Current News

All news should be considered an unconfirmed report unless verified, and all information published at KISS Asylum is attributed to the source from which it was received so that readers may judge the validity of the statements for themselves. All information is confirmed where possible, and all publication is governed by common sense.

Have KISS news to report? Email us at news@kissasylum.com.

 

"Vintage KISS Photos: 1974-1981" Book Review
From: PiercingMetal.com
by Ken Pierce
Posted: November 24, 2009

If you were a KISS fan at any point in your life then you probably followed the same course of action that most of us do and that was digging through the popular music magazines of the time and scouring them for images of our favorite Rock & Roll superheroes. I remember doing this back in the days of my own formative Hard Rock interests and looked forward to finding images of the band in such periodicals as Creem, Hit Parader and Circus. Another recollection was my thinking about how incredibly lucky those photographers were to have been that close to the band to be able to present me with these images in the first place. I admired them for that which they had delivered and I was surely going to keep seeking out their work in magazines to come. This kind of mindset in the KISS fan led to the obsession of folks like Marc Scallatino who became so fascinated by the bands iconic imagery that he began building up and stockpiling photos of the band. He admittedly never saw the band in their 70's heyday and would manage to do so in their 80's adventuring but one cannot fault him for that because based on the presented collection depicted in this book he has not only made up for lost time in his own eyes, but he has treated us to some absolutely incredible stuff that I can say any KISS fan would enjoy. His photo archive is entitled "Vintage KISS Photos" and it delivers just that...the bands early and most powerful years in terms of their own rich history. Beginning in 1974, the photos that Scallatino presents to us cover some interesting ground and several dozen of them have never been seen before by the larger demographic of KISS fans.

The book begins in 1974 and showcases an early bit of adventuring with KISS in NYC's Central Park, and I loved the aspect of the band taking on the unsuspecting populace who wandered the greenery in search of relaxation. From the same year there are also a bunch of shots of the band getting "suited up" so to speak before going into action. Seeing the band in this intimate a setting during their formative beginnings is simply inspiring. We find a couple of sections of the band doing their live thing in both 1974 and 1975 but the next section that did it for me was the pages that covers the bands invasion of Cadillac, Michigan. This was the part of KISStory that found them being honored by the town and having the football team all made up as the members. I believe that there is some video of this historic day from the bands timeline on one of the KISSology DVD's if my memory serves me correctly. It was great to be able to enjoy these images and there are plenty of them from this event. Many of the live performance shots are presented in black and white but that is fine with me since KISS just seems to "work" in this fashion as well as they do in color. There are some shots from the Cobo Arena where "Alive" was recorded and we even see the guys whose faces and banner are featured on the back cover of the album. As the treats continue along we end up at one of the defining moments for me as a youth and that is KISS at Madison Square Garden for the "Dynasty" tour July 24th and 25th 1979. I say "defining" for me because this was my very first concert - ever! I loved being brought back to the night of this show and getting to see the action up close. My seats for the show were rather far away but that didn't matter as I was in the room and having a blast. Thanks for presenting these images Marc because I looked at them quite a bit more than some of the others. The visual adventure closes out with in-depth look at the video shoot for "A World Without Heroes" and gives us the only glimpse of Eric Carr that the book offers. Sadly we don't get anything else with Eric from his touring in Australia and his initial costume but I liked getting the chance to be a fly on the wall for the video shoot.

[more]

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KISS Photos From Bay Area
From: SFWeekly.com
Posted: November 24, 2009

Here are some recent shots from KISS' recent show in the Bay Area. More photos can be seen at http://www.sfweekly.com/slideshow/
view/28845376

 

 

 

 

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Remembering Eric Carr
From: KISSasylum.com
Posted: November 24, 2009

Today is the 18th anniversary of Eric Carr's untimely passing. Here is a clip of Eric singing "Young And Wasted" on KISS's Animalized Tour.

 

 

 

 

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KISS Announce European Sonic Boom Tour
From: KISSonline.com
Posted: November 22, 2009

Sonic Boom Over Europe:
From The Beginning To The Boom
European Tour May / June 2010

Plus: Global live performance via Facebook
on November 25, 2009

Rock legends KISS are set to bring their new 'Sonic Boom Over Europe: From the Beginning To the Boom' tour to Europe in Summer 2010.

