Kiss News

BY ETHAN SACKS

The irony isn't lost on Paul Stanley that the man who sang "Shout It Out Loud" is crusading to warn teens about the dangers of hearing loss.

But the KISS lead singer says he's joining forces with the non profit House Research Group precisely because some of his fans will listen to his warnings.

"I think what young people don't realize is that when you lose your hearing you don't get it back and there are easy ways of preventing that from happening," Stanley tells The News.

"If I want to listen to music loud, I slip in earplugs under my earphones," he says. "I can still turn my brain into a milkshake without melting my ears."

Stanley says he was especially jarred to learn that hearing loss has gone up 30% in just the last 15 years among teenagers. He thinks about it everytime he sees young fans walking down the street with earphones plugged in.BY ETHAN SACKS

The irony isn't lost on Paul Stanley that the man who sang "Shout It Out Loud" is crusading to warn teens about the dangers of hearing loss.

But the KISS lead singer says he's joining forces with the non profit House Research Group precisely because some of his fans will listen to his warnings.

"I think what young people don't realize is that when you lose your hearing you don't get it back and there are easy ways of preventing that from happening," Stanley tells The News.

"If I want to listen to music loud, I slip in earplugs under my earphones," he says. "I can still turn my brain into a milkshake without melting my ears."

Stanley says he was especially jarred to learn that hearing loss has gone up 30% in just the last 15 years among teenagers. He thinks about it everytime he sees young fans walking down the street with earphones plugged in.

And most concerts, KISS' included, are amped to roughly 105 decibels, he says.

That's loud enough to damage hearing in just four minutes � the length of his band's hit, "God of Thunder."

It's a very personal issue for the 59-yearold Stanley. He was born deaf in his right ear.

"You never miss what you haven't had," says Stanley. But he quickly adds that the condition made him pay a heck of a lot attention to protecting his left ear.

Stanley headlines "Sound Rules! A Sound & Hearing Celebration," 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. today at the Director's Guild of America Theatre, 110 W. 57th St. (Visit soundrules.org for information on free tickets.)

But it's not all work for the native New Yorker � he's also looking forward to wolfing down some real pizza and shopping for guitars on 48th St.

He worked as a taxi driver before breaking big with friend Gene Simmons and their band. "I remember driving people in my cab to see Elvis, and I thought to myself, �One of these days other people will be taking cabs to see me," he says.

By Jackson Holtz
EVERETT -- Get ready to rock and roll all night. And party every day.

KISS, the hard rock band known for wearing black-and-white face paint, black hosiery and platform shoes, is scheduled to play Comcast Arena in Everett on June 23.

Tickets are set to sell for $49, $69 and $93 and should go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, arena officials said.

Called by some "the greatest rock band of all time," KISS started in the 1970s and rose to fame, fueled in part by their flamboyant live acts and outrageous costumes.

They're perhaps best known for their hits "Rock and Roll All Night" and "Detroit Rock City."

Frontman Gene Simmons fueled the flames of stardom with his controversial remarks, outfits and reported mysogeny.

Still, the controversy never dampened the band's popularity and they've maintained a huge following around the world.

Fans are known to dress up for concerts with face paint mirroring the band members, who have been a changing cast in the past three decades.

Despite a "farewell" tour and various rumors of the band's demise, they've continued to rise from the ashes.

In 2009, KISS released a new album, "Sonic Boom," appeared on "American Idol" and now are back on the road and reportedly are at work on another album.

Simmons has been quoted as saying the album will build off "Sonic Boom" and will be "very similar -- straight rock songs, no ballads, no keyboards, no nothing, just rock."

Along with Simmons, rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley is the only other original band member. Drummer Eric Singer has been in and out for more than a decade. He's been in the band since 2004. Tommy Thayer joined the band in 2002 on lead guitar.

The concert is something of coup for Everett. The band is skipping other Puget Sound-area concert venues on their tour.By Jackson Holtz
EVERETT -- Get ready to rock and roll all night. And party every day.

KISS, the hard rock band known for wearing black-and-white face paint, black hosiery and platform shoes, is scheduled to play Comcast Arena in Everett on June 23.

Tickets are set to sell for $49, $69 and $93 and should go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, arena officials said.

Called by some "the greatest rock band of all time," KISS started in the 1970s and rose to fame, fueled in part by their flamboyant live acts and outrageous costumes.

They're perhaps best known for their hits "Rock and Roll All Night" and "Detroit Rock City."

Frontman Gene Simmons fueled the flames of stardom with his controversial remarks, outfits and reported mysogeny.

Still, the controversy never dampened the band's popularity and they've maintained a huge following around the world.

Fans are known to dress up for concerts with face paint mirroring the band members, who have been a changing cast in the past three decades.

Despite a "farewell" tour and various rumors of the band's demise, they've continued to rise from the ashes.

In 2009, KISS released a new album, "Sonic Boom," appeared on "American Idol" and now are back on the road and reportedly are at work on another album.

Simmons has been quoted as saying the album will build off "Sonic Boom" and will be "very similar -- straight rock songs, no ballads, no keyboards, no nothing, just rock."

Along with Simmons, rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley is the only other original band member. Drummer Eric Singer has been in and out for more than a decade. He's been in the band since 2004. Tommy Thayer joined the band in 2002 on lead guitar.

The concert is something of coup for Everett. The band is skipping other Puget Sound-area concert venues on their tour.