Kiss News

The article is also featured in the October, 2011 issue of Golf Magazine, just out on the newsstands.

You're the lead guitarist in Kiss and the band's only golfer. Do the other members tease you?

They used to make jokes when they saw me reading Golf Magazine, saying things like, "Hey, how's your stiff shaft?" Now I think they're jealous because I'm at charity events with cool stars, and I play places like Medinah, Winged Foot and Augusta. Gene [Simmons] came to my charity event last year, but he doesn't have the patience for golf.

That's probably for the best�it's bad etiquette to spew blood during someone's backswing. What similarities are there between playing golf and playing guitar?

A lot. Golf and guitar are both very Zen, very in-the-moment. In golf, you don't want too many technical thoughts. It's the same playing in front of 10,000 people. I'm not thinking, "I'm moving my fingers this way, and now I'll go over here on the stage." No, you just let go. I'm an 11 handicap. I've been playing since I was 12, and it took a while to learn that. Be in the moment.The article is also featured in the October, 2011 issue of Golf Magazine, just out on the newsstands.

You're the lead guitarist in Kiss and the band's only golfer. Do the other members tease you?

They used to make jokes when they saw me reading Golf Magazine, saying things like, "Hey, how's your stiff shaft?" Now I think they're jealous because I'm at charity events with cool stars, and I play places like Medinah, Winged Foot and Augusta. Gene [Simmons] came to my charity event last year, but he doesn't have the patience for golf.

That's probably for the best�it's bad etiquette to spew blood during someone's backswing. What similarities are there between playing golf and playing guitar?

A lot. Golf and guitar are both very Zen, very in-the-moment. In golf, you don't want too many technical thoughts. It's the same playing in front of 10,000 people. I'm not thinking, "I'm moving my fingers this way, and now I'll go over here on the stage." No, you just let go. I'm an 11 handicap. I've been playing since I was 12, and it took a while to learn that. Be in the moment.

Do you get nervous on the course?

The first time I played the Hope in 2005, I walk to the first tee. I'm in John Daly's group. Then I hear, "Playing in his first Bob Hope Classic, the lead guitarist from Kiss..." Two thousand people applaud. It gets completely quiet. I'm shaking like a leaf. I almost s--t my pants. Horrifying.

You spent the night in the Butler Cabin when you played Augusta. Did you wear full Kiss makeup?

That would be a sight, wouldn't it? I could get away with it. Look at these lapels�this qualifies as a collared shirt.

Kiss had an '80s hit called "Lick It Up." Any plans to remake it into a song about putting called "Pick It Up"?

[Laughs] Sometimes I get that song stuck in my head, which doesn't help my swing. Man, I'm so lucky to have the best of both worlds�playing with the world's greatest band and playing a lot of golf.

So you're saying you "Rock and Roll All Nite and Make Par Every Day"?

Now that sounds like a hit!

Surprising Success and a Cool Job

First Ever KISS Kruise Launches October 13

By Paul Motter

Most of us have to work hard for a living, but Andy Levine gets to run Sixthman Productions , and he might have a little more fun than workers stuck behind a desk all day.

His company was just named as one of the nation's 500 fastest-growing companies by Inc. Magazine and was rated at number 87 overall, and the leader in the travel category. But calling Sixthman a travel company is like saying Eric Clapton is just a guitar player.

Sixthman Productions specializes in one particular kind of theme cruise: live rock 'n' roll concerts on cruise ships. Two of my favorite things are live music and cruising, combine them, and they�re magic.

How does Sixthman work? First it charters a cruise ship that holds 1,600 to 3,600 passengers. Chartering an entire ship means Sixthman gets total control of the cruise: where it sails and stops, food selections and who provides the entertainment. Naturally, they scrap the cruise line's usual production shows like �Karaoke Live!� and instead offer live concerts with headliner rock 'n' roll bands.

While the process sounds fun, it's not as simple as it sounds.Surprising Success and a Cool Job

First Ever KISS Kruise Launches October 13

By Paul Motter

Most of us have to work hard for a living, but Andy Levine gets to run Sixthman Productions , and he might have a little more fun than workers stuck behind a desk all day.

