MR. SPEED Kiss Army Argentina Interview English Version

8/2/2019 MR. SPEED Kiss Army Argentina Interview English Version

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Kiss Army Argentina Exclusive Interview withRich Kosak from Mr. SpeedKISS ARMY ARGENTINA INTERVIEWED RICH KOSAK, PAUL

STANLEY FROM KISS TRIBUTE BAND MR. SPEED, CELEBRATINGTHE BANDS PERFORMANCE AT THE KISS by MONSTER MINIGOLF IN LAS VEGAS, AS THE N1 KISS TRIBUTE BAND OF THEWORLD.

KISS Army Argentina: First of all, thanks a lot for taking time for this interview, andcongratulations! for having won the World's Best KISS Tribute Band Contest.

Rich Kosak - Mr. Speed: It is my pleasure to be speaking with you. I hope that all of your fans will learnsomething about our tribute to KISS and how much we all share the common love of what they havecreated.

KISS Army Argentina: Please tell us how Mr. Speed was created (the beginnings of the band, tours,most important events).

Rich Kosak - Mr. Speed: MR.SPEED was born out of a chance meeting between myself and the original"Ace" that was in the band. Originally we had no intention of starting a band. We just loved getting together to play KISS songs on our guitars. After 6 months of that we thought we were on to something so we startedlooking for a bassist and a drummer. Before we knew it we had a band. The first few years of the band werespent rehearsing more than performing. When we did perform we barely made any money. Sometimesplitting $150 amongst the four of us. But we didn't care...we just wanted to play. Eventually we beganperforming quite a bit. As a result we were learning how to secure shows and make contacts that wouldprove to provide more opportunities for us later on. Over the years there have been many different membersin MR.SPEED. I am the only original member and Joe has been with me since 2000. Through the years wehave performed at many different kinds of events but nothing compares to performing with an actualmember of KISS. We have been fortunate enough to perform with not only Eric Singer and Bruce Kulick butalso Ace Frehley. This is truly one of the highlights of my tribute career. The moment was very surreal andthe experience is one that I will always cherish. There is a special kind of vibe that happens when you getthe chance to play with a KISS member...something almost indescribable. Obviously winning the mostrecent "KISS Off" in Las Vegas rivals performing with Ace. This is a distinction that no one will ever be ableto take away from us. No matter what they say we were the first...KISS said so.


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KISS Army Argentina: Seeing the way you look we have to highlight the costumes and the greatstage design. How many people work with you, specially in these areas (stage and costume design)?As for the technical and design aspects, do you prepare a full show for each performance?

Rich Kosak - Mr. Speed: Since the very beginning we have always done everything ourselves. We do nothave a road crew. Our wives make up the crew that we do have and they play an important role in each andevery show. They take care of all of the little things that we need as well as run the stage effects too.Collectively we pass ideas back and forth to each other about what we like to incorporate into our stageshow but ultimately it comes down to money. We would love to do so much more but financially we aren'talways able to do so. As for the costumes, we do a lot of the work ourselves. At times we make trips intoCanada to have our boots made. Joe had the majority of his costume made in Toronto by the only companythat he can find that will agree to do it. Otherwise we work with local seamstresses to alter our body suitsand we do the rhinestone work ourselves. We really try not to destroy our costumes knowing how much theycost and how much time and effort goes into each one. Joe actually created the majority of Danny's armor himself by creating the molds and working with a local company to have them created.

KISS Army Argentina: In Argentina we have been supporting KISS tribute bands since long ago,especially two great ones that use make up: KISSnation and KISS My Ass (who were among the 20runners up in the KISS by Monster Mini Golf contest) and we know about the effort that eachperformance takes in every aspect. We guess that when you saw your bands name among the finalfour runners up you increased even more the focus on each detail for the performance in which youwere chosen as winners

Rich Kosak - Mr. Speed: At first when we heard that we were one of the four finalists we thought exactlythat. That we have to really make sure that overthink everything and prepare like never before. Then we gotsome timely advice from our good friend Jim Neff. Jim is the same guy that brought KISS to Cadillac, MI in1975. He told us to just be ourselves. Let the other bands overthink their performance and for us to just goout there and be MR.SPEED. We did just that and I remember calling him after we had won and he wasvery emotional with me on the phone. We gave him the nickname "5"...he is the fifth member of

MR.SPEED.

