Eric Singer & Tommy Thayer – Legit Replacements or Simple Copycats?

It’s been a hot topic for the past thirteen years in the rock/metal world.  Are Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer legitimate replacements or are they just copy cats up on stage making the real KISS feel like a tribute band?  It’s a complicated answer.  The first thing to tackle is the fact that they are wearing The Catman and Spaceman’s make-up and in the case of The Catman, also costumes.  Personally I think it’s a bit cheap to do that.  Not that Singer and Thayer don’t belong as musicians in KISS, particularly Singer.  After all, there have been three drummers and five lead guitar players throughout the years.  But to actually put them in Peter Criss and Ace Frehley’s make up and creations.  It just doesn’t seem right to me.  Those are their own personal characters that they created in the first days of the band.  Parts of their personality and who they are and what they love in real life.  Not simply characters to be reconfigured over and over again.  Of course, there is the argument that Ace and Peter threw their creations away.  Peter sold The Catman to Gene and Paul to do with what they will.  Ace on the other hand was a little more tactical.  He leases his make-up to Gene and Paul.  That’s why Tommy Thayer can’t wear an exact replica of the ‘Destroyer’ era costume when the band puts those on.  Notice how the wings in the featured image are smaller and lower than Ace’s.  And when Tommy isn’t wearing that he’s wearing a personalized original.  Although on the current tour he is wearing an exact replica of Ace’s ‘Music: From the Elder and ‘Creatures of the Night’ costume.  Which is my favorite Ace outfit!!  It’s infuriating!  Not as infuriating though as when Thayer performs ‘Shock Me’, written and sung by Ace Frehley, during a KISS set.  Ace wrote that song after a personal experience of being electrocuted on stage.  IS NOTHING SACRED?!  Thayer has his own two songs from the most recent KISS albums.  Sing those!!  On the other hand, he’s only referred to as ‘The Spaceman’.  The actual character is ‘The Space-Ace’, but KISS can’t use that name.

Complete blasphemy!!

I feel that the band had the replacement makeup situation right the first time, when Eric Carr joined in 1980.  He had his own character ‘The Fox’.  Which isn’t that original, but it was far more appropriate than slapping Peter Criss’ character on him.  The situation isn’t as bad when it comes to Eric Singers role however.  He played in the group during the ‘Revenge’ era when Eric Carr became terminally ill.  Many fans, including myself, recognize this as the finest era in the non-makeup era of KISS.  He’s certainly a better drummer than Peter Criss.

Phenomenal drummer.

And when he plays the shows he does his own drum fills, unless it’s inappropriate for the song.  He adds his own style of playing and contributes originality to the band.  And he’s a veteran to KISS.  That can’t be said for Tommy Thayer though.  He’s copies everything Ace did in the band.  Stage moves, guitar solos, guitar fills and more.  I’d like to see some originality contributed to the band by him.  Sure, he wrote ‘Outta This World’ for the ‘Monster’ album and ‘Lightning Strikes’ for the ‘Sonic Boom’ album.  But he wrote those songs thinking as Ace.  He didn’t write them as Tommy.  He doesn’t even play guitar as Tommy.  And I’m not sure if he even wants to.  He’s so obsessed with being The Spaceman that it seemingly has taken his own original flare and diminished it.  I’m sure he’s a fine player.  But I’ve never really seen him play.  I’ve only seen him play as Ace.  Imitating him to last tee.  And that’s where I really start to run into problems with the current situation.  At least give the guy his own guitar tone!!  Oh, he has his own guitar model?  Big deal!  Do something other than a simple, original guitar tone and Spaceman costume.  By the way, Ace Frehley’s last two solo albums are light years ahead of the two newest KISS records.  At this point I’m not even so much upset about the makeup as I am about the style of playing and lack of originality.  Trying to create an illusion that KISS is somehow still in their 70’s heyday.  Why don’t they take the makeup off again and just play their songs as well as possible?  I’d go see that show.  I don’t know if anyone else would, but I’d be there.  Also, they could have sat down and given original characters to Tommy and Eric.  It’s not that hard, they don’t have to be amazing.  Just something original.  It feels too much like a tribute band.  With Eric and Tommy as The Space and Catman who’s to say that Paul and Gene can’t be replaced?  They’ve certainly toyed with the idea.  And if they do that, who’s to say that anyone can’t dress up as a KISS character, learn the licks and do the shows and call it KISS?  There’s got to be some sort of line that separates the band from the imitators and right now that line is fading fast.  What are your opinions on the current KISS situation?  Take it or leave it?

The real Space-Ace.  The real ‘Shock Me’.

Thought I’d add one video from ’75.  When the magic was pure.  The band was pure.  And that’s a huge part of why KISS became as big of an entity as it did.

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