Tim McPhate | KISSfaq

David Wolfert: The KissFAQ Interview

Grammy- and Emmy-nominated producer/musician recalls working with Peter Criss on his first solo album following his departure from KISS, 1980’s “Out Of Control”

“You know, when I left the guys, I did the ‘Out Of Control’ album and I was out of control. I was someone who had a lot of demons in my head at that point.” — Peter Criss (Cat Club)

By the time KISS regrouped in early 1980 to record “Unmasked,” the band’s drum seat was vacant. Peter Criss was no longer a member of KISS.

Instead, Criss would begin the new decade “starting over again” by commencing work on his first post-KISS solo album at RCA Recording Studios in March. In tow was his trusty longtime songwriting partner, Stan Penridge. The job of producer ultimately went to David Wolfert, who was referred by Vini Poncia, the man who helmed Criss’ 1978 solo album and was in the midst of producing “Unmasked.”

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NJKissExpo.com

Saturday September 8, 2012 at the Raritan Center in Edison NJ

Kulick.net

The New Jersey KISS Expo is proud to announce Bruce and Bob Kulick as the special guests for 2012! The Kulick brothers both have a long and intimate relationship and history with the band and we can’t wait to see them on stage together talking about the old days with the band! Other guests are Ken Kelley, album artist for Destroyer and Love Gun, JR Smalling, the announcer of KISS Alive and Len Delessio, KISS photographer from the early ’70s.

Tickets are now on sale! Get your VIP early-access tickets NOW as they are limited and are expected to sell out!

2012 New Jersey KISS Expo Tickets available HERE

Visit the website for all EXPO Info – NJKissExpo.com

Jeremy Thomas | 411 Mania

KISS frontman talks about upcoming album…

Gene Simmons recently spoke with Billboard about KISS’ new album Monster, which releases October 16th. Check out the highlights:

On the lyrics for the album: “A lot of the lyrics and points of view have less to do with sort of the cocksmanship, craftsmanship — ‘Hey babe, I’m gonna rock you all night long,’ and are more about sort of primal notions about who we are and how we feel. So something like ‘The Devil is Me,’ for instance, is more confessional; you can keep pointing your fingers at all the evil in the world, but you’ve got some of it and here’s the Lord’s decree — the devil is me. Maybe there’s a little devil in all of us.”

On the quality of the album: “[It is] one of the best or the top three albums we’ve ever done.”

On Paul Stanley producing the album: “In both instances he put aside everything else in his life and was there. I no longer have that patience or the temperament to be strapped in the studio for three months. There’s too much going on outside, and who better to trust than (Stanley)? He’s a very good team player and isn’t afraid to say, ‘Yeah, maybe I’m not right? Let’s try this’ or ‘Let’s try that.’ We’d go in and just try anything. It’s really a band effort, like four guys in a car but somebody’s got to be driving and everybody else is going, ‘No, turn right here, turn right there!’ Ultimately we’re all going to the same place, and Paul got us there.”

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Katie Sheehan | Artist Direct

Kiss bassist Gene Simmons is like a warrior going into combat when he hits the stage, telling VH1 Classic Radio that he doesn’t get tired when taking the stage, even at age 62.

“Physically you can be tired but you can’t be tired unless you’re mentally tired,” Simmons said. “That’s called fatigue. When you’ve got mental fatigue, it doesn’t matter what shape you’re in, you’re done. If you’re excited in your mind, actually something happens physically which is adrenaline is released into your system and you get that get-up and go thing. You know, whether you’re completely insane, mad men are difficult to bring down – you can have five cops trying to bring down a man who’s insane because there’s so much juice going through his system, and that’s sort of like what happens on stage.” Sounds like an accurate assessment!

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COTN

Rustyn Rose | Examiner

A new Kiss album is always an exciting affair. It raises the adrenaline of fans and blood pressure of the band’s detractors. Kisscontinue to give haters something to gripe and snipe about. Meanwhile, they continue to headline arenas and are once again churning out quality heavy rock. On July 30, the band released the track listing and artwork for the band’s forthcoming album, “Monster”.

The band’s previous studio effort, 2009′s “Sonic Boom”, proved the band still has more than a little gas in the creative tank. Bassist and co-founder Gene Simmons along with guitarist and co-founder Paul Stanley continue to remind us why they are, “the hottest band in the world.” New members, guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer have both been in the band longer than original members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. Despite not officially joining Kiss until 2002, Thayer was the primary guitarist on the band’s 1998 “reunion” effort, “Psycho Circus”.

