B5Erik

KISSONLINE.com

By Louis Antonelli, Jim Lunger & Keith Leroux

Last night an extraordinary page was written in KISSTORY. At the Soboba Casino in San Jacinto, California, last stop of the band’s 2007 ‘Hit & Run’ mini Tour, KISS performed as a TRIO for the first time ever. Immediately following the band’s sound check, Paul Stanley suddenly fell ill, with what was later determined to be a “cardiac event.”

Once it was determined by emergency medical staff that Paul could not perform, there was talk that the show would need to be canceled. It was Paul himself, who insisted that the band play the show without him. Paul was concerned that fans had traveled long distances and because of the band's individual schedules the show could not be rescheduled.

KISS Manager Doc McGhee then took the stage to announce to the crowd that Paul was sick and unable to perform but that Gene wanted to speak with the fans. Gene asked the audience if they wanted him, Tommy & Eric to perform. The crowd responded with a defeaning chant of yes, yes, yes. With that, Gene announced that the concert (If they could pull it off), was a tribute to “The Greatest Voice in Rock and Roll - Rock God Paul Stanley”.

With Paul en route to the hospital - Gene,Tommy and Eric played their hearts out in honor of their stricken leader! The set list evolved as the night progressed and KISS blasted their way into the hot night air - valiantly trying to hold it together minus the band’s heart & soul. In an emotionally charged moment, Gene told the crowd that he was an only child, but nevertheless had a brother – Paul Stanley! ‘Christine Sixteen' brought 11 invited fans onto the stage to help perform the song, and added a bit of lighthearted fun to the pensive night.

The trio went on to perform a full set including classics and rarities - ‘Watchin’ You’, ‘Goin’ Blind’, ‘Nothing to Lose’, ‘Black Diamond’, ‘Cold Gin’, ‘She’, and ‘Parasite’. The sold out arena was filled with dedicated fans who appreciated what a unique night this really was, despite its bittersweet nature, and rocked hard & loud. As the final chords of ‘Rock & Roll All Night’ were struck, and the last jets of flames and confetti shot into the night sky, everyone realized what they had just witnessed was simply great music performed by dedicated, extraordinary musicians who really gave it their all, and then some.

Another thing every KISS fan at the show last night realized - is just how lucky we are that our favorite band, led by the greatest front man in Rock N Roll PAUL STANLEY, cares so much for us fans!

Get well soon Paul - we all love you!
_________________________________________________________


Damn. I almost went to this show, but decided to pass based on the set-list they played for last week's shows.

Hopefully the "cardiac event," turns out to be nothing more than an irregular heartbeat and chest pains. If it's more serious than that then there is a possibility that this was the last KISS concert ever. It all depends on how serious an "event" it was.

Paul has kept himself in great shape, but he is 55 years old, so who knows? I'm sure we're going to be hearing updates soon.

It sounds like it was a really interesting show last night, though.

Giantrobo

Wow, I'm sorry to hear this. I was at RUSH that night but my buddy and I were talking about this very show while waiting for the show to start.

Who'd a thought Paul would have a "cardiac event" before Gene...

B5Erik

Yeah, no kidding. Gene isn't exactly dedicated to physical conditioning the way Paul is.

Snowmaker

This reminded me of this song:

Used To Rock and Roll All Night
http://www.audiocomedy.net/mp.php?ur...to.mp3&title=I

DaveWadding

They performed as a trio once before in like 81 (but it was Gene, Paul and Eric Carr). Pretty funny they had to do all Gene songs though.

wm lopez

Paul must be doing something wrong in staying fit like maybe over doing it.
Jack Lalane is like 90 something and has no problems and his body looks like a 50 year old.

B5Erik

Paul is 55 but looks like a fit 35 year old. Chances are that this is genetic and not related to his workout regimen.

And it's also very likely that this is nothing life threatening, but when you've got a 55 year old you don't take chances. (Actually, I had a "cardiac event," when I was 35 and they ordered me to the ER. It was not a heart attack or anything, but when you have chest pains and an elevated or irregular heartbeat they want you in the hospital stat.)

Jason

Think they put enough self-fellation in that press release?

DaveWadding

You expected any less from KISS?

nothingfails

I hope Paul gets better, I feel like he is rather unsung for his contributions to the band next to Gene, he singlehandedly carried the band through the 1980's when Gene was too busy focused on acting

Jason

Paul Stanley is rather unsung for his contributions to rock music, period. He's a great vocalist, always a professional on stage, and is 10 times the "rock star" that coked out bozos like Axel Rose are.

B5Erik

PAULSTANLEY.com

During sound check yesterday, my heart spontaneously jumped to 190 plus beats per minute where it stayed for over an hour necessitating paramedics to start an IV and give me a shot to momentarily stop my heart and get it into a normal pattern. Not knowing if this episode was life threatening made it even more exhausting. After consulting with both the paramedics and a cardiologist at Cedar Sinai, they confirmed my worst fear. They said that I would put myself at risk if I tried to do the show.

