Is Kiss Too Old?

[RJhog]

I know this resembles Bob Warren's thread on Heaven And Hell, but I was wondering what everyone thinks about Kiss' new album and tour. I know there are some fans and some that do not like Kiss on this board, so I figure we should get a pretty good sample of opinions on this one.

Kiss has been around since 73/74 and has seen very good times and very mediocre times. I've been a fan for life, and I always will be. I think Gene is 60 and Paul is 57 or 58. They are certainly not in the shape they were 20 or 30 years ago. Based on the first single, Modern Day Delilah, from their new album, they definitely don't sound to old to get in the studio and turn out a few more records.

However, I'm sure touring may be a different story. If they keep the tour short, say 6 months, I think they should keep going. But, if they try to grind out an 18 month tour, maybe they should retire. I guess my opinion may change after Oct. 6th when Sonic Boom is released.

And finally, how about the makeup and costumes. If they dropped those again, how would they be received if they put out another album in a year or two?

I would love to see some discussion on this, positive or negative......

[Wayne LaFoy]

I'm not a hardcore Kiss Army fan at all, but I still admire them, as a great rock band & they're more than just makeup & pyrotechnics. I don't believe Kiss is too old to rock, Paul McCartney isn't too old, the Stones aren't too old & so on. Hopefully this will be their final tour & final album, because they can't Rock & Roll Alnight in their eighties. They deserve to be inducted into the RNRHOF & hopefully this will finally happen, after all these years, with one last performance with Ace & Peter.

[THE GREEK]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME????HELL NO!

[RJhog]

Hey Greek, I love that answer!!

[Steve Jenkins]

I can't say I have heard the new album yet, but when it officially comes out on CD I will definitely get it. I know one thing about KISS -- they will kick ass and put on one hell'uv-a show!!! That's a fact!!! Otherwise they will stop doing the touring, because they are truly about the fans. I saw them "opening" for Aerosmith just a few yesr ago, and they blew Aerosmith away, as well as put on a great visual show, as well as thank the fans constantly throughout their concert. Hell no they're not too old. BTW, check out Ace Frehley's new one - Anomaly. Excellent!!!

[Niels]

Well, I think that they are way too old. They should had stopped after the Farewell-tour in 2000(?), and to me it's not really KISS without Ace. I can't imagine, that I'm going to buy the new album. It's 30 years since they made a good album, and why should they make a great one NOW, when they have tried so many times in those 30 years? But I'm not really into buying new albums from old bands anymore, because I ALLWAYS gets disapointed. Everybody said that the last AC/DC-album was return to form, but I thought it was extremely booooring. If KISS relases (more) DVD's from the 70's or somthing like that, I'll buy it.

[Scott]

Two things they should stop doing ASAP...

1 - Releasing Greatest Hits compilations.
2 - Stop Tommy and Eric from wearing Ace and Peters makeup and costumes. Give them an identity in the band like they did for Eric Carr and Vinnie Vnicent.

Two thing to Start doing...

1 - I want to see/hear better remasters and repackaging to the catalog. I would add bonus tracks and new liner material.
2 - (Maybe they have done this for the new tour, we'll see) Change up the set list, do something more than just a little different. Wouldnt it be cool to hear Mr. Speed, Love 'em Leave 'em, Flaming Youth, ????

Selfishly, I dont want to them stop until they cant do it anymore. But I think they're pandering (a little more than usual) by maintaining the original identity of the band. It comes off as dishonest to me...

I still buy them though...

[Gordon Williams]

I'll buy the new disc when it comes out, and probably like it. Very doubtful I will go see the tour though, due to high ticket costs, the fact I have seen them multiple times, with and without make-up, and the fact I just bought Kissology Volume One.

But I think, as long as they still enjoy it, and are physically able, they should keep going on. Obviously, they love doing what they do, so why not? And as long as they have an audience, why retire, until physical limitations force them to?

It was a mistake to have their "retirement" tour, and then keep going, but most of fans who got pissed off about that whole thing are over it now. And as a fan, you dont have to buy CD's or concert tickets, if you dont want to. I also think it would be a mistake to keep "re-issuing" stuff, whether improved or not. Kiss sometimes comes accross as greedy, and only about the money. One way to combat that would be to stop with all the reissues.

I dont think taking the make up back off would be a good move. I would save that for when Kiss is truly done, and maybe they do other studio projects, with Paul Stanleys last solo effort being a prime example. The fact that, so far at least, they are only doing about 40 to 45 shows on this tour, should help with the physical/aging aspect of it. If they tour after this fall, I would think they would schedule long breaks, and keep tours to no more than 2 or 3 months at a time.

[Wayne LaFoy]

Tommy Thayer & Eric Singer wearing Peter & Ace's makeup is a travesty, a ripoff of epic proportions, to the fans & they should have their own identities.

[rockertilldeath]

I watched the dvd that came with the new cd and I was impressed that Paul was still jumping around at his age. Let' see ANYBODY try jumping in high heel boots, let alone while playing guitar. While reading all the comments on the new KISS is entertaining, I think the bottom line is this; everybody has their own opinions. That's great. But if you don't like something don;t piss on somebody else's parade. Support each other (especially those with different opinions) and support rock-n-roll to keep it alive. Otherwise you're just going to have a bunch of shitty, pre-manufactered pop diva's (I'm looking at you american idol, gagh, I'm sorry I just threw up a little in my mouth) being shoved down your throat. Sincerity and intent are everything. By the, Gene has made it clear all along that he is about the money and fame. At least he's honest about his intentions.

[THE GREEK]

I SAW THEM LAST NIGHT IN CHICAGO.GREAT SHOW ,SOUNDED RAW.IT LOOKED SOLD OUT.

[christopher]

Age only matters if you are a bottle of wine.

[Dave]

I say they should keep on going as long as they can keep on rockin' and turning out albums like "Sonic Boom"...anyone who has ever liked Kiss should get this album. Watching the new dvd, you can see the aging...but I don't think they should stop. I'd hate for this to be the last album, but then again, they would certainly go out on top of their game.