Mike McLaughlin Talks about Anti Pop The New Record & Life after Peter Criss!

Mike Mclaughlin- NewAlbum Anti Pop

(Peter Criss, Mike Stone, Mark Montague, Mike Mclaughlin)

1- Hello Mike. Most Kiss Fans best know you as the Guitarist for Peter Criss during the Criss Cat #1 & Bad Boys era,  can you tell us briefly how did working with Peter Criss come about  & what was it like playing/working with Peter before & after Kiss?

   MIKE-  As far as how I came about playing with Peter, in the early 90's I was living in L.A playing in several different projects and one band I was in named "Them Generation" was working with the producer Dito Godwin who had been working with Peter at the time. Dito was a guitar player from New York as well so we got to be pretty good friends. One day he calls me up and say's "Hey Mike you remember Peter Criss from Kiss", I said "Duh of course, who doesn't ". He say's, " Well he's looking for a new lead guitar player, would you be interested in auditioning ", to which I responded " Fuck yeah are you kidding me !!! ". So I go to the audition in North Hollywood quite nervous cause this was Peter Criss, one of my idols growing up. I remember clearly it was just me, Peter, and Mark Montague in the rehearsal room and we just kinda jammed some stuff. I always like to lock in with drummers when I play, that's the main thing I listen to, and I remember me and Peter just clicked right away. We played for around an hour I think and when I left I felt pretty good about it, there seemed to be a pretty good vibe between the three of us as well. The next day I called Mark to get some feedback and he said they both felt pretty good and wanted me to come back for a callback, I was totally stoked !!! The only thing was Mark said, " Peter really loves the sound of Les Paul guitars especially after playing with Ace for all those years, you think you could play a Les Paul next time ". I said sure no problem, but it was a problem because I didn't have a Les Paul at the time. I wound up borrowing one from one of my buddies and did the callback, and the vibe again was really cool, just the three of us. You could feel there was something there. After that they told me it was down to me and one other guy, and eventually I got the gig, and this was the beginning. As far as what it was like working with Peter it was amazing, one of the greatest experiences of my life, I learned so much from him. Peter always treated all of us in the band like his family, and he really does feel like my big brother.

                                                 Mike Mclaughlin- "The Purple Shower"

2- You have an album out called Anti Pop & I played it for the first time last week & It Freakin Rocks, tell us how that came about , who plays on it, & where can fans get a copy?


MIKE- Thanks a lot, glad you like the CD. That started in the late 90's just jamming with some people, mainly the drummer Ryan Brown and bassist JoJo Zarillo. We would jam just the three of us and a lot of the songs I wrote for the CD came out of those jams. I moved to Taiwan in late 2001 to pursue my music career there ( that's a whole other story for my book haha ) and decided to start recording the music I had come up with just for the love of it. I had no record deal, no label, no budget, just my home studio and the freedom to do what I wanted. As for the players I called on my buddy Ryan Brown ( now playing and touring with Dweezil Zappa in the Zappa does Zappa band ) to record most of the drums since we had played a lot of the material together already and he's a motherfucking slamming drummer ! There are a few other friend's who played on it as well, I played all the guitars, keyboard programing ( which is not much ) and most of the bass. If fans are interested they can go to :

Mike Mclaughlin

3. Will you be taking Anti Pop out on the road & doing any live shows in the future?

MIKE- I would love to take Anti-pop out on the road to perform live, this project is my baby and nothing would make me happier. It's just a matter now of getting the buzz out and people interested in it, but I would love to go anywhere and play for anyone who wants to hear. At this point in my life I just want to play music and connect with people through it, especially if it's my own music ! Any agents or promoters just call me up, I'll go play for anyone

4- You just got off the last tour with Peter Criss & Sister Doll can you tell us a little about that  ?

    MIKE- Yes, man what a pleasure it was to play with Peter again on the stage after all these years ! I had played with him quite a bit at his home studio when we were working on the " One For All " CD together, but this was the first time we had performed on stage in front of an audience since the Bad Boys Tour day's. As soon as I walked into the rehearsal room and we started playing together it felt just like the old day's, the vibe was still there, and Peter was singing and drumming his ass off !!! Man it was awesome !!! And we also had a horn and string section, and a keyboard player as well so it added a whole new element to the music. Playing " Strutter " and " Nothing To Loose " with a horn section was so cool ! And the Sister's Doll guys were great as well, man they knew Peter's music inside and out so it made it that much easier for us. Really nice and talented guy's as well, they were very respectful of Peter. As you may know, Peter is a big jazz fan as well ( me too ) and Gene Kruppa is his drum idol, so at the end of the show we played some jazz swing stuff as a surprise, it went over great especially with the horns. Everyone I talked to after the show was totally blown away by that, were totally not expecting that.

