SNEAK PEEK: KISS KIDS COMICS

Here are a few sketches from our forthcoming KISS KISS COMICS.

The tiny terrors hit stands in an all-ages new series!

Ah, the simple pleasures of just being a kid. Lemonade stands, little league games, advanced fort building, rocking the faces off of millions of screaming fans all over the world while thwarting the plans of your evil school Principal.

If a couple of those cherished childhood memories sound unfamiliar, that's because they can only be found in KISS Kids, the new series starring the pint-sized rock gods! Join Starchild, Li'l Demon, Spacey, and Catkid as they get into trouble and kick out the jams in strips featuring familiar characters and settings from KISS lore. Helmed by KISS series writers Chris Ryall and Tom Waltz with fun, expressive art by Jose Holder (Mars Attacks The Real Ghostbusters), KISS Kids promises to be a treat for fans of all-ages!

"KISS is used to rocking and rolling all night and partying every day, but back when they were little'uns, those things only happened around nap time," said Chris Ryall, also IDW's Chief Creative Officer/Editor-in-Chief. "This series will appeal to kids and Kiss fans of all ages, as we see the school-age band engage robots, evil teachers, other students, and much more, all filtered through the KISS lens. Beth, the school's Doctor Love, the snooty Torpedo Girls, the bratty "Wicked" Lester, nefarious Principal Elder... they're all here for this accessible, funny, and appealing new series."

The new KISS Kids series, coming this fall, is being previewed in the form of a one-page strip on the back cover of all four issues of this spring's Kiss Solo series. Fans will get their first real look at the Kiss Kids on April 10, when Kiss Solo #1: The Demon by Ryall and artist Angel Medina is released.

"Rock and Roll All Nite....and Potty Every Day," added the L'il Demon himself, Kiss founding member, Gene Simmons.

This fall, there's only one place for proof positive that whether you're a Starchild or a Demon, there's nothing better than rocking and rolling all night and reading comics every day!

KISS TEACH KIDS 'RULE OF ROCK' IN NEW COMICS

From ComicAlliance.com

IDW Publishing will expand on its existing KISS comic book line this fall with a new all-ages series starring the titular rock stars as young children kicking out the jams as they foil the plans of their evil school principal. KISS Kids re-imagines bassist Gene Simmons' stage persona "The Demon" as "Li'l Demon"; guitarist Ace Frehley's "Spaceman" as "Spacey"; drummer Peter Criss' "Catman" as "Catkid"; and singer Paul Stanley's "Starchild" as, well, "Starchild," since that works just fine.

KISS Kids will be hyped to KISS comic book fans in the form of a one-page strip printed on the back of all four issues of IDW's KISS Solo series, spotlighting each member of the band (presumably as grown-ups), but you can take an early look here.

"KISS is used to rocking and rolling all night and partying every day, but back when they were little'uns, those things only happened around nap time," said Chris Ryall IDW's Chief Creative Officer/Editor-in-Chief and co-writer of KISS Kids with Tom Waltz. "This series will appeal to kids and Kiss fans of all ages, as we see the school-age band engage robots, evil teachers, other students, and much more, all filtered through the KISS lens. Beth, the school's Doctor Love, the snooty Torpedo Girls, the bratty "Wicked" Lester, nefarious Principal Elder... they're all here for this accessible, funny, and appealing new series."

Drawn by Jose Holder (Mars Attacks, The Real Ghostbusters), KISS Kids #1 goes on sale later this fall in your local comic book store and digitally from ComiXology.

KISS KIDS COMICS COMING THIS FALL!

KISS KIDS Proves You’re Never Too Young to Rock!

The tiny terrors hit stands in an all-ages new series!

Ah, the simple pleasures of just being a kid. Lemonade stands, little league games, advanced fort building, rocking the faces off of millions of screaming fans all over the world while thwarting the plans of your evil school Principal.

If a couple of those cherished childhood memories sound unfamiliar, that’s because they can only be found in KISS Kids, the new series starring the pint-sized rock gods! Join Starchild, Li’l Demon, Spacey, and Catkid as they get into trouble and kick out the jams in strips featuring familiar characters and settings from KISS lore. Helmed byKISS series writers Chris Ryall and Tom Waltz with fun, expressive art by Jose Holder (Mars Attacks The Real Ghostbusters), KISS Kids promises to be a treat for fans of all-ages!


“KISS is used to rocking and rolling all night and partying every day, but back when they were little’uns, those things only happened around nap time,” said Chris Ryall, also IDW’s Chief Creative Officer/Editor-in-Chief. “This series will appeal to kids and Kiss fans of all ages, as we see the school-age band engage robots, evil teachers, other students, and much more, all filtered through the KISS lens. Beth, the school’s Doctor Love, the snooty Torpedo Girls, the bratty “Wicked” Lester, nefarious Principal Elder… they’re all here for this accessible, funny, and appealing new series.”

The new KISS Kids series, coming this fall, is being previewed in the form of a one-page strip on the back cover of all four issues of this spring’s Kiss Solo series. Fans will get their first real look at the Kiss Kids on April 10, when Kiss Solo #1: The Demon by Ryall and artist Angel Medina is released.

"Rock and Roll All Nite….and Potty Every Day," added the L’il Demon himself, Kiss founding member,Gene Simmons.

This fall, there’s only one place for proof positive that whether you’re a Starchild or a Demon, there’s nothing better than rocking and rolling all night and reading comics every day!

