A must read Eric Singer interview, funny Ace and Peter stories
AJ
It's Still A Business' - July 17, 2007
Drummer Eric Singer was recently interviewed live onstage at the 21st
annual NY/NJ Kiss Expo by rock & roll comic C.C. Banana. Part serious
interview and part comedy roast, the exchange has been transcribed and
is now available online. Topics include original KISS drummer Peter
Criss, Eric's numerous hirings and firings from the band and Ace
Frehley's experimentations with Viagra. A few excerpts from the
interview follow:
C.C. Banana: You first became part of the KISS family by playing drums
for Paul Stanley on his first solo tour in 1989. How did you get the
gig and was there any talk at the time that you were being considered
to fill the KISS drum slot?
Eric Singer: Well, at that time I was in New York, recording an album
with BADLANDS. They had the same management as the guy who played bass
on Paul's solo tour, Dennis St. James... whose real name is actually
Dennis Feldman. Why do Jewish guys in the music business always try to
Americanize their names? Anyway, Dennis mentioned to the management
that Paul Stanley was planning a solo tour and was in need of a
drummer. Since by then I had already finished recording my BADLANDS
tracks, they sent me over to the KISS management office, which was
literally around the corner from my hotel. There I met with Paul and
gave him some of the CDs I'd played on. He actually ended up hiring me
based solely on those credentials. Realistically, I had no reason to
think I'd wind up drumming for KISS because Eric Carr was still in the
band at the time. The next year, KISS did the "Hot in the Shade Tour"
and it wasn't until the following year that Eric Carr became ill.
That's when they had me play drums on "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You"
for the "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey" soundtrack. After that, they
began considering me for the band and for their upcoming album, which
ended up being "Revenge".
C.C. Banana: In 1995, it was you who suggested to Gene and Paul that
they should let Peter Criss sit in with the band at one of the
official KISS conventions. This set off a chain of events that
ultimately led to a reunion of the original KISS lineup, causing you
and Bruce Kulick to be fired from the group. Looking back, how badly
did you want to kick your own ass for making that suggestion?
Eric Singer: Well, it was Gene and Paul who told me that Peter wanted
to come down to the convention with his daughter. They wanted to know
if I would be uncomfortable with that. I told them that not only would
I not be uncomfortable, they should let Peter come up and play. That
led to the taping of "MTV Unplugged", which eventually led to the full
reunion. But they still had no idea how things were going to play out
with Ace and Peter. So if the reunion ultimately didn't work or if the
tour was a flop, they already had the "Carnival of Souls" album in the
can and they still had Bruce and me on retainer. That's why they kept
us on the payroll, so they could just pick up where they left off. We
were sort of a "Plan B." That part wasn't so bad because we were still
getting paid while they were out doing the reunion tour.
C.C. Banana: Were they actually paying you enough to make it worth
your while to sit around and do nothing while KISS was on tour without
you?
Eric Singer: Well, they were out there making millions while we were
at home just collecting a paycheck! Until one day when I got a call
from Gene... I think this was sometime in July 1996. He'd called to
say that KISS would soon be coming to L.A. to play The Forum and that
we should probably get together for a meeting. I knew right then, I
was about to get fired! The next day, I listed my car for sale in the
newspaper.
C.C. Banana: In 2001, you got the call to return to KISS at the tail
end of the so-called "Farewell Tour", replacing Peter Criss for the
Japanese and Australian dates. What was it like putting on the make-up
and costume and performing with the classic KISS line-up for that very
first show?
Eric Singer: Actually, the first time I wore the make-up was for the
first photo session. Paul was the one who put it on me because I
didn't know what the hell I was doing. Ever since then, I've done it
myself and by now it's just like doing a paint-by-numbers! But yes,
the first time I put on the make-up before a concert was kind of
freaky. Our first shows were in Japan and we hadn't actually done any
production rehearsals in make-up. I just remember looking out at the
stage during the concert and thinking, "Wow, that's Gene Simmons...
that's Ace Frehley... that's Paul Stanley... and they're all in make-
up... and I'm playing drums!" It was kind of like a good acid trip.
C.C. Banana: Did they give you your own costume or did they make you
wear Peter's smelly old one?
