Check out these great photos of KISS rocking our US Troops and Veterans with a special private show last night at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia.
July 20, 2012
Last Night's KISS Show
Check out these great photos of KISS rocking our US Troops and Veterans with a special private show last night at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia.
Concert For The Troops.
Rock And Honor Every Vet
Friday night marks the official launch of Kiss‘ summer tour, a mammoth cross-country jaunt in support of the band’s upcoming album, “Monster.”
Talk to a local veteran, however, and he’ll tell you that the real tour started on Thursday evening, when Kiss staged a private show for 1,600 members of the U.S. military.
“We owe so much to the brave men and women who voluntarily put on that uniform and go to places where people don’t like them,” Gene Simmons explained earlier this week, several hours before he and his three band mates — Paul Stanley, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer — paid a visit to patients at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
“The vets that we’ve met never ask for praise, glory or money,” he added. “They just want to re-enter society and get a job. We do these all-vet shows to show our appreciation, because what they do for us is beyond comprehension.”
Kiss have a long history of paying tribute to vets on both sides of the Atlantic. Earlier this summer, the guys staged a small show in London to benefit the British troops, and their 2011 tour featured a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance during each concert.
“We used to stop every single show in the middle,” Mr. Simmons remembered, “and hoist the Stars and Stripes before saying the Pledge of Allegiance, right there in the middle of the concert. Very cornball, very not cool, but I don’t care. Sometimes, you gotta flush cool down the toilet and just arch your back and stand proudly, realizing that you’re living in the greatest country on the face of the planet.”
For the upcoming tour, the band has some additional tricks up its sleeve. For starters, Motley Crue will co-headline every show. The two groups have been friends since 1982, back when Kiss handpicked a relatively unknown Motley Crue as the opening act for the “Creatures of the Night” tour.
“They were loud, proud kids from the street, which was exactly what we wanted,” Mr. Simmons recalled. “You want the opening act to come up there and challenge you. What’s the use of being the world champion boxer if the guy who’s in the ring with you isn’t gonna give you a run for your money?”
“If they challenge you,” he continued, “it makes you a better fighter, and it makes for a better fight. That’s why we take great pride in the bands we’ve brought on tour with us. They’re always able to stand on their own two legs … and then we come out and crush them.”
To crush Motley Crue’s elaborate stage show, Kiss will fill their own performances with “more firepower than most Third World countries.” Fans can also expect plenty of pyrotechnics and Kiss classics, as well as the new single “Hell or Hallelujah.”
“With all due respect to everyone else,” Mr. Simmons said, “when you see fireworks going off at a McCartney show, where do you think he got that from? Gerry and the Pacemakers? We are the masters of bells and whistles, and we are going to leave the audience exhausted at the end of every show.”
Being a member of Kiss sounds a little exhausting in its own right. Before every performance, the guys spend an average of two hours in the dressing room, applying makeup and strapping 45 pounds of armored costumery onto their bodies. Once showtime hits, they move around the stage on 8-inch platform shoes.
“If that’s not enough,” added Mr. Simmons, “I fly up to the top of the light system at the speed of eight feet per second, Paul flies over to the soundboard over the heads of the audience, Tommy levitates up into the air, Eric’s entire drum kit levitates up into the air, and that doesn’t count the entire band’s descent from the heavens before the first song even begins.
“It’s physically exhausting, but I’ll tell you, there’s nothing as satisfying. Because when you see that you’re not the only one who’s drenched in sweat — that the audience is just as wiped out as you — there’s something else happening beyond the usual, ‘OK, this is my next song.’ “
The 7/19/2012 Show
On the eve of KISS’ massive national tour with Mötley Crüe, the legendary iconic rock band honors the U.S. military with an intimate concert at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia. On July 19, KISS, longtime supporters of the military, will put on their infamous rock show for over 2,000 service men and women. Presenting sponsor Boomer Magazine, Virginia's source of entertainment for baby boomers, coordinated the free ticket distribution through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and various military agencies. Troops and Veterans attending will receive a special commemorative KISS t-shirt.
KISS also teamed up with Hiring Our Heroes, a campaign by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and supported by NBC News that aims to get veterans back into the workforce. KISS has hired a military veteran to be a roadie for their upcoming national tour. KISS co-founder Gene Simmons said that hiring veterans "is the most important thing that we can do.” The band held an open call and after receiving over 1,900 applications for the job, Paul Jordan, an army serviceman from Buford, Georgia was chosen. Jordan, who has devoted over 20 years to the military serving three voluntary tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, is a life-long KISS fan and member of the KISS army who sports a tattoo of Gene Simmons on his chest. Jordan reports for his new job as roadie, with his first full show on July 19.
Following KISS's lead, Boomer Magazine held an online contest to support Hiring Our Heroes and hired a veteran to conduct an interview with KISS. Robert Crespo, an Army serviceman, was chosen. Crespo served in Iraq's combat zone and listened to KISS ALIVE Symphony often while in the desert. "KISS was the motivation to keep going," Crespo explains. Crespo's interview with his idols, KISS, will be featured in the August issue of Boomer Magazine and video footage will be available at www.FaceBook.com/BoomerMag.
On October 16, KISS will release their 20th studio album, Monster, through the Universal Music Enterprises. The 12-track, CD is a celebration of the band’s signature sound featuring collaborations among all four members—including co-founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons and longtime members, guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer. On Monster, the group goes back to their own beginnings. Their first single, the full-throttle, autobiographical rocker “Hell or Hallelujah,” was recently made available digitally and debuted #1 on the iTunes Rock Song chart.
During KISS’ illustrious, 40-plus year history the band has earned 28 U.S. gold albums, the most gold records for any American rock band, 40 million sales in the U.S., and a total exceeding 100 million worldwide.
July 16, 2012
Gene At Comic-con
Gene Simmons is among the attendees at this weekend's Comic-Con convention in San Diego.
July 10, 2012
July 7, 2012
Les Paul
I had the opportunity to get a first hand look at the prototype of my new Epiphone Tommy Thayer signature 'Spaceman' Les Paul while in London this week. The guitar looks and plays phenomenally. There are still a couple tweaks to be made and then it will go into production.
I gave it a test run at the Gibson London offices as a part of my interview with Simon Bradley from Guitarist magazine.
Thanks also to Julian Grace, Paul Airey and photographer Joby Sessions. More to come soon!
— Tommy
July 6, 2012
Charity Gig
Legendary rock band KISS delight fans at London's Kentish Town Forum with a one off gig to raise money for the Help For Heroes charity. (July 5)
July 5, 2012
London Setlist
iTune Charts
Check it out - KISS' "Hell or Hallelujah" single is topping the charts all over the world!
Here are some of the most recent fan reviews:
5.0 out of 5 stars By PyroMessiah
Brilliant stuff! The second kick ass lead single in a row following the equally kick ass 'Modern Day Delilah' from the last album Sonic Boom.
