Alice Cooper and KISS drummer Eric Singer talks about life on the road, touring with some of the world's biggest bands.

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Eric Lewis

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Eric Singer takes his job seriously "" very seriously. It's obvious when listening to the drummer speak about life on the road, touring with two of the most popular rock bands of all time, that he doesn't take his duties lightly.

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Photo by Nadine Joy

Eric Singer

Whether it's playing a two-hour set five nights a week or its spending many of his off hours signing autographs at music stores and other events, Singer comes prepared.

Singer, who turned 50 this year, has spent the better part of the last 20 years as KISS's drummer, first joining the group in 1991 after the death of then-drummer Eric Carr, who died of cancer. Prior to joining KISS, he drummed for Lita Ford, Black Sabbath and other groups. Singer left KISS when the band's original members reunited in 1996, but after drummer Peter Criss exited the group a few years ago, Singer found himself back on the drum stool.

Since then he has bounced between drum kits with KISS and legendary shock rocker Alice Cooper.

This week, Singer will be in Saint John and Moncton with Cooper as part of the Psycho-Drama tour. Cooper performs at Harbour Station in Saint John on Saturday and at the Moncton Coliseum in Moncton on Sunday. Tickets are still available to both shows.

In addition, Singer will be making a guest appearance at a KISS and record expo the next day at Crowne Plaza on Main Street in Moncton. Singer will sign autographs and take pictures for a few hours at each session.

While he keeps himself pretty busy, Singer says life on the touring road is a pretty mundane.

Besides the two-hour shows and signing some autographs, the rock-star lifestyle isn't what most people expect, at least not for this drummer.

"It's pretty boring," he explained to [here] in an interview last week. "Absolutely. It's not what people think. Doing this for a living is not what people think. It's not some glorified big rodeo or big party all the time. Everyone does whatever works for them. Some people turn it into a big party and that's all they care about, but I find most of those people flame out and burn out pretty quick."

When KISS tours, Singer is the man behind the kit wearing the cat make-up made famous by Peter Criss in the 1970s. When KISS isn't on the road, he spends a lot of time with Cooper.

"It's definitely been a juggling act, no doubt about it. But I've been fortunate that all the people involved in both camps, Alice and KISS, they're all friends and they've always been understanding and cool trying to make things happen."

For fans hoping to meet Singer this weekend, you can expect a pretty easygoing time.

Singer says he wants to make sure fans get anything and everything signed. If there is a large turnout, there is only so much he can do, but he does his best.

"I try to make it as casual and loose and comfortable for people as possible. I never look at myself as anything more than everybody else. I'm just a regular guy that plays drums. But I know I'm in a unique position where I'm very fortunate and blessed that I've been able to have the career I've had, that I've gotten to play with the bands I've gotten to play with."

Eric Singer will perform with Alice Cooper this weekend at Harbour Station (Saturday) and the Moncton Coliseum (Sunday). Tickets to the Saint John show are $53 and are available at the box office, online at www.harbourstation.nb.ca or by phone at 1-800-267-2800. Tickets to the Moncton show are $56.50 and they are available at the Coliseum box office, online at www.monctoncoliseum.com or by phone at 506-857-4100.

Singer will sign autographs Sunday at the record/KISS expo in the Fundy Room at Crowne Plaza at 1 p.m. Singer is guaranteed to sign at least 200 autographs, though he may sign up to 300. Tickets to the record expo are $8 for early bird record fans (from 8-10 a.m.) and $5 for those who show up after 10 a.m. For those wanting to meet Singer, an additional $10 bracelet will be required. The bracelet comes with an 8X10 photo that can be signed. Singer will also pose for one photo per bracelet and he may sign a few items for each person, depending on turnout. The bracelets to meet Singer are on sale now at Live Wire Music Emporium at 183 Mountain Rd., Moncton. Admission to the fair itself can simply be paid at the door. For more information, call 383-9473.