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DINNEK IS JUST
Diamond,' 'Shout It Out Loud,' 'God
ing in other struggling rock bands.
of Thunder,' 'Cold Gin' or 'Detroit
"But I also have to respect the
Rock City?' No. The obligation is to
right of somebody to keep doing
give people what they want. We're about
what makes them happy," explains
Stanley. "Maybe we're fortunate
as subtle as a sledgehammer.
enough that we don't have to [go on).
Having recently starred in the
We're such big fans of the band that
Toronto stage version of Phantom of the
Opera, Stanley predicts his post-Kiss
we don't want to see it continue at
future will focus on Broadway musicals.
any other level except prime."
Still, he isn't yet ready to kiss rock 'n' roll
Kiss' farewell tour kicked off
recently in Phoenix, and it will run for goodbye altogether.
"It was very gratifying to get 120
at least several months. Unlike punk-
standing ovations for 120 shows [in
rock godfathers the Ramones, which
Toronto], particularly when the majority
milked its farewell tour for more than
of the audiences there don't know who
two years, Stanley says that Kiss won't
you are or may be less than thrilled that
drag the final concert trek out indefi-
you're there. I've been asked to take over
nitely. And he dismisses any sugges-
the leads in a few plays on Broadway,"
tion that Kiss might regroup a few
said Stanley, who describes himself as a
years from now for a back-from-the-
major fan of Tony Bennett, opera, and
dead-again reunion tour.
Beethoven and Mahler symphonies.
"I can say fairly certainly that that
won't happen," Stanley said. "Kiss
will never die, even if it was my
intention to kill it. It thrives because
of the fans' love and devotion. It's
just that the time has come to stop
touring."
Does that mean more recordings
are possible, that the band would
simply cease to perform live?
"There are absolutely no plans to
record," Stanley replied.
To further nail closed the Kiss
coffin (and fatten its financial cof-
— Paul Stanley, born Paul Stanley Eisen,
fers), the band will mount an exten-
in Queens, NY
sive auction to sell off its music
equipment, stage sets, costumes,
handwritten song lyrics and more.
"[But] I can never say goodbye to
The estimated total value of the items
rock; I am rock 'n' roll! I can't say good-
being sold off is $5 million. The auc-
tion, for which no firm date has been set bye to who I am. My love first and fore-
most is for music. And I intend to make
yet, will be conducted live on the
music and live music 'till I die," he said.
Internet. It is a joint project of Greg
"I never became famous to get away
Manning Auctions Inc., Butterfields
from where I started or to isolate myself.
Auctioneers, eBay and Kiss Catalog Ltd.
I'm still in many ways the same person I
"Having kept virtually everything
was when I started."
from the last 25 years, there's an incredi-
Does that mean that whenever he
ble amount of amazing memorabilia.
rides in a taxi, Stanley recalls his early
And perhaps it can make a lot of people
days as a Manhattan cabdriver-cum-
very happy [to buy these items], instead
struggling musician?
of having them be stored in a ware-
"Every time," he replied. "Never for-
house," said Stanley, who will retain at
get your roots. No matter what happens
least a few items for himself.
in your life, it doesn't change who you
The band will draw from its 20-plus
are. It may change who you think you
albums for its farewell tour repertoire.
are, but not who you are." ❑
But fans hoping to hear obscure songs,
such as, say, "Burn Bitch Burn" or "Mr.
Blackwell" (both from Kiss' commercial-
Kiss, featuring original band mem-
ly stillborn 1981 album collaboration
bers
Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons,
with Lou Reed, Music From the Elder),
Ace
Frehley
and Peter Criss, brings
will be out of luck.
"The
Farewell
Tour," with special
"For the 17,000 or so people who
guests
Ted
Nugent
and Skid Row,
want to hear obscure songs, there are
•to
the
Palace
of
Auburn
Hills 7
many tens of thousands more who want
p.m.
Wednesday,
May
24.
to hear our best-known songs," Stanley
$75/$45. (248) 645-6666.
said. "Can we do a farewell show with-
out doing love - Gun,' 'Deuce,' 'Black
"Never forget your
roots. No matter
what happens in your
life, it doesn't change
who you are."
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