KISS Guitarist TOMMY THAYER Is 'Not A Stay-In-The-Hotel-Room Kind Of Guy'

KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer is interviewed in episode 265 of the “Iron City Rocks” podcast. Tommy took time just prior to the band’s Japanese tour to talk about his new Epiphone White Lightning guitar, the tours of Japan and South America, KISS‘s collaboration with Japanese pop group MOMOIRO CLOVER Z, and the forthcoming Kiss Kruise V. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below.

Asked if he ever gets an opportunity to see much of the cities KISS plays in while on tour, Thayer said: “You know, actually, I like to do that. I’m not just a stay-in-the-hotel-room kind of guy all the time; I like to get out as much as I can. Sometimes it’s a little bit of a challenge, ’cause you’re travelling on many days on days off. And a lot of times you just feel like you just need to rest, though, too. You might have a day where you don’t have anything planned and you think, ‘I just really need to recharge the batteries,’ so to speak. And then other days, you get out and see some of the culture and see the people and experience the food and what’s going in the city. It’s exciting and it’s an amazing opportunity to do that when you do these tours, ’cause you go to these places you probably never would otherwise go, or most people wouldn’t have the opportunity to go to. So we’re lucky in that regard, and I like to enjoy those extra pleasures along the way.”

According to Thayer, he has no issues about being approached by fans while trying to take in the sights on road before hitting the stage with KISS.

“I don’t mind getting out there and… You know, sometimes… We’re so lucky we’ve got amazing and crazy fans, you’ve gotta love ’em, but sometimes it does get a little difficult going out certain times,” he admitted. “But, hey, you know, you complain about that kind of stuff. It’s a pleasure and an honor to be able to go out and see people and go out and do things, and it doesn’t bother me at all.”

Thayer joined KISS in February 2003, stepping into the boots Ace Frehley had been occupying for the KISS reunion that lasted from 1996 to 2002.

Interview (audio):