Kiss News

Here is our KISS wedding story . . .

My wife Tina and I have known each other since May, 2005. We took a journey to Italy with the German-Italian Culture Club where my Uncle is President. There (Italy) we did some sightseeing, and took some bus trips, etc. As we parted ways, we promised to keep in contact, but as you guessed, it never happened . . . until November. Tina then contacted my Aunt, she contacted my Mom, and then contacted me. Needless to say, I was very happy :-) Tina and I then went out on a date to the cinema, to see Harry Potter. One thing led to another, and we�ve been in a relationship since that day.

I was a KISS Fan since 1987 (Crazy Nights) but the first chance I had to see them was the Reunion Tour in `96/`97 where I went to Zurich/Switzerland twice and Stuttgart/Germany. Then came the Psycho Circus Tour, and I saw them again in Germany.

There was then a long absence in Europe until 2008 - ALIVE 35 Tour. Tina and I booked a �Meet & Greet� in Stuttgart/Germany and we�re very excited to see Gene, Paul, Eric and Tommy in person!!! And then it happened, the day came, and we were ready for the boys. Sad to say that Tina became ill and had to stay in a wheelchair for a small period of time, but guess what happened at the Meet & Greet?

KISS kneeled before my wife, and signed the wheelchair!!! What a great thing to see :-)

So the connection between me, my wife, and KISS is clear to see I guess.Here is our wedding story . . .

My wife Tina and I have known each other since May, 2005. We took a journey to Italy with the German-Italian Culture Club where my Uncle is President. There (Italy) we did some sightseeing, and took some bus trips, etc. As we parted ways, we promised to keep in contact, but as you guessed, it never happened . . . until November. Tina then contacted my Aunt, she contacted my Mom, and then contacted me. Needless to say, I was very happy :-) Tina and I then went out on a date to the cinema, to see Harry Potter. One thing led to another, and we�ve been in a relationship since that day.

I was a KISS Fan since 1987 (Crazy Nights) but the first chance I had to see them was the Reunion Tour in `96/`97 where I went to Zurich/Switzerland twice and Stuttgart/Germany. Then came the Psycho Circus Tour, and I saw them again in Germany.

There was then a long absence in Europe until 2008 - ALIVE 35 Tour. Tina and I booked a �Meet & Greet� in Stuttgart/Germany and we�re very excited to see Gene, Paul, Eric and Tommy in person!!! And then it happened, the day came, and we were ready for the boys. Sad to say that Tina became ill and had to stay in a wheelchair for a small period of time, but guess what happened at the Meet & Greet?

KISS kneeled before my wife, and signed the wheelchair!!! What a great thing to see :-)

So the connection between me, my wife, and KISS is clear to see I guess.

The next time we saw them was when I bought the Gene Simmons AXE Bass in Zurich/Switzerland. I ordered it online, and want to meet Gene backstage prior to the show. And that�s exactly that happened. It was May 16th (I remember it well because that was the day Ronnie James DIO passed - R.I.P). The host�s name was Paul, and he met us near the Gene Simmons AXE Bus to lead us to the backstage area. And there we were - we got our AXE Bass signed by Gene, and talked a little, and joked. As we left the signing room Doc McGhee crossed our way and I asked him for an upgrade to the big �Meet & Greet� with the whole band . . . and he did it! So we had our second meeting with Gene and the band. That day I took home 11 items signed by all the band members, and especially by Gene!

But what is this all about in hindsight, relative to our wedding? Tina and I wanted to give each other a present on our wedding day. So I had this funny idea to record "Christine Sixteen" for her, and I went into our studio (I�m in a rock band and play drums actually). It took me a while to sing it properly, but it came out fine :-) Our keyboardist then designed a booklet and it looked professional. Two days prior to our wedding, we couldn�t wait any longer, and decided to give each other our presents . . .

So what did I get? Tina had the same idea, and went to a musician she knew and recorded "Forever" for me! :-) We both laughed and cried about these crazy ideas we had, and neither of us knew anything about the other . . . So we took "Forever" as our wedding song. It is inscribed on our wedding bands, and was played live in the church by a music buddy that I have.

Two more little stories about us and KISS - the first would be the �Meet & Greet� with Ace Frehley in Luzern/Switzerland. There was a professional photographer there to take photos, but we refused him, and as we were in line, our camera became damaged :-( The pro had since gone, and we only got one bad photo from this happening.