KISS Pays Tribute To Murdered Woman Shandee During Mackay Concert

MURDERED Mackay woman Shandee Blackburn would have been front and centre when international rock superstars KISS - the band that gave her her name - took to the stage in her hometown.
Instead, her family watched in delight as lead singer Paul Stanley last night did an acoustic version of the band's song Shandi for Shandee.
Ms Blackburn was stabbed to death early last month as she walked home from work.
She was less than a block from home when her attacker struck.
"I think everyone knows about a girl called Shandee Blackburn," Stanley told the Mackay crowd last night.

"We lost her and we wish she could be here with us, so why don't we sing a song for her, all of us."
Shandee's mother Vicki said she had no idea the band had agreed to their request to play the song she'd named her daughter for.
"I wasn't looking forward to it (the concert)," she said.
"It was just another one of those days where Shandee should have been there. I was quite angry that she couldn't be there.

Mrs Blackburn bought the KISS tickets as an early birthday present for Shandee.
"One of the detectives (investigating her murder) said to me that his interpretation of Shandee was that she would have told me to go out and have fun, not to get upset, and enjoy the night."
She said many of those in the audience sang along to the touching tribute.
"It was just really sweet and at the end he said 'let's say goodnight and goodbye to Shandee'," Mrs Blackburn said.

"I wasn't crying at all until then.
"It was a very special moment."
Mrs Blackburn said it was still important that Mackay residents think about their movements around the early hours of February 9 in the hope it could help the investigation.
Shandee was killed around 12.30am.

"It's so important that people who were out that night talk to the police," she said.
"Even if it's something like, I was in this street and saw nothing - it's still important.
"There are still pieces of the puzzle that need to be put together."

The stadium was within earshot of the Harrup Park Country Club where Shandee worked the late shift the night she was killed.
"So we say good night and we say goodbye to Shandee - and now let's get crazy!" frontman Paul Stanley said following the tribute.
The sugar and mining town was an unlikely place for such a big show, the 12,000-plus capacity crowd at Virgin Australia Stadium equating to around 10 per cent of the city's population.
"We've played all the big cities in Australia," Stanley told the crowd.
"Some people said, why the hell Mackay? I said, Mackay is gonna show ya, size doesn't matter!"

NOTHIN' TO LOSE: THE MAKING OF (1972-1975)

Slated for release in September, "Nothing to Lose: The Making of KISS (1972-1975)"

Nothin’ to Lose: the Making of KISS (1972-1975) chronicles the crucial formative years of the legendary rock band KISS, culminating with the groundbreaking success of their classic 1975 album Alive! and the smash single “Rock and Roll All Nite,” a song that nearly four decades later remains one of the band’s most enduring anthems. Drawing on more than 200 new interviews,, the 544 page hardback book offers a captivating and intimate fly-on-the-wall account of their launch, charting the struggles and ultimate victories that led them to the threshold of superstardom. Constructed as an oral history, the book, includes original interviews with Paul, Gene, Ace, and Peter, as well as producers, engineers, management, record company personnel, roadies, club owners, booking agents, concert promoters, costume, stage and art designers, rock photographers, publicists, and key music journalists. Many of KISS's musical contemporaries from the time, most of whom shared concert bills with the band on their early tours, also lend their perspective via new interviews including Bob Seger, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Rush, Slade, Blue Oyster Cult, Mott the Hoople, Journey, REO Speedwagon, Styx, Raspberries, James Gang, Montrose, Black Oak Arkansas, Ted Nugent, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, New York Dolls, Iggy & the Stooges, The Ramones, Suzi Quatro, Savoy Brown, Argent, Nazareth, Uriah Heep, Suzi Quatro, Leslie West, Status Quo, Jo Jo Gunne, The Rockets and Wishbone Ash among others. Profusely illustrated with over 150 photos, the end result is an indelible and irresistible portrait of a band on the rise and the music scene they changed forever.

KISS SOLO COMICS DEMON COVERS

Wonder Woman Fan Trailer

THIS DAY IN KISSTORY 1974 - KISS

On this day in KISSTORY - February 18, 1974, KISS released their self-titled debut album.

Track listing:

1. "Strutter"
2. "Nothin' to Lose"
3. "Firehouse"
4. "Cold Gin"
5. "Let Me Know"
6. "Kissin' Time"
7. "Deuce"
8. "Love Theme from KISS"
9. "100,000 Years"
10. "Black Diamond"

"Kissin' Time" did not appear on the original release of the album. The track was added to a re-pressing in July 1974.


Celebrate the 39th Anniversary of the first KISS album by viewing this cool fan-made clip!

THE FOUR-WHO-ARE-ONE SPLIT UP FOR "KISS SOLO"

From CBR.com

Celebrating 40 years of rocking out together in 2013, KISS is marking the occasion by returning to comic books this March with the miniseries "KISS Solo" from IDW Publishing. "KISS Solo" spans four issues, each chronicling a different member of the group on an individual adventure. The first installment titled "KISS Solo #1: The Demon" stars Gene Simmons, better known to fans as The Demon.

Writing this first issue of the miniseries is IDW Publishing editor-in-chief Chris Ryall, who has also penned "Zombies vs. Robots" and "Mars Attacks: KISS." Ryall is joined by artist Angel Medina on the issue. Tom Waltz, who co-writes IDW's ongoing "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" title with Kevin Eastman, is writing the second issue of the miniseries, with the subtitle "The Starchild," with Tone Rodriguez on pencils.

