Intervju med Ken Kelly
-mannen bak omslagene til Destroyer og Love Gun

KISS Army Norway har intervjuet mannen bak KISS sine mest klassiske "bilder". Ken Kelly har malt oljemaleriene på omslagene til albumene Destroyer og Love Gun. Kelly har også jobbet med rockebandene Manowar og Rainbow. Norske KISS-fans har sendt oss sine spørsmål til Ken Kelly. Her får dere svarene fra denne legendariske maleren.

What are your personal relations to KISS and their music? Are you a fan?

I have great admiration for them and their achievements and feel as a friend to both Gene and Paul. The other two I never really got to know that well. Yes of course I'm a big fan.

Where did you get inspirations for the KISS covers?
I had some input into the LOVE GUN cover but not the DESTROYER cover. Dennis Walock, the art director for KISS knew just what he wanted for that one. I was the mechanic who put his thoughts to paper.

What kind of material did you use to make the album covers?

The medium for both covers was oil. The material reference was slides that they made available.
Can you describe your work with art director Dennis Woloch?
We had a normal professional relationship. He was in charge but welcomed input and other ideas. We recently met again at a KISS convention and laughed about old times.

How much input did the KISS members have on the development of the album covers?

The members didn't have very much to do with the concepts as I recall. At least not while I was in the office. But they were included in the final approval. I remember having to correct peters nose because he didn't like the shine.

Did you get any direct response from the KISS members on your work?

Yes, each one commented on how he looked in his costume and gave me tips that I incorporated in the art.

Do you know why KISS wanted to use paintings for these covers?

I believe and it's only my opinion, is that it was related to the Comic hero element. They are the only living superhero's and felt they should be illustrated instead of photographed.

The original Love Gun painting where sold at an auction in 2001, do you know who keep the original of the Destroyer painting?

I believe Gene Simmons still owns it.

Does it exist sketches/”outtakes” of the Love Gun cover like the "famous" one from Destroyer? The one where they still are in their "Alive" era costumes?

There isn't any second painting of LOVE GUN , but I will be publishing next year an art book of my own with a chapter devoted to KISS and the making of the LOVE GUN painting with never before seen photo's and story.

Has there been any talk of making new covers for KISS over the years?

No, I haven't heard anything about such a project.

Your artwork are reviewed as the most classical artwork in KISStory. Why haven't you done some work for them since?

KISS has the whole world to pick from, there wasn't any reason to stay with the same artist. It was an assignment and we all moved on.

Would you consider doing a new album cover for KISS if you where asked today?

Of course I would listen to their idea's. The world has changed allot in all these years and there are no more albums and people now have the internet. It wouldn't be the same environment. But I would give it a try.

You have also done artwork for the heavy metal band Manowar. How would you compare working with them towards KISS?

Although KISS was huge at the time it was a very brief relationship and assignment. My life with MANOWAR has gone on for more than a decade and I believe has produced some of my best art, not to mention a very close relationship with the band. They are two completely different experiences.

You do make statues as well, do you have any plans to make any KISS statues?

The statue I have was completed under a license agreement and I have no plans to do this with the KISS band.

Your history as an artist/painter is much wider than your work with KISS and Manowar. Any other projects or events in life you would share with the KISS-fans?

I have been very fortunate in my career as to have been able to continue to grow and do many different things. I continue to produce covers for MANOWAR and am working on a gigantic project as we speak and also still do book cover assignments and many private commissions through my website, www.kenkellyart.com.

How does it feel to know that you have brought excitement to millions of KISS-fans through your album paintings? As a kid I remember I could watch those covers for hours! Just dreaming away on the myth of KISS!
I am continuously reminded by fan just like yourself about the hours of enjoyment they got out of staring at the KISS covers while listening to the record. Reminds us of how different it was back then, no computers, large albums. It was a different world. I am delighted to have played the small role I did in the kiss world.

Thanks very much, take care.
Ken Kelly

Besøk Ken Kellys webside hvor du i tillegg til å se hans malerier også kan kjøpe hans bilder. www.kenkellyart.com