5- There have been rumors that Peter Criss has recorded another Rock album but it seems like that possibility  sorta came & went? Can you tell us anything you might know about Peter possibly putting out another record?  I know a lot of fans would love it.

MIKE_ Yes as far as the rock album, Peter and I started working on that together after the " One For All " CD was released. For the rock album we wanted to go back to really rootsy ass kicking rock and roll, which is how we approached it. I lived in his house for 2 month's and every day we spent playing and working on the music. Peter's drumming was in top form because we were playing every day, we would get up have our coffee and go straight to the studio at 10:30 a.m sharp every day. We got all of the guitars and drums recorded and were both really happy with the way it was sounding. Then I flew back home it didn't hear from Peter in a while. Turn's out not long after that he was diagnosed with breast cancer, and his wife Gigi was also diagnosed with cancer at the same time, can you imagine ! When something like this happens and your fighting for your lives music get's put on hold, understandably.Thank God as we all know they both beat it and were diagnosed cancer free. I have talked to Peter and Gigi quite often lately, I love them dearly like family. We have mentioned about the rock album and I think Peter is interested again at getting back to finishing it. After playing these recent live shows it gave him some new fire, and his voice ( anyone who was at the shows knows ) was in excellent shape. I can't say for sure whether it will happen or not, that's up to Peter, but believe me I REALLY hope it does, there is some really kick ass material on there and would love to see it get out to the fans. I'm one of Peter's fans as well, he's one of my all time favorite singers and drummers !

                                     The ONLY Catman Playing Bad Ass Rock & Roll!!!

6- What do you think of the current state of rock music these days ?

The current state of music these days, wow. You know I grew up as a kid in the golden era of music I believe, listening to Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Black Sabbath, and the list goes on and on. There was something magical about the music then, and the fact that there were some many super groups, it was a spectacle ! Peter and I have talked about that quite often, it was really special. Don't get me wrong, there is some really cool stuff out there today and so many killer shredding guitar players, my God just go on Youtube. And that's another thing, with the internet today it's totally changed the way we listen to, and view​ music. And the business has changed as well, the day's of multi platinum record's is over for the most part, and it's harder and harder for musicians to survive, and that's a real shame. But I have to be positive and think that everything comes back in cycles and rock music will flourish again. I like to believe that if it's good, people will listen                                                                                      

7- Is there anything else you want to say to the fans?

First off thanks for doing this interview and I appreciate all the fans and the fact that they remember what I did haha, as we all know Kiss fans are the best in the world ! Thanks to all you guys for keeping the spirit and passion for the music ALIVE ! As Peter say's without you guys none of it would be possible, amen to that !!!

KISS ARMY ORIGINALS -Would like to thanks Mike McLaughlin for the wonderful interview & for his time, Go out & get his Music it truly ROKS!!!

The End of an ERA !!! The Last time Peter Criss Worked With Kiss Prior to the 96 Reunion!

Although Criss did not appear on the Unmasked LP Kiss didn't have a replacement drummer.
They were forced to put Peter Criss on the Cover & use him in the Shandi video before they hired Eric Carr (R.I.P) This was the Last time Peter Criss wore the Cat Make-Up until he rejoined the Group in 1996-2003 . Coming soon Peter Criss the first 7 years 1973-80 & Peter Criss the last 7 years 1996-2003! A Kiss Army original retrospect.

Ace Frehley Kicks Of Australian Leg With Alice Cooper

It is amazing to see Ace up there with All time Shock Rock Icon Alice Cooper, two hall of famers doing what they do best! I Would be ok all day if Ace joined Alice's band for a tour how cool would that be.!

Peter Criss Kicking Ass & Taking Names 1985

Gene Simmons finally comes clean & says a Kiss reunion is possible!!!

Gene Simmons has repeated that a longterm KISS reunion with Ace Frehley is not in the cards.
But a one night special event isn't out of the question, as far as he is concerned.

When asked by "Rock Talk with Mitch Lafon" whether he would entertain single concert with Frehley back in KISS, Simmons said it could happen.

Kiss 2003 Peter Criss Kicked Ass ...Kiss Lied!!!

                                                WHO LOVES YOU ROCK & ROLL!

