While Paul McCartney pays tribute to the classic era in his cover album “Kisses on the Bottom“, a number of stars including The Cure, KISS and Alice Cooper will, in return, salute him in an upcoming tribute album. They will cover songs from Mecca’s catalog including the records with The Beatles and Wings or during his solo career.

The album will additionally feature Billy Joel, Brian Wilson, B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Steve Miller, Jeff Lynne, Heart, Wanda Jackson, Ronnie Spector and Corinne Bailey Rae. The CD is being curated by producer Ralph Sall.

Sall met McCartney while working on Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks‘ movie “The In-Laws” which has several McCartney songs as soundtracks. “It grew out of that experience,” he said. “A good idea goes a long way, but it was important that it be blessed by Paul.”

Sall has been working on the album for two and a half years, but has yet to partner with a label or distributor for the release. Beside working in the studio, he also plans a TV special using footage of the studio sessions and interview with the participating artists.

“It will be a good venue to show appreciation of his catalog,” the music supervisor gushed. “You can tell by the variety of participants that Paul’s music is truly timeless. Whether you’re 8 or 80, everyone loves Paul McCartney.”

Andrew Jacobs over at Decibel Geek posted an amazing three-part audio show of Henry Rollins talking about his first KISS show and how he personally became a member of the KISS Army there afterwards. A very colorful and descriptive speaker, the telling of his indoctrination into KISSdom is absolutely hilarious! The entire show, Talk is Cheap Part 2, can be downloaded digitally at Henry Rollins’ website.

ONTD

Sanrio revealed the first crossover goods that it is creating with the American rock band KISS. Four plush figures reimagine the four KISS band members, as they appeared on the jacket cover from the band’s Dynasty album. The release date and price have not been set yet, but Sanrio and KISS also displayed keyholders, cases, and other character goods.

Gene Simmons, the front man for KISS, revealed last June that he met with executives to discuss, in his words, “a KISS-Hello Kitty worldwide deal. Wow.” Simmons plans to sell the Hello Kitty merchandise at the band’s concert venues, and the band is considering developing the collaboration overseas as well.

“Carnival of Souls” was an album that divided the KISS fans and caused major controversy in all the forums and the fanzine columns around that time. To tell you the truth, personally I needed a few months to adjust to the new musical direction of KISS. The person behind the console was Toby Wright, a producer responsible also for albums by such artists as Alice in Chains, Korn, Sevendust and many others. I am sure that all the die-hard KISS fans had noticed his name…10 years before “Carnival of Souls”. We talked exclusively with Toby via Skype…   

Interview: Sakis Nikas

Rockpages.gr: Toby, you were first involved with KISS as an assistant engineer for “Crazy Nights”. How did this collaboration come up?

Toby Wright: I was working at One on One Studios as the only engineer/assistant engineer at the time and one of my good friends, Ron Nevison, loved that studio and he used to bring all the acts that he was producing back then. One of them happened to be KISS.

Rockpages.gr: The recording sessions took place in One on One Studios under the production guidance of Ron Nevison. Which were exactly your duties and how did it feel for you to be working with Nevison?

Toby Wright: I was engineering for him and generally assisting in the studio…it felt great; Ron’s one of the best producers in the world. I learned a lot from him and all in all it was an amazing experience.

Rockpages.gr: Would you like to describe a typical day in the studio with KISS at that time?

Toby Wright: If I can remember correctly, it started out around noon, had some lunch, then we got around doing the tracking…Eric Carr was alive at that point; he was an amazing drummer! Then after that, we were doing some overdubs…guitars, bass, vocals.

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New KISS Retro Action Figures based on the classic 1978 Mego Doll design! Slated for a mid-March release, these 8″ and 12″ figures are one of the most exciting merchandise released in recent history!

See more images and get pre-ordering information at KISSmuseum.com.

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — KISS® by Monster Mini Golf® is giving KISS®fans the opportunity to be the first couple married at the “Hotter Than Hell” wedding chapel with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley as the guests of honor.

