Leonard Carl | Shalom Life

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It appears that you can’t always judge a book by its television show, especially in the case of Kiss front man, and Israeli native Chaim Weitz, who some of you may know better as Gene Simmons.

Simmons, who hails from Tirah HaCarmel, Israel, recently recorded a personal message for students at the World ORT-affiliated Shifman School, in his hometown.

In the video, broadcast on YouTube, the 62-year-old Simmons, who stars in the eponymous reality show, Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels, spoke in both English and Hebrew, and told the teens of his old stomping ground to “work hard, use the tools World ORT has given you to make your own luck.”

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Tiffany Fry | The Brazil Times

Buckingham and his children got their photo taken with KISS during their backstage experience in September. From left, Gene Simmons, Justin Buckingham, Eric Singer, Jessica Buckingham, Paul Stanley, Mark Buckingham and Tommy Thayer pose for a photo.

One Brazil man now has a connection to a band he’s been a fan of for more than 35 years.

Mark Buckingham recently designed drumsticks for KISS’s drummer Eric Singer, and the drumsticks are currently being sold at the band’s concerts.

In 2011, Buckingham painted a drumstick for Singer with a picture of him in full makeup and one of his outfits.

Metropool

Universal Music presents: Official KISS – ‘Monster’ Release party

October 4th – Hengelo, The Netherlands
Venue: Metropool – www.metropool.nl
Doors open: 19.00 hrs.
Free entrance: sign up by e-mailing kiss@umusic.com

– Be the first in the world to own the new KISS album ‘Monster’
– All formats of Monster will be available, including the limited edition 3-D cover, the highly anticipated picture disc (the only 100 picture discs available in The Netherlands will be sold here exclusively)
– KISS merchandise dealers from all over Europe
– Classic Kiss show by Kiss on the Rocks

Spiro Papadatos | KISSonline

Check out this amazing version of “Rock And Roll All Nite” by Spiro Papadatos. The track appears on the upcoming KISS tribute album, KISSIN’ TIME: CANADA’S TRIBUTE TO KISS. The cd will be released in October and features 12 Klassic KISS songs recorded by some of the best Indie artists from Canada. All proceeds after expenses will be donated to SICK KIDS FOUNDATION (Toronto Sick Kids Hospital).

More info at https://www.facebook.com/KissinTimeCanadasTributeToKiss

Creatures of the Net

Josh Mcauliffe | Times-Tribune

Kiss and Motley Crüe, sharing the same stage.

Can you say sensory overload?

The glam metal icons brought their co-headlining tour to a rain-drenched Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain on Tuesday night, putting a bombastic exclamation point on the 2012 summer concert season.

The weather no doubt kept some people at home, but the thousands who turned out were treated to a double bill of nonstop bells and whistles – with some pretty decent music thrown in for good measure.

The Crüe was first, arriving at 7:45 p.m. to a stage adorned with huge video monitors, pyromania, a menagerie of scantily clad dancing women and a mini roller coaster (more on that later).

They opened their 80-minute set with “The Saints of Los Angeles,” which might be one of the most ironically titled songs in rock history, considering the band’s debauchery-laden past.

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Tim McPhate | KissFAQ

Imagine being a fly on the wall at Bell Sound Studios in 1973 while KISS were recording their debut album. Imagine listening to playbacks of takes for songs such as “Strutter,” “Deuce,” “100,000 Years,” “Nothin’ To Lose,” and “Black Diamond.” Imagine the decibels of raw, primal KISS power reverberating throughout the studio.

Now, imagine being a musician and having an opportunity to get in on the fun and literally play on the album.

Grammy-nominated musician Bruce Stephen Foster enjoyed the latter privilege. A “hot-shot young piano player” at the time, Foster has the distinction of being the first outside musician to play on a KISS studio album. Co-producer Richie Wise felt a musical element was missing in Gene Simmons’ ode to back-door lovin’, “Nothin’ To Lose,” and he knew just the guy to call. Enter Foster, who ended up contributing a complementary old-time rock and roll-flavored piano track, adding the perfect layer to what would become KISS’ debut single. The part did come with a price, however.

“I wound up with my fingers bleeding,” jokes Foster.

Foster would be properly acknowledged for his work in the album’s credits, perhaps due to KISS being a new entity at that point. Interestingly, this particular credit stands as an anomaly in the KISS catalog given the several ghost musicians who would appear on later works.