The next �Meet & Greet� was with ESP in Pratten/Switzerland. We had sound check (very funny) with the whole band, and then had many items autographed by all band members. Tina and I then went outside to get something for dinner. When we returned, Bruce Kulick came to us to ask if we knew of any places for his girlfriend to stay for the night! Tina and I only got a cab with two seats, and so I joked to Bruce, "take her to IKEA - they have lots of nice beds"! Bruce smiled, and told me how funny that was. I then asked a buddy of mine, and later found out that he took her home! :-)

This is a loooooong story, but I hope it will help you get an inside look of Tina�s, and my life, and how it felt to be us with KISS! We would be glad if you could post this on KISS Online.

So we�ll see you on August 13th at your 5th Anniversary Party - where we�ll get to meet Eric and Tommy again! :-)

Greetz from Switzerland, and keep Rockin� and Rollin� All Nite . . .
. . . And Drink Rockuccino�s All Day! :-)))

Andy & Tina

In the photo: Tommy Thayer, host of the 2011 Pacific University Legends Golf Classic is introduced at the July 31st Legends dinner and concert event at the Tiger Woods Center at Nike's World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. -- Photo: Heidi Hoffman

By Kelly House, The Oregonian

You know it's going to be a party when the host is a famous guitarist and the guest list includes several of his rock star friends.

Organizers of Pacific University's annual Legends Golf Classic charity tournament, which finished its fifth run Monday at Aloha's The Reserve Vineyards & Golf Club, say its star-studded, rambunctious atmosphere has made it the university's most hyped yearly fundraiser.

"I've had phone calls and emails from people at Division I and Division II schools from all over the country, just asking how to put something like this on," Pacific Athletic Director Ken Schumann said at Monday's tournament.

Not bad for an event that began like many other small schools' charity golf outings: Just a couple of dozen Pacific sports supporters swinging clubs to support the athletic department.

Enter KISS lead guitarist Tommy Thayer, a Beaverton native who serves on Pacific's board of trustees, and the smalltime fundraiser became a place to see, be seen, and party like a rock star.In the photo: Tommy Thayer, host of the 2011 Pacific University Legends Golf Classic is introduced at the July 31st Legends dinner and concert event at the Tiger Woods Center at Nike's World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. -- Photo: Heidi Hoffman

By Kelly House, The Oregonian

You know it's going to be a party when the host is a famous guitarist and the guest list includes several of his rock star friends.

Organizers of Pacific University's annual Legends Golf Classic charity tournament, which finished its fifth run Monday at Aloha's The Reserve Vineyards & Golf Club, say its star-studded, rambunctious atmosphere has made it the university's most hyped yearly fundraiser.

"I've had phone calls and emails from people at Division I and Division II schools from all over the country, just asking how to put something like this on," Pacific Athletic Director Ken Schumann said at Monday's tournament.

Not bad for an event that began like many other small schools' charity golf outings: Just a couple of dozen Pacific sports supporters swinging clubs to support the athletic department.

Enter KISS lead guitarist Tommy Thayer, a Beaverton native who serves on Pacific's board of trustees, and the smalltime fundraiser became a place to see, be seen, and party like a rock star.

"It just kind of makes you feel special when you're going to spend money on a cause," said Marshal Burgess, 38, of Portland, who gushed about his dinner with actor Clint Howard the night before.

The backstory goes like this: Schumann invited Thayer, then a new trustee, to participate in that year's the golf outing. Thayer accepted, but on one condition.

"I said of course I would, but I want to make it a really top-notch event," Thayer said as he prepared to tee off Monday.

Luckily, Thayer's address book is filled with other celebrity musicians and pro golfers he's met through the pro-am circuit. He called up a few friends, asked them to join, and soon the small fundraiser earned the title of "celebrity golf outing."

Pacific earned $75,000 in Thayer's first year at the golf outing. This year, Schumann expects the event to net at least $180,000, with 160 people paying top dollar to hit balls with their music and sports idols.

For many, the tournament itself wasn't the highlight. It was the night before, when guests bid on auction items including a KISS-themed Mini Cooper or a long weekend at Thayer's vacation home on Cannon Beach.

Then, Thayer and his brigade of special guests such as Darius Rucker and Clint Black rocked out for hours in a private concert. Thayer called it a "magical jam session."

"It's a'happening," Pacific trustee Yvonne Katz said Monday. "We were rocking and rolling last night 'til after midnight."

It's no wonder the next day's golf outing didn't tee off until 1 p.m.