MONSTER will be a KILLER album if this single is anything to go by. Fast paced and powerful. Love it!
5.0 out of 5 stars By Anthony Williams
Looks like KISS fans won't be disappointed with the new album when it's out if this track is anything to go by. A good solid tune with the classic Kiss style, reminiscent of the earlier years but still with the Sonic Boom feel.
5.0 out of 5 stars By Neal.W
KISS are back with a BANG! With what Paul Stanley described as just great rock n roll! and I couldn't agree more. Following on from the great Sonic Boom album, Kiss seem to have stepped it up another gear for this new single and hopefully the new album {out in oct 2012}. This track still has the old Kiss feel with great riffs and a catchy chorus but this time with a harder edge, what's not to like.
5.0 out of 5 stars By S. E. Jones
Was expecting to be disappointed by this song. After the excellent Sonic Boom album, there was a lot more anticipation leading up to the new material... I need not have worried. Following the rule that if it ain't broke, don't fix it... Hell or Hallelujah has all of the best bits of KISS from the late 70's through to the mid 80's.... and (listening to it as I write this) it's just put a whopping smile on my face... Just listen to that gonzoid guitar attack!!! AWESOME!
5.0 out of 5 stars By Martin
Wow. A fantastic return to rocking form for the men in the make-up. If the upcoming album Monster is half as good as this track, it's going to be immense!
5.0 out of 5 stars By BILL DOOR "STOOOPOTT!"
This is a real return to KISS of old. A brilliant song, and with a one off concert on 04/07/12 in London for Help For Heroes, the 'Hottest band in the World' are back.
5.0 out of 5 stars By Crad
Excellent new single from the mighty KISS from their upcoming new album Monster.
If all the songs are as good as this Kiss fans are in for a real treat.
5.0 out of 5 stars - Joshua Sharrock
I have been waiting for this single and the whole album for ages! This is more than I expected, one again KISS have outdone themselves. Great pounding in your face guitars. Can't wait till the whole of "Monster" comes out!
July 4, 2012
Preorder Monster
KISS' upcoming album "MONSTER" is now available for preorder at Amazon.com. The album will be released on October 16, 2012.
London Tshirt
Here is the actual art comp sheet for the KISS T-shirt being sold at tonight's HMV Forum show in London, England.
Monster Book On UK
LONDON — American glam rockers KISS are unleashing their “Monster” on the UK public.
The band — Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer— was in London on Tuesday to launch its new retrospective book, “KISS Monster,” and to hold a news conference.
The limited edition book — which is three feet (1 meter) tall — features unseen photographs from the band’s 40-year career.
“A band that is bigger than life deserves a book that’s bigger than life. You could call it a coffee table book, but if you put legs on it, it is a coffee table,” joked Stanley.
Only 1, 000 copies of “KISS Monster” will be on sale and each one will be signed by the band. It will retail at a staggering >2,742 ($4,299).
“It’s not a cheap book because it is hand bound, hand put together. It’s the Rolls-Royce of books,” said Simmons.
“KISS Monster” is now on sale in the U.K. online at: www.kissmonsterbook.com
Monster Book
Signing In London
KISS spent several hours this morning autographing the band signatures page of the KISS MONSTER Book. The pages will now be sent to Italy, where they will be bound inside the books.
July 3, 2012
UK TV & Radio
From London
KISS did a full day of press in London today promoting the release of our new single "Hell Or Hallelujah" from our forthcoming album Monster. Interestingly, the interviews took place at Ringo Starr's famed 1960s London flat, 34 Montagu Square. In 1966 Paul McCartney used it as a demo studio composing Beatles classics like "I'm Looking Through You" and "Eleanor Rigby." Jimi Hendrix wrote "The Wind Cries Mary" when he lived there for three months in 1968 and John Lennon and Yoko Ono lived in the flat in 1968 when the Beatles were recording the White Album. The notorious nude cover photos of Lennon and Ono's Two Virgins album were taken in the upstairs bedroom. So much history and rock & roll lore has taken place in the hallowed halls of 34 Montagu Square, it's amazing. If only these walls could talk!
#1 At Amazon UK
KISS' "Hell or Hallelujah" single is the #1 rock single on Amazon UK!
KISSOnline has been receiving fan reports that the debut single from MONSTER is topping charts everywhere internationally!
The single will be available in North America tomorrow.
Early reviews:
Called "Hell or Hallelujah", the song flashes back to classic tracks like 1976's awesomely trashy "Makin' Love", with more than a dash of their speedier 80's output. - Fangoria Magazine
A tantalizingly raw opening riff straight out of Paul Stanley‘s ‘I Stole Your Love’ playbook kicks off ‘Hell or Hallelujah,’ the new single from Kiss. - Classic Rock
Back In The UK
KISS is taking over the UK this week with not just a new single, but also the Monster book release, and a sold-out show at London’s Forum on the 4th of July!
The band arrived in London last night and will launch a major press campaign today, with numerous interviews and appearances with radio, TV and print outlets.
Ahead of the new KISS album ‘Monster’ (due out in Autumn) the band will be releasing their "Hell or Hallelujah" single in the UK today!
KISS will also launch their MONSTER book this week. Monster is a collection of artworks and 126 photos from the band’s 40-year career including never-before-seen images.
Then the band wraps up their UK visit with a special show at The Forum in London for Help for Heroes on Wednesday, where they'll perform "Hell or Hallelujah" for the first time!
Eric & Tommy Interview
KISS' drummer and guitarist in KISS talk concerts, the band's farewell tour, and making the best album in years.
Saturday night Kiss was the last band on the final night of Kollen Sommerfestival. This was one of two concerts the band is doing in Europe this summer. Then, they're off touring the United States with Mötley Crüe. There are several reasons why Norway and London were the only stopovers in Europe.
"That's because you are special, we just had to play in Oslo," laughed Tommy Thayer. "No, it is a combination of several factors. Originally we were going to play at Sonisphere, but it was for some reason canceled. But then we had a partial event in London that were already planned, and we also got a surprise offer to play at this festival. So a lot was about the timing."
Fans who met up at Sommefestival did not hear the new single "Hell Or Hallelujah", which is the first track from the upcoming album, Monster, even though the single is being released next Monday.
"The main reason we came here was to make preparations for the upcoming single release in London, so we're going to play it when we get there. We can't play it until it is actually released on Monday," explained Eric Singer.
"There is some sense to that," Thayer added. "We don't want the new track's premiere to be from some cheap recording on YouTube."
Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer have different backgrounds for becoming a part of Kiss, where Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are the only remaining original members. The two have had their lives turned on their heads after they were included in the traveling circus.
Eric Singer feels lucky that ended up in Kiss.
