“Year 13 For KISSin Time MPLS.”
Dr. Rox Remember When?
Article #179 Jan 2026
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0
As this is my 13th Year in KISSin Time as the StarChild and we have our 1st show of 2026 coming up, it occurred to me I occasionally get asked about my gear on stage, so this time I thought I would cover my stage gear of the past 13 years.
As I formed KISSin Time with a Bass Player named Gregg, and a guitar player named Mick (then of ACK), and very soon MN. Pete Cambell (then of Pentagram and ACK) joined us on drums, soon after this Mick left and was replaced by Paul Helms (formerly of KISS ARMY). Initially we made a couple of guest spots in Oct (Neisen’s) and Nov 2013 (Pov’s) but our 1st full gig was in Feb 2014 at Lee’s Liquor Lounge, to honor the 40th anniversary of KISS’s 1st album.
-2013 – 2014-
First off, we tune to “Eb” just like KISS did. In the very beginning I used my 1975 Gibson L6-S Black, unfortunately it was damaged at this very 1st show, as a back up I used a 2003 Epiphone LP Jr.Silver modified by Mr. Zer0’s Guitar works unfortunately this guitar was damaged at our 1st gig at POV’s and I had to replace it with a 2015 Epiphone LP Jr. modified by VIG Guitar Repairs (this particular guitar hangs on my Step- Mom Sharyl’s wall in AZ.). It was about this time, I started paying attention to what Pickups I used in my stage guitars, being wised -up by my long time friend Frank (at Music Go Round) I put a Gibson pickup in this LP Jr. about a 10-11k (on the meter). It was also this same time I was suggested to use .010 Gauge strings on stage by Mick R. as they tended to stay in tune a little better as my playing was very aggressive on stage. I was using D’Addario strings at this time. At the time my amp was borrowed from our drummer a EVH 5150 at 50 watts and Marshall 4×12 Speaker Cabinet that I borrowed from our Bass Player, but after both were left behind at the practice space when we played Buster’s in Mankato, I decided it was time to get my very own, and my very 1st Marshall. So I invested what I had in a Marshall MG100 HDFX 100 watt head and Marshall MG 4×12 cabinet. At this time I used no pedals whatsoever I plugged straight in.
-2015 – 2016 –
After taking some time off due to line-up changes, I upgraded my gear. I purchased my very 1st Ibanez Iceman a 2005 IC300 once again modified by Mr. Zer0’s and VIG guitars, I used this one until it was damaged in Dec 2017 at Station 57. About this time I was gifted (by my good friend Jesse C. of SD.) a 2001 Epiphone Slasher Black, again modified by Mr. Zer0’s and this time SC Weisher Guitars into a Paul Stanley Model. I also upgraded to a Purple Marshall MG100 head and cab. About time when I met Scott at Weisher Guitars I showed him my damaged ’75 L6-S and we brainstormed about repairing it. I told him about how my dream guitar was a 1974 Gibson (L6) Midnight Special that Paul Stanley had used from late 1974 to mid 1975 (Hotter Than Hell to Dressed To Kill). Now I had never seen one in real life, however when I 1st met Paul Stanley I did question him at length about this guitar I even asked him if I could but it from him (2 witness’ Eric and Pat) I showed Scott many photos so we, more Scott went to work and he created a White L6-S with sparkles in the finish. (If you go to KISSin Time MPLS fb there is a whole photo album dedicated to the Gibson L6) Upon delivery a crazy 3 decade story came full circle connecting myself, Scott, Kenny Rardin (Guitars St. Paul) even an an Ex-GF Susie-Kat and Paul Stanley himself, see it was Kenny who sold Paul Stanley the Gibson Firebird on the cover of “Alive” and Paul traded Kenny his Doc Pitillo White Flying V with the Stars in the neck (check out KISS Axeology.Com), then Kenny gave me the strap off of that very Flying V (more on that story later). I did start using a guitar pedal on stage, a Boss TU-3S as a patch from guitar to my rig (and the constant complaints I needed to tune). About this time our old guitarist Mick tipped me off to a endorsement deal with Ernie Ball Strings .010 Regular Slinky, I have used them ever since (don’t be mislead, this deal only got my name on a list and poster, I still had to buy my own strings, but it was cool nonetheless). I also added a 2003 Silvertone Sovereign Pro Pssn2 Black, it looked cool enough but I never really liked it much, I traded it for a L6 Deluxe. In 2016 I started breaking Epiphone LP Jr.’s on stage. At first I could get them fairly cheap.
