COTN

Russell Hall | Gibson

Hard to believe four decades have passed since Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons first joined up with Peter Criss and Ace Frehley to form KISS. Through the years, with rare exceptions, the band has held firm to its explosive mix of riff-driven rock, arena ready anthems and the occasional soaring ballad. Along the way, several lead guitarists have stepped in to put their distinctive stamps on the KISS sound. Below, we offer profiles of each of those gifted players, and trace their tenures with the band.

Ace Frehley

For many fans, Ace Frehley will always be the definitive KISS guitarist. Starting with the group’s 1974 self-titled album debut and stretching to his initial departure, in 1982, Frehley inspired countless aspiring players to pick up the instrument. Moreover, his impact on his six-string peers during that decade was incalculable, as his thrilling riffs and incendiary solos – delivered on an ever-present Les Paul Custom – dovetailed perfectly with KISS’s pioneering theatrics. Fourteen years after leaving the band, Frehley, along with drummer Peter Criss, rejoined the group as part of a reunion of the original members. Their appearance at the 1996 Grammy Awards ceremony elicited a standing ovation. Two years later, the original KISS lineup released Psycho Circus, and Frehley remained a touring member for the next three and a half years. His last performance with KISS took place on February 24, 2002, during the closing ceremonies of that year’s Winter Olympics.

Vinnie Vincent

Vinnie Vincent’s apprenticeship, as a player, was far and away the most unusual of any KISS guitarist. Specifically, at the turn of the ‘80s, he served as a staff songwriter for the TV shows “Happy Days” and “Joanie Loves Chachi,” often writing tunes for both series on his acoustic guitar at the “Cunningham’s” kitchen table on the studio set. Joining KISS as the replacement for Frehley, in 1982, Vincent was integral to the success of that year’s Creatures of the Night album, and to 1983’s Lick It Up. Both albums marked a return to the hard rock sound that had fueled KISS’s best work in the ‘70s. Vincent’s tenure with KISS ended in March of 1984. Some say his departure was due to conflicts arising over his habit of overextending his solos during KISS’s live shows, but in a 1996 interview with Norway’s KISS Army Magazine, Vincent painted a positive picture of his time with the band. “We grew up with the same kind of bands, and we had the same influences,” he said. “So even though I was technical and Paul [Stanley] wasn’t, it wasn’t really about guitar playing. It was about the songs that we grew up with and that we all loved. And it was about sharing the same musical style. You know, we all loved The Beatles and Led Zeppelin. So the chemistry was there. I think we had respect for each other and I think we were really good friends.”

Mark St. John

Mark St. John’s tenure with KISS was the shortest of any of the band’s guitarists. Still, his contributions to 1984’sAnimalize, one of the best albums from KISS’s “unmasked” period, were dazzling. Formerly a respected guitar instructor based in Southern California, St. John brought a flashy style to KISS – replete with whammy bar pyrotechnics and tapping – that reflected the Van Halen-led battalion of wizard-like six-stringers emerging at that time. During the sessions for Animalize, St. John developed a rare form of arthritis that interfered
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Everything KISS

everythingkiss.com: The 100% Unofficial Biggest and Best Guide to Collecting KISS Merchandise in the World has had a facelift!

They’ve added 300+ new items and simplified the website so it’s more user friendly. It should be easier to find what you’re looking for in amongst the 3700+ licensed KISS items. Make sure you also check out the  revamped 88 KISS Kollectionsfrom around the world.

Kissmaster@everythingkiss.com

Michael Brandvold

In episode #2 we discuss Vinnie Vincent. Did Vinnie Vincent save KISS with his songwriting skills?

Michael Brandvold launched the 5th website on the internet devoted to KISS, KISS Otaku. He went on the build, launch and maintain Kissonline.com KISS’ official website. Mitch Lafon first interviewed Gene Simmons in 1980 and has since interviewed nearly all members of KISS, many more than once. He produced and released a Ace Frehley tribute CD. Tommy Sommers has been a fan since 1976 and has seen them in concert dozens of times. He spent many years on the record show circuit selling memorabilia and meeting many KISS fans.

This is only our opinion… it is neither right or wrong.

Cassius Morris

Cassius is joined by Mitch Lafon and Adam Smith to review what is arguably KISS’ most controversial album… Music From ‘The Elder’.

