Tommy Thayer of KISS about his Epiphone signature Les Paul
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2013
- We met up with Tommy when Kiss played in Copenhagen some weeks ago to talk to him about his new epiphone signature guitar.
We also talked about what it is like to play a KISS show and which other Gibson/Epiphone guitars Tommy brings with him on the road.
We wish you a lot of fun watching this. Tommy has some really cool and interesting things to say!
Sorry about the noise in the back, Five Finger Death Punch were supporting! :D
For more info & videos:
www.epiphone.com
www.gibson.com
gibson
epiphone
gibsongermany
gibsonguitar - Hudba
Lots of respect for Tommy...seems like a really down to earth guy. He does ALOT of philanthropy too...God bless him
Aww...
Respect, I watched him live, he owns the guitar, all of KISS guitarists are very good in their own!!!!!
What a beautiful guitar! That's awesome! Congratulations Tommy :)
Tommy is the MOST amazing lead guitarist in the world.Obviously.
3:18 Tommy seems confused as to what model he's being handed lol. Love the guy, he seems like a genuinely good dude and his playing is pretty damn epic.
Is it? Is it epic?
I love this new guitar. I got it a while ago. I just started playing. my newest video I use this guitar. tommy is super cool. I have meet and greet with tommy in my videos. he is the nicest rocker I ever met.
tommy is awesome. I have this guitar and it is awesome.
Tommys a cool dude. I like him.
He's now a legend
he has been in KISS around 10 years
suffering the slights from Ace fans
I love Ace and what he did on his career
but also respect Tommy Thayer
hey as I posted we all have our own opinion but you're on another planet mate. Thayer a "legend". LMFAO. I mean WTF.
Love Tommy. Such a great guitarist and guy. You kicked ass on Sonic Boom and Monster! Keep it up! KISS kicks ass.
Because he wrote so many great songs?......Worst 2 KISS albums....ever.
I love hearing Tommy speak on his guitars. He's well spoken and very intelligent.
I love Tommy! Amazing guitarist and very nice guy! I don't care if he's wearing that makeup!
tommy is a nice guy and plays awesome - i agree that maybe they should have given him his own personality , character . whatever - but he has become the spaceman , and i accept it - i love ace , as does tommy . the line continues
He is good guy does alot for philanthropy.
all of the space man characters are awesome
+cooktree FYI the Ace Signature Gibson is one of the shittiest Les Pauls I've ever played. I doubt you've ever played one or you'd know this. Actually most of the people who own them acknowledge that they suck balls and that they only own it for the collectability. As a working guitar though it's trash. Ace is trash too, a run-of-the-mill hack who can never compare to the likes of guitarists such as Iommi, Page, EVH, or any other popular guitarist from that era. His playing fit in well with Kiss but face it it's basic stuff. The songs are iconic because of the total package that was Kiss, the stage shows and the costumes...the guitar playing wasn't anything to write home about.
Tommy kicks butt!
Seems like a real cool cat.
Michael L. Wwe ma
Tommy is the best!
I used to watch his old old band in SE Portland, Oregon named Movie Star at a bar called The Horse & Cow.
I'd love to have one of his guitars!!! Heck I'd love to have some pro lessons to go with it lol God bless ya Tommy
Tommy Thayer is great as Ace Frehley
Naw, he doesn't act like a ass, so he's a terrible Ace Frehley. He IS a great Spaceman, however.
Thomas Tracy He is a pretty decent Ace. But I've seen other tribute bands that actually have a better Ace. Nowadays, a better Paul seems easier to come by as well.
jfrsnjhnsn Kiss was about 4 people expressing themselves through a flashy image and music. When the reunion ended Gene and Paul tried to sell the idea that kiss is not about 4 people. Instead kiss has always been about a spaceman, a catman, a demon, and a Star child. They did so merely as an attempt to continue to ride the wave of success that they had during the reunion. They hoped that most would not care and that some would not even notice. A little research on ticket sells will show that many did not fall for their ruse.
