03/24/2013
ALIVE! AND KICKIN' ASS - ERIC SINGER INTERVIEW
Drummer Eric Singer first became aware of KISS when he saw their picture in Rock Scene magazine. He�s now 22 years in the band and explains their mass appeal �from little kids up to people a lot older than us even at this point�, to Bryget Chrisfield.
"The Tour� � KISS and M�tley Crüe�s double-headed touring stint � was always gonna make many rock�n�roll dreams come true when Australian dates were added and KISS drummer Eric Singer promises, �We�ll all come down there together to keep the party going.� Cue excitement for potential debaucherous after-parties. �The great thing is that everybody is a little older, a little wiser and knows how to be smart and to make the whole thing work. And, you know, everybody keeps their ego checked at the door and we realise, �Hey, M�tley does what they do, KISS do what we do and together it�s a win-win, because everybody gets a better show � you get two great bands instead of just one.� And it�s a bigger party and more fun for everybody and I always kind of try to adhere to that philosophy in general, in my own personal life: I like to see everybody benefit from things, not just one person.�Drummer Eric Singer first became aware of KISS when he saw their picture in Rock Scene magazine. He�s now 22 years in the band and explains their mass appeal �from little kids up to people a lot older than us even at this point�, to Bryget Chrisfield.
"The Tour� � KISS and M�tley Crüe�s double-headed touring stint � was always gonna make many rock�n�roll dreams come true when Australian dates were added and KISS drummer Eric Singer promises, �We�ll all come down there together to keep the party going.� Cue excitement for potential debaucherous after-parties. �The great thing is that everybody is a little older, a little wiser and knows how to be smart and to make the whole thing work. And, you know, everybody keeps their ego checked at the door and we realise, �Hey, M�tley does what they do, KISS do what we do and together it�s a win-win, because everybody gets a better show � you get two great bands instead of just one.� And it�s a bigger party and more fun for everybody and I always kind of try to adhere to that philosophy in general, in my own personal life: I like to see everybody benefit from things, not just one person.�
It�s the OG line-up of M�tley Crüe that�s heading Down Under, but only one half of this current KISS line-up are constant members: vocalist/rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley and vocalist/bassist Gene Simmons. Singer, who officially became KISS�s drummer after Eric Carr passed away in 1991, and lead guitarist Thomas Thayer � whose debut outing in The Spacesuit (replacing Ace Frehley) occurred in 2003 when the band recorded KISS Symphony: Alive IV with the Melbourne Symphony � round out the line-up.
Given that Singer hasn�t always lorded over us from the KISS drum riser, when was it that he first became aware of KISS? �Um, I saw KISS in a magazine back in the �70s called Rock Scene,� he explains. �It was a rock magazine, but the print was almost like a newspaper; the cover was in colour, but all the content was black and white. I always thought that was the coolest magazine � that�s the one that I found I was influenced by the most and there was a section in it that had new bands. And it showed a picture of this band with makeup on.
�Paul Stanley told me that bands would send their own picture in to promote themselves. So I cut that picture out and I remember I taped it or glued it to my little wardrobe, like an armoire, that I had in my bedroom. My mum reminded me of that; she remembered that I had done that. So I was attracted to the band from the first time I saw it, because I liked all the English glam-era bands: The Sweet, Mott The Hoople, T Rex, David Bowie � anything like that I was attracted to. [Coughs a loogie from his throat] Excuse me. So right away, of course, I saw KISS and then when I saw the album cover � I bought the first album, by the way � and I saw how they looked, and then hearing the music, to me somehow it all made sense: the logo, the look, the sound of the band. I thought, �Oh, this band�s got something unique going on here, I have a feeling this band�s gonna be something special. And, um, I think my instincts were right.� Singer acknowledges that �because [he�s] experienced it firsthand�, through his own life experiences, there might be some truth in the law of attraction.
There�s such a strong visual component to being in KISS. When asked whether he has to drum in platform moon boots, Singer chuckles, �Noooo,� before pointing out he�s only required to rock the towering footwear for photo shoots. Then he pauses. �Well one time I actually did do that. We did a gig for a plus-size women�s clothing line here in America and they were doing a fashion show/runway thing in New York City. And a couple of models were Mia Tyler, Steven Tyler from Aerosmith�s daughter, and Anna Nicole Smith. So we did this thing and we had to basically lip sync playing to, like, five songs and then when we finished it we�d get up from behind our instruments and walk down the runaway with all the models to take pictures for the paparazzi. So I had to play in the platforms even though I wasn�t really playing live. And I remember the next thing my legs and ankles were just killing me. It was the most weirdest sensation and so awkward, but that�s the only time that I actually physically [drummed in platforms].