Jade Watkins | Daily Mail

They are often seen attending Hollywood events as a family unit on the red-carpet.

And now Gene Simmons, his wife Shannon Tweed and daughter Sophie are coming together all in the name of protest.

The famous family, as well as Shannon’s younger sister Tracy, were seen adorned with ‘NOH8’ stamps on their bodies as they stepped out on Hollywood Boulevard on Wednesday night.

The clan had earlier attended the NOH8 Campaign 4th Anniversary Celebration at the Avalon Nightclub along with LeAnn Rimes and her husband Eddie Cibrian.

The NOH8 Campaign is a charitable organization whose mission is to promote marriage, gender and human equality.

In 2008, Proposition 8 passed in California, amending the state Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

The NOH8 campaign is also a photographic silent protest created in response to Proposition 8.

Photos feature subjects with duct tape over their mouths, symbolising their voices being silenced by Prop 8.

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COTN

ATTENTION COTN FANS! This Sunday there will be a very special live Creatures Of The Net episode exclusively available right here!

This special episode is a track-by-track review of what is arguably KISS’ most controversial album… “Music From ‘The Elder’”!

Joining COTN host, Cassius Morris, are two other KISS podcast hosts. Today’s program features Mitch Lafon of “Dropping The Needle” podcast and a brand new KISS show called “Three Sides Of The Coin”. Also in this episode, Adam Smith from the podcast,“KISStory Science Theater”!

The broadcast starts at 11:00 am Eastern time, 9:00 AM Mountain Time, 8:00 AM Pacific time (there goes most of our listeners!) and 12 noon Atlantic Time. Please give it a listen when it starts and SPREAD THE WORD!

Live stream by Ustream

Michael Brandvold | Three Sides of the Coin

In this episode we discuss KISS books… Gene Simmons “KISS and Make Up”, Ace Frehley “No Regrets”, Peter Criss “Makeup to Breakup My Life In and Out of KISS”, Chris Lendt “KISS and Sell: The Making of a Supergroup”, Lydia Criss “Sealed with a KISS”, Larry Harris “And Party Every Day: The Inside Story Of Casablanca Records”, Curt Gooch and Jeff Suhs “Kiss Alive Forever: The Complete Touring History”. We discuss what we would like to see in Paul Stanley’s upcoming autobiography and if Bruce Kulick would ever write a book, what we would like to read in his book.

Michael Brandvold launched the 5th website on the internet devoted to KISS, KISS Otaku. He went on the build, launch and maintain Kissonline.com KISS’ official website. Mitch Lafon first interviewed Gene Simmons in 1979 and has since interviewed nearly all members of KISS, many more than once. He produced and released a Ace Frehley tribute CD. Tommy Sommers has been a fan since 1976 and has seen them in concert dozens of times. He spent many years on the record show circuit selling memorabilia and meeting many KISS fans.

This is only our opinion… it is neither right or wrong.

KISSonline.com

Something Else! Reviews

Your average rock fan might put on Kiss’ new album Monster, and specifically the track “Outta This World, and fail to hear how the Beatles and Journey impacted the band.

But drummer Eric Singer, in a new talk with Rock Music Star, says the tune was influenced first by George Harrison’s drone-rock tune “It’s All Too Much,” issued by the Beatles on 1969′s Yellow Submarine, and then by a subsequent cover version by Journey.

The second take, included on Journey’s 1976 sophomore release Look into the Future, pre-dates Steve Perry’s arrival. Gregg Rolie handles the vocals in a lineup that included current Journey stalwarts Neal Schon and Ross Valory, as well as Aynsley Dunbar on drums.

In both instances, though far more prominently on the Journey cover from the mid-1970s, “All Too Much” ends with a trippy echoing effect. Called “flanging,” it was first developed by Abbey Road engineer Ken Townsend in 1966, as part of the Beatles’ on-going experiments with sound.

[SOMETHING ELSE! REWIND: Potent and fun, ‘Monster’ strikes the perfect balance between the sounds of Kiss’ co-founding members, featuring just the right mix of Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.]

When Kiss convened to work on Monster, its long-awaited studio follow-up to 2009′s Sonic Boom, Singer remembered how cool it sounded.