I dunno about that. I saw kiss with motley crue, thayer had no stage presence. He looked bored.
Matthew Ryan Spencer, Watch them play live, he plays the Epiphone Space Man Les Paul for about a quarter of the show.
Can everyone please chill with the whole "ripping off Ace" bs? He's a hired gun and he was hired to play the Spaceman on stage. I'm pretty sure he'd love his own persona of given the choice.
Tommy Spaceace Thayer, if you're reading this: I love you man. The coolest spaceman and lead guitarist! A loyal KISS fan since 2006!
2006, no wonder you like him better than Ace
+Monstrosity A fan since 2006? He probably doesn't even know who Ace is...smh
2006 does not count as a real Kiss Fan.
My parents are visiting Portland Oregon right now! X)
I'll try and make it short and sweet. I used to be a purist when it came to bands too but the truth is people move on in any business for a plethora of reasons. In more recent years, as many of the old rockers die off and/or move towards other interests, I've become content with the notion that there is those who are willing to replace them, knowing the scrutiny they will surely face, in order to keep giving us the music we enjoy.
+lcln1
True. Same with pro sports teams. It's all business. If you become attached, you can cry about it while the players move on to the next highest bidder.
I feel your pain, glyph68. We got a Spaceman, and a good stand-in (not to mention, he's a shit-hot guitarist in his own right), but he's not Ace.
You may already know this, but Tommy's old band, Black and Blue
cool
i have several signature model epiphone les pauls and everyone of them need a good setup out the box and never been playable on receipt - you could drive a bus under the action it so high. The jack sockets ALL fall apart and in most cases the knobs have been put on off set without care and attention and need to be reseated to be fitted correctly. Other than that they're ok. The best built signature model EPI les paul for me has to be the Matt Heafy 6 string that thing rocks and is such high quality build and since being set up properly it never goes out of tune EVER!. I just took delivery of the bonamassa pb model, 60's tribute and slash model also all with the same issues as above and need sorting out to make them playable bits of wood. Im sure they will sound as awesome as the others but not until they're set up - COME ON EPIPHONE - get it right!
+fspeed180 I have the Matt Heafy LP, definitely one of the best signature models Epi ever produced.
Yeah you guys!
Tommy is just as amazing as Ace, maybe even better!
So have some respect!
I’m getting a les Paul epiphone
Tommy thayer is the next level ace. A better guitarist , costume and makeup (it is not the same if you look closely)
What great KISS albums does he play on????
@@twikirobot6897 geez you read some seriously fucked up comments. Facts are TT has NEVER delivered anything to KISS that's had a 'musical/commercial' success. His role is simple. The same as Eric Singer. He is a 'hired guitar player'. He is NOT financially, contractually 'part' of what has been for decades "KISS Inc". Stanley and Gene own it ALL. Although I think he's a clown, he's always presented in interviews as a down to earth kinda bloke, but he knows full well his decade in KISS has been due to Stanley's adoration of him, and his ONLY role is to imitate a legend. Thayer's history with KISS not many seem to actually know. He was once their roadie/played in a KISS cover band/was always 'present' when Ace and Peter were in the band. Hey, he helped Ace remember so much when Ace returned i 1996, as stated kudos for that, but deep down Thayer's sense of what 'is' regarding him imitating a legend is surreal. He said verbatim "I think most KISS fans now accept me".....and yes MANY suckers still pay to see this giant rip off monkey grinder act, but MANY 'real' KISS fans will NEVER accept Thayer. But as stated he can have all the sycophants adoring him as he likes and millions - but at the end of the day who has he ever influenced as a player? And within the 'industry' itself, among other guitarists, he's known solely as a hired gun. Ace 'SpaceMan' Frehley he will never be.
That outfit is really becoming. I'm going to see if I can get one like it at WalMart.