Kiss will release their 20th studio album, “Monster”, on October 16 through Universal Music Enterprises. Just as in the band’s heyday, all four members wrote and sang on the new Continue reading →

Young Hollywood Team

Bussey

105.7 The X Rocks

Kiss is in the process of revealing the cover for its upcoming album, Monster, a little bit at a time.  Using their recently launched Monster Hunt Facebook app, the rockers have been exposing portions of the image at various websites around the Internet since earlier in the week.  The album cover will be unveiled in its entirety on Monday.

In a new interview with RollingStone.com, Kiss bassist/singer Gene Simmons sings the praises of Monster, which will be released on October 16.

“If this was a first record by a new band, I’d be floored,” he gushes.

With regard to material on the record, Simmons says Kiss’ faithful fans will be treated to one hard-rocking tune after the next.  “If you like guitars and drums, this is right up your alley,” Simmons declares.  “Which is better than right up your ass.  It’s relentless till the end.”

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Kreatures of the South

We are just a one week away from the 2012 ORLANDO KISS EXPO (Orlando Marriott, 1501 International Parkway, Lake Mary, FL.), and we’d like to announce our awesome lineup of guests. Celebrating the ’20th Anniversary’ of “REVENGE” (undoubtedly one of KISS’ heaviest LP’s ever!) Former KISS Lead Guitarist BRUCE KULICK…..joining BRUCE will be one of his former bandmates Former MOTLEY CRUE & UNION Lead Vocalist JOHN CORABI…..Both JOHN & BRUCE will be performing a very special acoustic set for the fans LIVE…..(1) Lucky fan will WIN Bruce’s Artist Series ESP Guitar that Bruce will be performing with! (Compliments of ESP Guiatrs)….Former KISS Cheif Bodyguard ‘BIG’ JOHN HARTE.….KISS Author Gordon Gebert….and hailing from Sarasota F…L…A is our KISS Tribute Band “KISS AMERICA!” Come on out, and share in the celebration of the latest “MONSTER“ Studio release & Tour with your fellow KISS Army mates! For more details on the show please check us out at: www.kreaturesofthesouth.com or ‘LIKE’ our photo gallery on Facebook www.facebook.com/kreaturesofthesouth

NJKissExpo.com

Get ready – the premier KISS Expo of the entire world is Saturday September 8, 2012 at the NJ Convention and Exposition Center in Edison New Jersey. Last year’s re-boot of this legendary event was such an over-whelming success, we have had to move it to this new, much larger location.

Our guest list, special events and ticket prices will be announced in the next few days – be sure to check back here at KISSasylum.com for all updates.

Dealer tables are now available. Although the space is large, it is still limited and we expect to sell out, so please make your dealer arrangements as soon as possible. Click HERE for dealer info.

We look forward to this being the biggest and best New Jersey KISS Expo yet – see you there!

Visit the official site – NJKISSexpo.com

Dan Hyman | Rolling Stone

It’s been just shy of four decades since KISS released their eponymous debut album. But as Gene Simmons says, the hard rock titans – who are set to drop their 20th studio album, Monster, on October 16th – are still firing on all cylinders.

“The band is more focused than ever,” Simmons tells Rolling Stone. “The weather looks great for the band – reinvigorated, redefined, refocused and reborn.”

While Simmons and lead singer Paul Stanley remain the band’s only original members, Monster marks the second consecutive KISS record, following 2009’s Sonic Boom, created with a lineup that includes drummer Eric Singer and lead guitarist Tommy Thayer. Simmons insists the new album ranks up there with some of the notoriously outlandish crew’s finest work. “If this was a first record by a new band, I’d be floored,” he says.

Monster was recorded at studios in and around Los Angeles and, like Sonic Boom, was co-produced by Stanley and Greg Collins. Though it has been finished for a few months, the bassist and perennial self-promoter says there was no point in rushing out something this epic. “Just because you have a lot of ammunition doesn’t mean you have to shoot your wad right away,” he says. “You have to pace yourself.”

