Paul Stanley recently reflected on KISS’s evolution after the departure of original members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. He shared his thoughts during an appearance on The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan.

The KISS frontman discussed the band’s transition period. He explained how new members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer revitalized the group’s spirit.

“By ‘Psycho Circus,’ we knew the end was coming and what we would what we would do,” Stanley said. “Again, to have created something so wonderful with Peter and Ace and Gene, then to see it just in such terrible shape and the acrimony and everything, it was so difficult.”

Stanley explained his determination to continue despite the challenges. He credited manager Doc McGhee for his support.

“The people that were glad that we went away were the ones who hated us, and they were the ones who were angry when we came back,” he continued. “But I wanted to continue. I couldn’t imagine it (retiring) quite honestly. But Doc was one of those people going ‘You can you can continue.’ And what Tommy and Eric brought to the band was the spirit that Ace and Peter no longer had. So that’s as important as the music.”

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Set of 6 shooters in a beautiful gift box display. Each is 4? tall. Stock photo. In original packaging.

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Very hard to get special edition of Chip Rocks Outtakes book. Hardcover only 50 made signed by Chip Rock. Very difficult to get. Amazing photo book! Probably the best ever!

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by Alex Lloyd Gross

While Ace Frehley was not playing cards , he was playing music this weekend at Rivers Casino in Philadelphia. From the first note of “Shock Me” to the closing of Rock and Roll All Night”, this was a fun night for people that appreciate good music. As soon as the lights went down, the crowd stood up and remained standing .

Those down front stayed close to their seats, until the start of “Love Gun”,then it was controlled bedlam, as those fans claimed a spot right next to the stage. Most in the crowd moved up behind those that were in the front and were singing to every song.

Ace did a standard set. In the past, he would put in a medley of songs, about 45 seconds of say “Hard Times”, or “Torpedo Girl”, songs that were fan favorites, but could not fit into the set as a whole. This time around, he did not do that. He did play songs from when he was in KISS, besides the opener and “Love Gun”. “Rocket Ride”, from Alive 2 and “She” as well as “Parasite”.

He did play “Cherry Medicine,” from his new 10,000 volts release and that was it. It would have been great to hear the title track or more songs from this record that is pure gold. Ace has two cover albums out, Origins and Origins 2. He did nothing off of them. In fact, a lot of albums he never touched on. Like Second Sighting, Trouble Walking or Spaceman for example.

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In a recent interview, Gene Simmons declared that the Beatles are “above and beyond anything that anybody’s seen in music over, oh, 200 years — easily”. 

The rocker made these comments on a recent episode of The School Of Greatness podcast with host Lewis Howes, where he was asked to name some of the greatest musicians and songwriters in the world that he had seen or heard.

Referring to the Beatles, Simmons said: “You have to understand, they only existed seven years and they came from a place that was a pool filled with liver, Liverpool, where nothing ever happened”. 

He continued: “High unemployment rate, no experience, no resume, no nothing. And yet [sings] ‘I wanna hold your hand’, [sings] ‘She loves you. Yeah, yeah, yeah.’ And that last chord, that minor ninth is as sophisticated chord, if you know about music… That thing is almost like a jazz chord — unheard of in rock music”.

Mentioning songs, Simmons added:  “Okay, look, I’m gonna give you something you’ll be able to understand. [THE ROLLING STONES’] ‘Satisfaction’ is one of the great songs… It takes about 40 seconds to get to the first [chorus], ‘I can’t get no…’ Or anything. [CREAM’s] ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’. It takes about 50 seconds to get [to] ‘I’ve been waiting so long’ and all that. On and on and on”.

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Due to all four original Kiss members having penned respective autobiographies and numerous articles penned about the band over the years, it appears as though the original Kiss line-up can be split down the middle between two categories. First, the “serious side” who kept an eye on the professional and business aspects of things, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, and then those who simply wanted to “rock and roll all night and party every day,” Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.

And this observation was clearly on display when all four original Kiss members appeared on “The Tomorrow Show” with Tom Snyder on Halloween night in 1979, just a few months before Peter left the band. While most of the members played it straight during the interview, it soon became the “Ace Frehley Show” as a clearly inebriated Spaceman constantly made jokes and offered his trademark cackle throughout, much to the chagrin of a very serious-looking Simmons.

During an interview with Booked on Rock, the author of the book “Creatures of the Screen – The Uncensored (and Unofficial) History of Kissploitation on Film, Television & Home Video,” John Harrison, dug deep into this particular Kiss TV appearance.

‘The Tomorrow Show’ was a very sort of serious late-night TV show,” Harrison said (transcribed by Ultimate Guitar). “I mean, Tom Snyder was someone that often had politicians and big political figures and real sort of intellectuals. So for Gene especially, and Paul, I think they saw ‘The Tomorrow Show’ was their chance to really show the serious side of Kiss, to try and show how intelligent and clever they were.”

“But unfortunately, as soon as Ace started opening his mouth, that sort of went downhill. And I think rather than go along with it and at least get into the spirit of it, Gene and Paul just decided to really hunker down. And you can sort of tell Gene is really miserable and doesn’t want to talk about anything really exciting.”

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Kiss Gene Simmons Bear from Spencer Gifts. Bear is in mint condition and box does have some shelfware. Very hard to find these now. Get it why you can. Stock photo. Looks close to mint.

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According to Deadline, Nick Jonas, who is best known as one-third of the hugely popular Disney Channel sibling pop/rock act the JONAS BROTHERS, has been tapped to star as KISS frontman Paul Stanley in the upcoming KISS biopic “Shout It Out Loud”. Joseph McGinty Nichol, better known as McG, is directing the film, which will go into production at the end of the year or in early 2026.

Jonas, who has slowly been forging a career as an actor, including a starring role in the 2016 film “Goat”, will reportedly do his own singing in “Shout It Out Loud”, which is being produced by STX Entertainment. The most recent draft of the script was written by Darren Lemke (“Shazam!”, “Gemini Man”).

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Gene Simmons, 75, and his son, Nick Simmons, 36, turned heads with a notable father-son appearance on the red carpet at the Operation Smile Los Angeles Smile Fiesta on Tuesday, June 3. The pair, accompanied by Gene’s wife Shannon Tweed, showcased their close family bond at the star-studded charity event.

The KISS icon, ever the showman, opted for a classic rock-star black suit and white tie ensemble, while Nick, a writer and television personality, mirrored his father’s cool demeanor in coordinating black pants and blazer, with his shirt providing a red pop of color. The resemblance between the two was undeniable, with Nick inheriting his father’s tall frame and striking features.

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Musically, Kiss will probably always be known first and foremost for arena-rocking anthems: “Rock and Roll All Nite,” “Detroit Rock City,” “Shout It Out Loud,” “I Love It Loud,” “Crazy Crazy Nights,” etc. But they also had their share of more tranquil, tender moments.

Don’t believe this claim? These ten selections will state our case.

Shandi

Spoiler alert: most of the selections on this list will be ballads. But there are a few exceptions, such as this pop ditty from 1980’s “Unmasked,” which lyrically was certainly one of Kiss’ most starry-eyed (no pun intended) lyrical sentiments.

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