I'll throw this out there, just for giggles, people:
PC=Catman Mk 1
PS=Starchild
GS=Demon
AF=Spaceman Mk 1
VV=The Wiz
EC was "The Fox" (and almost "The Hawk")
ES=Catman Mk 2 (and could've been "The Hawk")
BK might've been "The Dog" (if you've seen some of the Kiss fan fiction here on CZcams)
M StJ= we can only imagine...
Now, for speculation...if Thayer wasn't sporting a Spaceman get-up, what character should he be?
Use your imaginations, go nuts!!!
But I'd love to hear your replies!
For all the haters blaming Tommy for stepping in to the Ace role---Eddie Van Halen also wanted the job--fact
That's not a fact. Gene was hounding Eddie for years to join KISS.
Not once has Eddie stated he wanted to work for Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.
And why would he, when by 1980 his own band was not only more popular, but musically superior.
El Cuento wrong you dumb shit, Eddie begged Gene to join but Gene told him to stay with Van Halen
Lots of respect to the kiss members and their friends and their families my favorite songs from kiss is 1 the forever song because it reminds me that God has truly poured out his love for you and for me 2 words because I have been talking to God with my words of desperation and he had proven to me that he is listening to me now you might say. But Shannon why do you talk to God well I got news for you he loves me and he loves you and always will bring your heart to the lord and if it's his will he will mend it for you sincerely Shannon
Tommy's the man...The Spaceman
Wanted to have your own Epiphone? I think that's great, you're a neat musician. Way to go, Tommy.
How about having your own KISS alter ego??? I mean, there's only one SPACE-MAN ;)
Even though it would be more expensive, I'll save my money and get The Ace Frehley signature Gibson Les Paul
3:15 tommy seems to get stuck on what his guitar is called ahaha. anyway his still my favourite guitarist from KISS
Ace sold the rights to the spaceman character to Kiss,, not leased,, SOLD
he leased the makeup. not sold. peter sold it. ace gets royalty every night tommy puts on the makeup. fact.
Agreed. But, answer me honestly: precisely what is it about Tommy's personality that is "spaced- out", or quirky? The makeup designed by each original member MEANT something. Ace said he was from another planet, & acted that way. Tommy does not. It would be as if Stevie Wonder were in a band, left it-- & a new guy joined, but he's made to wear shades & walk around with a stick, even though he's sighted. Or, if the next President is white, but he wore dark makeup ( I am black myself) . You see what I'm saying? When a beloved person vacates a job, the new person brings THEIR OWN look, fashion sense, etc. to his new gig. The future prez WILL wear a suit-- but it will be his OWN suit. Not Barry Obama's.
+cantina00 Thank you, I've been trying to explain that to people for years but nobody can hear me over their ravings about how "Ace is the MAN, Tommy stole his identity!!!" Idiots.
+MOUNTAINOUS ultimateclassicrock.com/kiss-hall-of-fame-feud/
SO who owns what now?
I am sure Tommy's guitar is not made in China like most Epiphone guitars. Tommy's guitar is probably made in the USA at the Gibson factory.
Would Paul Stanley like a Les Paul? Get it
Emy G01013
I got it :D
Part
CHEESEHEAD SLICE OR BULK CHEESE OR SQUARE STACK N DUTCHER
b.s theres only one spaceman
i guess thats why they gave him a epiphone signature instead of a gibson..
HbPaulie nag bruh tommy kicks ass and is a great guy but the og spaceman will always be Ace but we love Tommy as well
Gosh it's just a shame that he had to wear Ace's clothes. No fault on Tommy... but a good fit for Kiss? He's Ace II! Of course he's a good fit! Maybe he wanted to be Ace as a kid... maybe KISS made him do it... who knows. Enh. I wish, like Carr and Vincent, he would done his own thing. There is only one Ace.
Great guitar player but I will Always appreciate what Ace Frehley did for Kiss A whole lot more Ace Frehley is a legend but Tommy Thayer is awesome too
It sounds more ''Clean'' than Ace!
