Lots of stuff went down in Sooke in 1989. Can you even imagine? The mind bends and warps a bit when you even start to put place and time together like that. Here’s how what happened in Sooke in 1989 matters today: James Keble and D’Arcy Ladret met.
Who are James Keble and D’Arcy Ladret? Two members of the local KISS tribute band Dressed to Kill.
“James and I met in high school when I moved to Sooke in 1989,” says Ladret, who plays KISS bassist Gene Simmons on stage. “I was 13 years old. He introduced me to KISS; he was fanatical. I was more into the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and still am. After about 20 years, he eventually convinced me that I should be Gene Simmons in his KISS tribute, so we formed about one and a half years ago and played our first show on Halloween 2011.”
Fanatical: it’s a word that can describe most KISS fans, and a word that would have to be used to describe someone who would go up on a stage and quite literally pretend to be somebody else for an entire concert.
“It’s strange,” says Ladret about being somebody else on stage, “very, very strange. I don’t mind playing someone else’s songs, but dressing up and acting like them is a lot of work.”
Strange but worth it for the fans that get to come out and see Dressed to Kill. Considering KISS has never played Victoria, this might be as close as some people get to the long-running rock legends. And for those who aren’t KISS fans, Ladret says that we should at least appreciate what they’ve done for music.
“Music has changed so much since KISS exploded in the ’70s,” he says. “They were so over the top for that time in rock history; I really believe they helped open the door for a lot of bands to let loose, do what they want, play what they want, and dress how they want. Who knows? Lady Gaga might not be around if it wasn’t for KISS… hmm, maybe that would have been a good thing (laughs).”
And as for the difference between honouring a band’s legacy and honouring their current output, it’s clear that Ladret has his preferences. When asked about KISS’ just-released new disc, Monster, he holds no punches (although he does mention that Keble loves the album).
“Like the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, and Aerosmith, KISS did some great things and have music that will stand the test of time. But there is a day when it should stop and I think KISS shouldn’t make any more albums,” he says, before offering up a succinct two-word review of Monster: “It sucks.”
Dressed to Kill
October 31
Soprano’s, $10
sopranoskaraoke.ca