Nick Green | Daily Breeze

Solidly middle-class Torrance isn’t exactly a rock star sort of town.

And that’s just fine with KISS icon Gene Simmons, who along with band co-founder Paul Stanley owns the rock ‘n’ roll-themed restaurant Rock & Brews opening on Thursday.

“It’s less about the celebrity and more about the experience,” Simmons said of the burgeoning chain of craft beer-centric restaurants that got its start in El Segundo.

“It’s not about us,” he added. “It’s about you. We just work here. We want you to be a rock star. You may not be a rock star, but we’ll make you feel like one. ”

Torrance becomes the third location for Rock & Brews, which first opened in 2010 in downtown El Segundo as a modest outdoor beer garden to test the concept before a revamped, refined version reopened in early 2012. The 5,400-square-foot Torrance restaurant sits in a sliver of the city adjacent to Redondo Beach’s Riviera Village at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Palos Verdes Boulevard. The building once housed a Tony Roma’s and, most recently, Oliver’s Cafe.

A second Rock & Brews was unveiled in March in Los Cabos, Mexico. Another opens this summer in the renovated Delta Air Lines terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, while

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Cassius Morris

Chris Czynszak | Decibel Geek

John Regan is commonly known amongst KISS fans as the bassist for Frehley’s Comet but his resume tells a much bigger story. John was nice enough to talk to Chris & Aaron this week about his 30+ year career in the music industry, working with artists such as Ace Frehley, the Rolling Stones, and Peter Frampton

Other topics touched on in this hour plus interview include Regan’s work with artists such as Michael Monroe and David Lee Roth. We also ask John some listener questions that were sent in.

The Decibel Geek Podcast was launched in June of 2011 by Chris Czynszak, a former rock journalist and webmaster. With co-host Aaron Camaro, the Decibel Geek Podcast is quickly earning a reputation as one of the go-to music commentary podcasts on the internet. All episodes are available on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, as well as the official Decibel Geek Podcast website.

Direct Link to Interview: http://dbgeekshow.blogspot.ca/2013/04/episode-82-john-regan.html

To access the Decibel Geek Podcast visit www.decibelgeek.com.

Russ Maheras | The Hooded Utilitarian

In 1958, an estranged Hungarian Jew and Holocaust survivor named Flóra “Florence” Klein brought her eight-year-old son, Chaim Witz, to New York City from Israel to seek out a new and better life. Chaim Witz’s name was soon Americanized to Gene Klein, and would eventually become the infinitely more famous double-alter ego Gene Simmons.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

After a year in an Orthodox Jewish school, the young Klein made his transition to America complete by entering the New York City public school system. Unable to speak or write English at first, Klein quickly turned to the new and fascinating world of American popular culture to learn his adopted language. While other kids were outside playing baseball or kick-the-can, Klein immersed himself in almost all of the mass entertainment arts: movies, television, science fiction, cartoons, pulps, and especially comic books. Reflecting later about those early years, he said once he saw Superman and Batman, “he was hooked.”

Then, in 1964, at the age of 14, he saw The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, and a new world opened up for him: pop music. As he said decades later in his book Kiss and Make-Up, “My first thoughts about pop music were born that night, and they were simple thoughts: If I go and start a band, maybe the girls will scream for me.”

Klein’s first band was Lynx, announced incorrectly as The Missing Links – the name which ended up sticking – and it consisted of Klein, Danny Haber and Seth Dogramajian. Like Klein, both band-mates were obsessed with comic books. Klein elaborated about their four-color passion: “Seth and I used to publish amateur fanzines about comic books and science fiction. We would write articles, review movies, and talk about characters from
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KISSnews.de

ABS CBN News

HENDERSON, Nevada – A school girl by day, a champion drummer by night.

Ten-year-old Alexey Poblete is a drum virtuoso. She is not only talented in hitting the drum boards, but is also the overall champion in this year’s “Hit Like A Girl” 2013 finals.

She started playing the drums at the age of six. Her dad who posted videos of her playing on YouTube, which attracted the attention of Eric Singer, the current drummer of the classic heavy metal band Kiss.

“I feel very passionate about it. I just feel so happy that I am actually doing what I love to do,” Poblete said.

“Bilang magulang, natutuwa dahil nakikita mong yung ang gusto niya, yun ang passion niya, so sinusuportahan na lang namin bilang magulang,” her parents said.

Singer is her mentor, as well as a source of inspiration and encouragement. He wants to make sure her studies come first and she gets good grades.

Poblete is a straight “A” student and is a consistent member of the gifted and talented education program.

“Alexey made a lot of friends in the music community and everybody enjoys watching her play. I think we are more impressed because she is over all a great kid. She is a good student, a good daughter to her parents. She is a good sister to her brother and a good friend to all of us. She is all around. She has great thing going on and I think it’s fantastic that’s why we all support her and encourage her. I wanna see her be a big star,” said Singer.

