Ep. 418 Eddie Trunk Joins to Discuss What If KISS Performed at Monsters of Rock and the US Festival

Episode 418, February 9, 2021. Huge What If episode this week! Eddie Trunk joins to discuss what if KISS had played the Monsters of Rock festival when offered back in the Elder era and what if KISS had been asked to play at the US Festival?
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Press requests please contact Michael Brandvold at www.michaelbrandvold.com
Since launching in 2012 Three Sides of the Coin has been viewed or listened to over 6,000,000 times. Three Sides of the Coin has been joined by special guests including former KISS lead guitarist Bruce Kulick, Eddie Trunk, WWE Superstar and lead singer of Fozzy Chris Jericho, Angel lead guitarist Punky Meadows, Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Jason Hook, Vinnie Vincent Invasion and Slaughter lead singer Mark Slaughter, Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider, comedian Craig Gass, KISS’ former business manager Chris Lendt, the Black Veil Brides' Andy Biersack, Frank Munoz associate producer for Ace Frehley's Anomaly album, award winning songwriter Adam Mitchell, Ed Kanon (Peter Criss' drum tech), Kevin Valentine (drummer on KISS' Psycho Circus album). Three Sides of the Coin was picked (October 2013) as a 'What's Hot' podcast by Apple's iTunes.
In the early '90s, Michael Brandvold launched the fifth ever website on the Internet devoted to KISS, KISS Otaku. He built, launched and maintained Kissonline.com (KISS' official web presence). He now owns Michael Brandvold Marketing, providing marketing services and digital strategy to musicians. Tommy Sommers spent 15 years on the record show circuit collecting, trading and selling memorabilia / Kiss merchandise. He is now a successful residential Real Estate agent in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area. Tommy has also produced a KISS song For The Oddfathers and is the owner of Rock Steady Digital Photography. Mark Cicchini, is a world renown KISS collector. KISS have used parts of Mark’s vast KISS collection for audio, video & print materials including their book NOTHIN TO LOSE, CD re release of the LOVE GUN album & the VH1 Ultimate Album KISS ALIVE! special as well as many other KISS projects. His wife also makes a mean meatloaf!!!
It's only our opinion... it's neither right nor wrong.
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[@drums333]

Man......listening to Cicchini talk is about as much fun as watching paint dry.

[@Danimal77]

It's also worth noting that by May 1982 Kiss had already released the import Killers album with 4 new songs (I'm a Legend Tonight, Down On Your Knees, Nowhere to Run, and Partners in Crime), 2 of which could have been performed at Donington. I'm a Legend Tonight and Nowhere to Run were KILLER songs (no pun intended).

[@Kopperafiel]

In '82 KISS said Ace was in a car accident and Vinnie was a fill in. I also, remember it being said that Gene called Ace during the Lick It Up tour asking him to come back.

[@TheJohnnyCotts]

I've heard the "Gene called Ace and asked him to come back" story, but I heard it was during the COTN tour, due to the poor ticket sales in North America.

[@jimkiss]

I remember seeing KISS in Toronto at the CNE grounds (RIP) on the Hot in the Shade tour in June of 1990. I bought tickets thinking KISS was going to be the headliner but then they played after Slaughter but before Whitesnake. As a die hard KISS fan I was there to see KISS. Once KISS was done I along with half of the crowd left without seeing Whitesnake. No one had any idea that was going to happen!!

[@dougstanley7662]

I went to the Revenge show here in Indianapolis Indiana and it was packed out,maybe because it was indiana and they have such a huge fan base here because of the KISS ARMY .

[@Peatmoss0979]

Unmasked in my favorite Kiss album

[@Peatmoss0979]

@@jimmythejerk7248 Sorry I meant to say Hot in the Shade

[@Peatmoss0979]

@@jimmythejerk7248 I learned to love Unmasked I always listened to Rock and Roll over and to me Its there Heaviest and darkest album. But Unmasked has a certain charm to it I'm sure my opinion will change again.

