Michael Haar started playing his father’s drum set at eight years old in Long Island, NY after becoming bored with piano lessons. He has played live and recorded with rock/pop groups such as White Heat, Takashi, Tonto Tonto, Gavin DeGraw, Flies of the Marketplace, Butchers Bill and Kiss tribute band, KISS ALIVE! NYC. He has recorded on Polygram Records and has performed on the Tonite Show with Jay Leno. He has played in bands that have opened for Bon Jovi and Paul Rodgers. He is endorsed by dw drums and hardware.
When asked to share some KISS memories from his youth, Michael said: “When I was 10, I would have my friend, who was also a drummer and KISS fan, bring his drums over and set them up next to mine in my bedroom. We’d play along to KISS records at the same time. Kiss Alive was the 1st record I ever bought and I would wind up buying every album they ever made. I looked forward to their new music, new costumes, and the new toys that came with most of KISS’s albums packaging- the love gun, stickers, booklets, etc. KISS’s, 1979 Dynasty Tour at MSG was the 1st concert I ever went to. Peter was a drumming hero to me. He had the perfect mix of basic beats supporting the song with occasional examples of his jazzy roots thrown in here and there. I connected with The Catman persona and wore Peter’s makeup for Halloween as a teenager.”
Michael talks about first meeting up with KISS ALIVE! in 2011 and says, “Everything clicked right away since we all grew up listening to KISS. It was as if we had been playing together for years. Backstage at my first show with the band at The Radisson Hotel in Pennslyvania, I got to see the guys for the first time putting their makeup and costumes on. That was exciting because it was as close to being backstage before an actual KISS show as one could get. We played for 3,000 people that night and it was an great first show for me. Even though we are a tribute to the real KISS, the KISS pandemonium is still the same! We often travel for many hours to do a show, set up the equipment and sound check, take 2 hours to get into make up and costumes, play a replica KISS style set, sign autographs and take pictures with fans. I am doing my job, meeting new people, traveling and having alot of fun along the way as I promote the music of the hottest band in the world, KISS.”