"Everything in life is to some extent influenced by it, but I feel very fortunate and lucky. I've been in the music industry for many years. I am 54 years old and I am sure that Tommy agrees with this -- we see a lot of friends that we started playing around the same time years ago, who are trying to do the same thing for a living, but never get the chance to play in a band. We have worked hard to get where we are today, but feel fortunate to have had this opportunity."
"Playing in Kiss, one of the world's most famous bands, feels in many ways like having found 'the Holy Grail,'" says Tommy. "But we are not here only because we have had good luck."
"We are here because we're successful, and we deserved it," Singer added. "It's easy for some people in the audience to say 'That's where I could be too", or "that's easy, I'm as good as him." It's easy to be a 'back seat driver' and believe that, but there is no way that anyone can do this. This is about so much more than the ability to play the notes. There is much more to being in a band and be a professional musician at this level."
- Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons have said that the chemistry in the band is very good, and that is also a big part of the reason why KISS made a new album two years ago that got so many good reviews.
For many years said they (Paul and Gene) that we weren't going to record some new music. But our tour in Europe in 2008 went so well. So when we came back, Paul and Gene said that 'this band is really amazing, so perhaps we should record a new album.' So it was actually pretty fast and out of the blue, "said Thayer.
-So you guys just did it?
-"Yes, they [Paul and Gene] decided it They are the people who make those decisions."
Eric Singer breaks in and tells of a saying he thinks is important in this context.
"I have a saying hanging on my fridge at home – I've had it there for many years. It is by John Lennon and says; 'Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.' It is one of the very best quotes, and I try to always have it with me. For life is not always as you intended. And I think that also applies to Kiss. The band had a particular course, possibly on its way towards the end. But the chemistry and dynamic of the band changed and it caused another change. And that change created new music and creativity. Without the changes you would probably not have seen KISS turn around the way it has today," said Eric Singer.
- When Sonic Boom came two years ago, many people realized that Kiss still could make a good album. Many believe it's the best collection of songs the band has recorded since the late 70 's or early 80 's.
"Sonic Boom was in many ways a kind of experiment.We recorded an album together, and together they found out how it was going to work," explains Thayer. "The vision was to create a classic Kiss album, and we did, and I think we did well," he added, giving fans insight as to how the next album "Monster," is going to be.
"On this album we take it to a whole new level, and here I think you'll discover that we really have got wind under the wings. I think people are going to be surprised at what they hear."
July 2, 2012
New Single
KISS' "Hell or Hallelujah" single is available Internationally today! The single will be available in North America tomorrow, but check KOL late tonight to find out where you can buy it sooner.
Meet & Greet
KISS Meet & Greet and VIP packages for 'THE TOUR' are selling quickly! Only a limited number of packages remain for most shows. Act now if you plan on having the ultimate KISS experience!
The following cities are either SOLD OUT or only have a few packages remaining.
Virginia Beach (7/21), Atlanta (7/25), Charlotte (7/25), Birmingham (7/31), The Woodlands, TX (8/3), Dallas (8/4), Englewood (8/8), Las Vegas (8/11), Irvine (8/14), Tulsa (8/26), St. Louis (8/27), Cincinnati (8/31), Indianapolis (9/1), Detroit (9/5), Chicago (9/7), Toronto (9/13), Mansfield (9/16), Camden (9/19) and Wantagh (9/22).
Here's your chance to have the ultimate KISS experience on "THE TOUR" 2012 tour! Enjoy a KISS VIP Tour package, or a KISS Meet & Greet package that includes exclusive access to KISS' preshow soundcheck!
KISS - Meet & Greet + Soundcheck Package
Package includes:
- One reserved tickets located in the first 10 rows of the stage
- Exclusive Meet & Greet with KISS
- Personal Photograph with KISS
- Autograph Session with KISS
- Exclusive access to KISS's Preshow Soundcheck
- Specially Designed KISS Tour Shirt
- Custom Designed, KISS Ring (18k gold plated, exclusive to ticket packages)
- Set of Official KISS Guitar Picks (with custom case)
- Official Meet & Greet Laminate
- Commemorative VIP Ticket
Crowd- free merchandise shopping
On-site VIP Host
KISS - VIP Tour Package
Package includes:
- One reserved tickets located in the first 15 rows of the stage
- Specially Designed KISS Tour Shirt
- Custom Designed, KISS Ring (18k gold plated, exclusive to ticket packages)
- Set of Official KISS Guitar Picks (with custom case)
- Official VIP Laminate
- Commemorative VIP Ticket
- Crowd- free merchandise shopping
- On-site VIP Host
Visit www.vipnation.com to order!
July 1, 2012
KISS Rocks Oslo
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KISS played a set of well-selected songs, with a solid close to the first night of Kollen Sommervestival
By: Jørn Gjersøe
Photo by Jørn Gjersøe
For many years KISS sat stuck in a mud of lack of creativity and originality. The band made a few less-impressive albums in the 1990s and 2000. But the turning point came in 2010. After a long wait, we got one of the best albums we'd heard in a long time – Sonic Boom was a breath of fresh air for KISS.
One can criticize Kiss for being cynical and just thinking about the money, but it can't be the money that is driving them anymore. They have enough to buy a tropical island and sit there for the rest of their lives But there's one thing they're always going to have: they always deliver on stage, and this Saturday was no exception. The band appeared even more inspired than I have seen them in the past and it's obvious that they are enjoying a new era as a group.
The concert in Oslo, Norway is not part of any major tour, but it can also be viewed as a warmup for this summer's planned United States tour along with Mötley Crüe. With an opportunity to warm up this summer, KISS opened with the classics "Detroit Rock City", "Shout It Out Loud" and "Deuce." With the crowd singing both during and between songs, the band glided effortlessly into "Making Love."
KISS is never about only the show or just the music -- it's a synthesis. Fans must take both parts together. And, as long as KISS plays songs from three different decades, something "Crazy Nights" was a good example of tonight, KISS is impressive, undeniably impressive.
Also impressive, KISS never attempts using prerecordings of any form or sampled, recorded backing vocal tracks. The band hammers it out trouble-free, blowing off off more pyro than a average Norwegian municipality on New Year's Eve.
"Are you getting what you came for?" asked Paul Stanley rhetorically, knowing the answer he'll receive. And it's good. The older crowd, mixed up with some of their offspring, got exactly what they had come for.
Tommy Thayer sang the vocal on "Shock Me" and his teaming with Eric Singer has been a good addition to this musical community.
We had all the usual ingredients with the blood-spitting Gene, Tommy's rocket-shooting, and even an extra bazooka blast from Eric. Paul could still throw the microphone too.
We ended in a sea of white confetti that made this site look like any other ski jump-on Saturday, before the accompanying smash of Paul's guitar.
All in all, it was a solid last blast, which set the tone for the first night of the Festival.
