The following conversation took place pre-show on site at MR. Speed’s May 18 performance at J.D. Legends in Franklin, Ohio.
On May 18, Cleveland KISS tribute band MR. Speed returned to Franklin’s J.D. Legends for their first non-distanced, unmasked show. What was originally scheduled as an outdoor event on the big stage was moved indoors to the secondary stage due to weather and safety concerns. With options between cancellation or indoor consolidation the decision was made to go inside and play a smaller show. A good decision, later proven by heavy rain, wind and a tornado touching down nearby right before MR. Speed went on.
The group that started 27 years ago was celebrating nearly three decades, the first up close and personal experience in over a year and the live unveiling of new Dynasty era costumes. It’s Rich Kosak’s (The Starchild) creation and baby with (Catman) Quinton Kufahl, Space Ace Mark Hermansen and Mike Collins as the blood dripping Demon.
A comeback show, so to speak and first trek back in makeup and on stage. “We’re excited about it,” Kosak says. “I’m tired of watching other KISS tribute bands playing around Ohio and the country, seeing their posts and think it’s about time we did something. Unfortunately tonight it’s getting scaled back but it’ll be a good show.”
The flames for “Firehouse” won’t be done indoors. They said the fire marshal’s not gonna allow it and the ceiling’s too low. We don’t need the headache or the insurance liability. We’re hoping the music will take over and the visual appeal of us and the music will win you over.”
There’s a sound clip used at the beginning from Alive II introducing them but not as the hottest tribute in the world though fans can live vicariously through Eddie Balandas’ voice and Simmons yelling KISS.
Their setlist is Dynasty-era ’74-‘79 with Kufahl taking exception to labels of sounding disco. “If you listen to the songs live, they’re not really disco sounding. “I was made for Lovin’ You” and maybe “Dirty Livin” are the only arguable disco tracks. Everything else is guitar driven. If you put the Bee Gee’s next to it, it’s like night and day.” For this tour they decided to take a lot of the non-makeup songs out.
If they need to fill time, “War Machine” might come out. “When we auditioned our new bass player Mike that was one of the songs we played with him. We can do things like that. It’s part of the show.” However no songs from The Elder and no “X in Sex” will be heard. If there’s time to fill though Kosak is prepared to do “Shandi” if needed.
Kosak said the stage is condensed from Thanksgiving dinner to a can of soup. “Quinton and I have dedicated the lion’s share of money to creating the show. We don’t wanna see it get destroyed. It really needs to be set up inside a theater, where it can be utilized.”
The new stage is made out of various types of plywood. “Wet wood, isn’t good wood,” Kufahl quips. “When you think about it, it’s not high end stage wood, its old school. I’m damn proud of this stage as Rich has said I don’t wanna see it get destroyed. It’d be very difficult to replace.”
According to Google, with over 200 KISS tributes out there with various levels of budget, passion and talent, MR. Speed pride themselves on being top tier talent. “There’s a big line between a cover band and a tribute,” Kosak states. “There’s very few KISS tribute bands, there’s a lot of KISS cover bands.”
Some bands have a visual array and display with much to be desired lacking on pop, circumstance and props with a tapestry here and a half-stack there. “We try and give the whole visual appeal. When you come and see it, it looks like a KISS show. Even with what we got here tonight, there are moments you’ll be reminded of vintage KISS,” Kosak says with pride.
Most bands won’t spend on their costumes what MR. Speed has spent on just props and stage presence.
Next year when KISS presumably play their final show post-pandemic Kosak and Kufahl hope to continue their tribute as long as they’re able to. Of course getting an official stamp of approval from one or more members would be nuclear for their exposure and drawing power. “Would they necessarily get in contact with us, maybe not,” Kufahl says. “However it would boost our overall image in KISS tributerism as a whole. When you look up tribute bands we’re the first to come up.”
Though their website has a quote from Bruce Kulick Kosak say’s there’s a gray area there. “No KISS tribute band on the planet is endorsed by KISS. If they tell you they are, they’re full of shit. Maybe back in the day, KISS went and saw somebody and made a comment. We’d had comments made about us, we just go out and do what we do and hope the fans love it. We have a huge following and a lot of detractors that don’t care for us. You’re gonna have that anywhere you have success.”
Gene Simmons has said that KISS will continue in some form after he and Paul Stanley hang up the boots. Depending on the situation and product, each fan will have to make their own decision about an active KISS without any original members. When the time comes will MR. Speed give them the nod? Kosak spells out his plan. “This is what I think KISS should do. Find an American, a Japanese, Australian and European tribute. Back and help them to the best of their ability, get shows, do the tours. Pick who they want in the bands and pay tribute to KISS in the best way possible. Eliminate all this other riff-raff that goes out stealing money from venues and buyers putting on sub-par KISS show’s claiming they’re a tribute.”
