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”
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.
INTERNET COMMENTS via YouTube.com — agree or disagree???
E C wrote: “Get up everybody going to miss their cue, get down everybody going to see you lip syncing too! My oh my…”Garrett Grant wrote: “I love KISS but Paul is Lip syncing cuz he can’t sing anymore and they gotta do one last cash grab. What’s weird is GENE can still sing his parts pretty good and he’s not lip syncing. Wow busted totally lol”
CAMMYLOT wrote: “Wonder how much of his pay check Eric was docked for that faux pas”
Rod Belding wrote: “My biggest problem with Paul lip synching is what a lying hypocrite he is. He always puts down bands that use tracks and stuff but here he is doing it.”
Ronald Tinkham wrote: “The band didn’t mess up. The pyro and the guy running the backing tracks did. It’s gotta be hard to play to a track and get it right every time.”
Joe Kingsley wrote: “I think Eric messed up. Waited too long to come in. Therefore the perfectly timed Pyro and vocal track are off. Why do people still go to kiss shows? It used to be fun. Now it’s just sad.”
Gregg Sonic wrote: “Milli Vanilli eat your hearts out. Glad it’s their last tour, they should have canned it years ago though.”
marc Hoyland wrote: “It’s just little bits here and there to beef up his vocal. He’s live for the most part. He’s been doing that for years.”
CHECK IT OUT: Start at 5:09 to see the backing track’s vocals go awry: