KISS won’t put the X in Sirius XM

By ANDREW MATHIESON

AN artistic stalemate appears to have prevented one of rock’s most iconic bands from headlining its own mega satellite and online radio station.
KISS has bulked over adhering to the strict radio format emanating from the Midtown Manhattan headquarters of Sirius XM.
The influential New York glam rockers had a previous limited run on the broadcaster.
But they have since all but ruled out following in the footsteps of other musical acts who have lent their names to one of the stations.
“We talked about it, but what we do not want to do is what everyone else has done,” KISS manager Doc McGhee said on the Talking Metal podcast.
“It’s very, very limited what Kiss does on the channel.
“It’s pretty much programmed by XM and the people that program it.
“It doesn’t really represent KISS as well as I would like it to.
“So, if we could change that concept, and I believe we will in the future where we can be more active and more engaged it, then yes, we would do a channel.
“Until we can control it and engage it the correct way, we won’t.”
The immediate focus since restrictions on concerts around the world have somewhat eased in 2022 has been getting through dates on the scheduled End Of The Road tour.
The pandemic that cancelled the tour has also ensured KISS – formed in 1973 -will continue touring into its 50th year.
“We were supposed to do it all last year in July, but because of Covid stopping us from doing the touring, it has set us back a year and a half,” McGhee said.
The final performance is set to finish a further three dates after their Australian leg in the Californian state capital of Sacramento on October 7.
This month the biggest-selling gold album band from the US started its European tour that included 25 concerts across 18 countries that will close on July 21 in Amsterdam. KISS have committed to playing in small cities and venues that traditionally have supported them and which McGhee credits for their ongoing popularity.
“We want to get through what we said we would,” he said.
“The guys wanted to play to everybody.
“We will go to your town, big or small.
“We are not the red-carpet band that you have to come out to.
“We have always been the people’s band in the sense of where the KISS army is what have supported us for all these years.”

McGhee, whose managerial involvement includes Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Skid Row, Guns ‘N Roses, even Hootie and the Blowfish, believed KISS was still the best value for money act going around.
“We do not do stadiums where you go there and you get a shitty seat, and you can’t see anybody,” he said.
“I mean do we make money? Everybody makes money, but one thing that we do is if you paid $150 for a ticket or $20 for a ticket, or a $300 show or a $50 show, we spend a lot of money on our show because listening to us, that is what KISS is.
“KISS is the band that you want to go see.
“Maybe you may not like their music as much as you do other people’s music or songs or whatever, but you will come and see the show because you think it’s a must-see.”
That sense of longevity has seen the legendary Gene Simmons, 72, and Paul Stanley, 70, remain with the band since the 1973 beginnings through 10 other members and the death of second drummer Eric Carr in 1991.
But the active pair, along with drummer Eric Singer and guitarist Tommy Thayer, are at least going out on their terms.
“It’s hard to end a career – no one really wants to go away,” McGhee said.
“They say they do, but again it’s like (Tom) Brady – at some point he’s going to say, ‘I don’t want to be the old guy on the field – I want to leave when I am on top’.
“That’s the way Gene and Paul feel.
“They’re not quitting, but they’re spending a lot of time away from their family.
“But the KISS Army is also their family.”