Set List
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June 30, 2012
Oslo Tshirt
16 Years Ago Today
Monster In October
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Legendary Band’s 20th Studio Album, first single “Hell or Hallelujah” available July 3
“The music is all hard-edged — they call it "thunderock" — and throughout their electrical storm solid craftsmanship prevails.” – Rolling Stone, 1978
“Nice to hear some things never change.” Spin, 2009
“We’re a real, flesh-and-blood rock and roll band with people who’ve spent 40 years doing what we believe in.” – Paul Stanley, 2012
Rock legends KISS return with Monster, the 20th studio album in their historic career, set for release in October through Universal Music Enterprises. The 12-track, straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll album features collaborations among all four members—including co-founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons and longtime members guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer—in an album that shows the band at the top of its game. And that’s saying something, considering their illustrious, 40-plus year history—28 U.S. gold albums, the most gold records for any American rock band, 40 million sales in the U.S., and a total exceeding 100 million worldwide.
BIGGEST BAND IN AMERICA – KISS - TO UNLEASH A MONSTER IN OCTOBER
Legendary Band’s 20th Studio Album, first single "Hell or Hallelujah" available July 2 Internationally and July 3 in North America
"The music is all hard-edged — they call it "thunderock" — and throughout their electrical storm solid craftsmanship prevails." – Rolling Stone, 1978
"Nice to hear some things never change." Spin, 2009
"We’re a real, flesh-and-blood rock and roll band with people who’ve spent 40 years doing what we believe in." – Paul Stanley, 2012
Rock legends KISS return with Monster, the 20th studio album in their historic career, set for release in October through Universal Music Enterprises. The 12-track, straight-ahead rock 'n' roll album features collaborations among all four members—including co-founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons and longtime members guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer—in an album that shows the band at the top of its game. And that’s saying something, considering their illustrious, 40-plus year history—28 U.S. gold albums, the most gold records for any American rock band, 40 million sales in the U.S., and a total exceeding 100 million worldwide.
Monster is the group’s first studio album since the band’s 2009 smash success, Sonic Boom, and was also produced by Paul Stanley with Greg Collins at Conway Studios in Hollywood, CA, and The Nook in Studio City, CA.
The band's first single, the full-throttle, autobiographical rocker "Hell or Hallelujah," will be available digitally on Monday, July 2, internationally, and on Tuesday, July 3, in North America. Stanley calls the album’s lead track, "a battle cry that encapsulates the entire record...one way or another, we’re going to do it our way."
Monster represents KISS’ nod to the music that first inspired them to pick up their guitars and flame-throwers and don makeup to entertain millions. The group goes back to their own beginnings with the Who-like “Freak,” while Gene lives up to the title track’s declaration on the raucous rock of “Back to the Stone Age” and the bludgeoning “The Devil is Me.” Even guitarist Thayer takes a turn on his own with “Outta This World,” a tribute to his KISS “spaceman” character, while drummer Singer provides the vocals (and the back story) for the arena anthem “All for the Love of Rock & Roll.”
“There are no symphony orchestras, boy choirs, keyboards, outside producers or songwriters on this album,” promises Gene Simmons. “The best thing we did was to turn inwards to ourselves. Tommy and Eric have revitalized this band, with a work ethic and the talent to back it up. This is a real band effort. KISS has become a behemoth. We’re going where no bands have gone before.”
On July 4, the day after "Hell or Hallelujah" hits digital retail in North America, KISS crosses the ocean for its very own Tea Party, performing an Independence Day show at The Forum in London, a holiday most certainly not celebrated in the U.K., though this show might just offer some reparation for that bitter defeat in 1776. The concert will serve as a benefit for the British "Help for Heroes" organization, which raises money for its wounded, sick and injured troops. The band owes its own debt of gratitude to the English, admitting that Monster is influenced by the country’s great, legendary rock groups who influenced and inspired them to pick up their instruments in the first place.
“We’re all Anglophiles in this band,” says Simmons. “America may have invented rock and roll, but England knew what to do with it. They gave us the Beatles, the Stones, Led Zeppelin and the Who.”
Timed to coincide with the release of the Monster album is the deluxe coffee table, limited edition KISS MONSTER, a collection of artworks, 126 photos from the band’s 40-year career, including never-before-seen images from the world’s greatest rock photographers. The three-foot high, two and a half feet wide and two-inch thick Monster will be available in copies signed by all four band members and limited to only 1,000 copies worldwide. More info at www.kissmonsterbook.com.
Funworld Magazine
SEALED WITH A KISS
Yes, opening a miniature-golf course with the rock band KISS may seem like an unconventional move. But then again, owner Christina Vitagliano has never preferred going the traditional route. Take for example when she opened her first Monster Mini-Golf in Connecticut in 2004. The black-light course was indoors, which in and of itself made the facility stand out from the competition. In addition, she picked Memorial Day weekend for the grand opening.
“In most people’s heads, that’s a day you want to be outside,” she says. “My landlord said, ‘You’ll probably get eight people.’”
Vitagliano surpassed the landlord’s expectations many times over. In fact, that first insanely busy summer nearly 10 years ago culminated in regular conversations with the multiplatinum music act KISS, creation of a 14-foot-tall head of the group’s iconic singer/bassist Gene Simmons as a course obstacle, and the eventual completion of KISS by Monster Mini-Golf. Featuring the largest KISS gift shop in the world, a wedding chapel, and a VIP room, the Las Vegas facility debuted in March with a glitzy party (see sidebar). Just one month after opening, 10,000 guests had entered the front door, above which hangs a sign that reads, “We’ve put a whole lot of rock in our roll.” “It has not been a dull ride,” Vitagliano laughs.
Job Hopping and a Brainstorm
The 47-year-old took a long, roundabout career path to end up owner of Monster Mini-Golf and schmoozing with KISS, an internationally recognized rock band with a 30-year history of hit albums. She was a district manager for a retail chain and then spent 10 years managing and marketing restaurants and nightclubs. This eventually became tiresome.
“One day I woke up and said, ‘I don’t want to see another drunk person at 2:30 a.m. again,’” she recalls. “I needed to get out of that business.”
Her next move led to opening an antique auction house where she traveled the world looking for valuables, which would then be sold on site at her auction, housed in an old mill building in Connecticut. Although the constant stress and greed she encountered also made for a temporary career stop, it did provide her with something crucial: a venue. The only problem was what to put inside this large space “in the middle of nowhere.” After some soul searching and brainstorming, Vitagliano had her moment of clarity. She wanted to open an indoor, glow-in-the-dark mini-golf course, an idea readily panned by her friends and family. In spite of their misgivings, she was resolute: “I just wanted to see happy people.”
As good as her intentions were, the money to bring the idea to fruition remained elusive. Vitagliano picked up a part-time job to squirrel away cash; at the end of each week the goal was to create something that could be used as a mini-golf prop. Through pure creativity and a bit of old sculpting talent, she created monsters. She admits these first props were a little rough around the edges, but by creating abstract creatures for obstacles, she could get away with it. Who would question what a monster
really looked like?
