Saturday, July 4, 2009

"This is out best album in 30 years!!"- Gene Simmons (July 4)


MESSAGE FROM GENE

BEST KISS ALBUM IN 30 YEARS!

Our new album (title of which you'll just have to wait a bit longer for) is just a few steps from being completely done. We're planning on re-visiting one of the eleven songs, to make sure it's gotten everything it deserves. Maybe re-arranging it one last time. Then, time to mix.

The entire writing and recording process of the album harkened back to an earlier, more innocent time. A time that produced albums such as ROCK AND ROLL OVER and LOVE GUN. And, the new songs have that feeling, I have to say.

It all started with a point of view Paul had. The view had to do with ignoring the times, ignoring the critics, not over thinking who and what we are...and that we had nothing to prove to anyone....nothing. We have been releasing albums and touring for 35 years and why wouldn't we want to do an "honest" record. Just do it!!! And, he wanted to produce the album himself!!!

While it's true in the past we had produced KISS records together. And we had both produced other acts outside of KISS. But here was Paul saying he wanted to shoulder the responsibility and burden of steering the good ship KISS on his own.

He was serious. And, I saw it was real. I saw the commitment he was going to make to the album and the band... and I agreed. We all trusted each other and saw the same vision of the band...and perhaps democracy is overrated...and sooner or later, someone had to decide.

And I will tell you here and now, he's done a great job.

The process of writing songs involved both writing separately, but often, in hotel rooms and rehearsal halls, literally starting from scratch and throwing riffs and chords at each other. Then working on melody and lyric...starting alone, then bringing it into the rehearsal halls and even during recording, we would often critique the lyrics all the way down to the last minute.

Tommy really stepped up in the songwriting area....co-wrote some songs with us and actually sings his first song on a KISS album.

Eric, likewise was always encouraging and of course, provided his always dependable bombastic drumming style. But unlike other drummers, Eric is also a great singer. Wait until you hear him tear it up on his lead vocal.

What else, you ask?

Well, Paul and I trade vocals on a few tunes and had a lot to say about each other's songs...

Result? Maybe the best record we've done in 30 years.

Bold statement? You bet.

Wait till you hear it.

GENE

Friday, July 3, 2009

KISS makes cancer patient dream come true!! (July 3)


KISS FULFILLS CANCER PATIENT'S DREAM

By William Croyle - Cincinnati Enquirer

Critter Smith flew on an airplane for the first time June 27.

"It was awesome taking off and looking out the window at how high we were," he said.

But that was nothing compared to what was waiting for him and his mom, Carol, after they landed in Milwaukee.

They were flown there as guests of KISS, one of the world's most famous rock-n-roll bands, for a concert that night.

Critter got to meet the band - Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer - before the show, take pictures during the show and returned home with a stash of memorabilia almost too big to carry.

"When Tommy was on stage, he came down and gave me his pick," Critter said. "And Eric walked right up to me and gave me his drumsticks. It was pretty sweet."

They also gave him a load of KISS merchandise, including notebooks, pencils, trading cards, action figures and...

"Look, they gave me a KISS toothbrush that plays 'Rock and Roll All Nite' when you brush your teeth," Critter said with a big smile.

The 11-year-old was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells, in July 2007. For the next five months he underwent five rounds of chemotherapy and a round of radiation.

On Nov. 9, 2007, he received a bone marrow transplant and spent six weeks in the hospital. He returned to Fourth Street Elementary School, and was in remission for 15 months, until this past January.

He's been receiving chemotherapy all year and is back in remission. He'll continue treatments for three years, then must wait another five years before he can be declared cured.

When a story about Critter that appeared on nky.com in March mentioned his love for KISS, word circulated among KISS fans and eventually reached Keith Leroux, who manages the band's Web site and merchandising. Leroux contacted the band, which was rehearsing in South America for its current tour.

The next day, while in Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Critter received two calls - one from Stanley and one from Singer. They gave him words of encouragement and invited him to a concert.

"I knew they said they'd do something for him, but I never expected this," Carol Smith said about the all-expenses-paid trip. "I don't think I'd ever seen Critter so happy. He was on top of the world.


Critter (whose real name is Christopher) said the band was in full makeup when he met them back stage before the show.

"Paul walked in and was like 'Hey Gene, this is Chris,'" Critter said. "It was so cool that Paul knew who I was."

Critter said Simmons was "a really big guy, and really nice guy."

"He said to me - well, I can't remember what he said to me," Critter said. "I was just so stunned."

Leroux said the band does things like this quite often, but is pretty humble about it.

"They do a lot and donate a lot, but they don't like credit for it," Leroux said. "They're really good guys."

Stan Smith, Critter's dad, said the band's generosity has lifted his son's spirits.

"It's just so nice of them to do all of this for him," he said.

Critter's next chemotherapy treatment will be Tuesday. He said he dreads having to go through it each time, but KISS makes it more bearable.

"They really help me," Critter said. "KISS music really makes me happy."

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Ace Frehley "Anomaly" commercial (July 2)

Sneak peek at the new KISS "360" trading cards (July 2 )


KISS 360°

KISSONLINE SNEAK PEEK

Discover 360 degrees of KISS. From the exhilarating live shows to the crazy stories from the road, KISS 360° uncovers all aspects of the KISS legacy.