Tommy is a nice person and a good guitar player...but i cant help my self every time i see him in the "Space Man" attire i just see a wannabe Ace Frehley
poor guy i noticed that more than likely gene pushed this idea along with telling tommy to make sure he has kiss pics in the pic guard!you can see he is not comfortable with this shoot!i can see gene i gave you the idea we will split it 70 30 in genes favor.oh well everybody has to eat i guess.
+Tonycarlozzi
...with a FAT bank account
Ok, everyone needs to shut the hell up about Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer. Ace and Peter CHOSE....THEY. CHOSE. not to be in kiss anymore. Eric singer has been with KISS longer than Peter Criss was (not to mention Peter Criss sucks ass) and Tommy Thayer worked his ass off for KISS for years before being asked to join the band. All Eric and Tommy did were accept positions that were offered to them because others (Ace and Peter) were more interested in being drugged up pieces of shit than putting the fans and the band first.GET OVER IT!!!
Actrually Gene and Paul opted not to renew Peter's contract when he returned after Eric Singer left for a brief time.
It's not the fact that people are mad at Tommy and Eric, it's more so Gene and Paul being two fuck fa es towards ace and Peter, ace and Peter didn't set out to do drugs or fuck bitches, they didn't want to deal with Gene and Paul's prick attitudes and false claims, also Peter Criss is one of the best drummers I have ever seen, don't get me wrong Eric is good, but I would prefer along with many other (original) kiss fans Peter, because he was the original, even if Eric has been in kiss longer, the only reason those guys are ok to me, is because Gene and Paul are the skanks, they put Tommy on a throne that wasn't his, and Eric on a throne that wasn't his, stfu, stop sucking your own old ass fucking arguments, and accept it would be better if Gene and Paul weren't fucking idiotic 24-7 fuck buddies for fans. Bitch
I've nothing against Tommy I think he should have his own style and character and I'd much prefer Ace's more cheerful personality
That guitar isn’t cheap or affordable
And to further piss off the Tommy haters...he looks like he belongs in Kiss!
Okay, maybe like a younger Paul Stanley or Eric Carr (may he play drums in eternity with the angels), but Tommy looks like a better fit for Kiss than Vinnie ever did.
SAMURAI THAYER SINGRR BEAR MST WORTER
I literally fell asleep during this...
The one and only Space Fake! Give this poor guy his own character please!
WHEN😂
AasmBaiabai de votre part veuillez accepter l'expression des travaux publics en France en ce sens
ACE FOREVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SOMEWHERE BUT NOT IN WORLD WIDE KISS
@@LOUIS-np6be ... it's very evident World Wide KISS agrees on ACE FOREVER !!!
ACE FREHLEY ON LEAD GUITAR!!!
WELL NOT IN KISS
Why?
tommy gets an epiphone signature guitar, ace gets a gibson. there's a reason
I hope Spiro gets a Gene signature Bass ....thommy you're not in KISS!!!! You play with KISS as Ace Frehley like you Did in cold Gin!!!!!
Noooo
You ain't no and never will be be ACe, there's only one spaceman
NO NOW ITS TOM 😂 GO THOMAS !!!!! DE BEST
Not his choice.
For the argument: Tommy Thayer=epiphone. Ace Frehley (the real spaceman)=Gibson
Tyler Newsome Ace had an Epiphone signature model too ...
Epiphone? Live? Wtf?
He's made a comfortable living cloning Ace's image and licks. Probably because Tommy Thayer on his own without a gimmick would have no signature style and image. Just listen to those old Black N' Blue records for proof. His sound and image then was about as plain Jane, generic and unrecognizable as it gets.
+6672rock
He's making a substantial living. I guarantee he couldn't care less if people think he's plain Jane.
He hasn't got aces laugh and isn't as cheerful, get ace back
marvin Hanson I actually agree with both of you. ace is funnier and more interesting but he's also an egotistical jerk off. your both right here.