Ryall and Waltz spoke with CBR News about what to expect in their respective issues of "KISS Solo," their love of the franchise and Ryall's personal experience of geeking out with Simmons over comics.


CBR News: Chris, what's the gist of "KISS Solo #1: The Demon?"

Chris Ryall: It's a lovely, touching indie movie-like little tale of The Demon versus the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

In the context of this story, do the members of KISS have super-human abilities or are they just a bunch of really good musicians?


Ryall: We never really get into the musician part of their history in the comics. I sort of hate comics with music and lyrics -- it always rings false to me, even if based on a real band. KISS in the comics are cosmic deities who sometimes imbue humans (or Martians, in the "Mars Attacks Kiss" one-shot from earlier this month) with their powers, or sometimes they play at being human themselves, but -- like with the band itself -- they're larger than life.

Tom, what can readers expect in the second issue, "KISS Solo #2: The Starchild?"

Tom Waltz: It's the Starchild's turn to rock a solo riff and the story is based on the song "Goodbye" from Paul Stanley's 1978 solo album. It's an interstellar romp featuring a cosmic bounty hunter who needs to bring in one last bad guy in order to return home to his beloved wife forever. The only problem is, nobody's ever gone after this baddie in his dark domain and survived. But what if there is a star to light the way? (It shouldn't be hard to guess what exactly that "star" is.) The artwork is handled by Tone Rodriguez ("Violent Messiahs") and he's already turned in some killer pages. The issue hits stores April 2013.

I'm also penning "KISS Solo" #4 featuring the "Catman." It's based on the song "I Can't Stop the Rain" from the Peter Criss '78 solo album and it's a KISS take on the "Beauty and the Beast" mythos. It'll be illustrated by Roberto Castro ("New Exiles") and goes on sale June 2013.

Do all four "KISS Solo" stories connect or are they stand-alones?

Ryall: They're all completely separate and solo. Angel and I are doing issue #1 only, and I'm back doing issue #3 ("The Celestial") with artist Alan Robinson. Tom mentioned the two issues he's writing.

When did you both first discover KISS?

Ryall: When I was about five years old, I shared a room with my brother who was four years older. Back then my tastes in music and comics mirrored his (or else!) -- he was a monster Kiss fan, so I've pretty much been listening to them since I can remember listening to any music.

Waltz: I discovered KISS in two phases. My first memory is from my two older sisters, who shared a copy of "KISS Destroyer" and would listen to it quite a bit in our house. They wore headphones for the most part, so I didn't always hear what they were rockin' to (and Lord forbid I touch the album myself) but I would catch snippets of "Detroit Rock City" and "Beth" on occasion -- I always thought they were cool. What really struck me at that age (I was probably 9 or 10 years old at the time) was the album cover, which I would stare at constantly, absolutely enthralled by the larger than life Kabuki superheroes leaping off the page.

Later, my friend down the road had a copy of "KISS Alive II," "Love Gun" and "Double Platinum" -- we'd jam out to them constantly. I was hooked big time (and was mesmerized by the photo cover on "Alive II" as I ever was by the "Destroyer" cover art -- man, that pic of Gene with blood splattered all over his chin still rules). Besides the music, a big part of the fun in those days were all the urban myths surrounding the band. My favorite was that Gene Simmons' tongue was actually a cow's tongue he had surgically implanted. How cool is that?!

Chris, your day job is EIC of IDW Publishing, so why take on "KISS Solo" yourself instead of farming it out to another writer?

Ryall: Tom Waltz, who's also an IDW Editor, and I are big KISS fans and have been working with Gene Simmons for years. So when it came time to make KISS comics, we just couldn't see handing them off to anyone else. One of my favorite comics as a kid was the "Marvel Super Special" magazine featuring KISS, and it's been fun to now be on the other side. Hopefully we produce some equally fun stories with these characters.

Are there any KISS comic book stories or characterizations that stand out to you as particularly awesome over the decades?

Ryall: Definitely the one I just mentioned -- it was so odd, a hallmark of pretty much all of Steve Gerber's writing, but I remember their appearance in early "Howard the Duck" issues (KISS as drawn by Gene Colan was pretty awesome). I dabbled a bit with the "Psycho Circus" comics, because I really like Angel Medina's work, too.

How did artist Angel Medina get brought on?

Ryall: I just asked -- Angel does "big and cosmic" so well. Our earlier KISS series' were a bit more grounded, but when I'm uncorking the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, something like that calls for exactly what Angel does so well. Happily, he signed on. I've been a fan of his work since Peter David's run on "Dreadstar," so it's a thrill to work with him on a KISS comic where so many fans know him from.

How much interaction do you have with KISS representatives when working on the property?

Ryall: There're basically two people we interact with directly on KISS comics -- Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. It's great that there're no "staff" in the way here. We receive unfettered opinions from the band members themselves and involve Tommy and Eric, too, but Gene and Paul are the ones we work with directly on everything KISS-related. Anyone who's heard Gene Simmons speak knows he's a comic fan from way back, so it's fun having discussions about art, other artists, comics from the past and other geek talk. The band has been amazing, too -- they let us run wild with the comics and don't look to slow us down at all. If anything, they're very encouraging of our crazier ideas, like the KISS series we're doing next after the four "Solo" issues. Fans interested to see what that will be can find clues on the back cover of each of the "Solo" issues.

