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iss Mania are bringing a smoking guitar, some fake blood and big personalities to the Vail Valley for a Halloween show at Mango's in Red Cliff Thursday night
If you go ...
What: Kiss Mania
Where: Mango's, Red Cliff
When: 9 p.m. Thursday
Cost: $15, available at the door
More information: Call 970-827-9109
Where: Mango's, Red Cliff
When: 9 p.m. Thursday
Cost: $15, available at the door
More information: Call 970-827-9109
VAIL VALLEY, Colorado — For the members of Kiss Mania, who perform in the Vail Valley Thursday, it's Halloween every day that they perform a show.
Putting on the makeup and donning the costumes is an event in and of itself.
“It takes about three hours to get makeup and costumes on,” said Mark Hermansen, the band's Ace Frehley.
The band chose to replicate the Love Gun era of big hair and white and black face makeup because it's the most recognizable, Hermansen said. The decision wasn't taken lightly.
“It's definitely not the cheapest,” he said, referring to the cost of the costumes and special effects like the smoking guitar he plays during the “Shock Me” solo.
Hermansen had a real guitar gutted and modified with a car brake light, batteries and special smoking canisters he buys from a theater company to replicate the smoking guitar Frehley was known for. The silver material on Hermansen's wrap-around vest was specially ordered from Argentina. The dragon shells that go around Paul Mueller's boots had to be molded and painted to look like an exact replica of the kicks Gene Simmons rocked.
“You can't just go to Wal-Mart and get this stuff,” Hermansen said. “You have to be exact. Kiss bands, and the people who know Kiss, they're the pickiest. They're almost cultish about it.”
Kiss Mania, a Kiss tribute band, will perform a Halloween show at Mango's Mountain Grill in Red Cliff Thursday at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available at the door.
Like the original band, Kiss Mania is more than just music. It's part theater as well, complete with Gene Simmons spitting blood.
“We don't just stand up there in our jeans and T-shirts,” Hermansen said.
When the band first formed in Phoenix, Ariz. two years ago, they spent three or four months getting the music down and then they started building.
“We had to make the 4-by-8 Kiss sign that lights up, and it has to be moveable and portable. You have to work on the pyrotechnics, the big stacks, the police lights. It all really adds to the show. It takes about all day to load in for a show ... it's a whole spectacle.”
So does the band party every day, or just part of every day?
“Party? No, we don't have time to do that. We get our rocks off on stage, but that's it. We're really paid to load in, paid to set up. Playing the part is the reward.”
High Life Editor Caramie Schnell can be reached at 970-748-2984 or cschnell@vaildaily.com.
Putting on the makeup and donning the costumes is an event in and of itself.
“It takes about three hours to get makeup and costumes on,” said Mark Hermansen, the band's Ace Frehley.
The band chose to replicate the Love Gun era of big hair and white and black face makeup because it's the most recognizable, Hermansen said. The decision wasn't taken lightly.
“It's definitely not the cheapest,” he said, referring to the cost of the costumes and special effects like the smoking guitar he plays during the “Shock Me” solo.
Hermansen had a real guitar gutted and modified with a car brake light, batteries and special smoking canisters he buys from a theater company to replicate the smoking guitar Frehley was known for. The silver material on Hermansen's wrap-around vest was specially ordered from Argentina. The dragon shells that go around Paul Mueller's boots had to be molded and painted to look like an exact replica of the kicks Gene Simmons rocked.
“You can't just go to Wal-Mart and get this stuff,” Hermansen said. “You have to be exact. Kiss bands, and the people who know Kiss, they're the pickiest. They're almost cultish about it.”
Kiss Mania, a Kiss tribute band, will perform a Halloween show at Mango's Mountain Grill in Red Cliff Thursday at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available at the door.
Like the original band, Kiss Mania is more than just music. It's part theater as well, complete with Gene Simmons spitting blood.
“We don't just stand up there in our jeans and T-shirts,” Hermansen said.
When the band first formed in Phoenix, Ariz. two years ago, they spent three or four months getting the music down and then they started building.
“We had to make the 4-by-8 Kiss sign that lights up, and it has to be moveable and portable. You have to work on the pyrotechnics, the big stacks, the police lights. It all really adds to the show. It takes about all day to load in for a show ... it's a whole spectacle.”
So does the band party every day, or just part of every day?
“Party? No, we don't have time to do that. We get our rocks off on stage, but that's it. We're really paid to load in, paid to set up. Playing the part is the reward.”
High Life Editor Caramie Schnell can be reached at 970-748-2984 or cschnell@vaildaily.com.