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Chris Czynszak | Decibel Geek

This week the Decibel Geek Podcast has a special guest on board. Chris and AAron sit down with Tom Harper, Tom is most commonly known among KISS fans as a guitar tech (Paul Stanley’s on the Dynasty tour) that was tasked with playing the bass track on the track Shandi from 1980’s Unmasked album.

He shares many great stories with the guys including a chainsaw named “Arthur”, the ill-fated laser effect on the Dynasty Tour and a hilarious story about a mishap with Gene’s flying rig.

The Decibel Geek Podcast was launched in June of 2011 by Chris Czynszak, a former rock journalist and webmaster. With co-host Aaron Camaro, the Decibel Geek Podcast is quickly earning a reputation as one of the go-to music commentary podcasts on the internet. All episodes are available on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, as well as the official Decibel Geek Podcast website.

Direct Link to Interview: http://dbgeekshow.blogspot.ca/2013/04/episode-81-tom-harper-road-warriors-tale.html

To access the Decibel Geek Podcast visit www.decibelgeek.com.

I couldn’t really say anything until it was out, but I suppose I can now…WHAT A COOL DAY THIS WAS!!! My name is Jason, I’m the drummer in KISSED ALIVE-A Tribute to KISS, & I’m the guy who answers the phone at the beginning of the new BETH video. This was filmed at the world-famous Sunset Gower studios…It was recorded & filmed at the world-famous SUNSET GOWER STUDIOS…in the same studio the RAT PACK used to record!!!!

Wow, what a far out day…At the start of the day, I was carrying gear down the hallway & I knocked a gold record off the wall and broke the frame!! Greeeeat…. It wasn’t some ‘never heard of’ song either, oh no…..it was “Beat It” by Michael Jasckson..one of the biggest singles of all time!

Well, they were nice enough not to throw me out on my ass & offered me some coffee instead! Class acts, those folks at Sunset Gower….

I was original reading for the starrring role of The Catman,

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Michael Brandvold

Bill Baker | AceFrehleyScrapbook.com

“It was 20 years ago today” April 25, 1993……the world’s only ACE FREHLEY tribute band played their first KISS Convention at the Rothman Center in Hackensack, NJ.

Fronted by Bill Baker, who had met and befriended Ace in 1990, began amassing one of the worlds largest Ace Frehley collections, mostly obtained from Ace himself. Bill became Ace’s home – base guitar tech and was the one that did the work on the now famous “Budokan” Les Paul.

In 1992 Bill got together with some friends and formed “Fractured Mirror”, playing KISS and Ace tunes at some small clubs around the area. Bill being friends with Richie Ranno, who ran the Convention, asked Bill if he would want to open for “Strutter” the Kiss tribute band and bring back his Ace Frehley museum that he had first set up the year before. It was the first Con at the Rothman, which was a very large place and there had to be over 1500 people through the doors that day. The band played for a big crowd and went over well. They played every year up until their last time in 1998. It’s hard to believe 20 years have gone by and those were great and memorable times. Bill put out a book on Ace in 2008 that’s available through www.kissmuseum.com and signed copies and more about Bill and his band is at www.acefrehleyscrapbook.com and there are videos of Fractured Mirror on youtube as well. Check them out if you have never heard…….

Andrew McMains | Adweek

A classic rock ballad, “Beth” by KISS, that inspired a thought balloon—”Wouldn’t it be funny to hear Beth’s  side of the story?”—is now a short film. The four-and-a-half-minute piece from Bob Winter, executive creative director at Crispin Porter + Bogusky in Miami, centers around a 1970s-era phone call between Beth and an actor portraying Peter Criss, the band’s original drummer and co-writer of the song.

Beth is home, cooking meatloaf and wondering when Peter will get home. Peter is in the studio, unable to commit to a time (he keeps repeating a refrain in the song, “What can I do?”) and anxious to get back to recording. He and his bandmates are inexplicably dressed in full costume and face paint, despite being nowhere near a concert hall. Ah, but hey, what says KISS more than makeup and platform boots?

The back and forth turns hostile when Peter, who said he’d be home in a few hours, shifts to another line in the song: “I hope you’ll be all right ’cause me and the boys will be playing
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Russell Dannecker | KISSonline

The President of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Jann Wenner finally explains why KISS is not in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Russell Dannecker:

“We spotted the President of The Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame Jann Wenner walking back to his Hotel after the Induction Ceremony last Thursday in LA. So I went up to him and asked him why KISS is not inducted yet.”

As you can see his reply says it all!

Indy KISS Expo

The Indianapolis KISS Fan Expo is excited to celebrate its 15th anniversary AND the 40th anniversary of KISS at this year’s Expo! We are ecstatic to announce a two-day event on May 11th & 12th with numerous guests spanning all eras of KISStory…the highlight of which is a pre-expo kickoff event with the Demon himself, Gene Simmons!

On early Saturday afternoon, May 11th, the legendary Gene Simmons will host a spirited question-and-answer session with the fans! You won’t want to miss this special appearance! The Gene Simmons pre-expo event is a separate ticketed event with additional ticket options including a photo opportunity for you with Gene! Tickets are limited. This will be Gene’s only appearance this weekend.