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Caryn Little | Fox Charlotte

Chris Czynszak | Decibel Geek

The Decibel Geek podcast has released Episode 43 – The Kutting Room Floor for downloading and streaming as a part of their KISSMAS in July promotion which features KISS-related themes each week during the month of July. In this episode, hosts Aaron Camaro and Chris Czynszak discuss the volume and diversity of KISS songs and where they came from and spin some of their favorite demos, alternate takes, and unreleased tracks. Tracks from demos sessions for Destroyer, Music from the Elder, Rock and Roll Over, Asylum, and Sonic Boom are included among many others.

KISSmuseum.com | From: Brian

Your costume and inflatable bass were a BIG hit – Hunter was mobbed from the time we walked into the pavilion and the road crew and people working for KISS liked it enough to take him backstage to meet Gene! Can’t thank you enough for the costume and great customer service. Here are a few pics….

Thanks again, Brian

Rustyn Rose | Examiner

Kiss is undeniably one of the most polarizing bands in rock history. From their outrageous makeup and stage shows, to bassist Gene Simmons massive ego and gratuitous fiscal gluttony, the music is often overlooked. However, Kiss as a whole has inspired innumerable bands, many of whom have gone on to stellar careers. Unlike Kiss, several have even found their name in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Kiss remains, nearly 40 years into its career, a dynamic band which has made a unique impact in the world of rock music, for better or worse. This October, Kiss will release its twenty-fourth studio, “Monster“. In honor of that, the Examiner has ranked all 23 of the band’s studio albums.

The masked crusaders have often been known more for the spectacle of their live performances and make-up, so it is no surprise that the band’s best album of all time remains, “Kiss Alive!”. Still, when the paint and bombast are stripped away, the music still stands on its own as many discovered when the band went unplugged back in the 90s. This list below focuses solely on the studio albums, and the music that Simmons, and co-founder Paul Stanley have created through four decades.

Love Gun (1977) — This represents the last of the band’s classic 70s albums before disco and new wave twisted rock ‘n roll into another dimension.”Love Gun” is also the first album to feature all four members singing at least one song. Legend holds that guitarist Ace Frehley had to lie on the studio floor to sing “Shock Me”.

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David Von Bader | New Times

Kiss, the band, garners fanatical, obsessive devotion more than almost any other musical act, maybe ever. Despite countless attempts to ruin the fun with bad glam albums, dramatic reality television, and the replacement of two original members with impostors wearing the same makeup, Kiss still manages to maintain a fan base large enough to be called an army without even a hint of irony.

To better understand the Kult of Kiss, we asked bona fide Kiss superfan, Miami ex-pat, and former Torche and current MonstrO guitarist Juan Montoya to describe his fixation. A high-ranking member of the Kiss Army, Montoya offers us his Kisstory.

New Times: How did you get into Kiss initially?

Juan Montoya: I actually saw a poster of them when I was living in Venezuela. We were in the downtown area shopping, and I walked by a store, and they had a giant Kiss poster, and it’s funny because I remember the image vividly. I usually don’t remember, like, two days back in my adult life, and I don’t even remember most of the ’90s, but I do remember this actual picture from when I was a kid!

So, I saw Kiss back then, but I didn’t hear them until I got back up to the United States. My mom had a friend with a 16-year-old son, and I was 7 years old. And I went through his record collection. Of course, the minute I saw a Kiss record, I was like, “Holy shit! Those are the people that I saw in that picture! Those are the freaks that I saw in that picture!”

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Rustyn Rose | Examinier

Nearly four decades into its bombastic career,Kiss hit the road July 20 for its biggest tour in years. Along for summer’s biggest rock and roll spectacle will be the band they inspired,Mötley Crüe. Crüe turned 30 last year, and this week released its newest single “Sex”.

The tour, which kicks off in Bristow, Va. will run through September 23 in Hartford, Conn. Joining the band will be upstart U.K. rockers,The Treatment. The band, which released its debut album “This Might Hurt” in 2011, also released a five-song covers EP this week, ”Then & Again”.

Kiss which began its earliest formation in 1972, released its debut album in 1974 and has since been one of the most readily identifiable bands in rock and roll history. The group has sold in excess of 100 millions records, which includes 28 gold albums, more than any other American rock artist. Despite the legendary act’s persuasive history and the impact made on countless artists over the years, they remain snubbed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This fall the band will release its twentieth studio album, “Monster”.

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