The ‘greatest Kiss tribute band in the world’

Like many Kiss fans, Rich Kosak was drawn to the band’s music and over-the-top superhero imagery as a kid. Those first few experiences left such an impression, Kosak eventually went from being a super fan to supreme tribute artist.

The Cleveland native and his award-winning Kiss tribute band, Mr. Speed, emulate the looks, style, sound, stage presence and mannerisms of rock ’n’ roll’s penultimate theatric group.

Mr. Speed formed in 1994, and for more than 20 years, Kosak and Co. have established themselves as one of the midwest’s best Kiss tribute bands. The group is set to perform at 8 p.m. Wednesday for the Stark County Fair, and recently Kosak (who performs in the group as Paul Stanley) gave a bit of background on Mr. Speed for Ticket’s 5Qs quiz.

1. What first drew you to Kiss?

A. “The way it all started was I had seen a commercial for the Kiss Radio one morning when I was a kid. The band’s image was just something I had never seen before. Fast forward a couple months. A family moves onto my street, and there’s a young boy in the family. It turns out he had gone to see Kiss a few months earlier with his uncle. He had a Kiss poster, and I connected the two as the band I saw on the commercial for the radio. He had a couple albums, and it sounded cool to me. So, I thought, I have to learn anything and everything I can about this band. That’s how it started for me.”

2. What are the biggest challenges of being in a tribute band, specifically for Kiss? Kiss fans are a pretty rabid group.

A. “Being in a tribute band, you’re under a microscope. The fans want to see every little detail of your costume. They want to see how your boots look, what kind of guitars you play. They want to make sure you’re playing through Marshall amplifiers and playing the signature guitars. It’s very expensive to do what we do. We try to do it to the best of our ability with the financial means we have. We’ve done it all out of our own pockets. We’re at a point after all these years, we’re making good money at what we do. But could we stop our day jobs and do it for a living? No. There’s no guarantees in the tribute world. You’re only as good as your last show, and if your last show was bad, that’s all that people will remember. We’re constantly doing whatever we can to make the show the best spectacle possible. It’s a real labor of love. We really pay attention to doing everything the right way.”

3. Does the setlist focus on a particular era of Kiss or does it span the entire catalog?

A. “Since Day 1 of this band, we have prided ourselves on doing the deep tracks or the rare tracks in the Kiss catalog as well as all the classics. Any guy that wants to say he’s in a Kiss tribute band can play ‘Rock and Roll All Night’ and ‘Detroit Rock City.’ But it’s to your credit if you can play something off ‘Carnival of Souls’ or ‘Sonic Boom’ or ‘Monster.’ Some of the fans don’t enjoy those songs as much, but for us it’s gotta be fun, and if it’s not fun for us, it’s not gonna be fun for the fans.”

4. Tell me about earning the honor of “Greatest Kiss tribute band in the world.”

A. “That came about in 2012 in Las Vegas. Kiss was opening a Monster Mini Golf, and they were looking for a way to hype the event, so they said, ‘Let’s find the world’s best Kiss tribute band.’ 200 bands entered the contest. They narrowed it down to 20. They let the fans vote for the top four, and those four bands were taken to Las Vegas, on their own dime, mind you. We competed on a stage that was about as a big as your bed. It was small, and we played through other people’s gear. When it was all said and done, (Kiss guitarist) Tommy (Thayer) dubbed us the winner. He said, ‘Of the four bands, you guys were a band. You played like a band, acted like a band and looked like a band.’ I was very proud of that moment, and that’s something no one can take away from me.”

5. Are all of the band aware of Mr. Speed?

A. “Kiss is aware that we’re out there. We have been fortunate enough to share the stage with Bruce Kulick, Eric Singer and Ace Frehley. Along the way, we’ve met Gene and Paul. They acknowledge our existence, but they don’t endorse us or give us their stamp of approval. I think they’re aware we’re trying to do it to the best of our ability to pay tribute to the band. As the leader of Mr. Speed, that’s very important to me. I want the Kiss fans that come to see our show to know we’re doing it from the heart, and we’re doing it because we’re Kiss fans as well. We’re just like them. We’re just take it to a little bit of an unhealthier level by wearing the costumes and the makeup.”

KOSAK ON KISS MOVING ON WITH NEW MEMBERS

Kiss manager Doc McGee and members of the band have hinted that the group will continue after band founders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley retire. It has sparked intense debate among Kiss fans, so Ticket got Kosak’s view.

Kosak: “I personally would not want to see that. I’ve grown up with this band and had a lot of major experiences in my life as a result of being a Kiss fan. I wouldn’t want to see four people who aren’t an original member or haven’t been part of the lineup to this point in one incarnation or another. I want them to leave it alone and go out with their heads held high. I think if they start putting a Kiss 2.0 out there, it’s just gonna dilute the whole thing. It just doesn’t seem right.

“People ask me from time to time, would you ever entertain the thought of auditioning? I’d be foolish to not want to at least give it a go. But would I, as a fan, if I wasn’t a part of it, go to see it? No.”

Reach B.J. at 330-580-8314 or bj.lisko@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @BLiskoREP

Live music

WHO: Mr. Speed (Kiss tribute)

WHEN: Wednesday, 8 p.m.

WHERE: The grandstand at the Stark County Fairgrounds, 305 Wertz Ave., Canton

ADMISSION: $8

MORE INFO: mrspeedonline.com