Saturday night’s Expo features former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick and guitarist Bob Kulick! Both Bruce and Bob have rich histories with KISS and will be available for autographs and photos throughout the evening. They will also jam a few KISS classics onstage for your enjoyment!

Sunday’s Expo will feature KISS drummer Eric Singer, and in his first-ever Expo appearance – drummer Kevin Valentine. Kevin was the drummer on KISS’ Psycho Circus album. He also recorded demos for Hot in the Shade and a track on the Revenge album. (Kevin went to high school with Eric Singer!). Fan-favorite KISS tribute band MR. SPEED will also perform.

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Tim McPhate | KissFAQ

KissFAQ interviews KISS co-producer of “KISS” and “Hotter Than Hell”

If you’re a big music fan, you are likely aware that April 20 isn’t a typical Saturday. It marks the seventh annual Record Store Day, a worldwide celebration of the fraternity of record stores and their standing as an important thread in the fabric of local communities. You know, those cool stores where KISS Army members went to buy “Rock And Roll Over” in 1976.

In conjunction with the music holiday, a series of Record Store Day exclusives — including limited-edition vinyl, singles, EPs, and CDs — will be released at participating RSD record stores. One such exclusive this year is a two-LP gatefold edition of New York-based hard rock trio Dust’s 1971 self-titled album and 1972’s “Hard Attack.”

Diehard KISS fans will know Dust as the project that featured future KISS co-producer Richie Wise. Wise sang lead vocals and played guitar in the group, which was rounded
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NJkissExpo.com

If you’re looking for great deals on clearance KISS merchandise, cheaper than ebay or anywhere on the net…. or if you are looking for rare, vintage and obscure KISS Collectibles then you need to get down to the KISS Store this Saturday in Edison New Jersey! Come down and spend an hour shopping or all day hanging out with your friends! The food court is open an there’s plenty of seating just to hang out and meet KISS collectors from all over the area!

FREE admission and FREE parking

The KISS Store is:
– A celebration of KISS merchandise and collecting.
– A place to buy, sell, trade and immerse yourself in all that is KISS memorabilia.
– A place to hang out with all the big KISS Collectors in the area.

– FOOD COURT will be open on site – stay with us for lunch!
– ATM MACHINE available on the premises.
– FREE promotional and discount merchandise available!
– FREE Parking!
– FREE event open to the public!

Be a buyer, be a seller….or bring a bag-full of stuff to trade with other collectors or sell to dealers. The KISS Store will have tables and tables of every KISS item imaginable. Dealer tables have already sold out, but if you just have a few things or an armload of KISS stuff to sell or trade, go ahead and bring them – open trading is always welcome!

FREE merchandise – The first 30 people in line when the doors open will receive this FREE 24″ x 18″ x 4″ KISS Him/Her Fragrance Department store display stand-up! A brand new, unfolded item in perfect MINT condition!

Best of all, this is a FREE event! Come down with your friends and family and spend an hour or spend all day shopping, trading and socializing with other KISS collectors and have lunch at the cafe – what would be a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon?

KISS Store – KISS Memorabilia Show
– Saturday April 20, 2013
–  NJ Convention and Exposition Center.
– 11am to 5pm
– Free Admission and Free Parking

VISIT THE KISS STORE WEBSITE FOR ALL INFO HERE

Spin

A SoundCloud user cobbles together 45 minutes of chatter

KISS singer Paul Stanley lives in a world where we’re always “just getting started,” where everyone is “hiiiiiiiiiigggggghhh” and one’s biggest concern is catching a case of “rock’n’roll pneumonia” if the clouds dared to come out in the face of so much heavy metal might. Now, thanks to a SoundCloud user named Christopher Armes, you, too, can live in Stanley’s world.

The San Diego-based songwriter has cobbled together 45 minutes’ worth of the glam-howler’s ridiculous stage banter for your enjoyment. And while it is enjoyable at first, the kitchsy hilarity of it all (StSanders’ “Shreds” series comes to mind) eventually devolves into existential dread as you realize that Stanley’s never-ending arena is actually an ever-constricting prison, that the man with the painted face has no sense of who he really is. (That strangely unsourceable accent should be proof enough.)

He lives or dies by the clapping of hands, and so he praises ALCOHo0OO0o0O00LLLLLL and dedicates each NUMBuUuuUUUUuuHHH to a mythologized vision of freedom. Because he’s bored, he pits cities against one another
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Oregon Live

KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer will be part of a sold-out benefit on Saturday night at the Governor Hotel to raise money for the Oregon Military Museum.

That the museum, which is two years into a capital campaign to raise $6.5 million for a renovation, will be named after Thayer’s father, the 91-year-old retired Gen. James B. Thayer, is an added bonus.

“I’m honored to be part of this outstanding event to recognize not only my father but all veterans who have sacrificed for our country,” Tommy Thayer said in a release.

Others scheduled to attend the 2013 All Star Salute to the Oregon Military are saxophonist Patrick Lamb, gospel and soul singer Linda Hornbuckle, KGW’s Brenda Braxton, and former Trail Blazer Jerone Kersey.

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