Rockpages.gr reports:

We continue our year-long KISS special with the seventh interview with a KISS-related figure. This week we publish an interview with Jay Messina, engineer of Destroyer, Dynasty and Unmasked. Mr. Messina remembers those recordings. Here’s an excerpt where he talks about Destroyer:

Q: You have been linked with KISS during their heyday and you were the engineer on (arguably) their best studio record (Destroyer). What do you remember from that recording experience and do you have any unpublished or funny story from that period?

A: When I first met the band, to record Destroyer, they seemed like just a bunch of regular guys. They hadn’t enjoyed most of the success that was to follow. Of course they were big stars already, but it seemed to me, for them it didn’t really sink in yet.

They were very accommodating in the studio and listened to Bob Ezrin’s suggestions with open ears.

In the back of one of Record Plants’ studios was a hallway that was great for drum sounds. So we set up the drums back there, along with Gene, so they could have eye contact. However, we could not see them from the control room. This hallway was a common place for the rest of the building, so occasionally someone would exit the service elevator and walk past this area.

During a take, that was sounding really good, suddenly Peter and Gene stopped playing and all we heard in the control room was several seconds of silence (from them), then they both started laughing uncontrollably. When they walked back into the studio, everybody was curious what they were laughing about.

What had happened was, as Gene and Peter were playing, some sanitation people came to pick up some garbage from the hallway. When they walked in, they heard the music and just stopped and starred at Gene and Peter. So, after what seemed like a long time, Gene couldn’t keep from laughing any longer, so he stopped playing and after 10 seconds of silence he and Peter both got hysterical, laughing. They came back in the studio and told us the story. The rest of the album was fun and I knew it was going to be a good one for them before we even finished mixing it. The 'Beth' session was lots of fun. Bob thought it would be a good idea for everybody that was working on the session (himself, me, my assistant, all the people at A&R;) to be wearing “tails” (tuxedos). Also, when the orchestra and boys choir showed up, they all put on tux t-shirts. The band showed up in full make up. It was quite a sight and sounded great!"

Read the full interview here.