You mentioned above how Gene Simmons has been a comic book fan for years. Are there any particularly interesting conversations or heated debates the two of you have had on the subject?

Ryall: You've never quite experienced Gene Simmons until you've seen him stand on a chair, arms outstretched in the Doctor Strange/devil horns symbol, bellowing "BY THE HOARY HOSTS OF HOGGOTH!" like he did for Tom and I, to further explain where he got the idea for the devil horns gesture. We also got into a heated debate over which issue of "Amazing Spider-Man" was John Romita's first issue. It's fun when a random name like "Dan Adkins" would come up, hearing Gene talk about which books he worked on, who he studied under and so on. Back in the pre-KISS days, Gene even worked on a comics fanzine with Marv Wolfman. He's a superhero guy through and through.


Tom, what has your experience getting feedback from the band been like?

Waltz: These comics are not something the band is slapping their names on for a quick buck. They take every aspect of what we are doing very seriously, and Gene and Paul especially are extremely vocal during each phase of the comic making process -- from plotting, through pencils, inks, colors and onto final product. They always review whatever materials we send their way and they never fail to promptly respond with approvals and/or the occasional change request, etc. They are true pros, genuinely good guys, and I've always enjoyed working with them.

These gents are doing a thousand things every day yet they still find time to keep an eye on the comic books we're making and provide consistently positive, helpful and respectful input -– I find that to be damn cool. Plus, Ryall and I've gotten to hang out them a few times, too, which is the rock 'n roll cherry on top -- especially for diehard KISS fans like us. If you would've told pre-teen Tom Waltz he'd be working directly with KISS someday, his head would've exploded like so much KISS stage pyro! I've been very fortunate to do some awesome things in my creative career and I've met some fascinating people, but collaborating with KISS is definitely one of the highlights. No doubt about it.

Who are your favorite members of KISS? Favorite albums? Favorite songs?

Ryall: Pick a favorite member of the band while we're doing business with all four of them, are you crazy? Besides, the band is one member to me -- the Four-Who-Are-One. They're stronger than the sum of their parts, so they transcend favorite members. I'll say I've loved working with Gene for his comic knowledge -- he and I are constantly trying to one-up each other in that arena. Little-admitted fact: in this one area I will trounce him every time, but he does know a lot. Favorite album is easier -- "Destroyer," like everyone else, from the makeup era. "Revenge" is my favorite non-makeup album. Favorite song? "100,000 Years," maybe. Kind of hard to pick favorite songs since at different times different ones work for me. I'm a true fan -- I dig a lot of what they've done in pretty much every incarnation.

Waltz: I lean toward "Destroyer," "Alive" and "Alive II" as my favorites because you never get over your first loves, right? I love something about each and every album they've made over the years, though. As for favorite song, I grew up in Southeastern Michigan, so "Detroit Rock City" is high on my list always, but, man, again -- I dig so many of their tunes it's hard to nail down an exact favorite. I've always loved "Love Gun" (the guitar rules on that one), "Black Diamond" (especially played live), "God of Thunder (again, live is best), "100,000 Years," "Shock Me (live!), "Lick It Up," "Sonic Boom," "Cold Gin"... cripes, the list goes on and on. Thing is, put on any KISS album and I'm rockin' with a goofy grin on my face no matter what.

Tom, you also write the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" ongoing series for IDW. How does writing a property based on actual living people, like with KISS, compare with basing one on a property like "TMNT?" Do you feel more or less pressure to do them justice?

Waltz: I approach writing KISS very much like I approach "TMNT." There are four heroes part of a tight-knit team with a long history -- if you think about it, KISS is a family much like the TMNT are. As such, you have to be aware of the diverse personalities involved and be sure to give everyone some face time, so to speak. The cool thing with KISS is that, though they are real, living people, the comic book characters based on them are way larger than life, so dropping them into comic book adventures is both fun and easy. They can be cosmic demi-gods, super heroes, rock 'n roll soldiers with strange powers -- we're only limited by our imaginations.

"KISS Solo #1: The Demon" by Chris Ryall and artist Angel Medina is available March 20 from IDW Publishing, with "KISS Solo #2: The Starchild" by Tom Waltz and artist Tone Rodriguez available April 17

Editor's Note: Our original story listed Sergio Fernandez Davila as the artist of "KISS Solo #2: The Starchild." The artist has since been changed to Roberto Castro.

40 Krazy KISS Facts!

From Gibson.com

KISS turn 40 in 2013. They played their first show in January 1973 in Queens, New York. Since then KISS have become adored and derided in equal measure, but their influence on a generation of guitar rockers has been huge, and they have proved themselves time and time again to be masters of marketing and self-mythology.

1. Before changing their name to KISS, the quartet were called Wicked Lester. As Wicked Lester, they even recorded an album’s worth of demos for Epic Records in 1971-‘72 that never got released. Some of these songs would show up on later KISS albums. Drummer Peter Criss joined around April 1972 and Ace Frehley followed in January ’73. Two weeks later, they debuted as KISS.

2. Before they decided on KISS, they also considered the names Albatross, Rainbow (before Ritchie Blackmore’s post-Deep Purple band of the same name), and Crimson Harpoon. Gene Simmons was once quoted as saying that he wanted to call the band F***, but he was joking. Simmons is smart enough to know that would be uncommercial.

