News 2026
09.29.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
Beard Reviews
EPISODE #98 • ARCADA THEATRE
MR.SPEED
Greetings friends, fans and followers
and welcome to the hardest working review columnist out there. It is the Beard coming at you with
episode #98 as this evening we took a look at one of the longest tenured and highest rated KISS tribute acts out there, Cleveland Ohio’s
MR.SPEED.
Formed all the way back in the mid 1990’s by KISS superfan Rich Kosak, MR.SPEED has been doing the KISS thing for over three decades.
There are many tiers to “Tribute Acts” performing out there. They run the gamut from authentically amazing to Oh Good Lord What the Hell are you doing? The Beard goes to a LOT of them and at times I have sung the praises of what I just witnessed while at other times I have taken the piss out of them with a sad smile and some snarky wit.
MR.SPEED has the accolades. Knowing they were named “Best KISS tribute band in the world” by members of KISS in 2012. Winning best KISS Tribute band in the World in a national competition and appearing in 2014 on AXS productions “World Greatest Tribute Bands,” the Beard walked in expecting much more than a bar band playing Rock n Roll All Night for a pittance and a sandwich.
Now, I historically judge Tribute Bands by four categories; Look, (How closely do you resemble the original act?), Vocal Sound, (How closely do you sing like the original or at least classic era vocalist?), Instrumentation sound, (How much does the band sound like a live production of the actual act? and intangibles (what extras did you do to help me suspend my disbelief while you were performing?) Using those criteria, let us look at Mr. Speed.
LOOK: 94/100
These guys take themselves very seriously in terms of appearance and production. All four members were fully made up, fully costumed (appropriate to the KISS stage look), and in general bore a close enough resemblance to the actual KISS members (in makeup) to pass any reasonable sniff test. When they walk out on the stage in their six-inch platform boots, capes and dazzle you sit up straighter and get ready for a SHOW!
VOCAL TALENT: 91/100
Rich Kosak can sing, let’s clear that up right away. Kosak is in his sixties and to accurately grade vocal talent we have to ask if he up against prime era Paul Stanley or today era Paul Stanley?
Although the Beard was never a classic KISS fan, Paul Stanley has an iconic voice and for Kosak to come close while also coming close in looking like a 60-year-old Paul is pretty impressive.
Shane Smith as Gene “The Demon” Simmons was closest of the group vocally. He matched up well to the Simmons voice and his “Demon” persona appearance only helped matters all evening.
Mark Hermansen & Rich Hattery as Ace “Spaceman” Frehley & the Eric Carr era “The Fox” drummer were less stellar in both voice and appearance but neither dipped below mid to upper 80’s so really my grade of the whole has to be 90+ for the tribute band world.
INSTRUMENTATION: 84/100
Now, here the Beard suffers from honestly only liking (and never “loving”) KISS songs.
I could appreciate the songs and certainly was familiar with most (from decades of radio play.) Many were done well and I could suspend disbelief and picture it being the real KISS up there. The issue for me is even if it were the real KISS up there, I still would not give a 90 in this category.
INTANGIBLES: 99/100
Here you have ALL Mr. Speeds’ strengths.
Stage look…GREAT.
Lights, very good.
Mannerisms…stellar
...and most of all Kosak’s rapport with the audience was 100/100. ๏ปฟ
If you already WERE a KISS fan, (and if you weren’t why come at all), then Kosak had you in the palm of his hand, and if you WERE there for some other reason and wanted to be skeptical and judgmental, (like say a hirsute reviewer we shall not name), then Kosak had you won over before the show was over.
This guy (after doing this act for 30+ years) was both good naturedly unflappable, AND aggressively passionate about what his band does up there.
The unflappable was no doubt because after this long, no type of audience reaction throws him off. If the crowd goes #@$%ing crazy, Kosak has been there. If the crowd sits with crossed arms and mean mug faces…Kosak has dealt with that as well.
Anything in between? Well, they can manage that too. By the shows end I really appreciated Kosak as a talented frontman and a singer/performer.
The passion however got them just as many points because after thirty years I am sure there is always the temptation to “phone it in” now and then.
Granted, this was my first time seeing MR.SPEED, but I can tell you THOSE DUDE’S AIN’T PHONING IN NOTHING EVER!
When it comes to being KISS for two hours a night, the paying customer GETS two hours of KISS. The Beard does not throw around grades like 99 for anybody. These guys worked their assess off all night to earn it.
So, with 94, 91, 84 and 99, we end up with 368/400 or 92/100. Add in the willingness of the entire band to hang out after the show and do the meet-and-greet thing whether or not you bought anything from them or not, and once again that is something extra that shows dedication to your craft.
