European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 26, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Gene Simmons Rock s wild Man acts up by Bob Thomas associated press ene Simmons the wild Man of that outrageously costumed Rock group kiss has a reason for moving into the acting Trade once you climb the Heights. Once you Roach the top of the Mountain the question is whal do you do next7 go Back to the Bottom of the Mountain and Relan not Tor to he said. The top of the Mountain just affords me a better View of All the other mountains i Haven t climbed yet. I d Ike to do other work and do it Well. Acting sure is one of Simmons appeared during the halloween season in his fourth movie trick of treat playing a disc jockey who befriends teen Ager Eddie Weinbauer. Both become involved in a diabolical plot by a dead Rock idol Tony Fields who returns to terrorize a High school. In Simmons first film runaway he menaced Tom Selleck. Then he appeared As a hermaphrodite in never too Young to die which he would just As soon forget. In a january release wanted dead or alive he plays an Arab terrorist in combat Wilh Rutger Hauer. That could be he lest of Simmons acting skill since he is a native of Israel it s a Challenge to play a terrorist and be he said because i sure Don t believe in blowing up innocent people. But i be got to put myself m Hal Home of a few years ago Simmons started acting lessons during his three months Oil from kiss. Even though to gives a powerful performance on the concert stage he claims it o not like acting it s like being a Soldier and being drilled by a sergeant. He said. Then you go Inlo a Battle Silva lion and you do it Lor real. It s not acting it s just a different Frame of reference. Your mind shifts Inlo overdrive and your adrenalin starts going. Acting is being Able to crawl under the skin of this other imaginary person and be somebody else i m still the same person on the stage but a larger than life size version " Simmons has played a variety of roles during his lifetime he was born in Israel and came to the United states when he was 9 years old. I had to learn its language. I finished school. I finished College new York University and i wound up i m in the Middle of e t2-yr-ton0 party Mays kiss Tiu Arlott 0ne Simmons left. Simmon no entry appeared in Hla fourth movie trick or treat in Spanish Harlem teaching sixth Grade i quit that after six months when i realized nobody applauded alter the Day s sessions. I got no encores no groupies he said i did All sorts of things. I worked for Vogue Magazine As the Man Friday to the editor the Only Guy on the floor. It was rough Fien i decided to take the Bull by the horns. What i really wanted to do was get up on stage. All this Lime i had a group that was doing weekend shows. You get a lot of attention with a guitar around your neck girls want to know who you Are. That s in 1972, Simmons Paul Stanley Peter Chris and Aca Frehley formed kiss. The big question was How to be different irom All the other groups Simmons recalled and the answer seemed to be nothing kiss did on Iago was Loo outrageous and the group s makeup became Wilder and Wilder. Simmons was the wildest of the four. More than a dozen albums later kiss is Slitt going Strong although Frehley and Chris have since left How Long will it lass everything should have ils own life Span he said. I Don t want to do this any longer than it seems convincing. I certainly Don t want to be 50 years old and running around a stage in codpiece with spikes and leather studs on them. While it s Good and while it s fun i la do it. I Don t know How Long that will be. Right now i m in the Middle of a 12-year-Long party and As far As i m concerned it s still heavy Metal madness rages at Iron Maiden concert Story by Jim Rylander special to the stars and stripes All the unpleasant silk Lions that Man has no control Over yet must endure Why would a purposely subject himself Loire riot like atmosphere of a heavy Meta Rock concert packed concert halts comparable to sardine cans combined Wilh ear spilling music result in an explosive atmosphere waiting to be ignited when attending such a concert one obviously wants the Best View. View is emphasized Here because chairs have not yet been invented Melat concert Halls let alone reserved sealing. Breathing room Only has replaced standing room Only which of course has replaced May i take you to your Seal in order to try and get the Best possible View one must arrive at the Hall Al least two hours before Showtime. Naturally the doors Aren t opened until about 1v hours Laler. This allows one the wretched experience of being first in line and having literally thousands of people pushing toward the Gates. Finally alter what seems like an eternity lha doors open and one is shot through the Entrance similar to water erupting from a burst pipeline before the ticket is accepted two Gargantuan beasts both blessed with the laces of gorillas and the minds of Lisas take it upon themselves to frisk you much As during a police arrest. This is to ensure that no bottles or bombs Are brought Inlo the Hall such was the Case thursday night As the British heavy Motel band Iron Maiden and the equally heavy Page 16 the stars and stripes support act America s was.p., blasted the 3,000 capacity stad Halle in Offenbach Germany. About half the audience attending the concert were americans both soldiers and family members. I spoke Wilh one Young g.i., who wished to remain Anonymous before the concert began. Mis typical heavy Metal attire reminded me of a California hell s Angel studded bracelets a studded neck Choker and a Levi s jacket covered with emblems of past concerts. The Soldier pointed proudly to Hia patches much like an infantryman displaying his ribbons alter Battle. When asked Why he attends these events he replied it s an escape from reality where i can vent my frustrations and anger without hurting that May be a plausible reason but after witnessing a fight during . S performance. I wondered How Many people left the concert Hall with More than they had bargained for. While the throng of heavy Metal maniacs nearly crushed each other in their attempt to get up front was a. Lead Singer Blackie Lawless appeared on stage screaming is everyone having a Good Lime the positive yes positive response thundered throughout the concert Hall and the show began Wilh the volume produced by the speakers very nearly equalling the experience of standing directly behind a 747 during Lake off. . Performed a one hour set most of which can t be described Here due to the vulgar language constantly used. The band appears destined to remain a warm up act As their music consists of simple and overused chord changes with lyrics that will no doubt never receive radio airplay. Wednesday november 26,1986 Iron Maiden however put together an outstanding stage show the backdrop of the set was adorned Wilh Neon lights depicting a Fulu Islic City similar to the cover of their new album somewhere in time. As a heavy fog rolled Over the stage Lead Singer Bruce Dickinson appeared Clad in a specially tailored suit with strings of flashing lights draped across his body. Although Maiden s lyrics Are at limes depressing As in the song children of me damned and rooted Wilh occult overtones As in revelations the quintet s Energy and split timing performance completely captivated the audience. Topping off the two hour set was Maiden s Mascot Eddie a 12-foot-Lall papier-mach6 figure that has always in one form or another appeared in the band s concerts. This time Eddie turned up As a futuristic robot wielding two laser pistols and resembling the killer robot from the movie the terminator. Tha volume of the Mutic of course had t been reduced but with a Good set of earplugs and without the crush of the crowd the show would have been quite enjoyable. When the concert ended everyone had to once again push pull and squeeze past the exit doors amid hundreds of broken Beer bottles. As previously stated Man must throughout his life endure Many hardships. But what is truly amazing is that people purposely Pul themselves through this pandemonium and they run not walk to spend their hard earned Money Lor the Opportunity. It would nol be surprising to find out thai most of those in the concert Hail thursday night had to constantly remind themselves that yes. This is
