It looks as though Kiss' long-rumored use of backing tracks in concert has finally been fully revealed. During the band's June 6th concert in Antwerp, Belgium, a missed cue from drummer Eric Singer seemingly threw off the synced track for “Detroit Rock City,” exposing Paul Stanley for not hitting a vocal line — despite his voice blaring from the PA.
Blabbermouth posted: “At the end of the track, Singer, who has played with Kiss on and off since 1991, apparently 'forgets to rest for a measure,' according to YouTube commenter Austin Ogonoski, 'instead continuing to play the standard beat for two additional measures. . . Eric realizes he messes up (and) begins the drumroll/breakdown a measure late (which) means Paul's vocal track is out of sync with what the band is actually playing. . . Paul's track plays 'Everybody's gonna leave their SEAT,' completely out of sync with the song and when nobody is at a mic.”
There's a certain bitter irony in the fact that Kiss has been caught cheating — especially in light of the fact that Gene Simmons has made a concerted effort to trash acts that use pre-recorded music or augment their sound digitally.
Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx took to Twitter to seemingly take umbrage with Kiss' obvious double standard: “Certain band out on the road right now putting other bands DOWN and saying that they are a REAL rock band, no background singers, and other old people cranky comments except his lead vocals are on tape. People in glass houses shouldn't throw rocks. #GetOffMyLawn #WizardOfOz”
Not too long ago Gene Simmons told us that he would be far happier if the live acts that take their show on the road were upfront about what it is they're exactly selling: “Ladies and gentlemen, the ticket price you're paying $100 for, you're going to be seeing live people onstage with video screens — but only about 30 percent of the music is live. 70 percent — or fill in your own percentage — is a tape. In other words, everything you see and hear is not real. But they don't tell you that. I hate that. I publicly denounce it and call it for what it is. And that doesn't mean that Rhianna, Madonna and all the rest of the girls that end their names with “a” aren't talented, and can't sing and aren't sexy — they're all great. I despise the dishonesty.”
Kiss performs on Friday (June 10th) in Donington, England at the
Download Festival.
Their next U.S. show is set for September 21st at West Palm Beach's IThink Financial Amphitheatre.