After months of saving and building, she finally opened on that fateful Memorial Day weekend in 2004. As business began to boom, Vitagliano started to plan her next step. “People kept telling me, ‘This is a gold mine,’” she remembers. “I got concerned. Someone was going to run in with a lot of money and steal my idea. I first thought to open a second location, but before we signed the lease, I said, ‘This is wrong.’”
Vitagliano did not want to spread herself too thin. She began to research franchising as a better option, a decision that led to a game-changing meeting. She and her husband, Patrick, flew out to Chicago to meet with a company that guides mom-and-pop operations through the franchising process of legalities, necessary paperwork, marketing, etc. Vitagliano gave her pitch: an 18-hole indoor, black-light mini-golf course, with party rooms for birthdays and corporate events. Each facility would feature special effects, pumping music, and video and redemption games. Both adults and kids would love the funky glow-in-the-dark atmosphere, and the same goes for the humorous monsters that adorn each hole, she proposed. “They’re ageless.”
The company’s response? "You’re not leaving here without franchising this business,” the owner told her. “We haven’t seen anything like this, and an original idea doesn’t happen that often.”
The only hitch was the company’s requirement of $150,000, which Vitagliano did not have. Fortunately, the two sides were able to work out a loan and signed the deal, but it did take some sacrifice. Patrick sold his production company to join Monster Mini-Golf full time, and the couple sold their apartment and lived in their course’s office with their dog for nine months while they worked to pay off the loan.
“We risked everything to get where we are now,” she says proudly. “Not a lot of people would do that.”
The Inspiration for KISS
Monster Mini-Golf—now headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island—grew substantially over the next few years. There are currently more than 30 locations across the United States and Canada.
As part of the build-out package fee, her team provides the props, animatronics, sound equipment, artwork, displays, and games. Vitagliano also teaches new owners how to be successful with marketing, public relations services, training, and product development. “I look at them like they’re my kids,” she says of the franchisees.
No two courses are the same, leading to a lot of fun and variety in the prop creation. In fact, one particular monster prompted the genesis of the KISS course in Las Vegas. For the last hole at one location, she created a giant clown head where guests putted up the giant tongue into its mouth.
Everyone started to kid her that it should be Gene Simmons’ head. (The rocker is known for having a particularly long tongue, which he shows off during concerts.) Obvious trademark issues prevented that prop from becoming reality at the time, but the topic did become a running joke—and eventual aspiration—during meetings. Partnering with a major rock band could move her already bustling business up the charts. “I would always ask people if they had Gene’s cell phone number,” Vitagliano explains. “One person finally said, ‘Oddly enough, I do have his attorney’s contact info,’ and I took it.”
So one day in 2010 she e-mailed the lawyer. Within a mere 15 minutes he called back. In the hour-long conversation, she described the company’s history, how it had grown in such a short period of time, and why it might be beneficial for the band to work with her. Realizing Vitagliano and her mini-golf concept could help KISS reach the next generation of fans, the attorney gave his blessing, and conversations with the group began. “They have so much passion for what they do,” she says. “I have never questioned if I picked the right band.”
She’s with the Band
The band has shown similar support for Vitagliano. “People come to us all the time with ideas,” says Paul Stanley, KISS cofounder and singer/guitarist. “But you need resources to implement it. You need a vision. We thought it would be a great marriage.”
While liberal about licensing the KISS name (there is a KISS burial casket, for instance), the band must have final say in the branding and use of their image. As such, every single design piece for the par-39 course—from Paul’s towering boot to Gene’s aforementioned head and tongue—had to go
past the band for approval.
“They’re four complete individuals,” Vitagliano says. “You had a lot of ‘love this, don’t like that,’ but that’s what makes it that one-of-a-kind place. I like them because they’re challenging, and they’re challenging because they’re passionate.”
Other facility highlights include:
- The KISS gift shop, the biggest of its kind, featuring a wide assortment of officially licensed products, such as T-shirts, golf balls, clocks, animal crackers, sculptures, fragrance, and hats.
- KISS products line the redemption area: magnets, bandanas,
and toy cars.
- The “Hotter Than Hell Wedding Chapel” (classic Vegas!), with theatrical lights, sound, and a fog machine. The stage is fashioned after the KISS album cover for “Love Gun.”
- Myriad band photos cover the walls, and televisions show KISS concert footage.
- And, of course, the official KISS scorecard mobile app.
The day after the opening party, both Paul and Gene sent personal notes to Vitagliano thanking her for “doing exactly what you said you would do.”
“It’s nice when you earn their respect as well,” she beams. She and the band already have begun preliminary talks about taking the KISS mini-golf concept international. In some countries, the band has an equally rabid following to that of the United States.
“Now that we realize it’s going to work,” Vitagliano says, “we have to work hard.”
June 29, 2012
KISS In Oslo
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KISS' ONLY 2012 SCANDINAVIAN SHOW
KISS will headline the 2nd night of the Kollen Summer Festival in Oslo, Norway tomorrow! The concert will take place at the Holmenkollen National Arena - the roof of Oslo - made world famous by its iconic ski jump that can be seen from all over the capital.
”KISS Saturday on the big stage at Kollen is a dream come true. To really experience a band like KISS you need a stage that justifies the greatness of the band, and Kollen is the only festival in Norway that can provide just that. It’s flat out extremely cool to be able to give Oslo an exclusive concert with the worlds largest rock ’n’ roll circus as the grand finale on the first edition of Kollen ever.” – Pål Jakobsen, head of booking Kollen.
Visit www.kollenfest.no/ for more information on the show, or www.billettservice.no/ to purchase tickets.
June 26, 2012
The KISS Room
Originally broadcast on MONTCO RADIO, streaming live and worldwide from Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA on Friday, June 22, 2012.
Boomer Magazine
Instructions for BOOMER's Hiring Our Heroes Voting
Read the following individual "Notes" below. Each Note represents a US Veteran who is a finalist to meet and interview rock band, KISS, in July for BOOMER Magazine.
We had an overwhelming amount of entries and need YOUR help to determine our hire. Share your favorite Notes with your friends and family on Facebook, and encourage them to "like" their favorite entry. The US Veteran's note that has the most Facebook "Likes" on this page will be selected by BOOMER Magazine for the job.
http://www.facebook.com/BoomerMag/notes?ref=ts
KISS Finalist F: William R - Indianapolis, IN
I have been a huge KISS fan since I was in High School some 35 years ago. When I served in The Marine Corps in the 1980's, I had to rebuy all of my KISS music because I was unable to take my albums with me. So I had to get cassette tapes to listen to in my squad bay, and then in my two-man rooms when they were finished.
