Is half a Kiss better than none?

You must remember this – a Kiss isn’t always a Kiss…

Especially when it comes to the Dec. 10 Kiss concert at Sprint Center.

“They’re misleading the public,” says longtime Kiss fan Dan Leap, the Merriam councilman that plays in the local rock band Pompous Jack. “For someone not in the know, you’d think it was the original Kiss because they’re all wearing the original makeup – but that’s not the case. The band only has two of the original members, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. Ace Frehley and Peter Criss won’t be there.”

Kinda like the Beatles minus John Lennon and Ringo.

“Some musicians would argue that the new guys are better musicians, but I’m a musician and I would rather see the original Kiss just because growing up, these guys were my musical influences.”

Leap’s contention: “You know, you’re only getting 50 percent of the original band, so you should only pay half price for the ticket. So I’m going to skip the Kiss tribute band and I think that’s what everybody else should call ’em because it’s not the real Kiss.”

KC’s king of heavy metal Jim Kilroy doesn’t disagree but thinks Kiss has a life of its own.

“Kiss is a band that’s just going to keep on going,” Kilroy says. “I think Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley will hire somebody to replace themselves when they get too old to do it anymore. Think about it; I think Kiss will continue on after they all pass on – Kiss is going to outlive you. You couldn’t do that with Elvis or Michael Jackson – you couldn’t just say, ‘Well, this is Michael Jackson’ – it’s just not the same. But with the makeup, they can get away with it. With Kiss, they’ve created these iconic characters and that’s what Kiss fans want to see onstage… So as long as somebody’s running the cash register they’ll want to keep this thing rolling.”

Queen of heavy metal Heather Bashaw of the Web site Heavy Frequency has another take.

“You know, it’d be nice if Kiss would have (more publicly) disclosed that it wasn’t the original band, but rock ’n’ roll is not necessarily about morals,” Bashaw says. “It’s more about sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll and making money. And in Kiss’ case, that’s exactly what they’re doing. I mean, how many rock bands do you know that have their own cologne?”

Watts Mill Creek Rescue

There’s more to last week’s  pickup in the creek rescue by Everyday Produce manager Konrad Pfeifauf than the headline on KMBC TV implies.

“Fruit Stand Worker Rescues Truck Driver In Creek,” it reads. In KMBC’s interview, Pfeifauf does make clear that it was the fire department that saved the driver from drowning but as is generally the case in TV news most of the story’s details went missing.

“He was under the water for 30 to 40 seconds,” Pfeifauf says. “People think I saved him but the truth of the matter is the fire department and the people in the ambulance saved him.”

That said, had Pfeifauf not dialed 911 after witnessing the accident, the dude would have been history.

“You know, it made CNN news as well,” Pfeifauf says.

What was it like swimming in Indian Creek?

“Filthy, I just threw away my shoes the other day,” Pfeifauf says. “I had just dried them out but they smelled awful. As much as I like Indian Creek, I don’t advise swimming in it and I don’t advise eating the fish.”

The awful truth: “After I was done over there, I came back here and worked all wet and dirty with my hands cut up,” Pfeifauf says. “I guess you could say, that’s all I want to do is sell the pumpkins.”

As for the unfortunate-but-lucky pickup driver, “I talked to him, he’s a cook at Hannibal’s in Waldo,” Pfeifauf says. “I’m glad the guy lived and everything. He told me if I come to Hannibal’s my tab’s on him. So after the fruit stand closes Nov. 1, that’s where I’m going.”

Hearne on the street…

As if I don’t have enough confusion battling the critters: Here’s a first – for me at least. For the first time in my young life, I got “forked” Saturday night. OK, hold it – don’t take that the wrong way. We’re talking about a junior high school tradition here, not some R-rated act. You know, the custom of kids sneaking into typically a boyfriend or girlfriend’s yard and lining it with plastic forks.

Think of it as a less messy update on the esteemed art of TP’ing someone’s trees.

Just one problem; I no longer am in junior high or high school. Go figure.

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