Much has been made and discussed about what parts of the live KISS show are vocally authentic and prerecorded but Kosak reaffirms, “It’s all us.” The only thing prerecorded is an Iron Maiden intro song and the track Kufahl sings Beth to. “We’re being authentic.”
Kosak encourages casual fans to the longtime hard-core to cut Stanley a break, “He’s earned his stripes.” Kosak doesn’t push himself harder than he can go. “Go out with your head held high instead of being picked on because you can’t sing “Heaven’s on Fire” the way you used to. It’s not ’84 anymore.”
Kufahl didn’t have the opportunity to see Stanley in his prime. “For me, I have the enjoyment of seeing KISS as they currently are. You’d be lying if you said you didn’t wanna be in KISS as any character. People need to open their minds more. Just respect they’re still doing it.”
There will always be speculation, rumors and hearsay about what’s done behind the scenes or on stage that we can’t see but the band says to just enjoy the show while they still can.
Parents bring their kids to see them and can’t stop talking about the Scooby Doo movie and they have nothing to do with but they associate them with it, “If parents can make a connection through our band and KISS then that’s a win for everybody,” Kosak says.
Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park is considered a cult classic for good and bad reasons. For the Scooby Doo movie, “They took all the elements from The Park. There’s a phantom, a witch lady, it’s all there,” Kufahl says. “All those little Easter eggs, girls named after songs, Delilah, Christine, Shandi. It’s so good.”
Speed’s last show at J.D. Legends was roughly six months ago when things were just starting to reopen and was a sit down, distanced show. “It’ll be knees and elbows as opposed to the lounge seating,” Kufahl says. “Last time here was a bummer. Everybody was separated far from the stage, the vibe was killed. Tonight it’ll be different. They’ll be packed in like sardines in our face,” Kosak predicts.
Last year was worst nightmare come true for musicians, artists and performers. Though the extra, unexpected time gave them a chance to rent a theater and set up a stage for a photo shoot with new costumes. The pictures from the shoot are some of the best promo shots done to date and they also made their first video of “I was made for Lovin’ You.” They were able to take their time and get exactly what they wanted from it.
Beyond retirement, when the other end comes, Kosak says no to a KISS Kasket. “I’ll be cremated and scattered somewhere. I don’t want anything to do with a KISS Kasket. I took photos with one, year’s ago. It was cool.”
Kufahl takes it to the next level, “If you wanna hear something really morbid on top of your morbid. The height of my KISS fandom was in high school, you had Sonic Boom. They introduced the new KISS Kasket and the new KISS urn. I’ll get buried in a KISS Kasket but also have some wackadoodle saw me in half and cremate my legs so we can have an open casket and the urn there as well.” Kosak responds in wide-eyed horror and bewilderment, “This took a total right hand turn.”
When Kosak formed the band, there weren’t a lot of tributes around, maybe a dozen. “We wanted to be different with a name left of center, when you heard it. You must be a KISS fan to know what MR. Speed was. It’s also been the kiss of death because if you’re not an avid fan, you have no idea.”
Kufahl adds, “People say, you’re in a KISS tribute band, what’s the name? MR. Speed, you can see it on their faces. It’s like right over their head.” People think they play speed metal.
Kosak met Paul Stanley in 2000 in Chicago through Tommy Thayer, the road manager at the time. “He said Paul I wanna introduce you to Rich Kosak from the KISS tribute band MR. Speed. Paul looked at me and said; cool song to name your band after.” With a ‘blessing’ from The Starchild himself, keyboard warriors, haters and troll posts are void.
New bassist and demon Mike Collins came prepared, “He came with his own blood carpet, marked off for his light, and he’s ready to go. Mike’s got his shit together.”
Before they call it a day, they want the tour bus experience from show to show. They’ve done a lot of fun shows but think their best and most memorable shows are still out there.
When KISS plays their last show, they think Ace Frehley and Peter Criss should be there in some capacity. In respect to history and long time fans, they deserve to at least see them.
When Kosak started it was about playing the songs other tributes wouldn’t or couldn’t. “Domino,” “Unholy,” “God Gave Rock N’ Roll to U II.” “We took pride in that. Nobody said we couldn’t play. Maybe they didn’t like us or didn’t look exactly like them but they never said the guys in this band couldn’t play the music.”
MR. Speed will be playing select dates through January 2022 with international Switzerland dates next April. They’ve come along way since their debut in Pittsburg, (way back when) and now that the majority of masks are off, they want to move forward and makeup for lost time. Hopefully when they return to Franklin it’ll be a monster show with plenty of fire and loud sonic booms.
www.facebook.com/MRSPEEDONLINE
Coverage of the performance can be viewed here.