In the past 3 years, I have seen KISS at the Indiana State fair, on 8/9/10, and at Springfield, Ill, on 7/18/2011 and I have tickets for their concert on 9/1/2012 in Noblesville. I have been to the last 2 KISS expos here In Indianapolis, and gotten my picture taken with Eric Singer twice and with Tommy Thayer once this year, and I was able to talk with Tommy because I am originally from the state of Oregon and found out that Tommy has relatives from my hometown.
I am a disabled vet and in the past 3 years I have undergone surgery 4 times and 2 of these surgeries have been in the past 6 weeks. I was going to purchase a meet-and-greet package to meet the band on this tour, but because of the cost and my limited income I was unable to do this and I would enjoy to meet all of the band members and thank them for always honoring the troops that have served and who are serving today so that we may enjoy the freedom we have today.
KISS Finalist E: Michael R - Roanoke, VA
Thanks for the chance of a lifetime … I am a 100% disabled Iraq War Veteran (Baghdad 2004-2005), with 15 years of service in the Active Duty Army prior to my medical discharge in 2006. I am a former Regional Director (SW Virginia) for the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program. I have a proven track record of pushing for Veterans to be hired within Virginia and have found countless jobs for Veterans.
I have been a fan of KISS for over 30 years; my parents are huge fans and insured we grew up listening to KISS. I know everything about KISS and I am fully aware of their support in hiring Veterans and their support of National Veterans' Programs such as the Wounded Warrior Project. I have tickets to the Bristow, VA, show and I will be attending with my 17- and 12-year-old sons, and insure I pass the honor of being a true KISS ARMY member to my sons. My family has suffered as much and if not more from my injuries suffered from my deployment, thus they are truly my biggest supporter through everything … Much like KISS, the KISS ARMY is a family within itself and support comes from family, and KISS has created this larger-than-life following that supports everything KISS …
There is no doubt their efforts to push for hiring Veterans translates to each member of the KISS Army, and members own businesses and have positions to hire Veterans and we follow suite with KISS and insure that happens … I have seen KISS on every major tour since 1984 and look forward to attending the Bristow concert … It would be a dream of a lifetime to be selected to conduct the interview (maybe sneak my boys in). I have more than enough backing to relate all things Veteran-related and a bonus, a KISS ARMY member … Please feel free to Google my name and read about my efforts on behalf of Veterans within Virginia … Also I didn't win the Hire a Vet for a KISS Roadie.
KISS Finalist D: Will R - Des Moines, IA
Message: Dear BOOMER magazine and staff,
I would love to have the opportunity to meet with KISS and interview the band members for BOOMER magazine. If chosen, I believe I could do a great job of representing veterans and your publication.
Since I was a child, I have been a huge fan of KISS. My very first record I ever owned was Rock & Roll Over that my mother let me pick out for my seventh birthday. From then on I was in the KISS Army. I own every KISS album and have seen them in concert three times. I am also a fan of “Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels.”
Being Jewish myself, knowing that KISS was a bunch of Jewish kids from New York, just made them that much cooler. As an adult, I have been active in my synagogue and serve on the Greater Des Moines Jewish Federation Board and Jewish Community Relations Committee.
In 1989, I joined the U.S. Army and served as an M-1 Tank Crewmember. In the fall of 1990, I was deployed to the Persian Gulf and was in combat as a part of Desert Storm. After my enlistment in the U.S. Army, I became an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (Post #9127) and have served in several leadership roles, including Post Commander from 1998-1999 and Club Commander from 1998-2001.
In addition, for the past six months I have been working on developing a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization with the goal of assisting low-income and impoverished veterans and their families with the costs associated [with] funeral and burial expenses. I hope to launch this new organization on Veteran’s Day of this upcoming fall.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions or need any additional information in helping you make your determination.
And thank you for the opportunity to interview KISS.
KISS Finalist C: Robert C - El Paso, TX
I surely meet three requirements, I'm a war veteran, I'm a crazy KISS fan and I will be available on that date. I'm living proof of the American dream because my dreams came true when I met KISS for the first time. I was born and raised in Bolivia, South America. And I knew I was never going to see KISS in my country, so when the opportunity came up to move to the U.S., I did!!! Based only on the idea that I had more chances to see KISS in the US than in South America. And once I moved to New York when I was 18 years old, guess what? Six months later I joined the US ARMY. June 14, 2001, was the date I joined. Guess what I did with my first paychecks? I bought KISS goodies.
Couple of years later I got deployed to Iraq and served in that combat zone for a year. But once again, KISS comes on my way ... while I was in Iraq I managed to get their latest CD/DVD at the time, KISS ALIVE Symphony. Can you imagine me listening to KISS in Iraq??? Imagine how scratched that CD was because of the times I played it. KISS was the motivation to keep going. And once my time was up in Iraq, I went back to the US and celebrated my safe return going to a KISS concert on their Rock The Nation Tour 2004. I always linked the military with KISS because you need something to push you and motivate you. My way of saying thanks to this country (US) for letting me come in was to join the military. I'm a proud US Veteran.
So that short story is one reason why you should hire me to interview KISS, my heroes, plus I have interesting military-related questions I would like to ask them in a kind of "military environment" as we used to do it in military boards. And finally, I would like to thank them personally for their support to our troops. I might be a hero to them ... but they're my heroes.
KISS Finalist B: Joe D - San Antonio, TX
I have been a KISS super-fan forever. I have been to 67 KISS shows worldwide with several in the Northern Virginia area. My career had me assigned there for 10 consecutive years, and I lived in Woodbridge, VA, from 1994 to 2004.
I am originally from Newark, DE. Last year when I retired, I had a KISS-themed retirement party and was blessed to have it featured on KISSonline.com. Currently, I have remained retired but have become extremely involved musically. Specifically, San Antonio's own KISSit tribute band has hired me to be their summer tour coordinator throughout South Texas. [The] tour ending on July 14th. I'm having a blast because it is my passion to live my life with KISS by my side and in my house ... [I] got the KISS room to prove it! Try moving a KISS pinball machine your whole career, although [it’s] a lot more fun than what the Air Force makes you carry.
I am also coordinating the 1st ever San Antonio KISS fan expo in 2013! Everyone who knows me, automatically thinks KISS! I could not have gone through my 21 years of active duty without them. KISS truly alleviated all the stress that comes with serving. I am truly proud of KISS' current focus and charity causes with the Wounded Warriors. Gene, Paul, Eric and Tommy get it. They clearly are not performing for money anymore. If that were the case they would have retired a long time ago. We have always had the KISS Army and now we also have the KISS Navy. It's only a matter of time before all the branches are uniquely identified. Their commitment and attention to detail easily translates to the military lifestyle. I only wish I could have tested for promotion with all KISS-related questions. I would have made all the ranks.
The honor would be all mine to represent BOOMER magazine, interview KISS and once again serve as a military role model to my family, my son, daughter, friends and the community. KISS is relevant and their name screams quality. No tapes – just live music that must be seen and heard. It's their planet we are just living on it.