Thayer was there, dressed in golf gear with a studded black belt and long, shaggy hair for the appropriate rocker edge. So was Johnny Lee, covered in head-to-toe green with dollar bills on his pants. The Doors' guitarist Robby Krieger practiced his swing in psychedelic multicolored trousers that could have come straight out of the band's heyday.

Big names, loud outfits, killer guitar riffs -- Thayer said that's what makes Legends unique.

"It's known as a golf event, but really it's an entertainment event," he said. "The thing that's unique and special about what we do is our party and concert."

But it's not all about the party. The money earned at Legends will cover various expenses for Pacific's 21-sport athletic program. About $80,000 will pay to install a turf practice field inside the university's Stoller Center fieldhouse.

"It directly benefits over 500 student athletes," Schumann said. "That resonates with a lot of people."

KISS To Deliver New Album Early Next Year - "There�s No Plan To Sit Around In 2012" Eric Singer Tells BraveWords.com In Part II Of Exclusive Chat

KISS drummer Eric Singer recently sat down with BraveWords.com scribe, Mitch Lafon, for an all-encompassing three-hour chat. Part I of the sit-down can be found here. In Part II, Eric discusses more of KISS' upcoming plans.

On the upcoming KISSology IV DVD Box set: �It should be out before Christmas. It�ll be about twelve hours of stuff. Tommy has been putting it all together, but I can�t tell you exactly what is on it because we still have to get the rights to some of the stuff. The band has to buy the rights even if it�s only one song like on David Letterman or Jay Leno. Even though it�s your performance, it�s their show and they own it. KISSology IV picks up where the last one left off. For the most part it runs chronologically, but there is some old vintage stuff on there that they had been trying to find. It�s all a matter of clearance and them getting permission to use certain stuff. There�s an A list of stuff we want, a B list of stuff we know we can use and C list of stuff we have to wait and see if we can use, but I do know there will be a Cobo Hall (Detroit) concert from 2009.�

On the topic of Paul Stanley: �Paul is the consummate pro. Paul never complains. He�s calm before the show, but when he walks out on stage he flips the switch, goes 100%, gives it all and never ever complains. This is a guy who has had both knees replaced, his hip (on the right side) replaced twice and torn both rotator cuffs (in his shoulders). He might say, �I�m really sore, so I�ll need a massage or I�m staying in bed today, but still after all he�s had done he never complains.�
KISS To Deliver New Album Early Next Year - "There�s No Plan To Sit Around In 2012" Eric Singer Tells BraveWords.com In Part II Of Exclusive Chat

KISS drummer Eric Singer recently sat down with BraveWords.com scribe, Mitch Lafon, for an all-encompassing three-hour chat. Part I of the sit-down can be found here. In Part II, Eric discusses more of KISS' upcoming plans.

On the upcoming KISSology IV DVD Box set: �It should be out before Christmas. It�ll be about twelve hours of stuff. Tommy has been putting it all together, but I can�t tell you exactly what is on it because we still have to get the rights to some of the stuff. The band has to buy the rights even if it�s only one song like on David Letterman or Jay Leno. Even though it�s your performance, it�s their show and they own it. KISSology IV picks up where the last one left off. For the most part it runs chronologically, but there is some old vintage stuff on there that they had been trying to find. It�s all a matter of clearance and them getting permission to use certain stuff. There�s an A list of stuff we want, a B list of stuff we know we can use and C list of stuff we have to wait and see if we can use, but I do know there will be a Cobo Hall (Detroit) concert from 2009.�

On the topic of Paul Stanley: �Paul is the consummate pro. Paul never complains. He�s calm before the show, but when he walks out on stage he flips the switch, goes 100%, gives it all and never ever complains. This is a guy who has had both knees replaced, his hip (on the right side) replaced twice and torn both rotator cuffs (in his shoulders). He might say, �I�m really sore, so I�ll need a massage or I�m staying in bed today, but still after all he�s had done he never complains.�

KISS maven, Gene Simmons: �Gene is the archivist in KISS. Anytime there�s an article about KISS, Gene tears it out nicely and he puts them in these big coffee table sized books. He used to have them stacked at home under the bed at his mom�s house, but I don�t know where he stores them now. He collects anything and everything KISS."