With multiple dates across Europe, the "Sonic Boom Over Europe: From The Beginning To The Boom" is set to be THE rock event of 2010, building on the incredible success of the 2009 "Sonic Boom" album.

[more]

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KISS Guitar Tops Charity Auction
From: KISSonline.com
Posted: November 21, 2009

Professional baseball player Johnny Damon established The Johnny Damon Foundation,a non-profit charity, to raise and donate funds to charitable organizations. Johnny is also spokesman for the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), which provides programs and services designated to ease the burdens of severely injured service men and women and their families.

KISS was gracious enough to sign a Paul Stanley Washburn Preacher guitar for Johnny Damon's charity to benefit the Wounded Warriors. Bids on the KISS guitar topped all others, surpassing the likes of ZZ Top, Sevendust, The Dave Mathews Band, and 3 Doors Down.

The winning bidders were Marc and Darlene Mero, who bought the guitar for a great cause! Much to his surprise, KISS also signed a guitar for Johnny, who recently won the World Series as a member of the NY Yankees.

The guitars were donated by Mycontent.com.

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Ace And Bruce At Rock And Roll Fantasy Camp
From: Kulick.net
by Bruce Kulick
Posted: November 20, 2009

Day 1 of Rock Fantasy Camp is when the counselors get a chance to meet their bands and get to work on songs that will be jammed, possibly for famous guests, and to learn songs for the big last night (Sunday) at the Whiskey on the Sunset Strip. My band, Vito on guitar (my band captain), Myles on guitar, Angela on bass, Jeff on drums, and Angus and Patrick rounding out the group on vocals and percussion, were excited to meet Ace Frehley, the special guest of the day. So, obviously it was time to learn a KISS song and Vito suggested "Cold Gin."

We started to learn the sections, and as I always say, KISS songs are NOT as easy as some people think. My band ranges from having musical band experience to NEVER playing their instrument with any other players. (Angela, our bassist, only picked up the bass a month ago! But she is determined!!) So I have a challenge to get a common ground and make them sound cohesive and enjoyable. I was VERY pleased by the time Ace jammed with them. Ace signed CDs and posed for pix with everyone.

Read more of Bruce's blog, and view more photos, at kulick.net

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Live KISS Concert To Stream On Facebook
From: KISSonline.com
Posted: November 19, 2009

Bud Light Golden Wheat presents the legendary rockers KISS on Facebook via a Ustream streaming link live from their show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles at 9 pm PST on Wednesday, November 25. This is the first-ever live web concert for one of rock's most iconic bands as KISS celebrates the November 19 release of their new, three-track Guitar Hero pack featuring Modern Day Delilah, I Was Made for Loving You and Lick It Up.

Users can watch and interact by visiting the official KISS Facebook page at facebook.com/KISS or on Ustream at www.ustream.tv/channel/kiss-live to connect with other KISS fans for a personal chat and live video experience in real-time during the show. Users who own an Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft can click the Guitar Hero banner at the bottom of the screen and go directly to Xbox LIVE Marketplace on Xbox.com to purchase the KISS three-song track pack and queue it up for download to their Xbox 360 console. PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and Wii owners can purchase the track pack through the in-game music store in either Guitar Hero 5 or Band Hero.

KISS chose Ustream (www.ustream.tv),the leading live video platform on the web, because of its powerful platform and scalability in reaching a global audience of unlimited size. The band wanted to connect with their legion of fans that might not have had the chance to catch them during the North American leg of their 35th-anniversary KISS/Alive 35 tour, a 44-city tour that continues through December 15.

[more]

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KISS Kedkase Paper Cutout - Free Download
From: Nicebunny.com
Posted: November 18, 2009

Nicebunny.com is offering a FREE downloadable paper artwork sculpture from their website. Just print out the artwork, cut it out, put it together and there you go! A great desktop companion.

Download the artwork here.

 

 

 

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Peter Criss: Breast Cancer Not Just For Women
From: Yahoo News
Posted: November 18, 2009

Former KISS drummer Peter Criss is speaking out about his recent bout with breast cancer.

The rocker known as "Catman" is encouraging other men to get tested as soon as they suspect something might be wrong.

