New KISS virtual concert lighters (May 9)

KISS VIRTUAL CONCERT LIGHTER

Spark of Blue Software to build licensed iPhone apps, starting with KISS concert lighter

Yes, you too can own your very own virtual KISS concert lighter on the iPhone.

Just in time for the upcoming rock band’s world tour, a new company called Spark of Blue Software has released the app on the AppStore for a mere 99 cents. When you go to a concert, you can run the app on your iPhone display like a screen saver and wave the flame around without any worry of burning your hand.

This is just the first of a series of Virtual Concert Lighters coming from the Los Angeles startup for the iPhone and iPod Touch, based on licenses from famous bands in partnership with the live concert firm Live Nation, and artist representative firm Signatures Network.

The KISS app comes with a choice of 24 official lighter cases, “concert mode” that emits a screaming rock guitar chord if you shake your hand, a user-programmable scrolling text marquee, and a realistic swaying flame. Concert lighters based on other bands are coming this summer.

Spark of Blue Software has four employees and is self-funded. It’s the brainchild of Vincent Bitetti, a former video game executive and music label founder who has spent his whole career working with licensed products. In the early 1990s, Bitetti created a company called Sound Source Interactive, which made sound bytes, screen savers, and other fun stuff. It sub-licensed its business to Berkeley Systems, which made the famous Flying Toasters and Star Trek screen savers. Sound Source went on to create all sorts of desktop personalization software through the 1990s and it moved into children’s video games. The firm went public in 1996.

In 2000, Japan’s TDK bought Sound Source and made it into TDK Mediactive, which made video games based on the Shrek film license and Pirates of the Carribbean. In 2003, Take-Two Interactive bought TDK Mediactive. Bitetti moved on to run game developer Crave Entertainment as president. He left to start a record label, Shelter From the Storm Records, but sold his interest in that to his partner last year. In December, he started Spark of Blue Software with Bob Bryant, a seasoned game development executive.

Beyond the virtual concert lighters, the company also plans to build two other classes of iPhone apps: virtual worlds and games. The company works with Rhode Island’s Koinkydink Software to build the apps. Spark of Blue Software will evaluate making its apps for other smart phones beyond the iPhone.

It will be interesting if the brands take off on the iPhone, where so far many home-grown apps have succeeded. Rivals include Zippo, which has a free lighter app, and Smule, which has its own virtual lighter. Bitetti thinks that the brands are going to gain traction as long as they’re part of a quality product. That’s the only way to stand out among 40,000 apps, Bitetti thinks.

I’m sure there are more rivals, and there will be many more to pile into this market, since we all know that the number of iPhone app makers in a certain category is directly proportional to the lack of societal value of the app. Of course, if Bitetti comes out with a Bruce Springsteen concert lighter, I’m all over it.

Ace Frehley Supergroup footage "New York Groove" (May 8)

Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley has posted more video footage (see below) of his appearance at the second annual "Supergroup" benefit concert on Sunday, April 26 at Berklee Performance Center in Boston, Massachusetts . Joining him for the show were Alice Cooper, guitarist Ricky Byrd (ex-JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS), drummer Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS), drummer Simon Kirke (ex-BAD COMPANY), guitarist Barry Goudreau (ex-BOSTON, Teddy "Zig Zag" Andreadis (ex-GUNS N' ROSES, ALICE COOPER), bassist Will Lee ("Late Show with DAvid Letterman"), singer-harmonica player James Montgomery, singer Kate Taylor, bagpipe and tin whistle player Scruffy Wallace (DROPKICK MURPHYS) and guitarist Damon Johnson (ALICE COOPER).

The event, which benefits the Arlington-based recovery center for artists and entertainers, was hosted by Lynn Hoffman of A&E's "Private Sessions" and comedian Chris Zito.

Today in Kisstory May 8,2004 (May 8)

KISS' Rock The Nation Tour began May 8th, 2004 in Perth, Australia. The first full tour of the Paul, Gene, Tommy and Eric lineup, would take the band to Australia, Japan, the US and Mexico. Throughout the tour Gene spits blood before "Unholy" and breathes fire during "War Machine".

In Australia, KISS performed eight shows including two intimate theater shows. During the Sydney, Australia Superdome show 12 members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra joins KISS for the last five songs. KISS also performs "I Pledge Allegiance to the State of Rock and Roll" for the first time live, while in Australia.