�On stage I just wear regular, like, training-type shoes, sneakers, tennis shoes � whatever you wanna call �em. But I actually got some shoes � I think I found them in the airport in Amsterdam, I don�t remember � a bright silver leather, something that matches my costume. �Cause nobody sees them except me, but I wanna look cool at least to myself back there.�
As a fellow drummer, surely Singer has been tempted to have a crack on Tommy Lee�s drum coaster; the M�tley Crüe stickman�s gargantuan kit is part of a circular rollercoaster structure that enables Lee to drum while in motion, defying gravity while suspended upside down. �I�m not really much for going upside down,� Singer admits, confirming �the whole kit and caboodle� of The Tour�s stage setting, is headed our way. There�s an extra seat on the coaster to accommodate a lucky fan per show, and Singer tells of a nine-year-old �little Philippine girl� named Alexey [Poblete], who came down for a spin during soundcheck when the rock�n�roll circus hit Las Vegas. �She�s on YouTube,� he points out. �You�ll get a kick out of it seeing a little kid that can play at such a high level, at such a young age, and she�s only been playing for three years so she�s pretty amazing.�
On how kids get so good so young these days, Singer observes: �Well you gotta remember, when I was a kid coming up we didn�t even have video machines, you know, to buy instructional videos. You didn�t have YouTube where you can go on there and pretty much watch your favourite drummers over and over. You know, when you�re a kid you�re a sponge. So you just absorb stuff and, bingo! We just had to listen to records and kind of pick things up and then the only time you got to see a drummer play was if you saw them in concert and that was only when they came through town. So our way of learning and picking up things was a lot different.�
Monster is the latest (and 20th) KISS studio album and Singer offers, �I think we realise that KISS is what it is and you�re not trying to chase any trends, or be something you�re not� because at this point in everybody�s life nobody needs headaches to make it work. You have to be workman-like in the sense of your professionalism, and your due diligence, when it needs to apply. But ultimately you wanna be able to have fun.
�I mean, next year will be forty years that KISS has been a band. So it is multi-generational and our fans are really pretty much all ages from little kids up to people a lot older than us even at this point. KISS is not just the music, it�s everything, the whole visual appeal combined with the music, which has made the band unique and turned it into a timeless iconic longevity.�
"The Tour� � KISS and M�tley Crüe�s double-headed touring stint � was always gonna make many rock�n�roll dreams come true when Australian dates were added and KISS drummer Eric Singer promises, �We�ll all come down there together to keep the party going.� Cue excitement for potential debaucherous after-parties. �The great thing is that everybody is a little older, a little wiser and knows how to be smart and to make the whole thing work. And, you know, everybody keeps their ego checked at the door and we realise, �Hey, M�tley does what they do, KISS do what we do and together it�s a win-win, because everybody gets a better show � you get two great bands instead of just one.� And it�s a bigger party and more fun for everybody and I always kind of try to adhere to that philosophy in general, in my own personal life: I like to see everybody benefit from things, not just one person.�Drummer Eric Singer first became aware of KISS when he saw their picture in Rock Scene magazine. He�s now 22 years in the band and explains their mass appeal �from little kids up to people a lot older than us even at this point�, to Bryget Chrisfield.
"The Tour� � KISS and M�tley Crüe�s double-headed touring stint � was always gonna make many rock�n�roll dreams come true when Australian dates were added and KISS drummer Eric Singer promises, �We�ll all come down there together to keep the party going.� Cue excitement for potential debaucherous after-parties. �The great thing is that everybody is a little older, a little wiser and knows how to be smart and to make the whole thing work. And, you know, everybody keeps their ego checked at the door and we realise, �Hey, M�tley does what they do, KISS do what we do and together it�s a win-win, because everybody gets a better show � you get two great bands instead of just one.� And it�s a bigger party and more fun for everybody and I always kind of try to adhere to that philosophy in general, in my own personal life: I like to see everybody benefit from things, not just one person.�
It�s the OG line-up of M�tley Crüe that�s heading Down Under, but only one half of this current KISS line-up are constant members: vocalist/rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley and vocalist/bassist Gene Simmons. Singer, who officially became KISS�s drummer after Eric Carr passed away in 1991, and lead guitarist Thomas Thayer � whose debut outing in The Spacesuit (replacing Ace Frehley) occurred in 2003 when the band recorded KISS Symphony: Alive IV with the Melbourne Symphony � round out the line-up.