He says he didn't think it was possible for men to get breast cancer until he went to a doctor after finding a small lump on his left breast in 2007. He later learned that the cancer had been caught early enough that he wouldn't need chemotherapy, radiation or medication after the lump was surgically removed.

Dr. Alexander Swistel, who treated Criss, says the 63-year-old New Jersey resident is cancer-free today.

Criss says there shouldn't be any stigma attached to having the disease or seeking help for it. He's working on a new solo album and an autobiography.

Watch an interview with Criss at http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=16697483&ch=4226715&src=news

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Do You Love Me From Vancouver
From: JGREGG82
Posted: November 17, 2009

Here is a clip of KISS performing "Do You Love Me" at the Vancouver GM Place November 14th.

[Clip]

 

 

 

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Winnipeg Cobbler 'KISS'ed By Fame
From: cbc.ca
Posted: November 17, 2009

A Winnipeg cobbler was called to action early this week to perform an emergency repair on one of the world's most famous pairs of boots.

Brian Layte, owner of The Shoe Doctor shop in Winnipeg's Wolseley neighbourhood, was given just hours on Monday to fix the heel of one of Gene Simmons's boots.

The bassist's flamboyant, pyrotechnic-loving rock band, KISS, was in town to play a concert at the MTS Centre that night.

A member of the band's entourage approached Layte at his store on the day of the concert with one of Simmons's trademark thigh-high boots in hand.

[more]

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Paul And Tommy Interviewed on 'Metalheadz' Radio Show
From: Blabbermouth.net
Posted: November 16, 2009

KISS members Paul Stanley and Tommy Thayer were recently interviewed by Peter Bailey of the Wrexham, Wales, United Kingdom-based "Metalheadz" radio show.

[Interview]

 

 

 

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Paul Discusses Guitar Hero, Alive 35 Tour, and Upcoming Facebook Concert
From: KISSonline.com
Posted: November 16, 2009

Paul Stanley is interviewed by MajorNelson.com the official blog of Microsoft's Xbox Live. Paul discusses KISS' Guitar Hero 3-song track pack, the Alive 35 tour, and more in this podcast. Larry Hryb, Director of Programming for Microsoft Xbox Live conducts the interview.

[Interview]

 

 

 

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Concert Review: KISS in Calgary
From: Sun Media
by Lisa Wilton
Posted: November 16, 2009

They rocked, they rolled, they made inappropriate facial expressions and hand gestures towards women.

But what else would you expect from the self-proclaimed hottest band in the world?

KISS didn't just roll into town last night, they tore through the place like wild hyenas — glittery, spandex-clad, platform-heeled hyenas — but hyenas nonetheless.

More than 14,000 willing victims happily submitted themselves to the legendary New York quartet's two-hour sonic assault at the Saddledome as part of their KISS Alive/35 Tour.

KISS is now more than a band. They are a brand.

[more]

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Space Ace Has Still Got It
From: Sootoday.com
by Marc Capancioni
Posted: November 16, 2009

Faithful SooToday.com reader Marc Capancioni was kind enough to share his thoughts on and images from Ace Frehley's Friday night performance at Kewadin Casino's DreamMakers Theatre.

*************************

At close to 60 years old, Ace Frehley is showing no signs of slowing down.

Though his face may be a bit more worn than it was when he wore the Spaceman makeup as the lead guitarist in KISS, Frehley can still rock out the licks with ease.

And claiming to be clean and sober today, unlike during much of his time with KISS, one could easily make the argument that his performance is better than it has ever been.

Frehley, on tour promoting his new album, Anomaly, played Kewadin Casino's DreamMakers Theatre on Friday night.

[more]

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Bruce Kulick Private Party Event In Amsterdam
From: KISSkollector.com
Posted: November 16, 2009

BK3 Listening Party with guitar clinic, personal meet & greet, Q&A with Bruce. Only 120 tickets available.

Tickets exclusive at www.kisskollector.com

 

 

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Ace's Guitar Solo Clip
From: Bill France
Posted: November 15, 2009

Here's Ace's smoking guitar solo from SHOCK ME in Columbus, Ohio, shot from the front row.

[clip]

 

 

 

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Foxy & Free Clip
From: YouTube.com
Posted: November 15, 2009

Here's a fan filmed clip of Ace Frehley performing Foxy & Free in Columbus, Ohio.

[clip]

 

 

 

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