Emperor of Cartoons I actually agree with both of you. ace is funnier and more interesting but he's also an egotistical jerk off. your both right here.
Or Ace's guitar playing...Ace is a legend, Thayer is a stand in, a wanna be...
Marvin Hanson Drumming well at least tommy does what he's told and doesn't do drugs....tommys a good person and Paul and the others like him too they make a great team together
Marvin Hanson Drumming ace is the one who left he gave up on us and that's fine...😕😐
tell me how is he doing a shitty job ?
I would have guessed he was in half a tribute band since he's fake frehley.
News flash! Ace isn't really a space man! Shocker! It's just makeup, get over it! Ace is a drunk who can't play guitar, so they replaced him.
Tommy should created a new character
HE WILL NEXT YEAR JUST FOR YOU 😂LOL
FAKE
He´s a great guitar player, but he pretends to play like Ace...
***** I agree with you about Thayer taking advantage of the opportunity he's being given. However, don't you think that there is a major line between using an opportunity, & being opportunistic? KISS needed a new guitarist. Ok, fine- - but WHY does Tommy have to wear the makeup that Ace designed for himself? The original KISS makeup was based on the guys' alter egos: Paul was the pretty ,preening rock star, Peter thought he had 9 lives like a cat, & Ace was kooky and believed in Martians & UFOs; hence " Space Ace". But what does THAT characterization have to do with Tommy? He seems very grounded & serious. And to now market a " Space Guitar "? Sorry, but he's just taking it waaay too far. Create your OWN persona. When Ace heard of this new guitar, he rightly quipped, "Just how big are the balls on this guy....?"
+1lricardo Gene and Paul own the rights to the alter-egos...they make all the decisions and say what goes. Tommy is just doing what the job requires, and the head honchos want to keep the Spaceman alive so that's what happens. Were Tommy to be replaced today the next guitarist and the ones to follow would all wear the Spaceman costume and paint, it's part of the gig bro, blame Simmons and Stanley for that.
Gene an Paul told him to play like Ace. If you watch the most recent video of why Bruce Kulick isn’t in KISS, you find out that Gene and Paul even told Eric to not do double base drum on Duce to keep it sound like the original version. Gene and Paul are the reason why Tommy isn’t as good as he could be.
He's not trying to be Ace at all.
How DARE he refer to himself or his guitar with the words "Space Man"?
LMAO......this 'hired gun kabuki clown former KISS roadie and cover band player' will NEVER be the "SpaceMan". I'm old school KISS, the band ripped all of us true KISS Army fans off so much when they, well the egomaniac himself, once arguably one of 'the' greatest singer frontmen Stanley looked into the camera in 1996 and said verbatim "this's the last time you will see KISS live again". Yeah right. That SO many Dads take their kids to see what is now a lip synced heavily 'show', with Thayer imitating, but to use Gene's words in his RRHOF speech "never replicating" [as per Ace's playing] Ace is a sad joke. But although I refuse to accept this kabuki show as is my individual right as a fan - I have always tried to be objective. And what I would add is that when Ace returned in 1996 he required serious help in remembering his solos as he'd not played SO many songs for so long. It was Thayer who stood up, with 0 airs and graces, ego - and sat with the great man and helped him re-learn those iconic and so distinctive solos, melodies, riffs and vibrato, the distinctive hard tapping Ace's known for. I'd argue that the really 'great' guitarists can be measured by simply core criteria - one of the core criteria for me is as soon as you hear a riff or chord you know who is playing. For me this includes the late brilliantly gifted classically trained songwriting and playing genius who strapped SO SO low was a true rock star who oozed cool and just mesmerised arena's, the late genius Steven Maynard 'The Riffmaster' Clark. EVH, U2's 'Edge', and others. One of THE biggest blunders Ace ever made was signing a contract to effectively 'lose the rights' to the 'SpaceMan' image. An appalling manager advised this to Ace, and given his substance abuse - which Ace is crystal in his book "No Regrets", and strong view KISS in the early 1980's was musically 'going in the direction he did not like'....that once decision has cost Ace tens of millions in merch alone. Gibson's management at the time of this decision is indicative of a brand that like NIKE or Coca Cola is a universal magnet for players globally - and Gibson's failures all know, but at least finally Gibson under the new management have returned to concentrating on their 'core business'. If it aint broke why fix it. Thayer is simply doing what Stanley, who idolises him for reasons that escape me - is simply doing what Ace himself said..."he is playing my licks to a tee". Why he's using the 'SpaceMan' narrative to flog this guitar is comical. And SO so wrong but shit Thayer's banked over $10 million at least. 'Respect' however is another issue. How many players who're currently playing were ever influenced by Thayer? Sweet fuck all.
