Something Else

In the run up to releasing the new Kiss album Monster, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons oversaw the release of a massive retrospective book covering the band’s lengthy history — a process that led to some conversations about former members.

The duo was originally paired, of course, with drummer Peter Criss and guitarist Ace Frehley — finding their widest fame during a period from 1973-80. By 1982, however, Spaceman (Frehley) and Catman (Criss) were out, replaced by drummer Eric Carr (Fox) and guitarist Vinnie Vincent (the Wiz).

Mark St. John also briefly served as guitarist, before Bruce Kulick took over for a 12-year stint, the longest of any member save for Simmons and Stanley — but also a period in which Kiss did not wear its iconic makeup.

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Phyllis Pollac | The Examiner

Kiss debuted their new Monster Book in Los Angeles today at the Viper Room for members of the media. The band arrived without their make-up on.

Over three feet high, it is the largest rock and roll book ever printed, and the priciest, at $4250.00 per book. “It’s not for everyone,” saidKiss bassist Gene Simmons, noting the price.

The band contended that it weighs about 40 pounds.

Simmons explained that it wouldn’t be fair to the people who paid so much money for the book to do a less expensive, smaller version of it later.

Quipped Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley, “Someone should have gotten my joke about Kiss midgets.”

Jamie Stangroom | BBC

KISS are appointed ‘Games Masters’ for the BBC’s alternative Olympics!

The ‘Rock Games’ is a musical version of the Olympics where music stars go head to head at ‘silly’ versions of Olympic sports devised by host Jamie Stangroom.

In their role of ‘Games Masters’ Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley of KISS appear in every episode by delivering the rules of the games to stars such as Slash, Sir Christopher Lee, Alice Cooper, Jessie J and The Kaiser Chiefs.

See Paul & Gene become ‘Games Masters’ in a sketch from 1.00 here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00wrq7m

The full series can be viewed here, Paul & Gene appear at various points in all 12 episodes:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00wrqrk

Las Vegas Informer

Bruce with Joe

Mini-golf with the former KISS member on Tuesday, Aug. 28 to benefit The Pet Adoption Fund and Heaven Can Wait Animal Society

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – KISS® By Monster Mini Golf®, the unique rock ‘n roll-themed amusement attraction based around the legendary band KISS®, is holding a fundraiser with Bruce Kulick, former KISS band member, Tuesday, Aug. 28.  Guests who donate $100 or more will have an opportunity to play mini-golf with Kulick from 5 – 7 p.m. To donate and reserve your time with Kulick go to www.monsterminigolf.com/kiss. Funds will go to help support two animal charities, The Pet Adoption Fund and Heaven Can Wait Animal Society.

“I recently lost my dog Joe, a great friend, who I adopted from The Pet Adoption Fund.  He was a very important part of my life and since his passing I have been looking for a way to give back to the shelter.  Chasing a ball with me at KISS® By Monster Mini Golf® seemed liked a great way to raise money,” said Bruce Kulick, former member of KISS.

“When Bruce suggested this fundraiser we were eager to help. KISS fans are wonderful and we are sure many will come out to support him and the animals,” stated Christina Vitagliano, founder of KISS® By Monster Mini Golf®.

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Rock Star Weekly

Fashion model and 2009 German Playmate of The Year Mia Gray had a little fun this month and posted some photos of herself dressed as former KISS guitarist Vinnie Vincent, using a TJ Monster version of the Vincent double V guitar and Vinnie’s original KISS belt. The photos can be seen below.

In her post, featured on her Facebook page, the German beauty dedicated the photos to the KISS army, saying “if you love your guitar… then KISS!”

The photo shoot marks the first time the Vinnie Vincent makeup has been applied in an semi-authentic manor since the band toured in 1982. Since his departure from KISS and the abandonment of his own Vinnie Vincent Invasion in the late 80s, the guitar slinger hasn’t released any new music, with the exception of a couple mail order CDs. His new guitar line was a feature at the 2011 and 2012 Namm convention. Rumours are circulating the internet that Vincent is planning to release a newly recorded version of his 80s album All Systems Go without lead vocals from Mark Slaughter.

Mia Gray currently performs with the band Candy Six, which has two singles available: Boys and Life Is Rich.

Mia Gray’s Facebook – TJ Monster Facebook

David Robbins | Boomer Magazine

“This,” says Gene Simmons, “is how the big boys do it.” Simmons, a big boy, is talking about his band, KISS

Nearing 63, he exudes disdain for the modern brand of rocker, the sloppy kids he claims look no different from their own roadies. Metaphorically, he sticks his famous elongated tongue out at them.
“When I’m up there, I’m wearing 40 pounds of armor and studs, in 10-inch heels. I’m like a Marine on a 26-mile trek in a loaded backpack.” Guitarist Tommy Thayer, only a 10-year veteran of the 39-yearold rock band, concurs with the military analogy. “When we’re getting into our outfits and makeup before a performance, we say we’re climbing into our battle gear. Putting on war paint.” Worldwide, the band has legions of fans, called The KISS Army.  The likenesses to fighting men go on and on for the members of this ageless group.  The similarities go even deeper, and they are not haphazard.