[@Peatmoss0979]

@@jimmythejerk7248 CORRECTION HOTTER THEN HELL said the wrong album

[@Peatmoss0979]

@@jimmythejerk7248 TORPEDO GIRL... I like RARO but I give the edge in my opinion HOTTER THEN HELL..

[@pappy4075]

Hall of Fame episode. The menutia ? Was a treasure trove. I needed this episode. Thank y’all putting smile on my face today

[@Rabant777]

As a Kiss fan in the UK at that time, the big rock bands (i.e the bands doing the bigger venues and more shows) were Whitesnake; Rainbow; Lizzy; AC/DC and Quo. Motorhead and newly solo Ozzy were bigger than Kiss. Rush were about the same size of attraction ..... both bands were probably around 11th - 12th biggest rock band in the UK until after Creatures and that was because of the championing by the (new) magazine Kerrang!. When Lick it Up came out it was Kerrang that pushed Kiss up to maybe 6th / 7th biggest band. August 1982 the band weren't in a position to play - they were finishing the recording Creatures, they didn't have a guitar player, they didn't have significant support at Polygram (the new label), they didn't have promoters knocking down their door, and they had sacked manager Bill Aucoin in May.

[@stefftrim]

Listen here, guys. From "No Regrets": April 1 1982, shortly before KISS went into studio to begin recording "Creatures of the Night, I was home in Connecticut preparing for my inevitable departure from the band. Before that Paul had visited Ace to bond and Ace had his premonition "I will die, if I don't leave the band.

[@Ziggityzo]

Great episode!!! Probably my favorite episode by far. Was hoping it would never end.

[@hammeredwithhorror]

What started the downfall was the solo albums and Dynasty sealed the deal with the disco sound. I think what they could have done is to make a double album with each member getting one side to do four or five songs. That would have sold much better than releasing four separate albums. Name each side after the members : side Gene,Side:Paul,Side:Ace and Side:Peter

[@bluesoldier5330]

The revenge album was Kiss’s come to Jesus moment. If Revenge had come along sooner, they could’ve toured on it and their headlining at Donington would have blown everybody off the stage.

[@kevinchadler469]

I am the biggest Peter Criss fan ever and loved the original lineup, but you are right!!! I did like Kiss after my boy Peter and Ace left, and Revenge was amazing!!! 👍

[@joehobbs3277]

Yeah for sure but if you go from creatures which was a metal album all the way up to hot in the shade kiss were basicly following the hair metal trend so I’d they’d have out out revenge at any point My guess is they’d had probably lost any momentum they’d gained from lick it up but that’s just my theory

[@richardheadly7466]

I thought Revenge was a solid album but I don't think I'd call it a "come to Jesus moment". Hell, I liked Carnival as much as Revenge.

[@markdouglas9182]

The episodes with Trunk as a guest are always entertaining. Nice job!

[@michaelkline959]

The reason they chose Vinnie was because Vinnie was a good songwriter but they needed a guitar player to go on tour

[@G4ECFord]

If IWMFLY was a flop or never released would that have affected future songs written with Desmond Child? To push it further, maybe Paul would have never suggested Desmond Child to Jon Bon Jovi? Would Bon Jovi reach the level they reached without Desmond?

[@DrKazoo9994]

The Elder has 5 Austrian variations. Easily more than any other KISS album. It was pushed hard in Europe and Australia.

[@hugostiglitziii5432]

Now this was pure excellence. 🔥 Chock-a-bloc with Kiss stuff. Also the Klosterman one, Lynne Goldsmith, Lydia, Peter's old tech, and the one about the guy who had the full Alive 2 tour set in his warehouse...all excellent episodes.

[@tedpavlica9973]

What's the common denominator between Creatures and Revenge?? VINNIE!!

[@Magnus2131]

Creatures was what I wanted KISS to always be, the first album had hints of the hard rock group they could be. The first album is still my favorite.

[@andreana2112]

The Elder album cycle was simply dead before Donnington. Friday’s was in January and less than 5 months later they would already have had a “new” album out to course correct, recorded without their guitarist.

