BoomMF

For the longest it was The Arena. Intimate af. Saw Conway's last show there, too.

Bruh.

Check out this interview. Gene and Paul seems ready to strangle some fools. The whole thing is awkward. Criss will leave the band in about 5 months, but things are already tense. Also, as a bonus, you get to see Tom Snyder completely out of his element. No, Tom, they didn't play the violins themselves.

Witness one of my favorite guitar ads in all its glory. (Something about the way the sunburst just pops amid all the blue and black. It's like a star in space, knowwhatImean?)

I spent my formative years with the understanding that I would never get to see KISS live and then, out of nowhere, they announced they were getting back together for the reunion tour in 96. Praise be! Took my now-wife on our third date to see them at the Summit (Compaq Center by this point?). When Gene's platform went out over the crowd, dude stopped damn near right over us. It was epic. (Also, Pushmonkey was the opening act, which was a real bonus as I would have seen them solo too.) In my music room I have a framed copy of the Gibson ad featuring Ace and his custom guitar. In my comic collection I still have the Kiss issue "printed with real KISS blood!" Once, in high school, I went to Millennium in north Houston and saw Ace and Peter doing a show. Peter was meh af, but Ace fucking brought it. I was probably the youngest dude there, There was a part of the show where Ace said something like, "Do any of you remember my solo album? I think I'll do a song off of it now. You know the one!" Half the crowd screamed New York Groove and half screamed Rip It out. As loud as I could I screamed the one I wanted to hear, Ozone. Ace looked at me for a quick second with a subtle look of surprise on his face. I like to think he was taken aback by such a young kid pulling out one of his deep cuts. Could have been that he was surprised he had a song named Ozone and wondered what it must have sounded like. Who knows. Later in that show I made my way to the front of the crowd. Now, mind you, I made it to the front for Peter's show, too, and got to high five the man. Was a highlight of my young life. So I tried to do the same for Ace. I got to the front and everyone had their hand out to touch the dude. He looks me square in the fucking eyes and smirks. He didn't meet my high five, left me hanging, and smirked at me like an asshole. Don't care, still love the man. I also still have KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park on Laserdisc because it wasn't available back in the day on DVD. Also have a bootleg DVD of it, but I think it's just a transfer of the VHS. This gem needs a remaster on blu-ray. Just got done reading Paul Stanley's autobiography, Face the Music, and it was very good. Best of all the members' tell-alls. It's on Audible, too. EDITED TO ADD: Psycho Circus is the greatest comeback/return-from-a-long-hiatus album in history. Prove me wrong!

Wrong!

So they ARE two different people. Shocking.

Played a fun little game called Boogeyman where you play this child protecting their bed from the boogeyman. You have to keep your head on a swivel and efficiently use the limited battery power of your flashlight, which repels him. It's pretty intense when you look under the bed and his face is staring right at you. But the gold standard for scary VR games, imo, is Alien: Isolation. Fuck that game.

Marshall Astoria Dual. It's everything Marshall knows about making amps. I intend to be buried with it.

I need to hear more about how you hate it.

I took a pic with him at the Classic Game Fest in Austin last year. Got a poster of King of Kong signed and it's hanging in my game room. I regret nothing!

Just got hotter.

Wasn't he still growing up to his death?

It's what we do. First we made a boogieman out of Orgeron, and when that became untenable, we had to find a new savant recruiter. With Arky Chad, we'll have to take what we can get.

Name does not check out.

That list is strong to very strong. Also, Panzer Dragoon Orta? He'll and yes.

What about 11 guitarists who play Smoke on the Water, Stairway, and Smoke on the Water again?

I would like to introduce your troglodytic ass to the wonderful world of torrents. Enjoy your stay (and the occasional AIDS).

I'd like to take the moment to point out that Eli Wallach is a lifetime Longhorn. Fess Parker is too, but y'all are some snobs so his name hasn't come up yet.

Diverse audiences, which I assume is code for non-white, demand the same level of sophistication as children? Interesting take. What does the data say?

He's on the Mt. Rushmore of Rock Assholes, probably after Henley. Probably. Check out the books Gold Dust Woman, Making Rumours, or Storms. The list of his assholic accomplishments are too many to list here, but it usually involves how he treated Stevie (some real top shelf, cringe worthy stuff) the CONTINUES TO THIS DAY and strongarming or politicking/back-stabbing in the production booth. Side Note: Regardless, Gold Dust Woman and Play On (Mick's book) are recommended for Fleetwood Mac fans. Though for different reasons.

While we're collecting Buckingham shit for posterity, this video needs to be here. And maybe everywhere. Bonus points since it features his former boss.

On the one hand, he's probably one of the worst humans who's ever existed. On the other, he's a pop genius. It's a toughie.