When Superman Joined KIss!!!

it's the scoop of the century, the scoop of all time. two superheroes have joined forces, they will be unbeatable in all the galaxies, invincible throughout the universe. superman has joined kiss.

it all started this way. kiss was tiring of their act, you know how perfectionist kiss is, how they always want to be bigger and better. they spent days in depression in lonely aruba, pondering what they could do. what could they come up with next to satisfy their finicky fans and their finicky standards? what act could they come up with that would top their last incredible tour and remarkable issue of four separate solo albums at the same time? it was a hard act to follow. the band came up with all sorts of solutions. they could retire. they could erect a giant statue of the band in times square. they could unleash wild tigers during their stage show. they could go disco. but none of these ideas seemed to be what they needed.
finally, while taking a shower, gene came up with a brainstorm. they could have someone new join the band. perhaps a new face would add inspiration and new facets to their show. the problem was who? eric clapton, jimmy page, sid vicious, olivia newton-john, they thought about them all, but decided they were no good. too tame.
then ace spoke up. they could ask another superhero to join the band, that way they could continue with their incredible stunts (breathing fire, etc.) and the new member could do his own as well. as you know, any superhero has super powers and would be just great for kiss' stage act. but what superhero should they ask to join?
it was a toss up between the hulk and superman. i mean, the hulk with his green skin and nasty temper was a natural, but superman could do all these nifty tricks like leaping tall buildings in a single bound. the band members argued over the choice between the two. finally paul had a great idea, why not hold an audition like they did to get ace. this time they wouldn't have to put an add in the village voice, but could just contact superman and the hulk directly. the band called their agents and everything was set up.
the day of the super-audition dawned bright and cold. kiss hopped in the kiss plane and, as quick as you can say "jackrabbit", they were at the audition arena. they had decided to use the houston astrodome as the sight because it was the only place big enough to let the hulk and superman really show their stuff.
when kiss got to houston they found the city going through an incredible chili pepper shortage, but that didn't concern them because they had only been there a few hours, and then back to aruba.
superman was the first to arrive. it was alot easier for him to get there because he can fly and the hulk has to smash his way through places. he wanted to show his stunts immediately, especially how fast he could play piano, but kiss told him to cool down. it wouldn't be fair to let him go before the hulk arrived and could see his act. that way the hulk would know what he had to beat. so, while they waited for the hulk, they all amused themselves by playing chess in the middle of the outfield.
finally the hulk showed up. he made a great entrance by throwing a truck at the side of the superdome to make a hole for him to walk through. everybody was suitably impressed, but paul told him if he joined the band and was that late to gigs he just wouldn't make it. the hulk was going to smash paul for saying that, but gene restrained him. and the audition got under way.
superman went first. he did all his old tricks for warm up, beating speeding bullets, stopping trains. then he started to show his new stuff. first he carried everybody to the north pole and back. then he played aces' new song new york groove all by himself, running between all the instruments with his super speed. everybody cheered when he stopped. he had played four instruments, as well as sang all at once. then superman proceeded to take down and set up the band's equipment faster than they could blink. ace whispered to paul after this act that he definitely would make a good roadie, and if they didn't ask him to join the band maybe he would be the equipment manager.
when, as his final act, superman cut the top off the superdome and threw it like a frisbee all the way to mongolia. kiss was cheering like crazy. and then it was the hulk's turn.
the hulk had been sulking in a far corner of the stadium all through superman's performance, but when it was his turn, he hopped all the way across in one earth-shaking bound.
for his opener the hulk ripped out a whole section of the grandstand and with a roar proceeded to smash it to smithereens. he then bashed a hole in the ground all the way to china, and came back with a little chinese kiss fan to prove it. kiss loved this. for his next act the hulk proceeded to pile the cars in the city of houston on top of one another, with the commissioner of police's bright red volare on top like a cherry. as his last stunt, the hulk took all the bands equipment and smashed it to smithereens.
kiss then went into a huddle to decide. superman tried to eavesdrop with his superhearing, but gene told him to stop. the band didn't take long to decide. they came back to the center of the stadium and announced the winner.
it was superman. they told the hulk he was just great, and his green skin was wild, but that he blew it when he smashed the band's equipment. what did he have to go and do that for? the hulk got pissed and said he'd smash all of them next but gene spit blood at him and the hulk backed off. he was last seen smashing his way towards los angeles.
superman was ecstatic as the band came up and congratulated him. they said they would be proud if he would join their band. he said he would love to. there was only one problem, said gene, he would have to give up his job at the daily planet in order to have time to practice with the band. superman said he'd miss lois lane and jimmy olsen but he'd do it to join kiss. and the deal was signed, sealed, and finalized.
but when can you see the new kiss with superman? when will they unveil their absolutely super new show?
well, the story is that they are putting it together right now. they are writing new material for superman's piano part, and designing a show to go with the new material and highlight the new member of the band. they are then going to go into the studio and put out a new album with superman. then, when the album is released, supposedly sometime this summer, the band will tour.
and you will see the show of your life.