KissFAQ caught up with Foster to ask him about his recollections of the “Nothin’ To Lose” session and working with KISS. The New Jersey-based musician also shared some fun stories and briefed us on his longstanding career in the music industry, which continues to this day. But before we get to the interview, read below a personal introduction from Foster:

It always amazes me how time is such a relative entity. Listening a moment ago to “Nothin’ To Lose'” felt like a fresh memory…not one from way over 30 years ago! I remember honing my piano part down to the measures of music that would make it count artistically. A creative pool of talent gathered in the studio that day helped me massage it into
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Peter Arquette | KISS Asylum

Bruce and Bob Kulick signed autographs and posed for photos all day – Ken Kelly, the artist for Destroyer and Love Gun and Len Delessio, the early ’70s photographer both had magnificent booths full of KISS photos and KISS artwork much of which has never been seen before! And Peter Criss was up until 1 am in the morning individually meeting with his fans! Originally promising 3 – 4 minutes, Peter, he actually doubled the private time alone with him to 7 – 8 minutes with each and every fan who was lucky enough to have the special One-on-One With the Catman meet and greet package. But most of all, it was a time to reconnect with past KISS friends as well as make new ones. Just a total blast – we can’t wait for 2013!

Dave Striecher

Andy Mars Photography

theelder13

A>D. Amrosi | The Inquirer

The first thing to do when speaking to Kiss’ Gene Simmons is to get to the truth of the matter. After nearly 40 years of being in the dressy demonic ensemble, the bassist, entrepreneur, and reality television star wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Ask him what he thinks of partner Paul Stanley’s 2009 statement to this writer that “democracy is overrated” in relation to the Starchild’s production of that year’s Sonic Boom, and Simmons chuckles. “Yes,” he says. “Everybody can’t have equal say. The good thing about Paul is that he was able to commit the time and the mental fatigue that it takes to stay in the studio for three months. I didn’t have that. I’m way past that.”

With Simmons pretending he’s past that, Stanley produced Kiss’ metal-marauding 20th studio album,Monster. “We’re in the same car,” Simmons says. “Paul just happens to be steering, and I’m happy he is.”

Simmons should be: Monster is a beast, a richly melodic yet gut-punching work that rivals Kiss classics such as Dressed to Kill and Destroyer, the latter currently getting a polish with a recently remastered rerelease.

“There’s always going to be a 15-year-old who hasn’t heard the classics,” says Simmons. “Seeing the kids dressed in our makeup on his father’s shoulder – also wearing makeup, by the way – is the most emotional thing of a Kiss concert for me. That those same kids can Continue reading →

Brian | RockEyez

On Sept 8, 2012 New Jersey was again, for the 2nd year, home for the KISS Expo as it was held at the Raritan Convention Center in Edison, NJ. Ross Koondel and Peter Arquette are the men behind the Expo and they both did a hell of a job. With a fantastic upgraded location from last year’s Expo it suited the show much better. This year’s guests were none other than Peter Criss himself along with other notables such as Bruce & Bob Kulick, Ken Kelly, Len Delessio, JR Smalling and a few others.

The running schedule for this year’s show was as follows:

9am – DOUBLE Platinum VIP ticket holders enter
11am – Gold and Platinum VIP ticket holders enter
12pm – 2012 KISS EXPO begins …ALL ticket holders enter
12:30pm – Peter Criss Starts VIP signing
2pm – Dylan, the 9 year old Peter Criss impersonator performs
3pm – Panel with JR Smalling, Ken Kelly and Len Delessio
4pm – Costume contest with Peter Criss judging!
4:45pm – Raffle ticket numbers drawn for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes!
5pm – Bruce Kulick and Bob Kulick question and answer session

Some things that I liked about going to the KISS Expo were not only do I see many KISS collectibles I’ve never seen before but meeting friends again that I have not seen in years. I went to the Expo with long-time friend Bill DeMild and met up with another long time friend Bill Hriczko, who attended the convention with his dad, George. The Expo Center was more spacious than last year and the two rooms were much more comfortable with access to anywhere you wanted to walk and stretch out. The attendance this year, I would say, had expanded from last year’s debut New Jersey KISS Expo and I’m not surprised in the least that the manners of Kiss collectors were impeccable. People I’ve never met in person like Bill May (KISSNATION) coming over shaking hands made this day a special one for me. I’m not sure the total number of tables at this year’s event but there were plenty of great collectibles to be had with reasonable prices and dealers that were willing to work with you for that KISS item you just had to have. On another note Ross Koondel (as I said earlier, one of the gentlemen running the show) went to every dealer table making sure that everyone was happy with their location and at the end of the Expo again went to dealers asking were they happy with the turnout. That’s a class act and I look forward to working with him again at future Expos. For myself, as a dealer, I was extremely happy with the way everything turned out and just about selling out of everything I brought to sell wasn’t a bad thing!

This year was also really exciting as I met up with Jon Ruben (KISS Rocks), another long-time friend who was there with his six year old son Jesse. Jon was teaching his son the value of money by letting him buy KISS collectibles with his own money. I had a chance to meet up with Vince Albano (of the NJ band CASHMIER) and many other long-time friends and I

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Alexandra Cheney | Speakeasy

The music has always been central to the success of rock’n’roll band KISS, but now more than ever it’s about the business.