As a Person I Like Tommy, He is a Good Guitarist. However He sold his Soul for all the KISS Money. Granted it is ALOT of Money, but everyday He walks in Another Mans Boots, Plays Another Man's Riffs and is TOLD to sound as much like Another Man as possible on New Recordings! More Power To Him, If He can live with being a Knock-Off "Space-Man", But there Is and Always Will Be ONLY One Space-Ace!
TOM IS IN KISS 😂LOL WOW GO MAN TOM ROCKS WORLD WIDE 🌎
Tommy eres un excelente guitarrista pero ese maquillaje no te pertenece Mejor ponte este 🤡
IMHE THAYER IM A DOUCHE M A,SLAVE A FAKE SIG GUITAR
Nice dude and all, but shit man, get out of Ace's gear man! Embarrassing. Get your own persona..then you'll get some respect. You can't cruise around pretending to be someone else. It makes you nothing more than a good impersonator.
. no one wants to see fucking bird man or monkey boy. fuck no should he get his own persona. I am aces biggest fan and don't act like you are more of a ace fan than me. my ace tattoos. my ace boots. ace autographs. ace dolls. ace costumes etc. I have it all. and I love tommy too and I have this guitar. and no way in fucking hell would tommy and eric come up with some asshole costumes. or lame character. only demon. starchild. spaceman. catman. nothing else would work. if they would of tried any other 4 ideas in the 70s it would not of worked. it worked due to these characters. if they tried to make their own costumes or personas. I would stop going to shows. period. tommy is the spaceman.
Your not in kiss you play for kiss. Get Bruce back and eric singer in revenge era
OK. Um MAYBE NEXT 😂 YEAR 😂
no doubt jimmy page influenced many guitar players but...led zeppelin never wrote a single song so thayer has surpassed the master himself!
Ace was never a good guitarist anyway. It's just that KISS fans wouldn't know a great guitarist from a pile of dog doo.
+Dennis Neo Bullshit, Bet your dumb ass thinks that generation has real music. You're obviously someone who doesn't know shit.
+Dennis Neo
I think you made a great point. Especially the "poofter" part.
ive played for 33 years ace is god hendrix rhoads dime liefson lynch evh nielson friedman meed i say moore
ace frehley wannabe
YES YOU SURE ARE 😂
If Ace hadn't left Kiss (there's a hint-he WANTED to leave! ), there would be no Tommy haters. Besides, Ace is still rocking his own thing these days, and doing quite well, Curly!
Actually, he's a plumber! (Tell me you got that!)
Fake Gibson? Last I checked, Epiphone was a Gibson product. Les Paul? Have you ever had the privilege of playing an Epi 'Paul through a Marshall 1/2 stack!
Oh...you can't play guitar?
Sorry, I'll shut up, and let Tommy Thayer (a true guitar hero) grind the axe.
Fake Ace get's a fake Gibson......fitting. Has he no self pride?
Seems cool but living a fraud. Sad.
A fake Gibson for a fake Ace. How fitting.