Mitch Lafon | Brave Words

Original KISS Krew member J.R. Smalling and former Beatlemania star Mitch Weissman guest on Episode 82 of One On One With Mitch Lafon. Drummer Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big) co-hosts.

In this extended episode’s only interview, J.R. Smalling discusses his book, The Original KISS Krew – Out On The Streets, which details the early days of being around and working for KISS. During this interview he also discusses working for Ted Nugent and Aerosmith. Mitch Weissman is along for the conversation and talks about writing with KISS and being personal friends of Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. This is a must listen episode for any KISS geek.

With the release of Out On The Streets: The True Tales Of Life On The Road With The Hottest Band In The Land…KISS!, the band’s millions of fans worldwide will finally get an up-close and behind-the-curtain look at KISS’s formative years on the road.

This highly detailed 347-page book comes directly from the collective efforts of JR Smalling, Peter Oreckinto, Rick Munroe and the late Mick Campise, who comprised the core of the band’s original road crew from 1974 – 1976.  In Out on the Streets the four share an intimate and inside look at life on the road with KISS, and detail what it took to lay the foundation for one of the most spectacular and successful rock bands in history.

Out On The Streets digs into the dirt, the blue-collar work ethic, and the crew’s unwavering loyalty to KISS’s ridiculous “biggest band in the world” pipedream.  The four authors spin tales of fighting headline acts like Aerosmith just to get in and out of gigs, logging over 90,000 road miles in 1974 alone, wrestling with thieves and warding off racism.  There’s violent tragedy on a personal level, mind-numbing hours and days without rest, bullet-ridden vehicles, arrests, abject poverty, catalogs of carnal pursuits, broken promises and ultimately a skyrocket of success.

Rare photos, original itineraries, and detailed production schematics are just a few of the perks that litter the pages of this rich and rewarding memoir.

Out On The Streets is available directly from the authors themselves. The authors embellish the book with a thriving Facebook forum where they warmly connect with readers, fans, and the curious, answering questions and sharing additional memories and ephemera.

For more details visit Theoriginalkisskrew.com.