I’m very proud of Gene, Tommy and Eric for carrying on without me. I apologize to anyone I disappointed and I’ll make it up to you when I see you again.

Paul.

_____________________________________________

I had a similar experience with a 160+ heartrate for well over 3 hours (along with chest pain). I was given an IV with beta blockers and my heart rate dropped down to 90-something. I've gone through a battery of tests and they still can't figure out why my heart rate got so high, and why it still remains high while I'm resting (90+ unless I'm on medication).

It can be pretty scary - and the way Paul performs on stage it probably would have been dangerous for him to play the show. I'm sure there will be follow up. Hopefully this isn't indicative of any real cardiac issues for him.

wm lopez

Like look at 62 yr. old Mick Jagger still moves around like he's 25 and he has no problem so it must be something handed down from Paul's family.

MovieExchange

Before Gene? Shit, before Ace or Peter...

nodeerforamonth

shit... met Gene today at the Comic-Con. Completely forgot to ask him how Paul was doing.

Paul could've been having too much caffeine in his diet. My doctor says he gets 3-4 patients a day for things that he attributes to too much caffeine.

Giantrobo

Yeah I've had the fast heartbeats and slow heavybeats before but I never went to the ER. I did see a Cardio Doc but he didn't seem to think there was anything serious going on. But we both think Caffeine may have something to do with messing my rythmn. He's going to have me a treadmill test soon so we'll see.

Giantrobo

Good Point.

B5Erik

PAULSTANLEY.com

To All My Friends And Fans,

I wanted to let all of you know that I AM ABSOLUTELY FINE!

I'm going to the gym as usual, painting as usual and will be going into the recording studio this week.
Like many, I have had a rapid heart beat condition most of my life and I never have had any type of
restrictions. When I've had an episode, although momentarily disrupting and taxing, it has no residual
effect. This is nothing new and my doctors have known about it.

In short, It doesn't change, hasn't changed and won't change my life.

To make it clear...
I WILL BE AT ROCK & ROLL FANTASY CAMP IN NY..
I WILL BE AT THE WENTWORTH ART GALLERY SHOW in Des Peres, MO. and anything else that's on schedule. I'm stoked and looking forward to it all.

Thanks for the literally thousands of calls and e-mails from all of you. You all mean the world to me.

Now ONWARD!

Paul

__________________________________________________________

Well, it was a pre-existing condition after all. The same one I have. Looks like KISS will continue on - and there will likely be a tour next year. Cool.

Giantrobo

I had my "Stress Echo" test today and my heart is fine so I'll bet my fucked up beats came from Caffeine. Paul was bangin' down Rockstar or Red Bull Energy drinks all day the it caught up to thim.

Numanoid

If you have a rapid heartbeat problem, don't you think you should cut out the caffeine? That goes for both of you knuckleheads.

Giantrobo

I did just in case. I'm not 100% sure it was caffeine. Anyway, it only happened 2 or 3 times and neither my Dr. nor the cardiologist were really concerned. But I wanted to check things out anyway.

Boba Fett

I know this is old, but am I the only one who has a hard time calling that group KISS, considering 1/2 the original lineup is gone?

Giantrobo

Yeah, weren't they kicking around the idea of pulling a "Menudo" where the characters(Demon, Starchild, Catman, and Spaceman) are the same but all the people under the makeup change every few years? So "KISS" with 4 new guys would tour but Gene and Paul would stay home and collect checks?

I've said it before but I still don't think Gene and possibly othershave played every KISS show and hearing that "menudo" thing kinda strengthens my theory. I know Gene has the Greek Guy Spiros something from some cover band who even does stand ins for him while doing commercials.

B5Erik

KISS was always the Gene and Paul band. They auditioned Peter and Ace - THEY made the decision on who was going to be their drummer and lead guitarist. Gene and Paul wrote 85% of the classic material - it's alway's been their band.

It would have been nice if Peter and Ace hadn't had substance abuse problems that affected their playing, but they did. These days I refuse to see KISS if Peter and/or Ace are playing with them. Look at the set lists - Peter and Ace can't play a song like, "Unholy," for example, but Eric clearly can (since he was in the band when they did Revenge), and Tommy can as well. Having Eric and Tommy in the band opens up all sorts of possibilities for the set list that Peter and Ace can't play.

Besides, Deep Purple only has one "original" member out of five right now (although 3 from the "classic" line-up), and the Doobie Brothers had only ONE original member by the time they did their "Farewell" tour around 1982 or so (out of 6 or 7 guys).

Line-ups change - as long as the key members are there I have no problem with it. (Hell, I prefer the current Saxon line-up, for example, by far to their original line-up. I wouldn't want the original members - Graham Oliver and Steve Dawson - in the band as they are today.)

B5Erik

As good as Spiro is they'd never successfully pull that off. Everyone would be like, "Wow, Gene lost 50 pounds!"