Daily Archives: June 23, 2024
Kiss’ Paul Stanley picks out the greatest vocalist of all time: “Mind-blowing
Deciphering the greatest vocalist of all time is difficult, especially when you have so many choices. For many, the one that immediately comes to mind is Freddie Mercury, but what about all of the other singers who managed to epitomise the good and bad of an entire generation? What about Nina Simone, Dolores O’Riordan, Tracy Chapman? The list is endless, but thankfully, Kiss’ Paul Stanley seems to claim the answer.
When studying vocal virtuosos, it’s important to consider what, exactly, constitutes a great singer. Is it the ability to project and fill an entire stadium with a strong and distinctive tone? Or is it all about infusing emotional rawness and authenticity into a voice? What about range? Should a great singer be able to oscillate between notes with effortless control? Usually, the answer to all of these questions depends on the genre in question.
For instance, outside the realm of pop, most singers are completely suited to their respective arenas, like Debbie Harry and Chrissie Hynde, whose vocal talent is indisputable but entirely fitting within the rock sensibilities they pervade. O’Riordan, too, had a hauntingly beautiful voice, one which incorporated vocal flips that didn’t just align perfectly with her Irish heritage but carried a pained edge that made her melodies even more spine-tingling.
In terms of more traditional rock voices, many musicians who thrived during the late 1960s and 1970s felt particularly drawn to the ways many male rock singers blended emotive aggression with genuine vocal range, like the way Robert Plant gave Led Zeppelin its signature stadium rock sound. The kind that could reach the furthest corners of the biggest venues.
In fact, for Paul Stanley, Plant represents the greatest vocalist of all time, one that many have attempted to replicate to no avail. Stanley first experienced Led Zeppelin live in 1969, and found the whole event “transformative”. Recalling the concert during a Forbes interview in 2020, he said: “I saw Zeppelin in ’69 and that was transformative. As I would put it that was god’s work.”
Rock legend Gene Simmons to return to Northwoods for restaurant grand opening
CRANDON, Wis. (WSAW) – Get ready to rock this July, as legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and Co-Founder of Rock & Brews, Gene Simmons, will cut the ribbon to open Wisconsin’s second Rock & Brews restaurant location on Tuesday, July 2 at Potawatomi Casino Hotel Carter.
The rock-inspired restaurant and entertainment concept’s brand-new three thousand square-foot restaurant is equipped with a stage for live entertainment, in true Rock & Brews fashion.
The menu is full of tried and true guest favorites including Rock’n Hot Wings, the Alice Cooper Poison Burger, and the Demon Chicken Sandwich, a menu item created as an homage to Gene Simmons. Guests can also choose from 24 beers on tap, including the best domestic and imported beers.
This opening celebrates the ongoing partnership Potawatomi Casino Hotel has created with Rock & Brews founders, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. After opening their first Wisconsin location in Milwaukee in August 2023, and closing out the summer with KISS’ End of the Road Tour in Crandon last September, this new endeavor will launch the 25th Rock and Brews location.