KISS then plays six shows in Japan, including three nights at Budokan in Tokyo before returning to the US for forty-two shows including Washington DC and Virginia Beach, VA, where KISS record their Rock The Nation DVD. Instant Live CDs are also available at many of the US shows. Fans order before the concert begins, and then pick up a CD live recording of the actual shows they've just attended on the way out!! During the West Palm Beach show, Paul becomes ill and dehydrated, forcing KISS to cancel the next two shows in Florida.

KISS end their 2004 World Tour with three dates in Mexico, performing twice in Monterey and the final night in Mexico City!

Set list most nights includes:

Love Gun / Deuce / Makin' Love / Lick It Up / Got To Choose / War Machine / Christine Sixteen / I Want You / I Love It Loud / 100,000 Years / Unholy / Shout It Out Loud /
I Was Made For Lovin' You / Detroit Rock City / God Gave Rock And Roll To You II
Rock And Roll All Nite

KISS also performed the following songs at some shows on the tour:

I Pledge Allegiance / Tears Are Falling / Creatures of the Night / Dr. Love / She / Strutter / C'mon and Love Me / Parasite / Love Her All I Can / All the Way / Hotter Than Hell / Cold Gin / I Stole Your Love / Shandi / Goin' Blind / Psycho Circus / King of the Night time World

New KISS action figures coming in August (May 7)

NEW KISS ACTION FIGURES

Pictured are the unpainted sculpts of the new KISS Action figures being released by KISS licensee Promotions Factory.

These fantastic 3.5 inch non-articulated, highly detailed figures set features the Starchild, Catman, Spaceman and the Demon in a limited edition collectible window box that represents a stage scene for one of the bands concerts!

The figures will be released in August.

Cool Alive 35 KISS tribute (May 6)

Today in KISStory May 4, 1990 (May 4th)

KISS began their Hot In The Shade Tour May 4th, 1990 in Lubbock, Texas and went on to perform over 120 shows before ending Nov. 9th at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The tour featured the biggest KISS stage since the 70's with a huge Sphinx nicknamed Leon as the center piece. KISS made a dramatic entrance through Leon's mouth while surrounded by green lasers. Though there was no "You wanted the best, you got the best" intro, an energetic KISS tore through a 21 song set list spanning their entire career.

Several other KISS concert staples, Gene breathing fire and Paul smashing his guitar, were also absent from the show. But Leon was the perfect compliment to the powerful KISS set, shooting fireworks out of his eyes and "singing" the middle section of "God of Thunder" before collapsing to the stage during the bombastic end of "Detroit Rock City". On the encore, KISS brought out the mirrored ball and the famous lighted KISS sign finally made an appearance, rising slowly from below the stage to the roar of the crowd as KISS kicked into "I Want You".

Set list most nights:

I Stole Your Love / Deuce / Heaven's On Fire / Crazy, Crazy Nights / Lick It Up / Black Diamond / Shout It Out Loud / Strutter / Calling Dr. Love / Rise To It / Fits Like A Glove / God Of Thunder / Forever / Hide Your Heart / Cold Gin / Tears Are Falling / I Love It Loud / Love Gun / Detroit Rock City / I Want You / Rock And Roll All Nite

On a few occasions during the tour KISS would also perform "C'mon And Love Me" and "I Was Made For Lovin' You". Eric Carr also sang "Little Caesar" at least once on the tour, which would be his last.

Gene Simmons "Family Jewels" returns for another season (May 4)

'Gene Simmons Family Jewels' Returning To A&E For An All-New Season - May 4, 2009
Legendary rock god multi-hyphenate Gene Simmons and his unconventional family are back and better than ever for an all-new season of A&E's hit unscripted series "Gene Simmons Family Jewels", premiering with a special one-hour episode on Sunday, June 7 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. The 15-episode season kicks off with Sophie's sweet sixteen party, giving viewers an all access pass to the milestone celebration. When a case of sibling rivalry spirals out of control, Nick pulls on dad's heartstrings and his sense of theatrics to escalate the low-key party she wanted into the blowout of the century, all to the dismay of shy Sophie.

In addition to Sophie's sweet sixteen, the new season will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the entire family's many adventures. From Gene's appearance on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" to Gene filming a Japanese monster flick, to Shannon preparing for a role in a roller derby exploitation film, to Nick getting his own apartment, to Sophie fending off ill-intentioned teenaged boys, viewers will follow the Simmons-Tweed clan as they set out to prove, yet again, why they are the most non-traditional, traditional family in America.

Leslie Greif, Adam Reed, Adam Freeman and Gene Simmons are the series executive producers. "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" is produced by The Greif Company and the Gene Simmons Company. Robert Sharenow and Neil A. Cohen are the A&E executive producers.