KISS’ Paul Stanley has faced criticism for lip-syncing during live shows the past few years. Someone even started a YouTube channel called ‘Syncin’ Stanley’ to criticize the rocker. Recently, the user posted a video of Dream Theater’s James LaBrie commenting on Stanley’s lip-syncing and bands using backing tracks. James explained:
“I’ve never lip sync in my entire life so let’s just get that out of the way that’s bullshit. I don’t agree with anybody lip-syncing to their music. I say that if you do it, you should be able to reproduce it live or at least try to reproduce it live.”
James showed grace for singers’ as it’s quite normal to have off days however he isn’t on boar for any kind of lip-syncing. He added:
“I mean every singer has their freaking bad nights man for sure and it’s hard to reproduce or replicate exactly what you did in the studio at times just because it’s human nature you get tired, you get sick, you’re worn out, burnt out whatever. But that is off the board no lip-syncing whatsoever for whomever you are.”
When KISS kicked off their ‘End of the Road World Tour’ in 2019, some fans and critics accused Paul of lip-syncing and using backing tracks. However their manager Doc McGhee came to Stanley rescue and said:
“He sings every track. So he sings to it. So he’s not lip-syncing. He fully sings. It’s enhanced. It’s just part of the process to make sure that everybody hears the songs the way they should be sung, to begin with.”
LaBrie also gave his take for bands that use backing tracks. He shared that if it’s used the right way it could be ‘enhancing.’ The singer expressed:
“As far as backing tracks I think it comes down to, when you utilize the studio’s environment to be able to create something within that song that is glorious and multi-layered vocals or instruments that are beyond the core instruments used within that band I think it’s cool because it can be very enhancing.”
He added that to give the audience a similar version of the track live, using backing tracks might be the best bet. James continued:
“So when you decide to play those particular songs you have to either ask yourself it’s going to be the bare minimum and it’s going to be a little more raw than it was in the studio’s version or you’re going to want to give your audience everything that they’ve come to familiarize themselves with while listening to that song. They associate those all those other elements that the only way to sometimes reproduce it would be by backtracks.”
You can watch James LaBrie’s video on the ‘Syncin’ Stanley’ YouTube channel below.