[@CrazyLG72]

If Kiss did this 81 Rock show, and Ace wasn't gonna do it, Bob Kulick possibly would of been doing the gig..Vinnie wasn't even around in 81..What an entertaining episode! Always a blast with Eddie on the show..Eddie is right with Kiss and Aerosmith were old news in 82-83..Also,Whatever MTV pushed, those bands were the up and coming stars of rock,Quiet Riot,Def Leppard, Motley Crue and even Billy Squier and Men at Work! Kiss was old news until unmasking on MTV and Aerosmith became popular again because of Walk this Way with Run Dmc and Tyler..MTV is definitely missed in my opinion

[@Danimal77]

To Eddie's hypothetical about touring for Carnival of Souls, I would have loved to see that and hear some of those songs played live. Carnival of Souls is criminally underrated. It's so heavy and modern sounding. I like it even better than Revenge. It's a shame that the album was swept under the rug along with Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer (who was actually still Eric Singer at that point).

[@TheJohnnyCotts]

If Kiss had moved onto COS and put it out in 1993-94, instead of mining their history (Alive 3, Kiss My Ass, ...), they might have been able to fully reinvent themselves again.

[@metaphoria3]

Eddie all blushin at the end ☺️ happy nye peeps!

[@robertalsup6959]

I love the KISS geekiness, if that's a word! Great discussion and I am drooling at all this history!

[@joshhefner8179]

The revenge tour not selling while Metallica in a 3 year tour for the black album

[@Kopperafiel]

I do agree with Eddie that the show would have had a few cuts from The Elder and backloaded with classics. It would have been killer.

[@sabbath1229]

Here's a what if. What if the original kiss lineup stayed together thru out the 80s. Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter. What would that have been like or another what if. What if creatures of the night came out in 1980 instead of unmasked.

[@Kopperafiel]

I think what really killed The Elder (besides the music) was not having the bands photo on the cover.

[@boycbronco]

That was fun. Sometimes these "what if" episodes get a little off the rails, but this was a good conversation. Thanks, gal and guys!

[@Kopperafiel]

Plus, a new record contract swung on the fact that three original members were included. Hence, the Creatures album cover.

[@MrNitromike1]

This show is growing on me. Was just a casual watcher but now if I see it I’m glad to watch it. Thanks!

[@MichaelBrandvold]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@jimmiepiranah]

Another hurdle with the US Festival was Van Halen. They wanted $1mil to play. And got it. In their contract, no one could be paid more than them. If there was, VH would get the same. At the last minuet. One of the festivals money backers, wanted David Bowie on the bill. With Bowie's fee, and the cost of flying his crew/production over. So 2 groups are getting $1mil plus. I doubt KISS, had that kind of stroke, at that time, to ask for that kind of scratch. Also someone brought up, they wouldn't take a 2nd slot. They would probably have to have them headline, New Wave day.

[@Strutter72]

Great Episode 3 sides Team definitely one of my Favourites so far... you guys were all so loose & Relaxed & let it all flow naturally

[@splintercell0147]

Guess I had to be different during the Hot In The Shade era I joined the KISS Alive fanclub instead of the KISS ARMY, I remember when Revenge came out they sent me a big stack of Revenge/Sam Goody $2.00 off coupon's to buy the album, and they asked me to hand them out. Of course they made it sound like I was helping KISS out by doing this, but I remember going to our Sam Goody store and being told the coupons were no good, wish someone knew what that was about.

[@Kopperafiel]

KISS were trend chasers from Dynasty on IMHO.

[@markokovanen1808]

Entertaining Episode! 😀 I've had a little time off, but I decided to have a look and yes !!! You are still great !!! Nice to chat with you through the screen 😅 Thank you !!! 😀💪

[@metaphoria3]

Fanfair to The Oath would actually be really cool as an opener at Castle Donington totally fits

[@richardheadly7466]

I have a different perspective on The Elder. By the time I got into KISS enough to start collecting their catalog The Elder was out of print. That album couldn't be found anywhere. I had every album but that one for years & it became sort of like a holy grail. When the CD was re-issued around 1991 I saw it in a record store & was like YES!!!! I think it's a good album. Is a band supposed to stay the same forever?