The first wedding or vow renewal ceremony will be up for auction on eBay Feb. 9 at noon (PST) and will close Valentine’s Day, at noon (PST.) Bidding starts at $2,500 with a “Buy It Now” option of $50,000.  Partial proceeds will benefit Toys 4 Smiles.

For eBay link and a detailed list of ALL items included in the first “Hotter Than Hell” wedding package please visit www.monsterminigolf.com/kiss.

The wedding will take place at the “Hotter Than Hell” wedding chapel located inside KISS­® by Monster Mini Golf® as part of the Grand Opening Day’s events on March 15, 2012.

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timstar78 | KissFAQ.com

This past Tuesday, Van Halen released their first new studio album with original front-man David Lee Roth in nearly 30 years, “A Different Kind Of Truth.” It turns out this isn’t your typical comeback album. In addition to penning new songs, Van Halen dug deep into their vaults to unearth songs that were originally featured on the 1976 Van Halen demo tape produced and financed by Gene Simmons.

Specifically, there are four songs on the new Van Halen album with ties to the excellent Simmons-produced recording:

“She’s The Woman”
This is the only song of the four recordings to keep its 1976 demo title. The new version is very close to the original, but contains a new middle section as the demo’s middle section was recycled for “Mean Street,” the opening track on Van Halen’s 1981 album, “Fair Warning.”

“Outta Space”
Originally titled “Let’s Get Rockin,'” the new version retains many elements of the 1976 demo. However, the Facebook reference in the new lyrics is not one of them.

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For the unenlightened, the famous hand on the cover of the 1981 KISS album Music From the Elder does indeed belong to Paul Stanley. This interesting pre-makup removal era photo has recently surfaced and is quite an unusual image to behold.

As our friend Scott Davis pointed out, it is rumored that this photo was taken at the Park Avenue Methodist Church at 106 E 86th St, New York, NY. This is not true, as the door was a studio prop built specifically for the photo shoot. The front door of the Methodist Church does appear to be identical, and was most likely used as the model to construct the prop. You can see the Church on Google Street views below:

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Ned Raggett

Mike Japp, co-song writer on several famous KISS albums, passed away this week after a fight with cancer. Japp is best known for collaborating on many songs on Paul Stanley’s 1978 Solo Album with his credits extending to Saint and Sinner on the 1982 Creatures of the Night album as well as Down on Your Knees from KISS Killers, released the same year.

An extensive interview with Mike about his KISS contributions can be seen in the KISSasylum Archives HERE.

ABC Nightline

Paul Stanley’s Nightline interview that was to air weeks ago but was booted in favor of some political BS that seemed important at the time but that now we can’t even remember. Paul talks about his recent throat surgery, (starting at the 2:40 minute mark).

The Decibel Geek Podcast has released an Eric Carr (KISS) themed episode featuring an in-depth discussion of the late drummers life and career with sister, Loretta Caravello. Hosts Chris Czynszak & Aaron Camaro speak freely with Carr’s sibling about his time with KISS, his legacy, and her caretaking of the drummers estate in the years since his passing in 1991.

Caravello also shares her thoughts on some rumors that have been floating around the internet over the years; including one about former KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent acquiring ownership of Carr’s makeup design.

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Sebastian Haley | Games Beat

KISSopolis

KISS frontman Gene Simmons has revealed that he’s in talks with Rovio to develop a KISS/Angry Birds game.

In what specific capacity the two brands will mash up is unclear, as Simmons drops the bombshell almost flippantly during an interview with Industry Gamers.

“So Hello Kitty is one of the biggest brands on planet Earth,” said Simmons. “Now there’s KISS Hello Kitty, which we’ve already launched in 90 countries. We’re talking with Angry Birds, KISS and Angry Birds, which will become a deal. The KISS and the Archie world have now teamed up and the first issues of KISS Archie comic books hits the world this month. KISS golf courses are starting in Las Vegas right across from the Hard Rock.”

Last year at the MIPCOM convention in France, Simmons touted that there are now over three thousand KISS-branded products worldwide. “Everything from KISS condoms to KISS caskets. We’ll get you coming and we’ll get you going.”