AMERICA – A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
Gene’s mother, Flora, was a survivor of a Nazi concentration camp. The girl, then only 14, watched her mother accompany her grandmother into a gas chamber so the older woman would not die alone. That camp was eventually liberated by the U.S. Army, and Flora was rescued. Gene is adamant – and probably right – that without America’s troops, he wouldn’t be here.  Tommy’s father, James Thayer, was a young Army officer fighting in the Continue reading →

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — The A&E Network is kissing Gene Simmons and his family goodbye.

The network and the KISS guitarist said that the “Gene Simmons Family Jewels” reality show is ending after seven seasons. Once one of the network’s top-rated shows, it has faded over time.

Simmons said that with KISS on tour and his other business commitments, he and his family have decided to move on from the show. It depicted his out-of-makeup life with his colorful family.

A&E said it thanked Simmons and his family for opening up their lives, warts and all.

Dave Lifton | Ultimate Classic Rock

Michael Ochs

Few bands in rock history have had critical appeal in disproportionate amounts to their commercial success as Kiss. However, two writers, J.M. Blaine and Chuck Klosterman, have long treated the band with genuine love and seriousness, and recently got together to talk about their face-painted heroes.

The fun and lively discussion, which ran over three parts at the Nervous Breakdown, had its origins after Blaine had finished writing a book and was obsessing over old metal videos. Wanting to talk with someone who felt the same way, he contacted Klosterman, who once wrote a book called ‘Fargo Rock City,’ about growing up a metal fan in North Dakota in the ’80s.

One of the most vivid memories both men had of Kiss was seeing the band profiled on ABC’s ’20/20′ program in 1979. “I remember hearing Gene [Simmons] say, ‘You can be whoever you want to be.  Don’t let anyone tell you who you are or what you can’t do,’” Blaine said. “For a kid with a young single mother, living in a one-horse town — where the best you could hope for was a high school diploma and a job at the paper mill — that message combined with the music and the look, was incredibly empowering.”

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Robin Leach | Las Vegas Weekly

Erik Kabik

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, the Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy Camp has set its next event at MGM Grand from Oct. 10-14. KISS founder and singer Gene Simmons is headlining the event, and touring co-star and Las Vegas resident Vince Neil of Motley Crue will be a guest alongside Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde and Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach.

Camp founder David Fishof said: “I can’t think of a better way to follow up our highly successful May camp than to kick off our next installment in Las Vegas with none other than rock god Gene Simmons. Said Gene: “Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy Camp is a grueling, military-style musical training process, and I’m just the guy to be your sergeant! Now, drop and give me 20. I can’t wait to reveal the secrets of becoming a rock star.”

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Ryan White | Oregon Live

Each week we’ll pick an artist of the week. Throughout that week, we’ll dig up a little info on the artist, link to a song, embed a video, something. This week: Motley Crue and KISS, who play the Sleep Country Amphitheater on Sunday night.

Gene Simmons Playing Golf - Photo credit: Ross William Hamilton

Something Else

Paul Stanley has learned, over the years, much about the craft of songwriting. And he’s tried to forget most of it, in service of making better records for his fun-loving band Kiss.

Stanley and Co. are set to release the new album Monster next month. It’s is the group’s initial release since Sonic Boom three years ago, and will again be produced by fellow Kiss co-founder Gene Simmons.

They have promised a lean, hard-rocking affair, in keeping with Kiss’ earliest, career-making efforts — something that grows ever more difficult to do with age, Stanley admits.

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Ryan Keller | Examiner

Getty Images

Kiss is one of the most popular bands in the world, and is also one of the most recognizable brands. This has been accomplished largely due to the marketing genius of bassist/vocalistGene Simmons, though fellow vocalist/guitaristPaul Stanley deserves credit too. In fact, it could be said that Kiss is Gene and Paul, as the remaining two original members, guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss, haven’t played with the band in over ten years. Those roles are now filled by Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, respectively. But could Kiss live on without Gene and Paul?

According to Stanley, in a recent interview with the San Diego Union Tribune, the answer is yes.

“The band is bigger than its members,” said Stanley. “And it only takes, in this case, four like-minded people with a similar outlook and talent to further the cause and continue Kiss. It makes perfect sense to me. It may not make sense to other bands, but we’re not other bands. We don’t live by those rules. We never have.”

Both Stanley and Simmons are now 62, so, asks the Tribune, is there concern that the two “are growing too old to rock ’n’ roll all night?” According to Stanley:

I’m damn good at what I do. But do I think I’m the only person capable of doing what I do? Absolutely not. I’m not talking about a clone (of me), but somebody with the same passion, drive and love for the music I love. So, can I envision a time when I won’t be here anymore? Absolutely. It’s not tomorrow, or next week. But when it happens, I would be celebratory. Because it would prove that I was right and that Kiss is exactly what I believe it is: an ideal, a way of performing, a point of view. It’s an attitude, and the respect and love (we have for) our audience.