3. In the 1970s, some anti-rock preachers suggested KISS stood for Knights in Satan’s Service – that’s not true.

4. The Rainbow connection doesn’t end there. Ken Kelly, the artist who painted both the Destroyer and Love Gun album covers also painted album covers for Blackmore’s Rainbow.

5. Former Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French auditioned for lead guitarist of Kiss in late 1972/early ‘73, when they were still called Wicked Lester. But Ace got the gig. Even though Ace auditioned wearing mismatching sneakers, one red and one orange.

6. Their fervent fans are known as the KISS Army, and started in Indiana when a local radio station refused to play any KISS songs in the early ‘70s. Protesting fans marched outside of the radio station and referred to themselves as the KISS Army.

7. Original pressings of debut album KISS did not include "Kissin' Time". The album was reissued in July ‘74 to include the cover, "Kissin' Time," originally a hit for Bobby Rydell.

8. For the cover of KISS, the band wanted their debut LP to resemble Meet The Beatles. Oh, and Warner Bros. Records initially threatened to end the band’s deal if they did not remove their makeup.

9. To get the silver “Spaceman” look for his hair on the KISS artwork, Ace Frehley applied commercial spray-paint that he assumed would wash right out afterwards. Ace was wrong.

10. Ace began using blue eyeshadow in the late ‘70s – he also developed allergic reactions to his silver makeup.

11. “Dimebag” Darrell (Pantera/Damageplan) was buried in a “KISS Kasket”, as he had requested in his will. Gene Simmons said, “There were a limited number made and I sent mine to the family of ’Dimebag’ Darrell. He requested in his will to be buried in a KISS Kasket, as he sort of learned his rock’n’roll roots by listening to us for some strange reason.” For those who favor cremation, KISS urns are also available.

12. In the early 70's Peter Criss flew to England to audition for Elton John's backing band. He failed the audition.

13. Ace Frehley was once known for liking a drink, but his classic “Cold Gin” wasn’t based on his preferred adult beverage. “I didn't drink gin: didn't drink liquor of any kind very often,” he writes in his No Regrets memoir. “I was a beer man then, and not even a connoisseur. Gimme a can of whatever you had in the fridge! I was happy. I wanted to write a drinking song, and "Cold Gin" sounded like a great title.”


14. KISS were offered the part of the Future Villain Band in the 1978 movie Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The band declined, as they were afraid of damaging their image. The role was taken by Aerosmith.

15. The hand on the cover of Music From The Elder is not that of Paul Stanley, as some fans presume. It’s that of a hand model, according to ex-manager Bill Aucoin.

16. The door pictured on the cover of …The Elder is the door for a Methodist church on Park Avenue in New York City.

17. Gene Simmons is one of the world’s top fire breathers. The bassist’s fire-spitting is a KISS stunt, but Simmons is actually good at it. He’s reached 15ft. Not as good as the 2011 world record held by American Antonio Restivo of 8.05m (26 ft 5 in) but impressive nonetheless in what can only be described a “minority” pursuit.

18. Ace Frehley sings horizontally! He says, “Every time I ever record a lead vocal, I've had to do it on my back. If I stand up and try to sing, I can't hit the notes sometimes.”

19. Paul Stanley wrote a number of early Kiss songs, including "Firehouse" and "Let Me Know" while in high school.

20. Stanley was later an art major at the Bronx Community College, before devoting his time to KISS. But he still paints - see Paul Stanley paintings.

21. Kiss have never had a U.S. number one single. But "I Was Made for Lovin' You" hit Number 1 in Canada and Holland.

22. KISS’s late drummer Eric Carr’s collar on his 1980 “fox” costume was made out of real fox fur.

23. Most of the songs featured on Peter Criss's 1978 solo album were originally written in 1972 for an album by his then-band, called Lips.

24. In 1986, Paul Stanley was close to getting the producer's job for Guns N’ Roses' Appetite for Destruction album. But Stanley eventually changed his mind, and declined.

25. For his solo album of 1978, Gene Simmons wanted guest appearances by Sammy Davis Jr., Dinah Shore, Chaka Khan and Liberace. Other obligations meant they couldn’t take part. Simmons also asked Paul McCartney. “Scheduling problems” also stopped that happening.

26. According to Peter Criss, Ace Frehley played bass on a lot of early Kiss songs.

27. Early in their careers, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss all recorded vocals on commercial jingles, including some for AMC trucks.

28. Sammy Hagar was thrown off as the opening act of a Kiss tour during the late ‘70s due to using foul language on stage.

29. The “newscast” heard at the beginning of "Detroit Rock City" on the Destroyer album was read by producer Bob Ezrin.

30. Immediately after leaving Kiss in 1982, Ace Frehley flew out to Los Angeles to produce the first demo tapes for W.A.S.P.

31. Despite Stanley being the serious art student, Ace Frehley designed the KISS logo.

32. When Eric Carr recorded his vocal for the re-recording of "Beth" in 1988, he sat on the same drum stool that Peter Criss used during the original recording of the song in 1976.

33. In his early years, Gene Simmons entered a Jewish Rabbinical school with the intention of becoming a Rabbi.

34. Ace Frehley was a drum roadie for Mitch Mitchell during Jimi Hendrix's final Band of Gypsys New York performance in 1970.

35. All instruments on the song "Little Caesar" off the Hot in the Shade album were played by Bruce Kulick (all guitars) and Eric Carr (drums and bass).