[@tedpavlica9973]

All KISS posters on my wall and t-shirts too then carved out a spot for AC/DC.

[@BT-808]

Nice to see ET fanboy a little Loved him at first XMRadio Probably why I got back into KISS But then the Blowhard era He has signed his bought books for me (and the Winery Dogs CD) so I’m a fan But this episode brought it all back on why I like his perspective on hard rock His music picks match up with mine (early UFO) so to hear some Kiss (and other) minutiae is always good We could have ringed the Mark C bell a few times, but Eddie Trunk also has the goods and credibility Rock On Knuckleheads 🥁

[@MrAntonio2005]

If they toured Europe with Vinnie in 82/83, Paul should have specified in the tour rider no cauldrons of soup, because Vinnie had a tendency to dump his leftovers..just saying finger sandwiches were the best option ala Spinal Tap.

[@arnfinnrong6233]

They DID perform in the magic of the afterglow summer 1988, when they played a string of intergalacticly electrifying concerts. The Tilburg Stadium show remains overlooked and forgotten. Bruce playing with a fire as fierce as Vinnie in 1984

[@joshhefner8179]

Mark bringing the documents love it

[@CrazyLG72]

Mark is definitely 1 true Kiss fanatic! You gotta love his passion for the band and keeps bringing out new things about the band from many many years ago! Cool stuff

[@sab4raw]

The Elder went number 11 on the Aussie charts, and single I went number 24.

[@joshhefner8179]

Glen Falls was just close as Worcester for the Creatures tour.

[@Kopperafiel]

I'm wondering why Eddie mentioned Vinnie for The Elder show at Donnigton? Vinnie was not considered until after Creatures was recorded. KISS had in a contract for another guitar player if they did an Elder show. I'm not sure if Ace would have been included in a festival but maybe that's why they declined.

[@metaphoria3]

57:00 sounds like rock and roll hell

[@romelovesdan]

Platinum episode...take that trade ad out!

[@rayp4050]

Didn't KISS also appear on Solid Gold to perform A World Without Heroes?

[@TheJohnnyCotts]

They did I.

[@joshhefner8179]

Eddie talking about Manson more problems now for that man

[@romelovesdan]

Saw Cheap Trick do "Up The Creek" live 5/19/1984...it was great!

[@steveandersen469]

Thumbs up from me!! AEROSMITH ALERT in the 10th minute!!! 'In the 10th minute, people!!' AEROSMITH ARMY REJOICE!! You don't have to sit through 20 minutes of 'If It's My Life had of been on Creatures, been the first single and video, it would have saved the band and the makeup'!! You don't have to sit through 20 minutes of the dilemma 'why Cheap Trick isn't a stadium band?' You don't have to sit through 20 minutes of Izzy's Gourmet Pasta from 7/11!!' You don't have to sit through 20 minutes of Ralph inappropriately hitting on The Weather Girl!! AEROSMITH ARMY you won!! Forget the KISS Army, you won. 'Would you look at the time?' Blue Kool-Aid Drinker. Peace out from the Southern Tip of Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada.

[@kevinmyles6369]

Really think Kiss should have go back to big club gigging after The Elder when tourning Creatures. Would have suited them much better than playing empty arenas and stress involved for both the band and promoters, just saying.. 👍👍 they still could have sold out most clubs then. Better than playing empty arenas with Vinnie

[@joshhefner8179]

Yes they didn't play new york city again till lick it up but they did play in new york in 83

[@Magnus2131]

Beth was the point I got the most shit on from people on how KISS first sold out. I was made for loving you was a kick in the balls years later.