The Tribune also asked Stanley if there could be a reunion of the original lineup. “Never!” was Stanley’s response. He continued:

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Syracuse.com

Katy Winn

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Motley Crue and Kiss are donating money to support those affected by theColorado movie theater shootings.

The bands said at their concert in suburban Denver on Wednesday night that they would donate $100,000 to the Aurora Victim Relief Fund.

The fund was set up to help victims and families who were hurt when a man opened fire July 20 at a midnight showing of the new Batman movie, “The Dark Knight Rises,” in Aurora. Twelve people were killed, and 58 were injured.

Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue and Paul Stanley of Kiss said in a written statement that they hope their gesture will encourage others to give.

The two bands, currently co-headlining “The Tour,” will perform at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Saturday, September 15. Tickets range from $36 to $157.

Patrick Reilly

One of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had was attending the “Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp.” I have done the Camp 3 times and each experience was incredible!

When I first heard about the Camp a couple years ago I couldn’t understand what it was about.

I was walking down Hollywood Blvd on my way to the gym where I was getting ready to train a client and I look up and see a billboard, “Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp with Special Guest MEATLOAF and Ace Frehley from KISS.” As soon as I saw Ace’s name I was intrigued! What’s this “Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp?” I need to find out more. So after I finished training my clients I went home and jumped online to check out the website www.rockcamp.com to see what this “Camp” is all about. As a KISS fan I was interested in seeing what Ace was up to and couldn’t care less about MEATLOAF. Then I saw on the homepage “Jam with Ace Frehley!” Immediately I was interested and as I continued reading I saw pictures of the “Rock Star Counselors,” Kip Winger, Bruce Kulick, Teddy Andreadis (the keyboard player from Guns N Roses), Mark Hudson (Aerosmith’s co-writer), Billy Sheehan and Rudy Sarzo. One of these guys was going to be your counselor for 5 days and play onstage with you at the Whiskey A Go Go in Hollywood!

I was hooked! I thought it over that night and said to myself, “I’ve worked hard for years. How many opportunities will I get to play with Ace Frehley?! I immediately signed up and was lucky enough to get in since I was a late entry. I spoke with a Rock Camp assistant and told them I didn’t have much musical experience. She said it was fine and they have different levels from beginner, intermediate and advanced. Personally, I had no musical knowledge of playing an instrument. For years I’ve always wanted to learn how to play guitar so I can play my favorite songs one day. But as much as I love music I was born to be doing what I do…changing peoples’ lives through fitness. I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

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NJKissExpo.com

The New Jersey KISS Expo is proud to announce the special appearance of founding KISS member Peter Criss at the New Jersey KISS Expo, Saturday September 8, 2012.

This will be one of your last chances to meet the Catman – sources tell us Peter has decided to retire from signing and attending autograph events by next year. To give the fans one last hurrah, Peter will be providing special “One-on-One With the Catman” meet and greet packages which include autographs, a photo with Peter, exclusive event merchandise and most of all, the opportunity to do all this with Peter in an intimate, one-on-one environment where you can have your items signed and speak to him personally in a private room, away from the crowds and lines outside.

A truly unique experience you don’t want to miss! Details of the One-on-One With the Catman VIP package are at the New Jersey KISS Expo website.

Visit NJKissExpo.com for all info for this event.

From: Ames

Chick-fil-A had an Appreciation Day last Wednesday which was all over the news.  We heard that the next event was planned for Friday which would be KISS Day at Chick-fil-A.  My daughter Callan and I were pumped up to hear about this.  On Friday we threw on our gear and drove to our local Chick-fil-A to celebrate KISS Day!

@sammyhagar

Sammy Hagar Tweeted a photo of him and Ace last night  at the Catfish Extravaganza in Greenville Wisconsin.

STV

The US group hold the UK and its bands in high regard always wanted to be a part of the music scene there.

Drummer Eric Singer said: ”We have great music, but we don’t have what England do! As musicians we always liked the British bands, it’s interesting that we’ve always aspired to be English. I wanted to be in that kind of band, I wanted to play Hammersmith Odeon, live in England, dress the same way with cool Carnaby Street clothes. Like Queen, they looked grandiose and they sounded grandiose.

”The English bands made complete statements, they’d look at how they sounded and the philosophy of the songs connected to the essence of the band. American bands didn’t understand that.”

Bass player Gene Simmons – who completes the band with Paul Stanley and Tommy Thayer – says the group’s message is universal, and that liking the band is like sharing a language.

He told Metal Hammer magazine: ”It’s a tribal thing which bonds people together, from any walk of life. We’ve had the admiral of a nuclear sub, brain surgeons, politicians, you name it come to our shows. Even if you’ve never heard KISS before, you’ll walk away as a fan because you’ll get it. It’s fun and over the top.”