Given that Singer hasn�t always lorded over us from the KISS drum riser, when was it that he first became aware of KISS? �Um, I saw KISS in a magazine back in the �70s called Rock Scene,� he explains. �It was a rock magazine, but the print was almost like a newspaper; the cover was in colour, but all the content was black and white. I always thought that was the coolest magazine � that�s the one that I found I was influenced by the most and there was a section in it that had new bands. And it showed a picture of this band with makeup on.
�Paul Stanley told me that bands would send their own picture in to promote themselves. So I cut that picture out and I remember I taped it or glued it to my little wardrobe, like an armoire, that I had in my bedroom. My mum reminded me of that; she remembered that I had done that. So I was attracted to the band from the first time I saw it, because I liked all the English glam-era bands: The Sweet, Mott The Hoople, T Rex, David Bowie � anything like that I was attracted to. [Coughs a loogie from his throat] Excuse me. So right away, of course, I saw KISS and then when I saw the album cover � I bought the first album, by the way � and I saw how they looked, and then hearing the music, to me somehow it all made sense: the logo, the look, the sound of the band. I thought, �Oh, this band�s got something unique going on here, I have a feeling this band�s gonna be something special. And, um, I think my instincts were right.� Singer acknowledges that �because [he�s] experienced it firsthand�, through his own life experiences, there might be some truth in the law of attraction.
There�s such a strong visual component to being in KISS. When asked whether he has to drum in platform moon boots, Singer chuckles, �Noooo,� before pointing out he�s only required to rock the towering footwear for photo shoots. Then he pauses. �Well one time I actually did do that. We did a gig for a plus-size women�s clothing line here in America and they were doing a fashion show/runway thing in New York City. And a couple of models were Mia Tyler, Steven Tyler from Aerosmith�s daughter, and Anna Nicole Smith. So we did this thing and we had to basically lip sync playing to, like, five songs and then when we finished it we�d get up from behind our instruments and walk down the runaway with all the models to take pictures for the paparazzi. So I had to play in the platforms even though I wasn�t really playing live. And I remember the next thing my legs and ankles were just killing me. It was the most weirdest sensation and so awkward, but that�s the only time that I actually physically [drummed in platforms].
�On stage I just wear regular, like, training-type shoes, sneakers, tennis shoes � whatever you wanna call �em. But I actually got some shoes � I think I found them in the airport in Amsterdam, I don�t remember � a bright silver leather, something that matches my costume. �Cause nobody sees them except me, but I wanna look cool at least to myself back there.�
As a fellow drummer, surely Singer has been tempted to have a crack on Tommy Lee�s drum coaster; the M�tley Crüe stickman�s gargantuan kit is part of a circular rollercoaster structure that enables Lee to drum while in motion, defying gravity while suspended upside down. �I�m not really much for going upside down,� Singer admits, confirming �the whole kit and caboodle� of The Tour�s stage setting, is headed our way. There�s an extra seat on the coaster to accommodate a lucky fan per show, and Singer tells of a nine-year-old �little Philippine girl� named Alexey [Poblete], who came down for a spin during soundcheck when the rock�n�roll circus hit Las Vegas. �She�s on YouTube,� he points out. �You�ll get a kick out of it seeing a little kid that can play at such a high level, at such a young age, and she�s only been playing for three years so she�s pretty amazing.�
On how kids get so good so young these days, Singer observes: �Well you gotta remember, when I was a kid coming up we didn�t even have video machines, you know, to buy instructional videos. You didn�t have YouTube where you can go on there and pretty much watch your favourite drummers over and over. You know, when you�re a kid you�re a sponge. So you just absorb stuff and, bingo! We just had to listen to records and kind of pick things up and then the only time you got to see a drummer play was if you saw them in concert and that was only when they came through town. So our way of learning and picking up things was a lot different.�
Monster is the latest (and 20th) KISS studio album and Singer offers, �I think we realise that KISS is what it is and you�re not trying to chase any trends, or be something you�re not� because at this point in everybody�s life nobody needs headaches to make it work. You have to be workman-like in the sense of your professionalism, and your due diligence, when it needs to apply. But ultimately you wanna be able to have fun.
�I mean, next year will be forty years that KISS has been a band. So it is multi-generational and our fans are really pretty much all ages from little kids up to people a lot older than us even at this point. KISS is not just the music, it�s everything, the whole visual appeal combined with the music, which has made the band unique and turned it into a timeless iconic longevity.�
