Kiss Are About 'Self-Empowerment,' Not Merchandise 'Schlock' Says Paul Stanley

Kiss have long been famous for their savvy approach to merchandise, with the prime example being the Kiss Kasket, an actual coffin emblazoned with the band's logo and graphics (and now there's even a Kiss cremation urn). So, with all that Kiss-related swag and marketing tie-ins, does guitarist Paul Stanley worry that the band name is branded on too much stuff?

Never.

"It's misleading because of the volume of things we have, that Kiss is just a schlock house," Stanley tells Spinner. "The truth of the matter is, we have pride in everything we do. At the core this is a rock 'n' roll band, but we don't put our name on anything that we don't believe in, or that the fans don't believe in.

"People sometimes say, why do you have things like Kiss sleeping bags? Because a fan asked for it. We're not great merchandisers -- we're great listeners. We give the fans what they want. If that's a crime, I'm ready for my trial."

As for what makes the Kiss brand endure like it does, Stanley explains his theory.

"Kiss is a timeless truth," he says. "It was true 100 years ago and it will be true 100 years from today. It's all about self-empowerment, it's about believing in yourself and believing that the only thing in the way of you and your dreams is hard work. We believe a great work ethic will pretty much get you wherever you want to go.

"Kiss will outlive me, for sure. What we've done is create a way of thinking, an ideal that hopefully will go on beyond me and the other guys in the band because the idea is bigger than any individual."

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by KISSmaniac on August 12, 2011 at 9:09am

"we're great listeners. We give the fans what they want"

Oh really? So we can expect to hear songs from The Elder and Carnival of Souls on the next tour? We can expect Eric and Tommy in new makeup designs?

COOL!

Permalink Reply by Lexje on August 12, 2011 at 1:23pm

I couldn't agree more. New music and new masks plus costumes!

Permalink Reply by KISSFAN on August 13, 2011 at 8:54pm

PAUL LIES ALMOST AS MUCH AS GENE...

Permalink Reply by Majordad on August 12, 2011 at 5:16pm

Not Merchandise????? Really?????

Caskets, Urns, Cruises, just to name a few recent additions....

I don't think that Kiss is " just a schlock house". I do know for sure that Kiss is a merchandising empire.

Permalink Reply by KISSmaniac on August 12, 2011 at 5:33pm

In all honesty I find myself listening to other bands a lot more lately. KISS just isn't the same and I doubt they ever will be again.

Permalink Reply by Majordad on August 12, 2011 at 5:43pm

I still listen to the original line up. I rarely listen to the 80's Kiss. I feel the original line up is the strongest of all the versions of the band. I can pretty much listen to Alive everyday. This version not so much. Sonic Boom has it's moments but as you said....."Not the same".....

Permalink Reply by KISSmaniac on August 12, 2011 at 8:41pm

I listen to KISS...all of it, i will always be a fan of all their music, every lineup. Nothing will ever change that.

Just getting into other bands, bands who really care about their fans (not just say they listen, but really do) and do not charge them a small fortune to meet them. I plan to do a KISS meet and greet on the next tour however, and if I am forking out a grand for it then it had better be the best meet and greet I have ever attended!!!!

I have never paid for a meet and greet, KISS will be the first. Every other band I have met was random luck or winning passes.

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