[@karlausdembruch5592]

Sorry, KISS was still chasing on Revenge. Look what all the other "hair bands" were doing at that time. The leather, dressed down look. The "FU", raunchy lyrics. It may have fit KISS better, but the trend was still being chased.

[@randychambers1704]

It would be great to find out what bands were considered for the US Festival on Heavy Metal Day that weren`t included ....other than Joe Walsh

[@joshhefner8179]

Yeah remember 94 they headlined in monsters of rock brazil.

[@metaphoria3]

They mayve got more cred from the NWOBHM if they had played the Oath on a fitting Elder promo at Castle Donington

[@Kopperafiel]

Who was the guest speaker? I was watching Lisa the whole time.

[@cw-xv1jj]

Here’s another what if What if the elder movie got made like it was supposed too along side the album

[@TexMexGenX]

I love Lisa!! Her being a KISS fan does it for me!! 🤘 Great Show Y'all! 🎯

[@richardheadly7466]

Thank you Eddie, I've long felt Revenge was overrated. It was just the album in which Gene came back. It was solid, it wasn't great or anything.

[@metaphoria3]

Trivia night ep would he fun or Mark vs the Trunk

[@jaywilkinson525]

If it wasn't for Alice Cooper They're wouldn't of been a Kiss as We know Them cause that's how They got the idea for Their makeup etc. was going to see Alice Cooper & deciding Well, When if there were 4 Alice Coopers but each with different makeup?

[@dono6971]

Great conversation all. Enjoyed it!

[@metaphoria3]

Wonder if it would’ve kept Ace IN the band

[@robintaylor7355]

Dare Force What I’ve never heard of them they open for kiss on the creatures of the night tour for how long one week?

[@chiefbrokenarrow525]

We're not worthy, we're not worthy!!! Great show Three Sides gang!

[@atlanticmilklord4049]

Very creative topic and already one of my favorite episodes. Keep 'em coming (no pun intended lol), guys. Hey, I'm sure you guys are already on it but how about another Curt Gooch episode? What about the KISS documentary that was all the buzz a few months back? Again, fabulous episode guys.

[@benmen8699]

WHY DID KISS NEVER PLAY WOODSTOCKS 94 AND , 99 ????

[@robintaylor7355]

God I’m super curious now I’m be googling dare force tonight

[@blakejohnson7148]

Bottom line: With or without Ace, KISS were not big enough at the time to headline either festival. End of discussion.

[@jeanpaulderoux8103]

Great episode. One of my favorites...

[@metaphoria3]

Her hair looks so hot jeesh 🔥

[@joakimmartensson3761]

Great episode!

[@mikemedina7461]

19 min in and I'm out... Not listening to yet more yammering by Trunk about Ace. Watching him try to make up a reason why Ace mattered so much was just an absurd way to start a show.

[@metaphoria3]

Riparadise Eric 🥁🤘😔

[@10weepee]

Great show!

[@Kopperafiel]

Oh, lovely Lisa always distracting us with her...kitty.

[@markwendt3838]

Monsters of Rock would not have been as successful with Kiss and the US Festival Kiss couldn't get arrested at !!!! Guy's stick to the facts !!!!!!!!!!

[@robintaylor7355]

Just think about it in 2021 nobody would’ve given a shit if kiss would’ve brought VV or ace or whoever it would’ve never mattered it would’ve not mattered one bit. Those guys were thinking way too much in advance they were thinking way too hard about everything. They should’ve just got up there and jammed out with a new guitar player and got on down the road what a joke

[@83marceloa]

It is good to know I am not the only one who thinks Revenge is overrated. 2 or 3 spotty songs. Lots of fillers like: spit, thou shalt not, I just wanna, etc. Tough love and Unholy are the stand out tracks.

[@user-hb1yq2zi6t]

Another great interview with Eddie Trunk. But that blonde chick contributes absolutely nothing to the show

[@MichaelBrandvold]

She contributes more than you

[@user-hb1yq2zi6t]

@@MichaelBrandvold I've been checking random shows out lately, so I probably haven't seen much activity yet. Fair point Michael.