So, I am throwing in a bonus point for that and calling MR.SPEED a 93/100 which for a tribute act is a rarity from me.
The Beard says, if you are already a KISS fan then definitely go see MR.SPEED play. If you are just a so-so KISS fan, then you “still” should probably go see them play.
If you think KISS actually stands for Keep It Simple Songs, then you did not read this far anyway and will not care WHAT I think or about anything I have already said.
MR.SPEED is worthy of your time and money. Quality act. Good presentation and show. Beard says, “Horns Up.”
And that wraps up episode #98 of Beard Reviews. Stay tuned because there will be another one before you know it. Check out MR.SPEED plus all the other reviewed band videos at thebeard0728 on TIKTOK.
Follow all the latest reviews right here on social media and of course read my weekly newscast “In the News with the Beard.” News with a smile and a snark.
Most of all, get out there and experience some of this yourselves. Do not think about what you should have done. Remember what you have already done. Get out there and make a memory.
And until my next review this has
been the Beard reminding you all to
“Live Life.” “Stay Heavy.” And keep those “Horns Up.”
09.03.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
โกA Celestial Celebration
โ
Please join us in wishing our favorite “Spaceman”
Mark Hermansen
the very best of birthday wishes today!
08.31.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
Taking Our KISS Tribute To
Monterrey!
We are very excited to announce that we have officially been confirmed
to share our KISS Tribute for the very first time outside of the United States!
For one night only, we will be performing in the
ShowCenter Complex in beautiful Monterrey, Mexico.
This will be an incredible experience not only for us
but also for the amazing KISS fans in Monterrey.
Here is the link for tickets:
https://www.superboletos.com/landing-evento/sO9dGADtZmBcmAz_A7ZQLg
We will see you in
Monterrey on November 20th
for a NIGHT OF KISS!
07.16.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
๐ฅHappy Birthday, Demon! ๐ฅ
(That is, OUR Demon!)
Join us in wishing Shane a happy birthday! Thanks for bringing
the Demon to life and rocking the stage with us, and wishing you
an awesome day and another year of great shows,
memories, and rock ‘n’ roll!
Happy Birthday, Shane!
07.01.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
๐It's Up!
The Rich Kosak Interview with Dick Buttons!
Don't miss this insightful interview between our Paul, Rich Kosak, and podcaster Dick Buttons now on THE WORLD ACCORDING TO DICK BUTTONS on YouTube:
06.15.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
๐Rich Kosak Interviewed
on Dick Buttons Podcast!
Hey Rockers!
Tune in to https://www.youtube.com/@TWATDB-PODCAST/videos and experience a new candid chat about our Starchild's life & times in the KISS Tribute world with renowned podcaster Dick Buttons. The show launches on Tuesday, June 16. Here's what you're in store for:
๏ปฟ
Dick and Rich dive deep into the world of tribute bands, discussing the grind, the travel, the road life, the dedication, and the passion required to keep the music alive. Rich also shares the story of how it all began and what led him to become one of the most respected Paul Stanley tribute artists in the business.
Whether you're a lifelong member of the KISS Army, a fan of tribute bands, or simply curious about what happens behind the curtain before the lights go up, this is an episode you won't want to miss:
The music.
The makeup.
The road.
The showmanship.
The passion.
Stay tuned for this unforgettable episode of **The Dick Buttons Interviews**!
YOU WANTED THE BEST... YOU GOT THE BEST!
06.02.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
๐ฅ2026 Official Poster๐ฅ
Here’s the final version of our brand new 11 x 17 souvenir tour poster!
These will be available at our merch booth on every stop of our NO APOLOGIES Tour!
Be sure to stop by when we visit a town near you to get one for yourself!
05.28.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
๐ฅ“…Where you don't know what you're after
Or if something's after you…”๐ฅ
Rich Hattery stumbled upon this post and wanted the rest of us to see it:
We tend to get caught up in our own day-to-day, and we lose sight of what others may be dealing with. One thing that is NOT lost on us is the connection that we have with OUR fans. Words aren’t enough to express how happy we are to know that our show in Keene, New Hampshire, meant so much to STEVE SERASIS and could help in some small way him to cope with his journey.
We’re nothing without YOU, Steve, and we’re honored and grateful that your results were the best kind to receive.
—Rich, Mark, Rich & Shane
05.22.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
“It Feels Too Good To Stop Now”!