As for Gene�s love of money, Singer says: �I laugh when people say that all Gene Simmons cares about is money. Nobody really knows who Gene is. Nobody loves KISS more than Gene� NOBODY! Gene eats, breathes, and lives everything KISS. That�s what he does. Gene is a workaholic. We�re on a day off right now and I�m at home, but Gene�s in Vancouver doing demos with local musicians. He�s working on song ideas for the new record. He did it in Toronto last week on his day off too. Gene can�t sit still. He can�t just relax by the pool and get some sun. That�s just the way he is. He�s got work ethic like nobody�s business. There�s nobody more driven and with a better work ethic than Gene. Gene is 24/7 KISS. Everything he does is because of KISS.�

On KISS� work ethic, Singer states: �These guys don�t fuck around. When we meet at rehearsal, they put on the guitars and gear and we run the set from front to back and it�s see you guys later. Let�s say the set takes two hours to run down, we�re there no more than three hours. Other bands goof around for hours, but these guys come in and �bam� they run this shit down and get it done with. They do their work and leave. Still to this day (38 years or whatever later), they still do the work and whatever it takes that you are supposed to do to be in band. They will talk to Joe Fucks website. Whatever interview list they give us to do� we do it. In other words, we do the work. That�s why, for any of the naysayers out there, we get along and this line-up works. This is why Gene and Paul still want to play and enjoy it. We�re all completely different in our personalities, but when it comes to being in a band everybody treats KISS professionally and with respect. It�s about being respectful to it and being serious. Bottom line is that this band has given everybody a life style that is better than most people and that comes from them doing the due diligence, doing the work, treating it with professionalism, respect, and not running away from the work. It gets done. I�ve learned a lot from Gene and Paul about those things that are taken for granted by most musicians. Much smaller bands will sit there and have an attitude about doing interviews� �I don�t want to do this or I don�t want to do that,� and you know Mitch � you hear it and see it all the time. Then you see a band like KISS, that will do whatever they have to do.�

On the new KISS album currently being recorded: �It will be completed in the next couple of months. The plan is to put it out at the beginning of the year and to do a tour with a new stage (new staging and new show) and maybe even new costumes. There�s no plan to sit around in 2012.�

When asked if the new album will be a Walmart exclusive (much like their last offering, Sonic Boom): �I don�t know. What�s changed more than anything, is in the old days you toured to support a record, but now you make a record so that you have a reason to tour. It�s exactly the opposite of what it used to be. The only way bands can make money anymore is by touring. People just don�t buy records when I was in BADLANDS in 1989, we sold almost 400 000 copies of our first record and that wasn�t enough. Atlantic records said that they�d kick in the real big money if we could get it to Gold (500,000 copies sold). We came so close to getting MÖTLEY CRÜE's Dr. Feelgood tour, but WARRANT got it because they had radio songs happening. Badlands did one more record. They went from selling almost 400,000 to selling 80,000 on the next one and then the band was over. If you sold 350,000 records today; that would be considered phenomenal.�

When asked if KISS will ever tour again without make-up Singer offers: �I don�t know. I�ve heard Gene mention something about maybe doing another KISS convention thing again in the future, but I don�t know if that�s ever going to happen. When we did it in 1995, it cost 100$, but that�s nothing compared to today�s prices. For the fan, that was a great experience, but Gene says a lot of things. He�s an idea man and in business if one or two of your ideas comes to fruition you�ve done pretty damn good. Do you know how many pilots and screenplays that get done, but never see the light of day and that nobody knows about? One of the things we plan on doing on the KISS Kruise, however, is to play unplugged with no make-up.�

KISS - Turning Stone Casino Event Center, Verona, NY- July 28, 2011

Review/photos by John Jeffrey

What does a band, that has been touring for the better part of 40 years, who has recently finished a 2 year World tour, which is now taking a break from recording it's 20th studio album, do next? A summer tour, of course. KISS, the "Hottest Band in the Land," just wrapped up their 18 date "Lost Cities Tour," which spanned across the months of June and July, wrapping up on 7/28 in Verona, NY. Attending this show was quite a treat, as KISS performed inside of the Turning Stone Casino Event Center. The Event Center holds about 4,000, which made this concert one of the smallest venues KISS has performed in (aside from a 'one off' club gig or their 1995 Unplugged/Convention tour) since the beginning of their career. Size didn't matter, as the great acoustics of the room emphasized KISS' bombastic sound, and the sold out crowd roared like there was 40,000 people in attendance. Ever since seeing the footage of the open air Rio concert from 1983, I've always felt that the band's sound suffers slightly outdoors, so it was nice to hear their electric magic in such an intimate arena.