KISS Army Argentina: How do you prepare the set list? Do you base it on previous set lists, or maybe you like to present some surprises with rare songs, or songs that KISS rarely performs?

Rich Kosak - Mr. Speed: Andrew is the one that puts our set lists together. He has a particular way that helikes to do it. His approach is pretty simple...if KISS did it we should do it. We all suggest songs that wewould like to play, some make it into the show and some don't. But if we get a set list that really works we'llstick with it and swap a song with a song there. We have always been about playing the rare or obscuretracks from KISS' catalog. Since day #1 we have believed in that. It challenges us and make it moreinteresting for the die-hard fans that come to our shows. Over the past 17 years we have done quite a fewsongs to say the least.

KISS Army Argentina: Which are the favorite KISS eras for Mr. Speed?

Rich Kosak - Mr. Speed: Generally speaking we all love the "Rock And Roll Over/Love Gun" era KISS. Butto be honest Andrew and I really have an affinity for the Dynasty era as well.

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KISS Army Argentina: Lets talk about Tommy Thayer and the KISS by Monster Mini Golf event. Howwas your meeting with Tommy? Did he anticipate more details about the event, which will take placenext March 15 th ?

Rich Kosak - Mr. Speed: Performing in front of Tommy as very inspiring. I live for moments like this.Personally speaking he pushed me to be better than I thought I could be. When we had the chance to meetwith him after we had won he was very complimentary to us. He shared some candid observations aboutwhat he felt helped us to win out over the other bands. I even asked him what he thought we needed to doto improve. Knowing that Tommy was watching us was a key element in our win in my opinion. I believe thatit helped us.

KISS Army Argentina: Without a doubt your next performance on March 15 th will be a milestone for the history of Mr. Speed. How are you preparing for the show? Has the set list already been defined?Did Tommy make any suggestion in particular, or you are free to do the show as you wish?

Rich Kosak - Mr. Speed: We are doubling up on our rehearsals until we leave for Las Vegas. We have a lot

to live up to. The fans are expecting the very best and I want to make sure that we deliver the goods. Manyof these fans will be seeing us for the first time and I want them to love what they see and hear. Not tomention that KISS themselves will be there for the event. So to be able to perform in front of them or havethem hear us for me is incredible.

KISS Army Argentina: Have you already received the prize costumes for having won the contest?Which era do they represent? Will they be the ones that you will wear in the Mini Golf event?

Rich Kosak - Mr. Speed: We have not received the costumes that were a part of our prize. They areawarding them to us when we return in March. We have all decided to go with the "Destroyer" costumes. Tobe honest, our costumes are much better than the ones that they are giving us. We put our own hard workand effort into creating them and I wouldn't wear anything else.

KISS Army Argentina: How does the life of the members of Mr. Speed change after having won theWorld's Best KISS Tribute Band Contest?

Rich Kosak - Mr. Speed: We haven't changed at all to be honest. It was extremely humbling for us to winand we know that it won't last forever. It is extremely satisfying to know that we can call ourselves "The BestKISS Tribute Band In The World" and not feel badly about it. We went up against 200 bands and then headto head against 3 of them. Tommy Thayer voted for us and that is a distinction that no one can takeaway...ever!

KISS Army Argentina: What can we expect from Mr. Speed in the future? How does the story of theband continue?

Rich Kosak - Mr. Speed: MR.SPEED will continue as long as I want it to. I still really feel as though I have alot to give to the fans around the world. It has been an amazing story with a lot of troubled times and a lot of amazing times. I really love the amazing times but the troubled times are the ones that define who we are

just as much. We build character with both and I'm proud of where MR.SPEED is right now. I have anamazing story to tell for sure. As long as KISS fans continue to come out and see our show I will continue togive them the best representation of what my mind's eye sees from the 52 KISS shows that I have been to.

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KISS Army Argentina: Once again, thanks a lot for this interview. Can you please leave a messagefor KISS Army Argentina and for our local KISS tribute bands?

Rich Kosak - Mr. Speed: Please know this...never give up on your dream. Whatever it is. Because thefeeling that runs through your veins when your dream comes true cannot be measured in words. You haveto feel it. Surround yourself with positive people and believe in what you are doing. Never give up.

Interview: MARCELO GARCIA and DIEGO FERREYRA (Kiss Army Argentina)

Translation: Mariana MIA Abello (Kiss Army Argentina) April 2012

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MR. SPEED Kiss Army Argentina Interview English Version

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