-2017 – 2018-
It was at this time I decided my Marshall MG was just not cutting it so I switched to a Marshall VALVESTATE 100 watt head as it had a preamp tube. It was at this time things really started to change in my gear, I switched to a TC Electronic Polytune 3 tuner on stage thanks to our then guitarist JAce, Also in late 2017 and early 2018 shockingly 4, yes 4 Gibson Midnight Specials went up for sale,1 in Germany for $2300.oo, 1 in Oregon for $1500.oo, 1 in New Jersey for $1800.oo and shockingly 1 in St. Paul at Willie’s, my friend Jim bought this one and brought it to me to tease me. Incredibly I had never ever seen one for sale ever. And so I finally had one in my hands to see up close, Jim had found a 1975 Gibson L6-MS for me, so I traded in my silvertone and called Scott at Weisher, and Mr. Mark Music Anoka and we went to work and in Feb 2019 we created the guitar of my dreams, over 40 years of desire, finally my very own “Midnight Special” with everything upgraded it was this time I started using vintage DiMarzio Super Distortions in my stage guitars starting with this one. After my VALVESTATE was damaged at a show (the band after us pulled a The Who, and launched his drums off of the stage onto my amp) I upgraded to a brand new Marshall DSL-20w tube amp head. I was also gifted a ISP Technologies Decimator X noise gate by the band “BLITZ” to cut back on my guitar feedback, so now I was using 2 pedals on stage.
-2019 – 2020 –
By this time I had become to be known as the “L6” guy in the Twin Cities, I was getting calls from all over about L6’s of any kind for sale, and so a badly damaged (aug) 1975 Gibson L6 Deluxe came my way, so once again I went to work Mr. Zer0’s, Mr. Mark, Rodney Auto Painting and Benedict Guitars MPLS saved this L6 from the scrap heap, totally restoring it to my specifications including a DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge, the new color, White Pearl with a Purple Pearloid Pickguard. Having been so impressed with Rardin and Benedict Guitars work on my other guitars I decided to go to the man who once owned Paul Stanley’s Doc Pitillo White Flying V, I asked Kenny Rardin to build for me a “V” resembling the guitar he once owned, and so Mr. Zer0’s, Rardin, Benedict and Rodney Painting created my very own ‘Rardin White V” it was later worked on by Typhoon Guitars (Roseville 55113) after years of my stage abuse. I also picked up 2 Washburn 2006 Paul Stanley Lyon’s once autographed by Paul himself (I gave one away to the love of my life for Valentine’s Day) horrible guitars actually. And then … C19, and the world stops especially here in MN. (thx TW) all moving parts stand still, no work, no gigs, no nothing, but time to sit at home and work on my gear, guitars and costumes for 8 solid months. But one cool thing, a late 70s Gibson Flying V Black (actually the 2nd one I have owned in my lifetime) falls into my lap, of course in need of repair, so Mr. Zer0’s goes to work and brings her back to life, still in use to this day.
-2021 – 2022 – 2023 –
About this time KISSin Time really takes off and the band really starts adding more songs to our repertoire, including “Hard Luck Woman” so I added a vintage Boss Chorus CH-1 to simulate a 12 String on stage. As fate would have just like the real KISS, all of my gear was stolen from the band’s storage room in Mar 2022 and so I had to start all over… because of C19 shortages there were no DSL 20w to be had, so reluctantly I bought a Marshall Origin 50w head, by far the worst amp head I have ever owned, so Ben at Music Go Round 55113 helped me out by convincing me to get a Boss SD-1, the pitch “They didn’t make a SD-2” to compensate for the Origin’s short comings, I also added a custom made “Dr. Boogie” pedal (made by Tommy Gunn) as a backup overdrive. However my sound was never the same so after a year or so I got another DSL 20w Marshall, I still use this to this day with two 4×12 cabinets, and a Traynor slave monitor next to my Mic Stand, I use the same Shure 58 from all the way back to 2016 (I started carrying my own after I had to use the most foul smelling mic I had ever encountered). After a successful and somewhat tragic gig in Des Moines, where my van broke down and I was stranded for a few days I picked up a 1992 Ibanez Iceman PS-10, this one was also in need of some repairs, even though once autographed by Paul himself, it was no longer stock so I added what ? A DiMarzio Super Distortion and new tuners, this particular one was used in the KISS Tribute “Deuce” (which had a former member of SLIPKNOT).
-2025 – 2026 –
Sometime in 2022 I met a guitar maker from Seattle, B. Follett. As KISSin Time was moving more towards the ’76 Era, I decided I needed a Destroyer, So I asked Bob to make me one, a 2025 Follett Futura White again to my own specifications. And so that brings us up to speed. And now it’s 2026 and MrZerr0, Hevy Kevy, Gonzo and MickSter are off and running into the new year.
Booking inquiries for KISSin Time MPLS: KISSinTimeMPLS@Gmail.com and KISSin Time MPLS “fb” DM.
If you are remotely curious you should go to “fb” KISSin Time MPLS. In the “Photos” Section you will find a “Photo Album” for every Show we have ever done including the Setlist for that show, so you can see how we evolved, Costumes, Effects, Songs.
See KISSin Time Alive 23 Jan 2026 Fri 8pm at Route 47 In Fridley, MN. 55432 with OUTLAW SAINT.
You can hear MrZerr0 8am Sundays on Radi0 WDGY 740AM, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1.Since 2017
“KISS Meets The Phantom” Episode #330 on 18 Jan 2026 and Episode #99 “Paul Stanley Solo” on 25 Jan 2026.
You can hear past episodes at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. Also check out MrZerr0 at www.MixCloud.Com -Mr. Zer0’s Evolation Show for 32 Programs and “Rick Burnette’s Hits and History” for 17 Programs.
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