The band, made up of original members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley and newer additions Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer, have sold more than 90 millions albums worldwide. Now they’re looking to increase their merchandising sales, tapping their in-stadium audience as well as their global fanbase.

Launching Thursday for the final five shows of their KISS Motley Crüe The Tour 2012, audience members will be able to purchase KISS merchandise directly from their seats. No more hazardous and frustrating lines around the merchandise tents but instead, a pay-to-play move that will result in a personalized purchasing experience — not to mention a VIP-style pickup.

Deemed KISS X-Press program, the in-seat purchasing program is in conjunction withLive Nation LYV +3.52% Merchandise, whose CEO Dell Furano said that KISS has sold more than a half a billion dollars in merchandise in the last 15 years.

This new program emphasizes the “hassle-free” nature shoppers have come to expect in the digital landscape of tablets and smart phones, according to David Lucatch, the CEO of Continue reading →

Chris Czynszak | Decibel Geek

The Decibel Geek Podcast has released an in-depth discussion with former KISS and current Grand Funk Railroad guitarist Bruce Kulick for downloading and streaming.  In this long form discussion, the veteran musician reflects on nearly 40 years in the music industry.

Kulick’s history in pop culture stretches back to the mid 70’s with his work as touring guitar player for the Andrea True Connection. True, a famous porn star, had stretched into disco music and scored a #4 Billboard hit with 1976’s ‘More More More.’ Kulick shares his stories about touring with True as well as memories of touring the “chitlin circuit” with soul singer George McCrae and backing Meat Loaf during his Bat Out of Hell tour.

Bruce Kulick landed on the hard rock map in 1984 as he transitioned into the full-time lead guitarist for KISS. In this discussion he shares his memories of the awkward period of traveling with then-ill guitarist Mark St. John and reflects on gigs that they would play a game of proverbial musical chairs depending on St. John’s medical condition.

Also in this discussion are Kulick’s thoughts about KISS’ upcoming Monster book and album, memories of the circumstances that led to the 1996 original-lineup reunion, and his take on why the band seems to attempt to avoid any mention of the non-makeup period.

Bruce Kulick is now the lead guitarist in iconic 70’s rock band Grand Funk Railroad, of which he’s been a member almost as long as KISS. In this conversation, Kulick describes the stark contrasts between being a member of KISS and Grand Funk Railroad including the method of touring, what’s expected performance-wise, and the possibility, or lack thereof, of new Grand Funk music.

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Mars Attacks!

This episode kicks off a two part interview which Mitch Lafon, who earlier this year did a five part interview regarding the 20th anniversary of the Kiss album Revenge. If you have not read all five parts you can read interviews Mitch conducted with Eric Singer, Bruce Kulick, Dick Wagner,Kevin Valentine, and Tommy Thayer. Bruce Kulick also remembers the album on site as well, you can read those comments here.

In this episode Mitch discusses things that stood out to him regarding his five part interview. Part two will feature things that stood out to me after reading his interviews. The show also features select tracks from the album.

Would like to thank Decibel Geek podcast once again for posting my 9/11 story, if you haven’t read it, you can find it here.

The episode can be streamed or downloaded from HERE.

John Liberty | Michigan Live

ALLEGAN, MI —
The longtime members of the Kiss Army — and Kiss Navy — had prime spots at Tuesday’s Kiss performance at the Allegan County Fair. They also paid for backstage access to meet Paul Stanley and receive a signed guitar.

Angel and Jeff Justice also agreed to share their thoughts and photos from last night’s concert and meet-and-greet with Stanley.

Here is what Angel Justice had to say via email this afternoon:
“We literally had the time of our lives. Everyone had a blast. About halfway through the MC set, I got the phone call from Paul’s guitar tech and he scheduled the meeting for 9pm.

When the time came, his tech, Fran, brought back to the KISS tent where other members of their staff was there to meet us. We immediately noticed the beautiful Paul Stanley Starfire Washburn – adorned with guitar picks, all set up for the show. As we eagerly waited for Paul to come over to the tent, we were pleasantly surprised when Eric Singer decided to come out to see us. The first thing Eric said was “Hey I know you guys from the show a while ago” (meaning the KISS expo in Indianapolis back in April of this Continue reading →

Gus Griesinger | Backstage Axxess

The British invasion, including The Beatles first appearance on Ed Sullivan here in the US, influenced more kids to pick up instruments than ever before. Since that time, I believe former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley can be considered a close second. When talking to any guitarist since KISS made their mark in the mid 1970s, most will say that the original Spaceman was a major influence when it came to taking up the six string.

Ace has come a long way in the last handful of years. He is now celebrating over six years of sobriety. Ace is enjoying life at his own pace and not the rigorous touring schedule that other bands, including his former band, continue to enjoy.

While playing in Erie, Pennsylvania, last month, we had the rare opportunity for a one-on-one interview with Ace, right before he took the stage that night. We set up our equipment Continue reading →