UPDATE:
Oh! KISS planned to visit Oshawa all along. They intended to initially blatantly exclude Oshawa! They wanted to insult the city’s ability to host a high-profile show like the one KISS was planning! KISS’s PR people deliberately misled reporters! Their plan all along was to surprise Oshawa. But, the media ruined everything.
Bullshit. KISS screwed up and they’re trying to squirm out of it. At the high end of credit, KISS snuck in a ton of free publicity. Now some people might want to see the Oshawa show for a glimpse of what a special town gets from the band it so adores. But ultimately KISS still comes off like the deadbeat dad that forgot your birthday, then shows up with armfulls of prezzies and blames his boss for working him too hard.
The show is now slated for October 7. And don’t forget to thank the media for making it happen hate the media for bringing this up and nearly ruining it for you.
Should anyone be surprised that Oshawa won’t see KISS in their hometown after beating out major Canadian cities?
Actually, yes. KISS (certainly, Gene Simmons) has always been about making money. It’s not hidden. Remember when Simmons blasted Radiohead for giving out their album for free?
So why would they skip an opportunity to pull in some more cash? Perhaps they think the Toronto show will get the desperate Oshawa KISS folks to drive in (it will, but it shouldn’t).
KISS management did give this response to the CBC: “a few situations required locating shows in neighbouring market concert venues … to make sure that all regional fans get a chance to see KISS with the band’s full stage production.”
You have to feel for the ‘shwa on some level. The city has a history of keeping its word when it comes to ridiculous public challenges. Stephen Colbert Day is March 20, in case you’re wondering. They hosted the Rolling Stones in 1979! Okay, that was by court order.
Yet they can’t even get a shitty washed-up band to play in their town. In a fair world, KISS would be begging to play Oshawa ribfests and hoping to book a night at the Great Blue Heron Charity Casino.
The good part is angry Oshawans aren’t the only ones with a hate on for KISS, and particularly their outspoken 60 year old-today rep and bassist, Chaim Witz (Gene Simmons). Here’s a cathartic roast.
You’ll recall the Simmons-Lefsetz feud at this year’s Canadian Music Week.
Hell, KISS can’t even get along with itself. [rssbreak]
