Kiss manager Doc McGhee discusses “the worst thing” the band ever did
“Ohhhh, this is how you get fired,” were the thoughts of Kiss manager Doc McGhee following what he describes as “the worst thing” the band ever did. Following such a long career of flamboyance paired with highs and lows, the absolute worst undertaking of Kiss would have to be something spectacular — or, in this case, the complete opposite.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has cemented itself as a huge part of the holiday as, over the years, large and extravagant floats made their way through New York City alongside various dancers and stars, creating a true spectacle. Something so over the top would be the perfect setting for a Kiss concert, but what actually transpired was a lacklustre performance by a band who clearly didn’t want to be there.
Upon reflection, Doc McGhee revealed that the band were, in Paul Stanley’s words, “screwed over and misled” for their performance at the 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Stanley also said that “we ALL deserved better” without going into specific details.
“The worst thing we did was we played the Macy’s Day Parade,” said McGhee, filling in the gaps. “We were supposed to be on the Gibson float, which was this huge float. So, it was great; it’s just like Kiss. Well, the night before, we found out that they wanted Paul to play Gibson [guitars], and he doesn’t play Gibsons – because he plays Washburns. So, we couldn’t go on the float. They go, ‘Oh, we have another float for you.’”
Thinking that the problem was solved, the band didn’t dwell much more on the parade, that was, until they saw what they would be playing on instead. “So, we get there,” McGhee adds, “And [the new float] is literally like, 25 feet long with two microphones on it. We looked like the shittiest thing on the Macy’s Day Parade. When I saw it I went, ‘ohhhh, this is how you get fired.’ That was just a horrible time.”
The video is brutal to watch. Gene Simmons is clearly trying his best to stay in character, do what he does best, and deliver a stellar rock show. However, the float looks like it was put together at the last minute, and the band’s energy is down as a result. Even in the YouTube video, which has been filmed by a fan with their phone watching the TV, slight sniggers can be heard as the band roll into frame.
Paul Stanley commented once again on the incident in a tweet, saying, “We showed up at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade after being shown sketches of a HUGE float and told we would be surrounded by 100 baton twirlers in Kiss makeup. Instead, we got an SUV with a U-Haul attached and two unimpressed escorts. HA! HA! HA! Look how happy we are!”
Despite being one of the worst things the band ever pulled together, McGhee wasn’t fired and continues to work as the Kiss manager, assisting them on their farewell tour. It’s nice to know that even after such a shocking performance in dire circumstances, the manager’s relationship with the band remained afloat.
