KISS' PAUL STANLEY, TOMMY THAYER Interviewed On LONE STAR 92.5 (Audio)

On Wednesday, October 10, Bo and Jim of the Dallas radio station Lone Star 92.5 conducted an interview with KISS singer/guitarist Paul Stanley and lead guitarist Tommy Thayer. You can now listen to the chat below.

KISS is back with its 20th album, "Monster", which was co-produced by Stanley. According to The Pulse Of Radio, Stanley spoke to Rolling Stone about the new set and also touched upon the fact that KISS has once again failed to make the shortlist for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. When asked if it bothered him, Stanley said, "No, because I think it's so transparent. You have the East Coast music Mafia — they are clearly more motivated by each other than reality. Filling their criteria is leaving them at this point some pretty slim pickings. Would we accept? Of course, because it matters to our fans. So, I would be gracious. But honestly, it means nothing to me. My life is far beyond anything I could have anticipated and will continue to be so without a new doorstop."

The latest lineup of KISS features drummer Eric Singer and lead guitarist Tommy Thayer dressed as original members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley, respectively. Stanley was asked if he has any contact with the KISS co-founders. "No," he said. "It's not out of animosity. It just has no point in my life today. Safe to say, the band wouldn't be here without those guys having been in it. The band also wouldn't be here today if those guys were still in it. I respect and love what we created together, but that was a long time ago."

Stanley spoke about how his early influences helped inform the sound of "Monster". "I wanted to make an album that really hearkened back to why I got into this in the first place," he said. "I was lucky enough as a kid to spend most of my weekends at the Fillmore East. On a great night, that was like a Holy Roller evangelical church. When rock n' roll is done with that fervor, it's close to gospel. That's what I wanted to go for with this album — passion as opposed to perfection. James Brown wasn't perfect. Motown, THE BEATLES, THE [ROLLING] STONES, [LED] ZEPPELIN, early Elvis [Presley] — I wanted to maintain the essence of it, getting a first, second or, if you really had to push it, a third take and record on analog tape and capture the intensity of what you're doing, and not compromise it."

Paul Stanley told The Pulse Of Radio that he wanted "Monster" to contain everything that he loved and admired about his favorite records growing up. "I'd like to think that the bands that you are influenced and inspired by doesn't necessarily mean that you mimic them," he said. "It means that their passion, or their approach is inspirational. So, whether its gospel, or Motown — it all is music of passion. And that's what I think we wanted to and I wanted to see us channel was the passion and the fervor that all the music I loved had. Y'know, its not about perfection — it's about passion."

On October 31, KISS kicks off its "Kiss Kruise" in Miami aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line, Norwegian Pearl.