Tommy Thayer Talks To Noise11 About Being KISS’ Longest Serving Guitarist - Noise11.com
KISS Photo by Ros O'Gorman

KISS Photo by Ros O'Gorman

Tommy Thayer Talks To Noise11 About Being KISS’ Longest Serving Guitarist

by Paul Cashmere on August 8, 2022

in News

With 20 years service as lead guitarist for KISS, Tommy Thayer is the longest lead guitarist for the band.

Thayer joined KISS officially as lead guitarist in 2002. His first ever show with KISS was in Melbourne for what became KISS Alive IV with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

“I’ve been a big fan my whole life,” Tommy tells Noise11.com. “I was there when Kiss’ first album came out. I was a fan of the band right from the very beginning.

Tommy had his own band Black ‘n Blue in the 90s. He met Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley when they opened for KISS. “When Black ‘n Blue, my band from back in the 80s toured as an opening act with KISS, somehow we got on that tour, I got to know these guys,” he says. “It all evolved. Gene became our producer. Gene asked me to come and write with them. I wrote songs on ‘Hot In the Shade’. Then I got involved behind the scenes to begin with in the early 90s. Black ‘n Blue had run its course. It was great they gave me the opportunity and I worked behind the scenes for the first few years and did a lot of different things”.

When Ace Frehley left permanently in 2001, Tommy became the Spaceman. “Ironically things went full circle and I became the guitar player about 20 years ago and my very first official KISS concert was in Australia, in Melbourne. It was called KISS Symphony. We played with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. That was the first big show for me. I was under the gun and had big shoes to fill, but it all worked out”.

Tommy has now spent 20 years as lead guitarist for KISS. Original member Frehley had two stints from 1973 to 1982 and from 1996 to 2002. Vinnie Vincent was lead guitarist from 1982 to 1984, Mark St John had a very short innings in 1984 only and Bruce Kulick was lead guitarist from 1984 to 1996.

The KISS End of the Road Australian tour will commence in Melbourne on 20 August.

Sat 20 Aug 2022 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Sun 21 Aug 2022 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Tue 23 Aug 2022 – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Fri 26 Aug 2022 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
Sat 27 Aug 2022 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

Tue 30 Aug 2022- Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Fri 2 Sep 2022 – RAC Arena, Perth

Tue 6 Sep 2022 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre

Sat 10 Sep – CBUS Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Stay updated with your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here

Be the first to see NOISE.com’s newest interviews and special features on YOUTUBE and updated regularly. See things first SUBSCRIBE here: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11.com

Follow Noise11 on Social Media

Noise11 on Instagram

You’ll discover music news first following Noise11 on Twitter

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Related Posts

Dave Cousin Facebook photo
Strawbs Founder, Singer, Songwriter Dave Cousins Dies Aged 85

Dave Cousins of Strawbs has died at age 85.

16 hours ago
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac to Release ‘Fleetwood Mac’ on Blu-ray for 50th Anniversary

Fleetwood Mac will release their 1975 ‘Fleetwood Mac’ album in Blu-ray to mark the 5oth anniversary of its release.

19 hours ago
Neil Young photo by Ros O'Gorman
Neil Young Plays BST Hyde Park London

Neil Young was part of the BST Hyde Park shows over the weekend with an 18-song setlist build on the past with none of the present.

21 hours ago
Billy Joel at the MCG 10 December 2022 photo by Bron Robinson
Billy Joel ‘As So It Goes’ Trailer Premieres

Billy Joel ‘And So It Goes’ is a two-part series heading to HBO Max.

2 days ago
Jeff Lynne photo from Jefflynneselo website
Jeff Lynne Cancels Final Ever Show in London

Jeff Lynne has cancelled his final Electric Light Orchestra shows ever in London and will not be rescheduling the shows.

2 days ago
Jeff Lynne photo from Jefflynneselo website
Jeff Lynne Abruptly Cancels UK Show

Jeff Lynne's ELO abruptly cancelled one of their final shows, after fans had already packed the arena.

4 days ago
Cat Stevens On The Road To Find Out
Cat Stevens To Release Definitive Greatest Hits

Yusuf / Cat Stevens is set to captivate fans once more with the release of 'On The Road To Findout: Greatest Hits' on September 5th, 2025, via Cat-O-Log Records in partnership with Universal Music Recordings. This will be the first-ever career-spanning collection of his profoundly emotive and moving songs from his nearly 60-year recording career.

5 days ago