36. Immediately before joining KISS in 1982, Vinnie Vincent was a staff songwriter for the TV program Happy Days – he reportedly wrote all the songs that characters Joanie and Chachi sang on the show. (We so hope this is true!)

37. The guitar solos on the songs "All American Man" and "Exciter" were played by Rick Derringer (of "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo" fame.)

38. In 1977, Kiss became the first band since The Beatles to have four albums on the Billboard Hot 100 album chart. Alive, Destroyer, Rock and Roll Over, and The Originals were all in the Top 40 at the same time.

39. In 1983, Gene Simmons says he turned down the romantic male-lead role in the movie Flashdance, for fear of hurting his image. Apparently.

40. In the early ‘90s, Gene Simmons claimed to have written a song with Bob Dylan. It has yet to surface.

As is always the way with KISS, some of the above “facts” may be more true than others. Thanks to all the fine KISS fansites, biographies and member autobiographies for their own version of some krazy events…

KISS REFLECTS ON 40 YEARS: 1973-2013

My dream from the start was five years of glory with KISS. Along with Peter and Ace, we kicked doors open that stood in our way, and every band member who has stood with me at some point during these decades has played an essential part in turning that five year dream into a phenomenal 40 year reality. I thank each of you for your contribution to this milestone.

Our journey and victories are a joy I also share with you, our fans who have always given us the freedom to stand and fall on our own terms, and we have done both with a grateful smile. For the past ten years, Tommy and Eric’s pride and dedication have enabled Gene and I to reclaim and celebrate all that we have been, while continuing to move forward in a way that would have been impossible without them. I love playing with the band as it is today, and many of my proudest moments are tied to moments of magic we have created together in the studio and on the stage. I know we’re ready to do it again.

Humble thanks.

A special thanx to ALL of the Fans who have been with the band on this roller coaster ride called KISS for 40 years! I am honored to be a part of this machine and pay special respect to all members past & present. I especially want to thank Paul, Gene, Tommy & Doc McGhee for giving me a place to call home. And most importantly the Fans. YOU Fuel this engine!

At 40 years strong, I'm proud to be in one of the greatest bands in rock history. KISS is a band that is as full of life and vitality today as it was 10, 20, 30 and 40 years ago. All eras of the band should be celebrated today. Long live KISS.

To the Kiss Army - who made it all possible for us.

To Paul, without whom I would never have been able to achieve my dreams.

And to the band - past and present, for continuing to treat the stage as holy ground and the fans as our bosses.

Here's to another 40 years!

On this day in KISStory - Forty years ago today, on January 30, 1973, KISS performed their very first concert at Popcorn (The Coventry) in Queens, NY. The band performed 2 sets at the club that night for a crowd of under 10 people.

Gene recalls how that show came about:

1973 was the beginning.

Wicked Lester had just finished its album for EPIC RECORDS. There were five members in the band, including Paul and myself. Though we had a real recording contract with a major label, and though we had finished an entire album, we were depressed. It just wasn't what we had envisioned.

So, we started again. We tried firing the other three guys in Wicked Lester, but some wouldn't leave. So, we quit.

We started again with a vision. 'Let's put together the band we never saw on stage.'

We got a manager named LOU LINET, who managed JF MURPHY AND FREE FLOWING SALT and DIANA MARCOVITZ (or something like that)...and when he heard the newborn baby -- KISS. He thought it was the worst crap he had ever heard. Needless to say, he was gone immediately. So, we were managerless.

I put together a bio kit, while I worked at the Puerto Rican Interagency Council, as assistant to the Director. Peter's friend owned a printing press and printed up our invites.

But, where to play? We didn't have a manager. We didn't have an agent. We never had.

I made a phone call cold to a place called Popcorn in Queens, NY and on the phone convinced the guy to hire a band, who would soon be changing their name from WICKED LESTER to KISS.

We got the gig -- three nights -- Wed, Thurs and Fri for the sum total of $150.

That was the beginning.

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF KISS!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL!

KISS CELEBRATES 40th ANNIVERSARY THIS MONTH

From KISSonline.com

Forty years ago in January 1973, Paul, Gene, and Peter held auditions for a lead guitarist for their new band. As the band took shape, they chose Ace. Paul suggested the name KISS, and the band was born. Later that month, KISS performed its first show on January 30th at Popcorn, a club in Queens, New York.

Four decades on, KISS is still rocking a legion of fans that number in the millions around the globe! What an amazing ride it has been so far! Now 40 years strong, Paul, Tommy, Eric and Gene prepare for a MONSTER world tour in 2013!

We know that KISS is the soundtrack to so many of your lives. We want to hear from you! Tell us about your 40 years with KISS.

Visit http://www.kissonline.com/letters/send/ to share your favorite moments and memories of your life as a KISS fan with us.

KISS WINS SIX 2012 ULTIMATE CLASSIC ROCK AWARDS

Kiss were the clear champs of our reader-selected 2012 Ultimate Classic Rock Awards, taking home trophies in six of the 11 categories — including Album and Artist of the Year.

It was a very busy year for the greasepaint-wearing legends, who released a “resurrected” version of their classic ‘Destroyer’ album in addition to the brand-new record ‘Monster.’ The former won Best Reissue or Archival Release honors by nearly a four-to-one margin (48% to 13%) over the nearest competitor, Pink Floyd‘s massive ‘The Wall: Experience Edition’ box set.