KISS Finalist A: Chris R - Annapolis, MD
Greetings to the KISS Army!
I am hoping to realize the dream that all of us share, to sit down with KISS and discuss their music, experiences, legacy, future, and relevance to our military community. In my interview, I will explore areas with the band with questions that have built up over the 36+ years I've been a dedicated fan, examining issues that have been largely ignored by the media, and give you information that will provide new insights and respect for these icons that have been rocking our world for decades.
My military experience, including service in the Marine Corps for 20 years, and now as a Department of Defense attorney, gives me a unique perspective on the impact that KISS has had on military members individually the Armed Forces collectively. For virtually all of my life, I’ve been known as “that Kiss freak”, and as a baby-boomer myself, this reputation has had an array of amazing consequences. From my first live KISS concert in Buffalo, New York, in 1977 (I still have the ticket at home), to listening to the band through college, law school, playing Destroyer as I was preparing for courts-martial in the Marines, and rocking out to “Alive!” while deployed with the Marines in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm, my connection and commitment to the band has been and remains rock steady through today. My love of the band even resulted in me picking up the guitar myself, and I’ve learned to play some of the catalogue.
Like all of you, I have a legion of questions that need to be put to the band regarding their music (and not just the lyrics, but also how their approach to song-writing and guitar playing has changed over time) their past, the band’s amazing trajectory and where it all will lead, their connection to the U.S. Armed Forces, plus there is one seminal question for Gene Simmons that has NEVER been asked – and I can’t understand why. This is the singular opportunity to have an interview conducted by someone who has grown up with KISS, through every lineup and genre, and can ask meaningful and penetrating questions that will do justice to the band and the KISS Army.
I am a true fan that has remained loyal and faithful to our rock gods for my whole life. If given this amazing opportunity of a lifetime, I promise to represent the actual military component of the KISS Army with integrity and zeal. Thanks for your consideration.
KISS Comics
June 24, 2012
The New Single
KISS are set to debut their brand-new single from "Monster" on July 2. According to a listing on Spotify, it appears the single will be "Hell Or Hallelujah."
You can listen to a 30 seconds preview of the new KISS single "Hell or Hallelujah" at Amazon!
KISS To Rock Norway
KISS' ONLY 2012 SCANDINAVIAN SHOW
KISS will headline the 2nd night of the Kollen Summer Festival in Oslo, Norway next Saturday, June 30th, 2012. The concert will take place at the Holmenkollen National Arena - the roof of Oslo - made world famous by its iconic ski jump that can be seen from all over the capital. This new two day festival will feature 26 artists on three stages!
”KISS Saturday on the big stage at Kollen is a dream come true. To really experience a band like KISS you need a stage that justifies the greatness of the band, and Kollen is the only festival in Norway that can provide just that. It’s flat out extremely cool to be able to give Oslo an exclusive concert with the worlds largest rock ’n’ roll circus as the grand finale on the first edition of Kollen ever.” – Pål Jakobsen, head of booking Kollen.
Visit www.kollenfest.no/ for more information on the show, or www.billettservice.no/ to purchase tickets.
June 23, 2012
Pre-Order Now
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ONLY 1,000 BOOKS IN THIS LIMITED EDITION RUN WILL EVER BE PRINTED!
The KISS Monster book features all the different eras of KISS live, from the early years to the present day.
- Three feet tall and two and half feet wide! As tall as a guitar!
- Each book is carefully handmade in Italy, choose from one of 10 country flags, the sleek and stylish KISS Monster logo edition or the classic KISS Army cover.
- Every signature page is signed by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer.
- Signature page has a personal message from KISS to their fans.
Includes photographs that have never been seen before.
Put on your favorite KISS songs, turn up the volume and prepare yourself for the ultimate rock book experience. Page after page of glorious, unseen, giant photographs, stunningly reproduced and hand-bound into the largest rock book ever published.
Prepare for a larger-than-life journey through 40 years of KISS, the greatest rock band in history!
The latest photographic reproduction techniques and high density printing has enabled us to faithfully reproduce the ultimate KISS experience for you to enjoy in the comfort of your own home.
This book is like nothing you have ever experienced!
- KISS have limited the number of books to just 1,000 copies.
- Each book individually numbered and signed by the band.
- Limited edition flag designs – choose yours now!
- An essential addition to any KISS fan’s collection.
Be one of the lucky few to own one, but order quickly before they sell out!
AMAZING PHOTOS
Every single image in this book is beautiful and unique, and each one has been carefully chosen by the band to give you the full ‘KISS live’ experience.
COLLECTORS ITEM
You have to see this book to believe it! Don’t miss out on your chance to own this amazing collector’s item. It’s an investment. It’s a fan’s dream. It’s KISS close-up and personal. Buy it today because tomorrow it may be too late!
YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PICK IT UP! BUT IF YOU CAN, YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!
Anyone who has experienced a KISS performance knows the bigger, louder and heavier, the better!! And just like the performance, the epic scale of KISS Monster really has to be seen to be believed. The sheer size of the images the book contains means that the level of detail, vibrancy and intimacy is incredible, bringing the KISS experience alive! Some of the close-up photographs are, quite literally, larger than life! this is the closest any fan could ever get to their heroes without an access-all-areas pass.
June 21, 2012
18 Years Ago Today
KISS MY ASS TRIBUTE ALBUM RELEASED
KISS My Ass: Classic KISS Regrooved was released on June 21, 1994. The tribute album, features a variety of artists covering KISS classics. The album spent 13 weeks on the Billboard chart, and was certified gold by the RIAA.
ARTIST & TRACK LISTING:
1. Lenny Kravitz/Stevie Wonder - Deuce 2. Garth Brooks/KISS - Hard Luck Woman 3. Anthrax - She 4. Gin Blossoms - Christine Sixteen 5. Toad The Wet Sprocket - Rock And Roll All Nite 6. Shandi's Addiction - Calling Dr. Love 7. Dinosaur Jr. - Goin' Blind 8. Extreme - Strutter 9. The Lemonheads - Plaster Caster 10. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Detroit Rock City 11. Yoshiki - Black Diamond 12. Die Artze - Unholy (Track included on US Vinyl / International Release only)
'Hard Luck Woman' was performed by KISS themselves with award-winning country singer Garth Brooks on lead vocals.
'Calling Dr. Love' was performed by one-off band Shandi's Addiction, featuring members of Tool, Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave and Faith No More.
Canadian, Japanese and Australian copies of the album have their respective flags in place of the American Flag of the U.S. version.
June 20, 2012
Ken Kelly At KISS Mini Golf
June 19, 2012
KISS Comic
"KISS" #1 has the benefit of being the first KISS comic book I have ever read. The band members (referred to as a "band" in a gathering sense rather than musical) appear in their famous stage make-up and modified versions of their costumes, but are not equipped to rock the house. Instead, they are dropped into the lives of "ordinary" people and become super-powered avatars of the Elder.