“That was a suggestion that I had made,” Singer tells Rock Music Star. “I basically got that idea from the Beatles song, “All Too Much,” where at the end of the song, it goes into a flanging thing. On one of the early Journey records — before they had Steve Perry — they did a version of “All Too Much,” and on the outro, they elaborated further on the whole flanging thing, and I thought it was a cool effect. When they (Journey) go into the outro of the song, they go into double time on the drums, and it goes into this flanging effect on the whole mix.”

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Chris Czynszak | Decibel Geek

The Decibel Geek podcast has released Episode 62– VINNIE VINCENT SPECIAL Vol. 4.

Included in this special is an interview with Hirsh Gardner, drummer for late 70’s band NEW ENGLAND. Hirsh has direct ties to both Kiss and Vinnie and worked creatively with Vinnie on a number of occasions.

Also included in the show is a discussion with Tom Silver who was a National Marketing Representative for Chrysalis Records in the 80’s while Vinnie Vincent Invasion was on their roster. Tom shares his memories of working with the Invasion as well as the incarnation of Slaughter.

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 Episode:  http://www.dbgeekshow.blogspot.ca/2012/12/episode-62-vinnie-vincent-special-part-4.html

To access the Decibel Geek Podcast visit www.dbgeekshow.blogspot.com .

Ed Masley | azcentral.com

Bryan Bedder

Kiss drummer Peter Criss can now add New York Times Best Seller to a list of accomplishments that may have peaked with the writing and singing of “Beth,” the highest-charting Kiss song ever, in 1976.

And that’s a mighty happy ending for a guy who sets the tone for “Makeup to Breakup: My Life In and Out of Kiss” with “Have you ever tasted the barrel of a .357 Magnum that’s halfway down your throat?” — recounting the time he almost killed himself in 1994.

We caught up with Criss to talk about the memoirs he’ll be signing on Thursday, Dec. 6, at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe.

Question: What was it like reliving all these memories?

Answer: Thank God I made a lot of tapes through the years of things that happened because it’s a lot to remember (laughs). I’m 66. So there’s a lot. We have enough to do three more books. But it was an emotional roller coaster. A lot of restless nights. Should I write that? Shouldn’t I write that? What do I want to leave behind when I’m gone off this planet for my relatives and my daughter to read? Did I get enough of the honesty?

I talked about things I didn’t want to but my co-writer (Larry “Ratso” Sloman) convinced me. He said, “I think you’re a guy from the heart.” Which I am. I’m a Catholic kid. I don’t believe in lying. Never did. It gets you nowhere. And I pound myself in this book. I’m not easy on me at all. I’m right in your face about my addiction, my insanity, my two bad

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KISSopolis, Hits Entretenimento

Damian Fanelli | Guitar World

Epiphone has announced one of its most anticipated new models, the Tommy Thayer “Spaceman” Les Paul.

The new model, which is named after — and designed for — the longtime Kiss guitarist, will be available in January.

Thayer recently commented on the guitar on his website:

“I’m psyched to be playing my new guitar onstage as we embark on the 2012 Kiss Kruise and South American stadium tour in the weeks ahead,” Thayer wrote.

“My signature axe will soon be available in guitar shops everywhere. In the meantime, the first guitars off the line are ready for you through some very special offers on my new site, tommythayerguitar.com. Keep it rockin’ and remember to turn it up loud!”

Epiphone.com recently posted a demo video featuring Thayer. You can check it out below.

We’ll have more details about the guitar in the weeks and months ahead.

Tim McPhate | KissFAQ

In conjunction with KissFAQ’s month-long NovElder retrospective, “Music For The Elder” songwriter/key contributor Tony Powers discussed how he came to meet Paul Stanley and get involved on the project, his contributions to the album: “Odyssey” and “The Oath,” why KISS making a musical departure was a positive move for the band, and shared his message for KISS fans regarding “The Elder,” among other topics.

The following are excerpts from Powers’ interview with KissFAQ’s Tim McPhate:

On the song “Odyssey,” which he wrote:

KF: “Odyssey” is very sophisticated musically — there are interesting chord changes and musical twists. The lyrics also have a cinematic quality. Tony, I’ve always wanted to ask you: What was your inspiration for writing this song?

TP: I have always been fascinated by the concept of time. To me, physics and time are very interesting things, very interesting topics. I’m writing a script right now that’s got a lot to do with that. As far as “Odyssey” is concerned, it was just the thought that there are many times that exist in the same time. And everything — past, present, future — happens at the same time. And what we consider to be time is an illusion. I guess I was just dwelling and thinking on that. I’m pretty sure it just started with the very first line of the song, “From a far off galaxy I hear you calling me.” It just came quickly after that. And the lyrics to the chorus always knock me out. I just loved it.