Meanwhile, ‘Monster’ earned 44% of the vote in the Album of the Year race, easily outpacing Van Halen‘s ‘A Different Kind of Truth’ (14%) and Rush‘s ‘Clockwork Angels’ (10%). The album’s second single, ‘Long Way Down,’ took home the Song of the Year prize with 35% of the vote, with Journey‘s ‘Resonate’ (11%) and Motley Crue‘s ‘Sex’ (10%) also earning medals.

As you can imagine, racking up wins in all those big categories also made it pretty clear that Kiss was the Artist of the Year in the eyes of our readers, and indeed they beat Van Halen (14%) and Aerosmith (10%) out for that honor by capturing 42% of the vote.

The makeup-wearing marvels also took home prizes for Commercial of the Year (although we wonder if even they might agree Rush and Eddie Money got robbed there) and Photo of the Year, for a series of shots unveiling the latest versions of their famous stage costumes. Together with summer tour mates Motley Crue, Kiss also came in second place in the Tour of the Year category.

BEHIND THE SCENES: ON STAGE WITH KISS

From KISSonline.com

Check out this behind the scenes footage of the crew and KISS preparing to take the stage in Holmdel, New Jersey on 9/22/12. The clip was filmed with a night-vision camera, and the first part of the video is silent because Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" was playing in the amphitheater, and YouTube was blocking the video due to the background audio. Fran Stewart is captured doing the famous "You Wanted the Best" intro before the band breaks into "Detroit Rock City."

The clip was filmed by Keith Leroux.

KISS SONIC BOOM ACTION FIGURES

From KISSonline.com

KISS Action Figures Series 3 Complete Set of all 8" and 12" Figures

The tongue-thrusting vampire bassist known as "The Demon" is highly detailed and features 16 points of articulation. The Demon's face paint and stage outfit were derived from KISS's “Sonic Boom” album that was released on October 6th, 2009. His highly detailed legendary style comes complete with his armored chest and arm plates, and extremely detailed dragon platform shoes!

The glittering guitarist and lead vocalist known as "The Starchild" is highly detailed and features 16 points of articulation. The Starchild's face paint and stage outfit were derived from KISS's “Sonic Boom” album that was released on October 6th, 2009. His star-studded style comes complete with his one piece leotard with a star studded style, as well as his iconic platform shoes.

The "Out of This World" guitarist known as "The Spaceman" is highly detailed and features 16 points of articulation. The Spaceman's face paint and stage outfit were derived from the KISS's “Sonic Boom” album that was released on October 6th, 2009. His futuristic style comes complete with his vest and arm cuffs, as well as his atmospheric platform shoes!

This lion-maned drummer known as "The Catman" is highly detailed and features 16 points of articulation. The Catman's face paint and stage outfit were derived from KISS's “Sonic Boom” album that was released on October 6th, 2009. His feline style comes complete with his vest and leather pants, as well as his platform shoes!

Clamshell packaging allows you to open the packaging to see the figure. Each 8 inch figure comes with a commemorative "Sonic Boom" mini 2 X 2 inch album cover! 12 inch Figures comes with a Mini Concert T-Shirt!

CLICK HERE to pre-order for a release date of the third week of January 2013! If you order this along with other items that are in stock, your entire order will wait until all pre-order items have arrived.

GENE ON SCREEN

From KISSonline.com


Story from KISS: MONSTER - The Official Album and Tour Magazine #2

By Chris Alexander

Gene Simmons changed the rules of rock and roll when he created The Demon, a hulking, nightmarish blood dribbling, fire monster with a sex drive, as intent on demolishing cities a la Godzilla as he was destroying bass lines and deflowering your daughters.

Indeed, The Demon is a villain, that dark part of Simmons culled from his child-like love of Lon Chaney, weird fantasy and four color pulp fiction. So, when KISS drifted into the 80’s and lost their make-up and element of visual phantasmagoria, where was Gene to channel all that darkness?

Well, onto the silver screen of course.

While KISS sourced new line-ups and Paul scrambled to keep them relevant, Gene rolled the dice and made a series of genre romps, many of which called on him to be morally checkered and in most cases downright evil. Time has filed away many of these pictures and a serious look at Gene’s excellent work (in most cases, his presence is what made the films) in them is long overdue. Here then, is a look at five undervalued movies that saw everyone’s favorite Demon chew scenery and freak out his co-stars.

RUNAWAY (1984)

Late writer/director and all around visionary Michael Crichton (JURASSIC PARK, COMA) directed this vaguely futuristic action thriller that saw Tom Selleck (TV’s MAGNUM PI) as a cop out to stop an evil genius named Luther (Simmons, natch) who has created an army of killer robot spiders and smart bullets. Tightly wound and played straight, RUNAWAY has plenty going for it, chief among its attributes is Simmons’ well tailored, dead eyed, criminal mastermind, his first on-screen role since 1978’s KISS MEETS THE PHANTOM OF THE PARK.

Gene Simmons: “Luther was a composite, in my mind, of various reference points. One was Conrad Veidt, a German silent expressionist actor, who came to work in Hollywood when sound came in and is most famous for films like THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI and THE MAN WHO LAUGHED and also played everything from Evil Middle Eastern characters, to Nazi's and so on. A touch of Charles Middleton/Ming The Merciless, from the Buster Crabbe/ Flash Gordon movie serials and some of the Mob movie bad guys, specifically Al Pacino's eyes in the first GODFATHER film. Michael Crichton and I became friends. I got the acting job when he called me into his office - it seems his secretary, a former liaison of mine, recommended me. He said “stare into my eyes for 30 seconds:. During that time, I want your eyes to tell me that you're going to kill me. I did. And he gave me the job. Crichton was 6'9" tall, as I recall. A brain surgeon/scientist in his former career. He would go on to write Jurassic Park, create ER and other classic properties. He was a nice man. I think RUNAWAY is a guilty pleasure. A decent enough movie for its time. And I got to kill my onscreen mob girl friend – played by Kirstie Alley - by shoving a knife into the back of her skull. Nice.”