Here’s a souvenir of our night a few weeks ago in Woonsocket, RI at the Stadium Theatre. When you believe in yourself and your fans believe in you there isn’t anything more to say. We’re grateful for this and all of the shows on our NO APOLOGIES Tour…we’ll see you all soon!๏ปฟ
05.21.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
Our “Starchild” Comes Clean With
GOLDMINE Magazine
Last week, Rich Kosak sat down with Marcus K. Dowling, a journalist for Goldmine and Metal Edge magazines. The topic of discussion was, “How legacy acts and tribute bands keep rock's fire burning.” Click the link HERE and on the pic below to read what Rich told Marcus in their one-on-one conversation.
05.06.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
Fawning Over Our “Fox”
Please join us in wishing our very own “Fox”
Rich Hattery the best of birthdays today!
Everyone associated with the band in our worldwide fan base wish you everything good on your special day.
04.15.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
A Starstruck Moment
In and of itself, The Indy KISS Fan Expo was special in so many ways: We met with lots of fans and friends, and we had a great time! But the one moment that made it that much extra was this one. Paul Stanley graciously posed for a photo with us, and we thanked him for his dedication to his dream and allowing us to follow ours.
04.09.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
Here is a souvenir graphic from our recent show at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, CA.
Photos: Arpi Szasz
03.07.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
One-on-One with Peter Criss
Two weeks ago, 3/4 of MR.SPEED traveled to Charlotte, NC, to attend the MAD MONSTER EXPO. Thousands of fans converged on the event over a 3-day period in celebration of the horror genre in pop culture. One of the guests that weekend was none other than PETER CRISS, the original drummer and one of the founding members of KISS.
๏ปฟ
Rich, Rich, and Shane each took an opportunity to meet with Peter for a few autographs as well as a photo with him during the event. Ironically, each of them brought along Peter’s 1978 Solo album to have signed.
Next up…the Indy Expo in April with special guest Paul Stanley!
02.26.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
His Words, Not Ours… ๐
Yesterday afternoon, we received an email (albeit over 3 months from the
KISS Event in Las Vegas) originating from Madrid, Spain, of all places.
The author of the email, Esteban Lopez, saw us at our third and final show of the 3-day event and wrote an article about the show in the long-running magazine POPULAR 1 (which has been in circulation since 1973. The following excerpt from his article has been translated into English:
The night ended with another tribute band, which didn’t seem too exciting. However, Mr. Speed had the reputation of being one of the best tribute bands in the world with praises from Bruce Kulick or Tommy Thayer themselves, and with some awards to prove it, even though this is a band that never rehearses together because they live in different parts of the country! They feature the oddity of not having a “Peter Criss”, since the drum kit is taken by an “Eric Carr” that has received the personal approval of The Fox’s family.
The verdict? Even the biggest hater of tribute bands was surrendered by the end of the show. The characterization of the band was excellent, with the Unmasked tour look, no less! But their “Eric Carr” was just perfection. You had to rub your eyes to convince yourself you were not witnessing the real Fox, given his astonishing likeness, his mannerisms, and even the detail of having the same drum kit used by Eric Carr. Their “Paul” was charismatic, not trying to be a clone of the Statchild, but having his own personality. Add to it that the songs sounded with strength and they showed good taste by including jewels like “Take me”, “Rocket ride”, ”Ladies room” or “She’s so European”. And despite of that, some fans who had seen them live before let us know that we had just witnessed their “reduced” show, because the hotel didn’t let then represent the part with the smoking guitar solo, and also they usually have a bigger stage.
THANK YOU, Esteban! It's very humbling to know that our KISS Tribute Band touches people in other countries and parts of the world… we're honored.
Here's the actual article from POPULAR 1. Click on the arrows to advance or go back:
02.05.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
Let's Wish Our Starchild
Rich Kosak
๐ซ A Very Happy Birthdayโก๏ธ
Thank you for your hard work and dedication
to our MR.SPEED family, and here's to
many more rockin' nights to come!
01.27.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
๐ค
Happy Birthday ๐ค
Jim Neff!
Please take a moment to wish our dear friend JD Neff a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! If you’re a KISS fan, you already know his story—if not, trust us, it’s one worth hearing.
Wishing you all the best today, Jim. Thank you for being such a loyal friend, an inspiration, and for sharing your amazing passion and journey with us.
01.05.2026 | MrSpeedOnline.com
๐ฅ
Let’s LIGHT
๐ฅ
This Place Up!
NO APOLOGIES
Another year is upon us with the promise of hope & optimism
for what lies ahead. Our “No Apologies” Tour will give us
as many opportunities to share our passion for KISS with as many
of you as possible. We are who we are, and we're proud of our
place in the KISS world, so opinions be damned.
Here’s to YOU our fans and the connection that we share together.
We’ll see you on the road
sharing our love of all things KISS in 2026!