Q: How are you ?
A: Hey Ben, Fine thanks

Q: I have a few questions about yourself and then also questions about KISS
A: Sure

Q: 1st of all how long have you known KISS ?
A: We meet in 1981 When Killers was done.

Q: How many song have you wrote or co-wrote for or with KISS ?
A: The ones that are recorded on records
There were 9 As listed in order:
From Killers: 1) Partners in crime 2) I'm a legend tonight
Creatures of the night: 1) Title cut 2) Danger 3) Keep me comin'
Crazy nights: 1) Title cut 2) I'll fight hell to hold you 3) When your walls come down
Hot in the shade: Little Caesar
Gene and I also wrote: Legends never die for Wendy -O- Williams & King Cobra
And Give me all your lovin for Black and Blue
We wrote 5 songs for EZO, That Gene did and which the titles I don't remember.
But that was a great Record.

ME: I will have to check that out.

Adam: It's fantastic, they were a great band.
We have also written a lot of other song's Which for some reason or another have not ended up on KISS records or other project's. And I co-wrote four songs on the Rockheads EP. And will be on the CD that we are going to release later this summer. If you haven't heard it it's fantastic also.

Me: I found the rock heads site
And that's what compelled me to start our Eric Carr page and this interview.

Q: What are you currently working on ?
A: Currently , I'm producing a artist here in Nashville by the name of Theresa
there are a couple others and later this year I will be working with Linda Ronstadt

Q: So you are involved in allot of different kinds of music, And not just rock n roll
A: oh yea, Not just rock, By any means.
I have done ton's in fact let me get my bio and tell you a few.

Me: I have probably listened to your music and didn't even know it.

Adam: probably, Ok there is Chicago, Olivia Newton-John, Merle Haggard, John Waite, Bonnie Tyler, Art Garfunkel, Ann Murray, Nicolette Larson, Jennifer Larsons, Wendy -O- William's, Hurricane And Peter Criss has done one of my songs.
Lynn Anderson Allot of different people.

Q: What are some other songs you wrote for other people
A: Ah... Well let's see
I have had allot of different singles over the years that people may remember like
John Waite - Tears. It really did well and was a big single for him.
Olivia Newton John - Dance around and round. Which was big at the time. The list goes on.

Q: That's Amazing how you can write country, Rock and a wide array of music's.
A: It's not easy but that's the way it is

Q: Have you ever been on tour with KISS ?
A: No, I have paid and sang with them on demo's and records. But never toured with them.

Q: Which Records have you played or sung on ?
A: That's kinda tough but I sang part of the backgrounds on Crazy nights.
Allot of the songs were demo's, And it gets hard to remember in my memory was that the demo or were we doing that for the record. But I have sang with them many times.

Q: had you known Eric prior to KISS ?
A: No, But we became very good friends.
But I'm really good friends with Gene, Paul and Bruce also.
We have spent so much time together over the years.
Both socially and Recording.
And just for some reason or another I became a part of the extended KISS family

Q: So you didn't have any influence on Eric Carr joining KISS ?
A: Eric ? No, But I did get vinnie the job with KISS
You can blame it all on me (Laughing)
Because I wrote that John Waitt song with him

Q: do you have any future plans with KISS ?
A: Ah- Not specifically
But Gene and I are Involved in other ways in the movie Business, I'm also a screenwriter.
I think we will be doing other projects, But I can't tell you exactly what they are.

Q: Off the top of your head, Can you name your favorite KISS song ?
A: That would probably have to be Creatures of the night.
I really like them all. But I do like the Creatures record allot.
I like the drum sounds, Ya know it sounds big.

Q: Do you recall A favorite KISS tour ?
A: Actually yea, the reunion tour was fantastic.

Personal Comment: I was kinda let down with the P.C tour because for some reason the didn't come to Las Vegas. And I haven't heard of any future dates.
Adam: Really, God I'm surprised.
You know I saw them 8 months ago and then they were back here a month ago.
both shows were among the best I have ever seen.
This last one was the 3d tour.
Which I thought it was good but, The tour last year was the one that really struck me as being Great.

Q: The reunion tour?
A: Yes, Personally I thought it was a really good show.

Q: What is your favorite KISS album?
A: Again there are thing's I like about all of them but, I do like the early one's.
There are great songs on them all, Ya know
But I guess in some respect's I would say the creatures of the night.

Personal Comment: I thought that the carnival of souls was to heavy, It for some reason wasn't one of there better albums at all.

Q: Which did you like better, The make up years or the non-make up years?
A: Again there are things that I like about them both.
I like the Band in the non-make up years better.
But many of the songs I like are from the make-up years, And in the make up years I'm including the Creatures, Even thought Peter and Ace were no longer in the band, And even though Ace's face appears on the cover he had nothing to do with it.
So if I had to pick between One or the other.
I guess I would have to say the make up years.
I think it's easier to be better when your new.
But I like the band better in the non-make up years

Q: Do you think they will keep the make up on or take it off ?
A: I really don't know.
But I don't think they will ever do a non-make up tour again.
if they did it would be news to me.