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John Gaudiosi | Industry Gamers

Gene Simmons knows business as well as he knows rock n roll. In addition to selling over 100 million records and DVDs, he’s turned KISS into a licensing behemoth that includes over 3,000 items ranging from condoms to coffins. Now the star of the hit reality TV series, “Gene Simmons Family Jewels”, has entered the technology space with Ortsbo (Ortsbo.com). The rock legend has joined the digital language translation company, in part, because he speaks five languages (English, Hebrew, Hungarian, German, and some Japanese) and is learning Mandarin.

Simmons, who was at the Sundance Film Festival with comic book legend Stan Lee last week, talks about how Ortsbo, and technology, is changing music, and the world, and offers his thoughts on music video games in this exclusive IndustryGamers interview. Note near the end his comments on securing an Angry Birds game deal and that he’s in talks with Sony PlayStation as well.

IndustryGamers: What role can Ortsbo play in helping people learn new languages and connect with other cultures?

Gene Simmons: It is really a fascinating idea. If you have a moment today and you know anybody overseas or anywhere that speaks another language, all they need is a text device or an email device and you can use Orstbo for free. There’s nothing to join and it works with your online experience like Facebook, MSN, Twitter and it’s even in the Apple Store for iPad and iPhone. Once you’re in there you type in whoever it is that you want to communicate with and they will receive your texts or emails in real-time in their language. And you’ll receive responses in English. They don’t even have to be on Ortsbo to communicate with you. We already have 50 million unique visitors from over 170 countries.

IG: You mentioned Facebook, how can Ortsbo impact casual online gamers who play Zynga and other games online?

GS: Well, of course it’s the connection. Anywhere people try and communicate and have a language barrier we are now making those connections. Gaming, of course, but we’re also helping the military, and branching into education. Even in America you have something like 20 million “illegal” immigrants who have language difficulties, but everybody has a cell phone. If you’re in a third world country, even before food, you have a cell phone. That’s the amazing thing. Ortsbo is really going to help humanity, if I may be so bold.

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The Wall Street Journal

KISSonline has posted the entire 22 minute Paul Stanley Wall Street Journal interview taped just recently. Definitely worth the watch.

Fox 5 News

A great set of photos from yesterday’s KISS tribute band contest at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas.

Steve Sils Photography

Tim McPhate | KissFAQ

Just months after the “Asylum” tour, in summer 1986, Paul Stanley was already mulling the direction of the next KISS album.

Though the in-house produced “Asylum” crept past gold status, Stanley was taking note of bands such as Bon Jovi, Poison, Heart, and Ozzy Osbourne, who were all racing up the charts with hit singles and multi-platinum albums. He wanted KISS to get in on the action. He knew he needed a hot producer to help him toward this goal. He wanted Ron Nevison.

Nevison’s discography reads like a who’s who of classic rock royalty, including work with the Who, Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Thin Lizzy, and the Rolling Stones, among others. By the time the calendar turned to 1987, he was fresh from resuscitating the career of Heart, who sold millions on the strength of four hit singles from their 1985 Nevison-produced self-titled album. Nevison was in such high demand throughout late 1986 and early 1987, KISS (read: Paul Stanley) chose to hold their new album until his schedule was clear.

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John Katsilometes | Las Vegas Sun

Steve Marcus

At one side of the room, a guy dressed as Gene Simmons adjusted his studded codpiece. At another, a would-be Paul Stanley was plopped on a leather sofa, munching on a handful of tortilla chips.

Everywhere you turned there were guys dressed as members of Kiss, and it was no happy coincidence. A quartet of Kiss tribute bands, totaling 16 costumed musicians, competed in the first Kiss Off at Body English at the Hard Rock Hotel. The bands were the survivors of a worldwide search for the best Kiss tribute act to perform at the opening of Kiss By Monster Mini Golf, the attraction set to open March 15 on Harmon Avenue, just east of Rumor and across the street from the Hard Rock.

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