Guitar And Bass Magazine has issued an interview with KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer. The following is an excerpt:

Thayer isn't the typical hired gun. His relationship with KISS spans back to 1985, when his previous band BLACK 'N BLUE supported KISS on tour. Since then Thayer has gradually become an increasingly important part of the KISS company. In fact, pick up any of KISS' albums, DVDs or box sets from the last 15 years and you will find his name among the credits, whether it's for being GENE SIMMONS' assistant or executive producer. So when Simmons and PAUL STANLEY asked Thayer to take over the "Space Man" lead guitar role when ACE FREHLEY left Planet KISS in 2002, it was like the final stage of a 20-year apprenticeship.

"If Gene and Paul bring a new person into this band, not only do they have to fit in terms of being able to play with the right style and feel, but the most important thing is probably personality," says Thayer. "Finding somebody that you can live with, travel with, be with all the time can be tough. "I first met these guys 25 years ago, so there was a comfortable rapport already established before I started playing in the band. It wasn't like Gene and Paul had to audition somebody and see what he was like and if he would change - would he turn out to be a drug addict, etcetera. None of that was in question."

With everybody in KISS having their own unique identity, we asked Thayer about his bandmates. "Eric Singer, in my mind, is one of the greatest drummers in rock and roll," he emphasizes. "If I had to play in any band I would want him to be the drummer because he is amazing, and he hits hard. He's a great guy, too. He's the fire and energy of the band, both off-stage and on-stage. The off-stage part can drive us all a little crazy sometimes, but he is a fabulous guy."

And Gene Simmons? "Gene is a go-getter and one of the hardest-working people I've ever met. He's always got ideas about a million different things, some of which work, some of which don't. His mind is always busy. People don't realize how solid he is as a musician, though. If you really watch him, he's a great bass player. There are lots of great parts and moving lines, and he moves up and down the neck spectacularly."

What of Thayer's guitar foil, Paul Stanley? "Paul is a great guy, he's got a real sensitivity about music and being creative. He's the driving force in that aspect of KISS. He's the leader, and he knows music better than anybody in this band. He knows everything, every song, every band going back years and years. At the end of the day the buck stops with Paul when it comes to the creative side of KISS. He has the final word on anything we do."

Read more at this location.

KISSOnline previously announced:

"On June 1st, KISS will answer your questions as they host a half-hour live Internet chat on the official KISS Facebook page. Tune in at 1:45pm EST, and you'll have the opportunity to speak directly with the band via Ustream, as they chat live backstage from Koenig Pilsner Arena in Oberhausen, Germany. Watch and interact with KISS by visiting www.facebook.com/KISS

You won't want to miss this, as a special, unique concert ticket pre-sale code will be revealed exclusively to fans during the chat. Chat begins at 10:45am in Los Angeles; 1:45pm in New York City; 6:45pm in London, and 3:45am in Tokyo."

Fan-filmed footage of KISS May 29th show in Bratislava, Slovakia has surfaced on YouTube. A few clips are available below, the complete show can be found at this location. This was the band's first time ever playing Slovakia.