Can KISS One Day Exist Without Any Original Members? ERIC SINGER Weighs In

During a recent appearance on the "Talk Is Jericho" podcast, KISS drummer Eric Singer was asked about the possibility of the band one day carrying on without any original members, including main songwriter Paul Stanley and bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons.

"I know that people have talked about that," Singer said. "I don't really know what the real feelings of Gene and Paul… To segue into something like that, that's the transition period would be what I don't fully understand how they will find… Like, when is the time, or is there ever a time, or is that something that's a viable thing to happen. I think if it's done right, it could be."

He continued: "Everyone has their own point of view of what they think makes sense or what would work on not. Some people think it wouldn't work at all; other people think, 'Yeah, sure. Why not?' But if there's a fanbase out there for it, obviously it'll work. I think it's how it's done. If it's done the right way, it's a possibility that it could be something that could work. But I personally thought it would be best to just go and find four young new guys — like when they were young and started — that had this kind of energy and the right look and everything, it's probably possible."

Singer went on to say: "I know there was talk years ago about trying to do a TV show where they were gonna call it 'Kiss: The Next Generation'. And the whole idea… kind of like one of these reality shows based on finding the members and putting them together and becoming this new entity. But the problem was, like Doc [McGhee, KISS manager] said, once you do that… It's a great idea, but once you do that, then KISS as it is now, you're done. You can't do that kind of a show and then still keep being KISS. So I think that's what probably made it not happen, because they realized, 'No, we still wanna play.'"

The drummer added: "I don't know if it's still something that would have a chance to still happen in a format like that. I think that would be one of the ways it might be cool to do it — do it through a TV show, kind of like an 'American Idol', thing like that, where you create putting this whole thing together, and then it goes on tour. 'Cause the TV show would be the vehicle to get it all the attention for then people wanting to go see it."

Asked if he would want to be involved in a version of KISS that featured no original members, Singer responded: "That's not something that I really wanna do, to be honest with you. I've said it before. I think maybe other people have different sentiments about it, whether it's other guys in the band or Doc or whoever. But for me, if Gene or Paul aren't doing it, to me, it would awkward or difficult. Up to this day, I've always maintained that if one of those guys is done, then, to me, that's when it's done."

Stanley has repeatedly said that KISS could one day continue without him and Gene, explaining in a recent interview: "I didn't invent the wheel. What I do on stage is a mixture of all the people that inspired me. I don't know what I've done that's truly original; I stole from a lot of good people and mixed it all together. KISS has a forty-year history now and a point of view and how we relate to our audience and how we relate to each other. We sing about self-empowerment and about celebrating being alive — things that are pretty timeless. And once the original band was no more, it just became clear to us that, in some ways, we're much more a sports team. We don't fall into the limitations of other bands, because we're not other bands. So, yeah, at some point, I'd love to see somebody in the band in my place, and it's because I love the band."

Asked how he would go about finding someone to replace him, Stanley said: "Honestly, I think all the KISS tribute bands are great, but none of them have a good 'Paul.' So I'd like to see somebody who incorporates what I've done with a lot of the things that inspired me. You have to remember, when we go on tour… I mean, the last tour we did was just stadiums in South America and Europe, and nobody in the audience is going, 'Where's so-and-so?' They're there to see KISS. And the people who think, or thought, that the band couldn't exist without the original members are fifty percent wrong now. So, to me, it's just another step. Some people may not understand it, but I do. I'd love to see the band continue. And it's not a matter of a puppet being me; it's somebody who comes in and contributes and adds something new to it while still following the template that's been set."

It was back in 2005 that KISS manager Doc McGhee first told the New York Times that the group had "been toying with the idea of recruiting an entire band to don the band's famous makeup." McGhee said, "KISS is more like Doritos or Pepsi, as far as a brand name is concerned. They're more characters than the individual person. I think (new members) have a legitimate chance to carry the franchise."

Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley said earlier this year that the idea that the band could continue without any original members was "the most ridiculous statement I've ever heard [Stanley and Simmons] make." He added: "I think the only reason they make those statements at this juncture is to try to validate the fact that they have two other guys in the band that aren't the original members. So they're trying to rationalize to the fans, 'Well, you know, we replaced Peter [Criss, original KISS drummer] and we replaced Ace, and eventually we're gonna replace ourselves. That's like [THE ROLLING STONES singer] Mick Jagger saying, 'Yeah, after me and Keith [Richards, THE ROLLINGS STONES guitarist] die, THE STONES will continue on with two other guys.' I mean, it's a joke."