NEVER TOO YOUNG TO DIE (1986)

A certifiably bizarre 80’s thriller, one that strangely has yet to find a cult following. In it, Simmons goes so far over the top, he floats in orbit as the evil Velvet Von Ragner a he/she psychopath who kills George Lazenby then runs afoul of his vengeance crazed son (a pre-FULL HOUSE John Stamos). Tacky, weird and hypnotic, the film is supremely strange and Simmons presence is one of the great WTF turns in cinema history.

SIMMONS: “I had a month off from touring and a producer called me into his office and introduced me to the writer/director. And cash was offered. I knew little about the project. Only that I would play two roles. I was game. I like to work. Then I found out I would play a military type, as well as a transvestite..high heels, lipstick, corset…the works. Now, it’s always fun going to work in your girlfriend's stripper chic outfits and have to pass the truck drivers who whistle and torture you. “Nice ass, Gene.” Ugh.Really though, playing Ragner was not a proud moment in my life. ‘It takes a man like me, to be a woman like me.’ Ugh.”

WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE (1987)

Another incredibly undervalued Simmons performance as one of the 80’s most menacing villains. This Gary Sherman (POLTERGEIST III) directed shoot em up is only tenuously linked to the popular Steve McQueen starring1960s’ TV show of the same name, with Rutger Hauer playing McQueen’s bounty hunter grandson pitting wits against Simmons’ mad Arab terrorist. Here, he goes back to the controlled mad genius mold of Luther but with even more shivery results in a much better film to boot, with a memorable sign off moment.

SIMMONS: “Gary Sherman, the writer/director gave me the job over Charles Bronson, who was a leading man in those days. When I found out the lead would be Rutger Hauer, I jumped at the chance. Hauer's android performance in BLADE RUNNER continues to be one of my favorite performances on screen, by any actor. When you mix a bad guy with religious conviction, you get a different shade of evil. On day one of getting on the set to shoot scene one , Sherman introduced Rutger and I to each other. The entire crew was there to clap and welcome us. Rutger wrapped his hands on my face, and drew me in and kissed me on the lips. And everyone laughed. I was…stunned. We had a great time on the set. At this period in my life, I wanted more. And the non-makeup days in KISS were not fulfilling to me. I didn't feel connected to who I was on stage. That's life.”

RED SURF (1990)

This little seen thriller is flawed but is notable as being an early big screen turn by then TV star George Clooney. Simmons is not a villain, rather he is a burned out Vietnam vet who is world weary from the violence that surrounds him. Again, not a villain, but a morally checkered and scene stealing character that makes this otherwise mediocre picture worth watching.

SIMMONS: “This was a very low budget movie and George Clooney had yet to find his strengths and had yet to become a movie star. We all got along great and it was a good working experience. It was a fun role. The director, Gordon Boos worked with Francis Coppola and other greats as an AD. He was a modest guy. He saw his chance at doing something to get him to the next level. So, the producers wanted to call the movie RED SURF. I called them on the title. I said something to the effect "It blows." I mean, what the hell does surfing have to do with the color red. They went into this crazy explanation…and I said it sucks. The title still sucks”.

EXTRACT (2010)

Mike Judge (BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD, OFFICE SPACE) wrote and directed this lovable, sharp and frequently hilarious comedy that sees Jason Bateman launch a ludicrous plan to cheat on his wife, with disastrous results. Simmons steals the show as usual as skuzzy “as seen on TV” lawyer Joe Adler, a sonofabitch ambulance chaser who bullies and manipulates his clients for a quick buck.

SIMMONS: “I don't know if Mike wrote the role of Adler for me, but I have certainly met these kind of ambulance chasers. And my reference point for the character was Gene Hackman in a movie called CLASS ACTION where he defended an auto company against his daughter who was the lawyer for the victims. Hackman was polite, and nice….and nefarious. I like EXTRACT. It's funny and well written. You know, I really enjoy acting but my blessing is sort of my curse. I'm in KISS. That takes a lot of time. I also have voracious appetites in other areas. Business and pop culture. But there are only a certain number of hours in the day and I simply can't do it all.”

But I would never complain.

I am blessed.

For more notable “Gene on Screen” also check out his cameo in the 1986 horror film TRICK R TREAT where he plays a loudmouth DJ named Nuke and his quietly menacing turn as drug lord Newton Blade in the season two opener of TV’s MIAMI VICE.

Kiss - White Christmas

It wouldn't be Christmastime without a little caroling, so enjoy this a cappella version of "White Christmas" performed by Gene, Paul, Bruce, and Eric during a concert in New Haven, Connecticut on December 12, 1987.

SNEAK PEEK: KISS SOLO COMIC VARIANT COVER

From KISSOnline.com

Here's a sneak peek of artist Tone Rodriguez's special KISS Solo Comic cover for retailer, Jetpack Comics. This is the pencil-stage, inks to follow soon.