The 90-CARD BASE SET includes subsets such as The Demon Speaks, Unmasked, Behind Starry Eyes, Welcome to the Show, and Road Stories.

ROCK STAR RELICS features authentic memorabilia cards featuring items from Gene (autographed leather pants), Paul (autographed vests and a jumpsuit), and Eric Carr (autographed drumheads). Also look for dual Gene/Paul memorabilia cards (Pictured).

KISSignatures features cut signatures from Gene, Paul, Peter & Ace, including a quad cut signature card featuring autographs from all four original members (Pictured).

TRANSFORMATION - a 6-card lenticular motion card insert

SNAPSHOTS – a unique plastic card insert featuring classic photos of the band

Also look for “BLOOD-SPITTING”, “$” (hobby-only), “Dr. Love” (Wal-Mart), and “Kissed” (Target) base set parallels

Visit Press Pass' Official Website at the following address: http://www.presspassinc.com/ .

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Ace Frehley "Anomaly" release date announced! (July 1)


ACE FREHLEY: 'Anomaly' U.S. Release Date Announced - June 30, 2009 According to the Rocket Science music label services organization, which lists original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley as one of its clients, Frehley's new solo album, "Anomaly", will be released on September 15. The CD was produced and recorded in Westchester County, New York between 2007 and 2009 and was mixed in Los Angeles by Marti Frederiksen, who has previously worked with AEROSMITH and DEF LEPPARD, among many others.

"Anomaly" official track listing:

01. Foxy & Free
02. Outer Space
03. Pain In The Neck
04. Fox On The Run
05. Genghis Khan
06. Too Many Faces
07. Change The World
08. Space Bear
09. A Little Below The Angels
10. Sister
11. It's A Great Life
12. Fractured Quantum
13. The Return of Space Bear (Dedicated to Tom Snyder) (iTunes exclusive)

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Paul Stanley "One Live KISS" DVD wins Telly award (June 30)


ONE LIVE KISS WINS TELLY AWARD!

The 30th Annual TELLY AWARDS have been announced and ONE LIVE KISS received the highest honor!

ONE LIVE KISS : Producers Paul Stanley & Louis Antonelli have received the Special CLASSIC GOLD TELLY AWARD, presented to Film & Video productions that are among the finest in the 30 year history of THE TELLY AWARDS.

Founded in 1978, The Telly is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional and cable TV programs, as well as the finest video and film productions. The 30th Annual TELLY AWARDS received over 14,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents.

Among past winners of The TELLY AWARDS are industry leaders such as:
Harpo Studios - Oprah Winfrey, Dreamworks, Pixar, Disney, Lightstorm Entertainment, TCM, Clear Channel Entertainment, CNN, A&E, Comcast, VH1, Time Warner, MTV, and Universal Studios.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Footage from last nights (June 27) Milwaukee show (June 28)

More pics from Milwaukee June 27th show (June 28)






KISS rocked Milwaukee last night (June 28)


KISS STILL SHOUTS IT OUT LOUD!

By Bob Purvis of the Journal Sentinel

Photos by Rick Wood

When it comes to covering up your age, makeup goes a long way.

Celebrating more than 35 years of painting their faces and blowing stuff up, Kiss, the undisputed monsters of arena rock, proved Saturday night at the Marcus Amphitheater that they've got plenty more rock left in their lycra-and-leather tanks.

With a new album on the horizon, the rockers opted instead to dig deep into their catalog, tearing through a blistering set of tunes mostly plucked from their first three albums.

Descending to the stage amid a series of fiery blasts on a metal platform spewing smoke - and with an image of bassist-turned-reality-TV-star Gene Simmons' serpentine tongue flicker splashed across towering video screens behind them - the band ripped right into the thunderous hit "Deuce" off their eponymous 1974 debut.

With founding members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley absent from the tour, Simmons and guitarist-singer Paul Stanley soaked up most of the spotlight, strutting across the stage and interacting with fans throughout the set.

A brief downpour and a few lightning strikes did little to dampen the spirits of the fans in the lawn seats who seemed more awed by the pyrotechnic mayhem onstage than Mother Nature's humble display.

Dressed in a sparkling, rhinestone-encrusted spandex jumpsuit and wearing his trademark star-over-the-eye makeup, Stanley promised the crowd "something you will not forget" shortly before the band kicked into "Hotter Than Hell"- another early hit - as fiery explosions sent blasts of hot air over the crowd and Gene Simmons paced demonically across the stage.

"Hey, Milwaukee - do you mind if we blow (expletive) up tonight?" Stanley asked, to the deafening applause of the crowd, many of whom themselves donned face paint.

Simmons, who has experienced renewed celebrity thanks to his life-at-home reality show "Family Jewels," was never too far from the spotlight, whether he was blowing fire, stabbing a burning sword into the stage or wagging his oversized tongue like a demonic dog.

The band stacked its set with songs from that 1974 debut album, including "Strutter," "Cold Gin," "100,000 Years" and "Nothin' to Lose," with Stanley telling the crowd the tour was about "celebrating how it all started."

The rest of the show proved a dizzying spectacle, with countless fireworks, a drum riser nearly 50 feet above the stage and epic solos nearly as long as Simmons' tongue.