Six O’Clock Triple Shot – 1/20/14 Paul Stanley Turns 62

(The Six O'Clock Triple Shot is a daily feature of three songs that share a common theme, heard weeknights on 94.9 WMMQ)

As a huge fan of not just rock & roll, but music in general, I've always been very vocal about what qualifies as a great rock band in my mind...technique, sound quality, originality, and showmanship. NO COOKIE CUTTERS!!! But, even a hardcore "purist" like me has guilty pleasures that stem from my younger years. That's where "the hottest band in the land" comes in to play for me. Yes, I'm a HUGE Kiss fan!!! No, they're not the most technical and theoretic band ever. They may not have had a studio LP that sounded like a Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road (still one of the best studio recordings ever). But, when it came to originality in their time, and overall presence on stage, few did as well as Ace, Paul, Gene, and Peter.

Kiss was instrumental in creating the platform for the arena rock and "hairband" metal that dominated the '80's, and still stays popular to this day. Obviously, their marketing techniques added with their unbelievable stage shows helped propel the band to heights they still strive for and successfully acheive to this day. There's no doubt that this band was at their peak in the mid to late '70's. They still are selling out shows with their umpteenth line-up worldwide. I will testify to this band's staying power, only having the luxury to see them numerous times in the past 15 years. Here are some setlists from Kiss shows I've had the privelege of seeing:

September 6, 2000 - Breslin Center (Ted Nugent opener)

September 7, 2003 - Comerica Park (W/ Aerosmith; Nugent and Saliva openers)

November 12, 2003 - Van Andel Arena (W/ Aerosmith)

November 30, 2003 - Palace Of Auburn Hills (W/ Aerosmith)

September 6, 2012 - DTE Energy Music Theater (W/ Motley Crue)

Similar setlists, one show with the original four, yet I've NEVER been letdown by a Kiss performance. So, tonight I feed my guilty pleasure while we celebrate Paul Stanley's 62nd birthday. Three featuring Paul's vocals at lead..."Strutter", "Lick It Up", and "Love Gun"...Joey Pants' FAVORITE Kiss tune of all time!!!! (Go ahead, just ask him about it!!) It's tonight's Six O'Clock Triple Shot on 94.9 WMMQ!!