by: Christopher Franchi

On Tuesday, April 2, 2013, the worldwide KISS community lost not only one of the best retailers, but one of the most genuine, honest, friendly, and well-liked people in the KISS world. Hans Paulson, the owner/operator of kiss4sale.com passed away, at the young age of 45. He leaves behind his loving wife Angie, and children Cameron, Alyssa and Zak.

I met Hans when I was a guest at the New York KISS Expo back in 2003. We immediately hit it off and were friends from that day forward. Who could not like a guy with a 24 hour smile, so full of energy, a love for what he did, a greater love for his wife and kids. Just an amazing guy. Instantly likable from the moment you’d meet him.

We went on to become close friends. Even though we were separated by Lake Michigan, we always talked on the phone, sometimes for hours, while I had to endure the sound of his loud tape gun, as he would be busy packing KISS collectibles to send out to the world. It was a sound I grew to love, and the sound that ensured the stability of his wonderful family. This was how Hans made his living. His love for KISS grew into a business, and there probably isn’t a KISS fan out there that hasn’t at one time or another, bought something from Hans’ website. He had it all, and if he didn’t have what you wanted, he’d get it. That’s just the kind of guy he was, and this is why his customers came back again and again.

While KISS was on the World Domination Tour, I was scheduled to shoot the Detroit show for the band, for use in their magazine. I requested a second VIP pass for Hans, who would double as my assistant for the day. He didn’t know squat about photography, but

Continue reading →

theHim.net

Bruce Howard Kulick (born December 12, 1953 in New York) is an American guitarist, musician and a member of the band Grand Funk Railroad. Previously, Kulick had been a longtime member of the band Kiss.

I caught up to Bruce on-line for my 10 question interview:

 At what age did you discover that playing the guitar was for you?

When I first saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan in 1964, I was amazed at what they did. From that moment on, my life has been filled with Guitars and all things Music!

How did you land the gig with Blackjack?

From my being around the NYC area, Michael Bolton was from Connecticut . Easy for us to hook up and then he got a record contract, but needed a band. He asked me to be the guitarist. I really learned a lot about what it was to tour and record on a higher level than before.

Most people know your KISS story, so I won’t go down that road again, though I have a few KISS related questions

Continue reading →

Grant Segall | Celveland.com

Glickman, 86, died Thursday, March 28, at the Cleveland Clinic after several years of complications from kidney disease.

“He could be a demanding, tough businessman, yet he was everyone’s favorite landlord,” said lawyer Jerry Gold, a long-time friend and tenant of Glickman at the Leader Building. “If someone was behind in rent, he’d say, ‘Well, try to catch up.’ He picked up checks everywhere.”

With other investors, Glickman built shopping strips around the country, bought the Leader and Huntington buildings, owned leasehold rights for Terminal Tower, built the parking garage at the Minneapolis airport and joined many other ventures.

He was reserved and independent. He chaired Ohio’s Democrats for Reagan in 1984, supported the first George Bush’s presidential victory and met privately with them in D.C. He backed both Dick Celeste and James Rhodes, Ohio governors from opposite parties.

Continue reading →