Admittedly, I picked this book up mostly for Jamal Igle's artwork. His clean lines, powerful figures and detailed backgrounds are an instant draw for me. This issue is absolutely no exception. Igle really delivers some great art in this issue. Putting the Demon, the Starchild, the Celestial and the Catman on the streets of Depression-era Chicago opens up a world of visual non-conformities that make for compelling comic book images. Gene Simmons in full Demon regalia waggling his tongue at passersby on the streets of Chicago comes just pages after a gangster fires a gun that is loaded with savage, demonic spidery things. Igle is unleashed here and shows that whatever any story calls for, he can certainly handle it.
Chris Ryall's story has a deceptively simple premise: KISS in 1920s Chicago running afoul of a gangster named Wicked Lester. Yes, it's odd and contrived and heavy-handed, but Ryall farms some iconic KISS concepts with that premise. In doing so, he certainly wins favor with members of the KISS Army. Playing more along the fantastic and absurd, Ryall imbues a quartet of artifacts with the ability to transform four people into avatars of the Elder. Those four people become the black-and-white (and silver) faced characters, resplendent with powers to help them in their battle against Wicked Lester and his Destroyer-powered forces. Recognizable as the beloved band, but empowered as superheroic beings, KISS is set into conflict against a menacing foe.
Ryall coats the story concept in thick -- sometimes too thick -- explanation, giving the most uninformed comic book reader equal ground to stand on as those most devoted members of the aforementioned Army. There's a lot of information in this comic, a decent story with an intriguing cliffhanger, some great art and a nice hook for a neophyte like me. For more informed fans of the band, this book is littered with subtle and not-so-subtle winks, nods and homages. Taken as a comic book, this is a story unlike anything else that's going to be on the stands this week. Taken as a "KISS" comic, this is exactly what fans of the band have been waiting for: KISS fighting the good fight and looking stellar in doing so.
Pre-Order Now
From FANGORIA, the planet's number one cult film, horror and fantasy culture entertainment magazine, KISS: Monster—The Official Album And Tour Magazine will hit newsstands everywhere on June 26th and be sold direct via FANGORIA.com and KISSONLINE.com… just in time for the first week of the new KISS/Motley Crue nationwide tour!
A KISS magazine made by KISS fans for KISS fans, this glossy, 72 page collector’s magazine features dozens of rare, new and never before published photographs as well as brand new interviews with KISS members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, wherein they muse on the past, reflect on the present and look to what lies in store for “the hottest band in the world” on the cusp of the release of MONSTER, the band’s 20th studio album.
Filled with blood, spectacle, fire, passion, insight and affection, KISS: MONSTER – THE OFFICIAL ALBUM AND TOUR MAGAZINE is a souvenir no KISS fan will want to be without.
June 18, 2012
29 Years Ago Today
On June 18th, 1983, KISS performed before 137,000 fans at Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janerio, Brazil. This was the largest crowd of the band's career and the second show of three KISS shows on this mini Brazil tour. Portions of this show were recorded and broadcast on TV and radio by Globo TV. The three dates were the first South American shows for KISS ever and were also the last that KISS performed in makeup until 1996!
Set List:
Creatures Of The Night / Detroit Rock City / Cold Gin / Calling Dr. Love / Firehouse / I Want You / I Love It Loud / War Machine / Love Gun / God Of Thunder / I Still Love You / Black Diamond / Strutter / Rock And Roll All Nite
Latest Merchandise
Here are some of the latest proposed KISS merchandise items from various licensees. They were presented to the band for approval, and may be released into the market place. Stay tuned to KOL for release updates.
Items Pictured:
KISS Faces / Logo Flask
KISS Army / Lick It Up Shot Glass
KISS Album Art Motorcycle Helmet (For Japanese Market)
KISS Faces / Logo Board Shorts
KISS Group Photo / German Logo Lighter (For German Market)
Archie Meets KISS Lunch Box
KISS Classic Photo Cup
KISS Rock And Roll Over Cup
KISS Group Photo Christmas Ornament
June 17, 2012
17 Years Ago Today
KISS began the North American leg of the first Official Worldwide KISS Convention Tour on June 17th, 1995 in Burbank, California. Peter Criss makes a surprise appearance at the Convention and joins Gene, Paul, Bruce and Eric on stage, singing two KISS classics -"Hard Luck Woman" and "Nothin' To Lose".
The unique and revolutionary KISS Convention tour featured a traveling KISS Museum displaying vintage KISS stage outfits, instruments, and memorabilia. Performances by KISS tribute bands, KISS collectors/dealers buying, selling and trading KISS merchandise, precedes an evening appearance by KISS themselves, appearing live and in person, conducting a question and answer session, autograph signing, and a two-hour plus unplugged set comprised mostly of spontaneous fan requests. Both Eric Singer and Bruce Kulick also performed clinics at the events.
Official KISS Conventions were held in Australia, Canada and the United Sates.
Songs performed at the KISS Conventions:
Comin' Home / Plaster Caster / Goin' Blind / Domino / Nothin' To Lose / Sure Know Something / Calling Dr. Love / C'mon and Love Me / Spit / I Still Love You / God Of Thunder (Country version) / See You Tonite / Do You Love Me / A World Without Heroes / Every time I Look At You / Rock Bottom / Shandi / Strutter / Hide Your Heart / Black Diamond / Heaven's On Fire / Rock And Roll All Nite
KISS also played (at least portions of) Strange Ways / Love Her All I Can / Love Gun / Take Me / Love Theme From KISS / Just A Boy and many more!
Animal Planet
The mini-golf course is finally open and the band KISS wants to see their tank! Will it live up to their expectations?
KISS Coffeehouse
The KISS Coffeehouse has added Beer, Wine, Firehouse Chili and New York Groove Cheesecake to it's menu! There's also new KISS Coffeehouse merchandise for 2012.
Merchandise Pictured:
KISS Coffeehouse "The Tour" shirt. Available from youth sizes to adult 3X.
KISS Coffeehouse "The Tour" Cup Sleeve.
KISS Coffeehouse Love Gun Guitar Sipper. Plays music, lights up and holds up to a 100 oz. cold drink.
Visit www.KISSCOFFEEHOUSE.com for all kinds of great KISS Coffeehouse items.
June 16, 2012
Happy Father's Day
Sold Out
Gene, Paul, Tommy and Eric will be performing to their KISS Army of fans at the celebrated London venue for one night only as a fundraiser for the Help for Heroes charity. The rock legends have always supported the US troops at their gigs over the years but this year, on Independence Day, the US rockers will be backing our wounded, sick and injured servicemen and women by raising money with this unique concert.
All proceeds from the concert will go to the charity.
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