I Wanna Rock And Rum All Nite

This rum is far more interesting than it needed to be. (Photo by me)

There was a little more lag time than usual between the writing of the latest What’s Tony Drinking? [the link for which is right over -> HERE <-) and its publication, which is why you’ll find a mention of the Kentucky Derby therein. But I think this is my favorite WTD? yet. Not only because it has a lot of rum content — I don’t write as much about rum as I’d like, out of both laziness and busyness — but because I think it paints a fairly accurate portrait of my professional life, which is by most standards pretty ridiculous and entertaining and fun. I hope some of that came through in the finished copy.

The latest rum from Rock & Roll Hall Of Famers KISS (yes, they have more than one rum, plus a slew of other wines and spirits) isn’t exactly the featured part of the column, but I give it props here, for two reasons. It’s far more interesting and complex and just plain weird than it needed to be to satisfy the fan base; and it also got me listening to KISS’ music again for the first time in, I don’t know, decades probably.

I saw KISS in concert at Madison Square Garden at the peak of their popularity in 1977, when I was just a wee tyke. My dad took me, and I remember neither of us were prepared for what I now know is pretty standard rock concert volume, but at the time it seemed absolutely ear-shattering. I gamely withstood the blast, but poor Dad finally had enough about 90 minutes in — which, to be fair, is pretty impressive for a non-fan. I saw them again when the original foursome reunited, put the makeup back on, and hit the hustings in 1996. To my delight and amusement, they played pretty much exactly the same set as when I’d seen them 19 years earlier. I didn’t bring Dad along a second time, for which I’m sure he was grateful.

KISS’ music is, for me, a perfect combination of Led Zeppelin and the Ramones — equal parts Rock God and outer borough pinhead. It’s not a regular part of my musical diet, but when it’s on the menu it’s mighty tasty. If I’ve piqued your interest and you’re not already familiar, my advice is to start out with their 1978 compilation Double Platinum, and then go from there. Their oeuvre is encapsulated in countless compilations, ranging from skimpy to colossal, but that’s my favorite. And if you have a bottle of Monstrum handy, it makes a fine accompaniment.