Q: Do you have any KISS stories you can share ?
A: Have you ever heard about us bowling ?
We used to bowl all the time, Not so much now that I live in Nashville.
But here's one, When creatures came out, I was watching TV one night and I was flipping thought the channels and saw the religious Channel.
Where the show with the lady that wear's false eye lashes and cry's all the time was on.
She had some guy that was a burn victim and he was holding a cover of Creatures of the night and shouting at the top of his lungs, This song was written by the devil.
And I was Sitting there thinking No dude, I wrote that song in my kitchen (Laughing)
It can be kinda crazy at times.
But on the road gene and Paul are together guy's.
Ya know they don't do drugs or go crazy and get drunk.
All the sort of stuff that Peter and Ace used to do.
They are real business like on the road.

Q: I have always heard that gene has never smoked or drank ?
A: That's true.

Q: That is really amazing for a rock star.
He is probably one of the only one's that can say that.
A:Ya Probably.

Q: Do they ever watch sports on TV ?
A: No, None of them watch sports.
In fact Gene has probably never sat though a sporting event in his life.
We have played allot of tennis.
And he plays racquetball, But he doesn't like to just watch it.
They are really to busy, You have to understand that being in kiss is a full time job.
There are so many different things they are in to.
Gene is also into the movie business
I know me myself can't even get a day off, Me and my wife went for a one hour hike today and that's about all the spare time I have.
If I can make it to the gym for one hour per-day I'm doing good.
To relax we used to go bowling,Gene or Paul would rent the alley and we would bowl.
And when we were both single we would go to allot of movies together.

Q: And Paul is married ?
A: Yes, Very much so.

Q: How does his wife feel about All the female fans that want him ?
A: Really we have never talked about that.
But Paul is very married even on the road.
And the female fans stay in the front row were they belong.

Q: And about Eric now, What were some of his hobbies Besides music ?
A: Well, Eric's hobbies,
Boy music was just about it.
Eric loved so many different kinds of music.
That was really his life.
He like to go to comedy clubs, Some times he would go bowling with us.
Eric was a really quite guy and he was involved in other musical interests.
I guess some people don't have allot of hobbies.

Q: What was Eric's musical influences ?
A: Ringo was a big one, We were all totally in awe over Eddie Van Halen.
There was also a Irish Folk Band called the Clifton's
And the Beatles were Influences on us all.
It's like one of Paul's Influences was Bob Dylan

Q: Do you have a favorite Eric Carr story ?
A: The thing I remember about Eric is his humor.
He was so funny, You couldn't be around him without him making you crack up.
One time we were siting at a out door restaurant on sunset Blvd, We were sitting there and a car with a couple of kid's drove by and the said
Guy Big hair.
Referring to Eric's hair.(Because he had some big hair.)
He was a really funny guy.
I really do miss him.
And I guess you could say one of his hobbies was drawing, He loved to draw.
And that's were he and how he started the Rockheads
And Eric Carr fans can get his EP
And this summer we will have the full CD out for the fans.

Q: Is it true he played all the parts on the CD ?
A: Yes Eric and Bruce both did, And Eric,Bruce and I sang all the background parts.
Eric could play Guitar, Bass And drums

Q: In your opinion if Eric were still with us
Do you think KISS would have ever thought of a KISS reunion tour ?
A: Ya know no one has ever asked me that one.
That is a very interesting question.
I can't say for sure, Because there was a lot of pressure for them to do a reunion tour from fans and promoters Etc... And get the old band back together.
Not because anything was wrong with the band as it was.But for a retro type thing.
Allot of people wanted to see the original band again.
Because all the kids that were 8 yr. old when they came out.
Are now 28 and wanted to see them.
That was more the reason for the reunion
But if Eric hadn't of gotten sick and left us.
I can tell you for sure that they wouldn't have replaced him.

Q: What was it that made Eric Carr stand out
from the 30 other drummers that were trying out ?
A: He just had what they wanted, He was right for them.
there were a good combo together.
He was a good guy and easy to get along with
A nd he was heavy and he suited there sound.
He played the songs that Peter did and Sounded like they wanted it to
Most of the drummers stuck out to much.
He could cover all of Peters songs as good as he did them org.
He even sang Beth and sounded like him.
And as I said before Eric's drum solo was really great.
The best part of the show.

Q: What is All involved in a try out for KISS ?
A: Basically they just rent a rehearsal space at one of the halls.
And they put out the word that they are trying out for the band and they try them out one at a time.
They have them learn a couple of their songs
And just play with them to decide who has the sound they want and need.
Attitude is important and the looks also.
That sort of stuff

Q: Seems like that would be a lot of pressure on a drummer.
A: Oh yea on A guitar player also.

Q: What were your thoughts about the elder album ?
A: The Elder album wasn't a bad record but it just wasn't a good KISS record.
It was a concept that Bob Ezrin wanted them to do
He was there producer so they did it.
It wasn't a success and it wasn't what KISS fans wanted to hear from them.
And that's one of the reasons I got involved with them.
They wanted to come back and make a traditional kiss record.
And come back they did.

Q: It is also rumored that soon there might be a Eric Carr home video out ?
A:We have been talking about it and this is something we may do.
But right now we are busy with getting other things to the fans
like the drumsticks t-shirts and such.