konzert previews: Onstage theatrics in Utah with KISS, Def Leppard and Peter Murphy 

Salt Lake City  87°  Mostly Cloudy   |  Traffic

Sports PrepsCollegeOlympicsBYU CougarsUtah UtesUSU AggiesJazzRSLGrizzliesWinter SportsScoreboardMonsonKragthorpe

Blogs PoliticsThe CricketTVJazz NotesBYU SportsU of U SportsPrep SportsRSLHikingFaithCrime & CourtsOn the InternetMore Blogs

Opinion EditorialsCommentaryLettersBagley CartoonsBlog: State of the DebateBagley: Behind the LinesSubmit a Letter

Jobs HomeFind a JobPost ResumeFeatured EmployerTop JobsEmployment NewsEmployer SectionPOST A JOB

Homes HomeFind a HomeFind a RealtorRentalsHome and Family Section

Concert previews: Onstage theatrics in Utah with KISS, Def Leppard and Peter Murphy

KISS, Def Leppard, Peter Murphy stick to their vision after decades on the charts.

First Published Jun 19 2014 07:32 am • Last Updated Jun 19 2014 03:36 pm

Makeup has, for better or worse, been integral to the mystique and allure of acts headlining two shows in Utah over the next week: KISS and Peter Murphy.

KISS, opening its national tour at Usana Amphitheatre on Monday, has become known as much for its music as the characters its members embody with black-and-white faces: Starchild, The Demon, Spaceman and Catman.

Where » Usana Amphitheatre, 5150 S. 6055 West, West Valley City

Where » The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City

And Peter Murphy, headlining at The Depot on Wednesday, used theatrics and makeup as a leader of goth-rock pioneer Bauhaus, as well as in his solo career as he continues to be a master of reinvention.

Paul Stanley (KISS’ Starchild, lead singer and guitarist), Vivian Campbell (guitarist for KISS’ opening act, Def Leppard) and Murphy all talked to The Tribune about the past and the future, including something deathly serious.

This has been an important year for KISS, which is celebrating its 40th year as a band and was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. KISS perhaps claimed the distinction of being one of the most unimpressed members of the feted club.

Stanley, in a conference call with other media outlets, called the Hall of Fame "a mosquito buzzing around my ear," in part because for so long the so-called rock establishment (led by critics) disrespected KISS for being a cotton-candy diversion. And once KISS was inducted, the Hall of Fame insisted that Stanley and fellow founding member Gene Simmons play with co-founders Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, who have left the band. Stanley and Simmons refused, and KISS ended up not performing at the ceremony, though all four original members were on hand to collect their kudos.

"We stick to our guns and do what we believe in," Stanley said.

Stanley said sticking it to the critics by being inducted into the Hall of Fame has its rewards, though. "It was vindicating, and it was vindicating for the fans," he said of his beloved KISS Army. "There’s no army like a volunteer army."

Unlike fellow makeup-wearing Mötley Crüe, KISS isn’t planning on retiring any time soon. "We are here to do a victory lap, but the race isn’t over," said Stanley. "There are many more races."

Utah’s Catholic bishop: If you’re pro-life, you’re pro-Medicaid expansion

Ruling says Utah deputy can be sued over car search

Movie review: ‘Jersey Boys’ mixes old songs and a stale story

For Vivian Campbell, 51, celebrating his 22nd year as guitarist in Def Leppard, this summer tour also marks a significant time in his career.

Campbell battled cancer into remission last year, but the disease recently reappeared. He has restarted chemotherapy and will be enduring treatments that will overlap with the tour with KISS.

He said last year, when he was first told he had cancer, his bandmates offered to cancel their 2013 tour. "I said, ‘Stop that s---.’ "

Despite the grueling treatment, he never missed a show.

He said he felt the same way this time around. "There is nothing worse than sitting around the house when you have cancer," he said. "I try to keep positive."

If this round of chemotherapy does what it is supposed to do, Campbell will undergo a stem-cell transplant this fall.

In the meantime, he said his mission this summer is to win over KISS fans as the opener, an unaccustomed spot in the lineup for Def Leppard. But Campbell said, "There’s no way we could follow up that spectacle [if KISS opened for us]."

Murphy, a 56-year-old Turkey resident, is touring behind "Lion," his 10th studio album and first since 2011.

Click here to read all comments   Click here to post a comment

Reader comments on sltrib.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Salt Lake Tribune. We will delete comments containing obscenities, personal attacks and inappropriate or offensive remarks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. If you see an objectionable comment, please alert us by clicking the arrow on the upper right side of the comment and selecting "Flag comment as inappropriate". If you\'ve recently registered with Disqus or aren\'t seeing your comments immediately, you may need to verify your email address. To do so, visit disqus.com/account.

Utah man confronts his abusive father on ‘Extreme We...

Conservative Mormons, like progressives, in church c...

Lifestyle guru Martha Stewart spends the day in Salt...

Giant Utah fraud case will be dismissed

Kirby: Why Mormons should allow female bishops

Salt Lake City police try to address outrage over do...

Trib Talk: The impact of the Mormon church exiting a...

Ex-WVC officer charged with manslaughter in Willard ...

More Mormons facing church scrutiny for online comme...

Utah Jazz coach, GM on same page: take best player a...

Teach Your Children About Burn Risks

Utah Congressional Delegation Failed on Public Land Issue

Missing your paper? Need to place your paper on vacation hold? For this and any other subscription related needs, click here or call 801.204.6100.