Wednesday
Mar212012
This Is Epic On Many Levels
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 12:01AM Did you watch the Motley Crue/KISS tour announcement press conference? It's pretty epic... on many levels. I cackled quite a few times, for different reasons. I'll let you form your own opinions. Watch.
Reader Comments (23)
Never forget which band came first, or sold more records, or who the "other" band copied half their original schtick from. (which they should go back to...)
Paul has always been the epitome' of a professional, and the prototype for what a "rock star" is. He could do these press conferences in his sleep. He's not only running this tour, he's running KISS. He's producing their albums, & if he doesn't get that say, they're not making albums or touring. SOMEBODY has to be the dictator to get things done, & surprisingly, it's not Gene Simmons. Motley knows where they stand in the pecking order, & are smart enough to know that as big as they are, or have been in the past, KISS is bigger.
On a funny sidenote, I remember a time when Sixx & company were young & hungry, and stupid enough to think they could knock KISS off their pedestal. The night before Crue opened their first show w/ KISS on the "Creatures Of The Night" tour, I was sitting with Nikki & some friends in the Troubadour bar, & he was loudly proclaiming how it was going to be "Out with the old, In with the New"... And then, they got out there on tour & found out just how much of an iron fist Paul had when running his band & tour. Crue only lasted a few gigs before getting kicked off the tour.
Everyone is 30 years older & wiser now, & they realize a good package tour is in both bands best interest. The billing is almost equal & both bands will put on as big of a show as can fit, but Paul's quip was pretty telling: "If they get too good, we'll unplug 'em". KISS will be feeling some competitive pressure, and I hope it makes them work harder.
Tickets go from $150 to $9... When was the last time you could see KISS for $9 ??? 1978?
Yeah except for your 'Ace' and 'Peter'
I saw the Crue a bunch of times too but am pretty much indifferent to seeing them again.
These guys will be old when they hang up their guitars/drums and give it up for retirement and golf. These guys (and I mean the classic bands most of us love) are young at heart, as they say, and can still rock with the best of them. Maybe their hair isn't as long as it use to be and maybe their kicks aren't as high and their splits are non-existant, but calling these guys old is ridiculous.
Whoever said that is fooling themselves, because unless they found the fountain of youth, they're getting older.
And yes, it is all about the money now but going to their show is still a great time.
I believe I paid around $11 in early 1978 for the Alive II spectacle at the Philadelphia Spectrum. LMAO!! (And it was, hands down' THE greatest stage show I have ever witnessed!!!!)
KISS - Dressed To Kill tour 1975 - Long Beach Arena - $3.75
(and those were the mid-priced seats!)
And it was incredible.
I wouldn't dare to call either band "old". They both kick the snot out of just about every other live act going. And have been, for going on 40 years. Like 'em or not, that deserves respect!
P.S. Those that complain about Ace & Peter being gone, Why should P&G stop just because the weaker links in the band bailed? Now they at least have a drummer who can keep time & a lead guitarist who plays in key! Sure it's not all original, but in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't really matter. Don't like it, Don't go. Most of the shows will still sell out. They won't miss you. Nobody complains about Pink Floyd because Syd Barrett isn't around, or the Rolling Stones because Bill Wyman's not playing bass.
Most of the time I impulse buy a lot of concerts, but for some reason this one gives me pause. But hey, if they sell the shows and put on good ones, then who cares ?
Someone sell me on this please !!! I've seen Motley 6-7 times and KISS once unmasked and the rest has probably been 5-6 times when they came back with the original lineup.
On a side note, Cinderella has pulled out of M3 due to an injury to Jeff LeBar. Great White (w/o Jack Russell) and LA Guns are added.
No offense to Ace or Peter both are still phenomenal players but Tommy and Eric have age on their side plus Eric is more of a "metal" drummer then Peter's jazzy style. The Drum sound of that show floored me and Eric's meticulously techncial styel is amazing especially when they show the drum set shots on the big screen behind the band on stage. Tommy can emulate classic Ace to a capital T but also can through in his own Thayer-isms during his solo spot and especially the sonic boom material.
See this show to see a KISS line up that will rip through the classics and pull out a few gems and play them flawlessly!
If you want the best you'll see the best!! (shameless plug #1) HAHA
The package makes sense though in terms of generating revenue: different fan bases create an opportunity to drive ticket sales.
Does it make me want to go? Not really. Will it be a people watching spectacle? Sure.
I'm 44. I guess I was a tad offended when you called DLR a senior. I just felt bad for the guy. Actually, I just saw VH on Saturday night and I did notice that, truth be told. They were still great and sounded awesome but DLR didn't move around a lot. Last time I saw them was 1984 and they were really different this time around, no doubt about it.
But I reminded myself that DLR is not 28 anymore but 58. That's the realty. I wish I had a time machine but I don't. But I still had a great time going to the show. All the bands we love are older now and I guess what I'm saying is I don't think it's right to take shots at them for getting older. Not a whole lot can be done about it.
In terms of the Ace & Peter thing - I saw KISS a ton of times, with Eric Carr, Vinnie Vincent, Mark St. John and Bruce Kulick and I was ok with Ace and Peter not being there. I have a problem with two other people wearing their costumes (as opposed to orignal ones like Vinnie and Eric) and KISS selling the experience like it's the original. That's what I don't love about it.
SO FIRED UP!
p.s. You're right, Al. The Press Conference is Epic! Epic Comedy, that is, for reasons well dissected above (and beyond).