The show itself was a stripped down version of the 2010 "Hottest Show on Earth" tour, as the stage was a combination of the "Alive 35" and "Sonic Boom" sets. There were 2 walls of amplifiers, covered by video screens, on either side of Eric Singer's awesome drum kit, and instead of the lighted KISS logo being mounted to the front of the drum riser again, it was perched high above, behind Eric. This time, there were video screens on the front of Eric's riser, looking connected to the screens placed in front of the amps. And as opposed to having one large video screen as their backdrop, there were 2 smaller video screens placed on the left and right of the KISS logo.
KISS - Turning Stone Casino Event Center, Verona, NY- July 28, 2011

Review/photos by John Jeffrey

What does a band, that has been touring for the better part of 40 years, who has recently finished a 2 year World tour, which is now taking a break from recording it's 20th studio album, do next? A summer tour, of course. KISS, the "Hottest Band in the Land," just wrapped up their 18 date "Lost Cities Tour," which spanned across the months of June and July, wrapping up on 7/28 in Verona, NY. Attending this show was quite a treat, as KISS performed inside of the Turning Stone Casino Event Center. The Event Center holds about 4,000, which made this concert one of the smallest venues KISS has performed in (aside from a 'one off' club gig or their 1995 Unplugged/Convention tour) since the beginning of their career. Size didn't matter, as the great acoustics of the room emphasized KISS' bombastic sound, and the sold out crowd roared like there was 40,000 people in attendance. Ever since seeing the footage of the open air Rio concert from 1983, I've always felt that the band's sound suffers slightly outdoors, so it was nice to hear their electric magic in such an intimate arena.

The show itself was a stripped down version of the 2010 "Hottest Show on Earth" tour, as the stage was a combination of the "Alive 35" and "Sonic Boom" sets. There were 2 walls of amplifiers, covered by video screens, on either side of Eric Singer's awesome drum kit, and instead of the lighted KISS logo being mounted to the front of the drum riser again, it was perched high above, behind Eric. This time, there were video screens on the front of Eric's riser, looking connected to the screens placed in front of the amps. And as opposed to having one large video screen as their backdrop, there were 2 smaller video screens placed on the left and right of the KISS logo.

The setlist was also scaled back a bit, as they shortened their usual 20+ song set down to 16 tunes. It didn't matter though, as the general concert goers got close to 2 hours of the band's greatest hits and the diehards, impatiently waiting for an overhaul in the group's live repertoire, got to enjoy the return of "Do You Love Me" and "God of Thunder" to the set. While there was no flying stunts by either Gene Simmons or Paul Stanley, they did keep the dueling guitar/drum solos by Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer.

KISS performed like a well oiled machine, but their attitude was like a 'cool dude in a loose mood' (obscure KISS reference quota filled). They seemed to be enjoying themselves on the last night of the tour, as Paul Stanley thanked the road crew for a fine job they did on this run, as he quickly quipped, "There will be no bonuses!" The running joke of the night seemed to be what they wanted to call the area in which they were playing. Throughout the show, they addressed the crowd at different times as Verona, as Syracuse and even Rome. Not being able to settle on which was more appropriate, by the end of the night, Paul was addressing the crowd by all three city's names.

While some fans have voiced their concern over Paul Stanley's recent vocal ailments, it seems as though he has worked through whatever was plaguing him in the past for the most part, as his tone was top notch and sounded the best that I've heard him sing in a number of years. The whole band put on a great performance, as the only noticeable glitch was during "Beth," when they started the song, Gene's bass was barely audible, and when they turned up his volume, they turned it up way too loud, which threw Gene off, causing him to hit a couple of bum notes. Considering the band and the show is so well rehearsed, it actually makes it a little more entertaining when you hear a flub played here or there, as it reminds you that KISS is a REAL rock and roll band, not playing along to tapes, clicks, loops or whatever a lot of these other bands do today - during their 'live' shows.

KISS' "Lost Cities" tour will be their last tour of 2011 (aside from the October "KISS Kruise"), as the band will continue working in the studio on their follow up CD, to 2009's "Sonic Boom." It will be interesting to see how the new CD will influence next year's tour, as time and time again, KISS ups the ante, in an attempt to outdo themselves. If last Thursday's show in Verona was any indication of how much KISS has left in the tank, they will continue to be around for many years, showing the world "how the big boys do it."

Special Thanks to: Jerry Reed, Yvonne Borrotto, Brittany Sykes, Doc McGhee & Eric Singer