His company was just named as one of the nation's 500 fastest-growing companies by Inc. Magazine and was rated at number 87 overall, and the leader in the travel category. But calling Sixthman a travel company is like saying Eric Clapton is just a guitar player.

Sixthman Productions specializes in one particular kind of theme cruise: live rock 'n' roll concerts on cruise ships. Two of my favorite things are live music and cruising, combine them, and they�re magic.

How does Sixthman work? First it charters a cruise ship that holds 1,600 to 3,600 passengers. Chartering an entire ship means Sixthman gets total control of the cruise: where it sails and stops, food selections and who provides the entertainment. Naturally, they scrap the cruise line's usual production shows like �Karaoke Live!� and instead offer live concerts with headliner rock 'n' roll bands.

While the process sounds fun, it's not as simple as it sounds.

Chartering cruise ships and producing rock concerts are both risky investments. Consider the experience of another company, Shoreline Charters, which recently tried to promote the Bret Michaels Rock Your World Super Cruise, featuring the ex-lead singer of the band Poison. Michaels now alleges the company tried to renege on its original contract and cut his performance fee to $350,000 from $750,000. The cruise has been canceled.

There are a few successful companies producing music cruises. The Blues Cruise has handled some three dozen successful sailings, and The Smooth Jazz Cruise has presented two to five jazz cruises annually since 2004. But Sixthman, based in Atlanta, produces a greater variety of music theme cruises every year.

Here is a typical Sixthman Production (although there is nothing typical about it): The upcoming Kiss Kruise � Wet, Wild and Rockin� isn�t just a cruise for Kiss fans to buy collectible Kiss dolls (although that is part of it). This cruise features the actual band playing live -- Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer. Only the first two are original members, but the important thing is being at sea with nothing to think about but your Kiss makeup and a chance to meet Gene Simmons as he heads to the dining room for baked Alaska.

The Kiss Kruise sets sail on Carnival Destiny Oct. 13 � 17 from Miami to a private island in the Bahamas and to Nassau. There will be two shows by Kiss for everyone onboard to see, plus performances by four other bands. Guests on the Kiss Kruise will pay from $799 to $2,995 per person for a four-day cruise. Sixthman brings its own sound system, controls what is shown on the stateroom televisions, chooses the �drink of the day,� plots the ship�s itinerary and more. For four days Sixthman will basically �own� the cruise ship.

Other Sixthman ventures include two successful Kid Rock cruises, with a third one coming next April. Then there�s the Weezer Cruise, featuring the namesake band plus 15 or so special guests. The Rock Boat, now in its 12th year, started it all and features dozens of different bands.

I am really sorry I missed the last Simple Man Cruise, the fifth of which sailed last January with classic rock bands Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special and Little Feat, but cruise number six is being planned right now.

Then there's the fifth annual Cayamo Cruise sailing Feb. 5, 2012, where songwriters like Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams, John Prine and about 20 more will present their work -- and, more importantly, talk to fellow passengers and share their ideas on songwriting and performing. Other rock cruises include the VH1 Best Cruise Ever and Ships & Dips, that includes the Barenaked Ladies and several more bands.

Sixthman plans so many different cruises every year that the best thing to do for planning purposes is just visit its website to see what�s coming up. But be warned: Music cruises are highly addictive. Sixthman says more than 60% of guests on each cruise are repeaters. One of Sixthman�s competitors, the Jam Cruise, now in its 10th year, refers to its loyal client base as �repeat offenders.� Keep in mind that Sixthman's cruises often sell out up to a year in advance.

Sixthman is branching out beyond music to offer the Turner Classic Movie cruise on Dec. 8, 2011, showing several cinematic classics and bringing aboard Ernest Borgnine, Tippi Hedren, Norman Jewison and Eva Marie Saint to discuss and reminisce about the golden age of Hollywood. Overseeing the events will be TCM channel hosts Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz.

Another Sixthman distinction is its choice of ships. While both Smooth Jazz and the Blues Cruise have only used Holland America ships for years now, Sixthman will be chartering Carnival's Inspiration, Destiny and Fascination; Celebrity Millennium; and NCL's Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Dawn during the upcoming season.

When they are finished with each cruise, they will break down the stage, sound and lighting systems they bring on board and get them ready for the next adventure. And let me just say one thing: I would not want to be the person collecting the empty beer bottles.