you tell us something about each band member that you worked with that we might not know?

JS: Paul: Can't think of anything about Paul.

Gene: Wants to rule the world.... but we all knew that! Oh, here's a story. I've seen Gene PIG OUT on cookies! My aunt made me a bunch of oatmeal, raisin, chocolate chip cookies once and I brought them back to the editing place and I must say, between Gene and I we ate all of them!!!

Ace: Larger than life, even larger than Gene!! Ace is truly the man that fell to Earth.

Peter: When I met him I was taken aback. The way he had been described to me he was a lot different. He is very cool and is a real person who just wants to play music and see his fans.

Eric Carr: A big kid and even bigger heart ‚ what a guy. I only wish I can leave a legacy of happy thoughts as he has, but don't get me wrong he wasn't a saint either. He was THE PERFECT ROCK STAR!!

Vinnie Vincent: Never met him, but I'll bet he has a lot of good stories to tell

Bruce Kulick: Very Cool! I've known him for almost 12 years! Time flies! He has always been kind and supportive and he really speaks his mind if he thinks you're headed the wrong way on something. A true friend to people. Why isn't UNION opening for KISS!!!!!!???

Eric Singer: I think Eric Singer is a great drummer! He had a career of his own before joining KISS and I think that he probably was the most famous pre-KISSer there was so he had a different point of view about a lot of these things. The production company I worked for did the video for Badlands before he was in KISS. I think I still have a copy somewhere, I don't know. I don't know him well enough to say something personal about him. I never got to spend too much time with him.

BF: What are your thoughts on the upcoming KISS auction?

JS: I think it's going to be a great auction! I looked at some of the stuff they are auctioning off (hand written stuff etc.) and I thought to myself that I have some things like that from when I worked with them. I thought it was kinda strange that they are auctioning off Bruce's clothes!! (Unless Bruce is benefiting from the sale, which he should!)

BF: Having been a friend of Eric's do you feel as I do that it's wrong for them to be selling Eric's drumkits and outfits instead of giving them to Eric's family where, I feel and many fans feel, they should be given.

JS: For some reason I thought that KISS did give all of Eric's "stuff" (except obviously the make up days costumes) to his family. I thought I heard somewhere that they assured the family they did give them all that they had. Do you know if they are donating the proceeds from Eric's stuff to any charities?

BF: No, I don't (hey I'm interviewing you here.. LOL)

JS: In my opinion, if they are not sharing the proceeds from Eric's stuff with Eric's family they should just donate it all to charity!

BF: Any advice you could give to anyone who wanted to have a career in video production.

JS: Just go for what you want. You have to make it happen for yourself. If I never came to California and got involved with working on movies and music videos I would have never been in a position to have Eric (Carr) help me get into that production company for which I did all of the KISS videos. Who knows, I could have wound up the guy working on all of the REO Speedwagon videos instead!!! Life is strange. And it is what you make it!

BF: Any finally do you have a message you'd like to pass on to the KISS ASYLUM Video Spotlight readers who are reading this interview?

JS: Yeah! If you bought the Eric Carr video from Thoughtscape e-mail me at digigypsy@aol.com because we have a special thing that we are giving to anyone who bought the video direct from Thoughtscape. Please provide an invoice number from your purchase from Thoughtscape as a proof of purchase. This is for people who bought the video from Thoughscape ONLY. Please do it fast cause these things won't last.

Well that wraps up this edition of KISS ASYLUM's Video Spotlight. I want to thank Jack Sawyers for taking time out for our interview. Anyone who is interested in picking up Unauthorized, or the Eric Carr memorial plaque featuring Jack's picture from the GGRARTY video shoot please visit David Snowden's website KISS Shop! http://www.kissasylum.com/kissshop/ tell David Byron sent you.

Till next Spotlight Keep Rockin!

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