KF: “Once upon not yet/Long ago someday.” That’s such a lovely play on words.

TP: It is, I think. I will accept that. (laughs) I’m usually not one to toot my horn about those things, but yeah, that’s it. Past, present, future — all at once at the same time. Right now it’s an illusion that there’s a past, present and future. You know, scientists think there are 10 dimensions. We only live in three of them. There’s a lot that we can’t see that’s happening so …

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Sixx Sense
Something Else 

Kiss co-founder Paul Stanley will continue a very busy period that’s included the new studio album Monster and their smash tour alongside Motley Crue with a planned autobiography.

Stanley, speaking with Nikki Sixx on the Motley Crue bassist’s radio show, was asked to talk about the differences between his book and the stacks of other similar tomes out there.

“Everybody will tell you: My book is brutally honest,” Stanley tells Sixx. “It’s a history lesson in music, but it’s also the history of somebody taking themselves and making themselves into something they weren’t. Taking a not-so-great deck of cards, and winning at poker.”

The Kiss frontman, who was born Stanley Harvey Eisen in Manhattan and attended New York City’s High School of Music and Art, has composed a number of the band’s most memorable tunes — including “Rock and Roll All Nite,” “I Was Made for Lovin’ You,” “Shout It Out Loud,” “Lick It Up,” “Detroit Rock City,” “Tears are Falling” and “God of Thunder,” among others.

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Tim McPhate | KissFAQ

In a NovElder exclusive, for the first time in KISStory, actor Chris Makepeace shares his recollections regarding his spoken word role on “Music From The Elder”

“Bob said that the plan was, should the album do well (and why wouldn’t it?), that KISS would unmask for the first time and tour while we made the movie.” — Chris Makepeace

Imagine “Music From The Elder,” the album we KISS fans are all too familiar with. Now imagine it complete with not only the 11 songs on the album, but with compelling spoken word dialogue weaved between the songs, drawing you in further and helping to unravel the legend of “The Elder.”

According to multiple sources who worked on the project, the purpose of the spoken word dialogue was designed to do exactly that: to help thread the tale of “The Boy” and his epic odyssey. Producer Bob Ezrin contracted the services of Canadian-based actors Robert Christie, Chris Makepeace and Antony Parr, a recording session was scheduled and dialog was, in fact, recorded. Makepeace, a teenage actor who had garnered success in films such as “Meatballs” and “My Bodyguard,” played the role of “The Boy.” Veteran actors Christie and Parr read the roles of the caretaker “Morpheus” and “Council of The Elder,” respectively.

What happened next is not clear. Someone – perhaps an executive at PolyGram – made the call to discard the dialogue component, save for the lines during the album’s final sequence, in what was likely a last-minute decision. One has to wonder why Ezrin would go through the trouble of recording dialogue only to not ultimately use it?

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Tim McPhate | KissFAQ

In more ways than one, “Music From The Elder” is the most mysterious album in the KISS catalog. And a large part of that mystique lies in the things that are unknown.

Case in point, the project’s spoken word dialog component, which was designed to thread the album’s concept between songs. While there was, in fact, dialog recorded, only a small portion actually made it onto the final album. The rest of the dialog? The specific whereabouts are unknown, though it would seem to be tucked away somewhere on a lost shelf deep in the bowels of the KISS vault. And as for why the dialog was ultimately discarded — and who made that final call — that is not entirely clear either.

What is known is that the services of Canadian-based actors Robert Christie, Chris Makepeace and Antony Parr were contracted. Though he is officially credited on the album’s back cover, Makepeace is nowhere to be heard on the album. By process of elimination, that leaves Christie and Parr as the voices heard during the closing sequence.

Born April 30, 1925, in Nottingham, England (Robin Hood country), Parr was a versatile actor who impressively garnered roles across theater, film, television, and radio, as well as voiceover work. Born in 1913 in Toronto, Christie amassed a diverse career as well, acting in theater, TV and film, in addition to serving the Canadian Army during World War II.

Unfortunately, Christie and Parr passed away in 1996 and 2002, respectively. To our knowledge, neither actor ever went on record regarding their contribution on “Music From The Elder.”

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