Eric Singer: No, they made me a new one. Peter and I are the same size
but I'm built a little differently. The boots fit almost perfectly but
Peter's costume is a little bigger in the middle because I'm a bit
thinner. Although at the moment I'm a little chubby, so I don't think
I'd fit into either one!
C.C. Banana: Do they let you hang onto the costume or do they make you
leave a deposit and check it in at the end of the tour?
Eric Singer: No, I get to keep it! I'm smart, I made that part of my
deal! I actually have two complete costumes - two different ones from
the two tours I've done.
C.C. Banana: Do you ever put on the costume just for fun? Maybe for
Halloween or entertaining dates on the weekends?
Eric Singer: Uh... no.
C.C. Banana: In 2003, you were kicked out of the band again when Peter
Criss returned for the "World Domination Tour" with AEROSMITH and the
recording of the "Kiss: Symphony" album. At the time you were so upset
that you vowed never to work with KISS again... and yet, here you are.
What got you to finally change your mind and do you feel like you're
always getting sloppy seconds?
Eric Singer: Oh, I am always getting sloppy seconds! But you know
what?
Sloppy or not, at least I get to eat! As for why I went back... you
know how Gene signs his autograph with a big dollar sign? That's why.
Money talks and bullshit walks. Bottom line, I play drums for a living
and whether I like it or not, it's still a business. Gene will tell
you the same thing. It's not "music friends," it's "music business."
So I have no regrets.
C.C. Banana: Speaking of Peter Criss, it was recently announced that
he will soon be releasing his first solo album in 13 years. Will you
be playing the role of Peter Criss on that, too?
Eric Singer: Hey, I'm open to it! You never know, I might get the
call.
C.C. Banana: Have you ever been in the presence of Peter Criss while
wearing the make-up of Peter Criss?
Eric Singer: Not yet. But there's still time.
C.C. Banana: Have you ever received a kiss from a member of KISS?
Eric Singer: Ace might have tried to kiss me at some point. I remember
Paul telling me that once back in the old days, they were all sitting
around the dressing room and for whatever reason, Peter just went over
to Ace and put his dick on Ace's shoulder! Then Ace turned around and
kissed it!
C.C. Banana: Note to self - don't put dick on Ace's shoulder.
Eric Singer: Ace has a giant schlong too, you know. One night before a
KISS show, he actually took Viagra because he wanted his dick to be
hard during the concert. When I asked him why, he said, "So people can
see me get hard in the costume." He even tried snorting it once!
C.C. Banana: Ace Frehley snorted Viagra?
Eric Singer: Yep! He thought it would get into his system faster. So
Ace snorted the Viagra... but do you know what happened? His nose
swelled up instead! True story! When I tell this stuff to people, they
think I'm lying or embellishing. But it's all absolutely true. Anyone
who has ever worked with Ace will verify it. You'll never meet another
person like him. Ace Frehley stories are the absolute best.
C.C. Banana: In that case, tell us another Ace Frehley story!
Eric Singer: Well, Ace was really mad at Gene and Paul while we were
on tour in Australia. One night before a show, we were all in the
dressing room, putting on our make-up... all of us but Ace. Apparently
there had been some schism earlier in the day so when he finally did
show up, he was really mad and really late. He came in without saying
hi to anyone, put his bag down and went over to this big chalkboard
that happened to be in the dressing room that night. He then proceeded
to draw a huge pentagram on it, putting our initials on all 5 points -
G for Gene, P for Paul, E for Eric, A for Ace and D for Doc, our
manager. Then he came over to me and whispered in my ear, "Something
bad is going to happen in the show tonight. I just put a hex on Gene
and Paul." I swear to God, he actually said this! Apparently Ace had
been hanging out with a magician the night before and the guy had
taught him some black magic. Anyway, nothing happened that night but
the next night we played the same place, so Ace came into the dressing
room again and added even more symbols and stuff to the chalkboard.
C.C. Banana: Did anything bad happen that night?
Eric Singer: No, nothing happened that night, either.
C.C. Banana: I think I liked the penis story better.
AJ
should have put that in the subject box, lol.
BigOleBadAssBob
> So no on is going to comment on Ace kissing Peter's dick? Maybe I
> should have put that in the subject box, lol.
It's pretty much a non-issue. You and Broncofag probably got a kick
out of it.