Kiss News

By TAMARA WARREN
Photo by Andrew Gombert/European Pressphoto Agency

Smoke spurted, the curtain lifted and in rock star fashion Kiss took the stage Thursday morning at the New York auto show. The band wore full makeup, stilted heels and shiny spandex and posed next to four Mini Cooper Countrymans, customized according to each member�s face makeup pattern and persona � the Demon, the Spaceman, the Catman and the Starchild. The signed cars and other Kiss memorabilia will be auctioned for Unicef.

Gene Simmons, the bassist and vocalist, stuck out his infamous tongue and raised his arms, while the guitarist Tommy Thayer and the drummer Eric Singer lunged for the photo opportunity. The fourth Kiss member, Paul Stanley, was unable to attend because of a family emergency, Mr. Simmons said. Mini USA President Jim McDowell wore Kiss-inspired makeup and introduced the band. In their tall heels, they towered over Mr. McDowell. �I seem a little short,� he said.

�You don�t seem short,� Mr. Simmons said in response.� You are short.�

The band gathered in the basement of the Javits for interviews with Mr. McDowell after the conference. Mr. McDowell used a makeup artist for the event, but the band said they always apply the makeup themselves.

The auction begins online May 29 and runs to June 19. �We don�t make it a habit of doing press conferences and trying to convince people that we care about the planet we live and we live on the planet,� Mr. Simmons said. They also work with the charity Wounded Warriors. �We�re very blessed to lead this life.�By TAMARA WARREN
Photo by Andrew Gombert/European Pressphoto Agency

Smoke spurted, the curtain lifted and in rock star fashion Kiss took the stage Thursday morning at the New York auto show. The band wore full makeup, stilted heels and shiny spandex and posed next to four Mini Cooper Countrymans, customized according to each member�s face makeup pattern and persona � the Demon, the Spaceman, the Catman and the Starchild. The signed cars and other Kiss memorabilia will be auctioned for Unicef.

Gene Simmons, the bassist and vocalist, stuck out his infamous tongue and raised his arms, while the guitarist Tommy Thayer and the drummer Eric Singer lunged for the photo opportunity. The fourth Kiss member, Paul Stanley, was unable to attend because of a family emergency, Mr. Simmons said. Mini USA President Jim McDowell wore Kiss-inspired makeup and introduced the band. In their tall heels, they towered over Mr. McDowell. �I seem a little short,� he said.

�You don�t seem short,� Mr. Simmons said in response.� You are short.�

The band gathered in the basement of the Javits for interviews with Mr. McDowell after the conference. Mr. McDowell used a makeup artist for the event, but the band said they always apply the makeup themselves.

The auction begins online May 29 and runs to June 19. �We don�t make it a habit of doing press conferences and trying to convince people that we care about the planet we live and we live on the planet,� Mr. Simmons said. They also work with the charity Wounded Warriors. �We�re very blessed to lead this life.�

They have 20 concerts scheduled for this summer. �Detroit�s got its wonderful qualities and New York does too. What a great way to see America in the Mini Cooper. Wouldn�t that be cool?� Mr. Simmons said. �I�m going to get me one. I want the Demon. Jim is going to get me the Demon Mini Cooper.�

Several of the band members collect cars. �We are car aficionados,� Mr. Singer said. �I have a couple vintage cars. I go to car shows on the weekend. Southern California is the car culture of America when it comes down to it.�

When it�s time to tour, they take to the skies �We have a Kiss jet,� Mr. Thayer said. �But we�re all into cars we can appreciate great cars. Mini Coopers have a rock and roll history. Back in the �60s the Beatles used to drive Mini Coopers, Paul McCartney, John Lennon.�

None of the Kiss members drive Minis, but they each expressed an interest in driving Minis around Los Angeles. �Not as many cars would look good with your face wrapped on them,� Mr. McDowell said.

MINI and legendary rock band KISS partner to raise money for UNICEF

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MINI USA launches the "MINI Rocks the Rivals" competitive test-drive tour in the USA, and as part of the kickoff, MINI has partnered with legendary rock band KISS to raise money for UNICEF to help children in Japan and emergencies around the globe.

KISS band members made the announcement live as four MINI Countryman vehicles with KISS-inspired designs made their debut at the New York Auto Show, each representing one of the KISS band member's iconic faces. All four vehicles will be auctioned after being custom painted with the revealed design and signed by all four KISS members. Fans will be able to bid on the vehicles during a special Father's Day eBay charity auction opening May 29th and proceeds will be donated to UNICEF.

"Our hearts go out to the people of Japan in this time of great tragedy. We wanted to help and also to provide a real way for the KISS Army to get involved," said Gene Simmons of KISS. "UNICEF raises money to help children who are still coping with the effects of these disasters, and also supports other very important emergency relief efforts around the world. Join the KISS Army in giving."MINI and legendary rock band KISS partner to raise money for UNICEF

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MINI USA launches the "MINI Rocks the Rivals" competitive test-drive tour in the USA, and as part of the kickoff, MINI has partnered with legendary rock band KISS to raise money for UNICEF to help children in Japan and emergencies around the globe.

KISS band members made the announcement live as four MINI Countryman vehicles with KISS-inspired designs made their debut at the New York Auto Show, each representing one of the KISS band member's iconic faces. All four vehicles will be auctioned after being custom painted with the revealed design and signed by all four KISS members. Fans will be able to bid on the vehicles during a special Father's Day eBay charity auction opening May 29th and proceeds will be donated to UNICEF.

"Our hearts go out to the people of Japan in this time of great tragedy. We wanted to help and also to provide a real way for the KISS Army to get involved," said Gene Simmons of KISS. "UNICEF raises money to help children who are still coping with the effects of these disasters, and also supports other very important emergency relief efforts around the world. Join the KISS Army in giving."

In addition to the vehicle charity auction, MINI USA will sell MINI vehicle wraps of the KISS designs revealed at the New York Auto Show beginning April 21, 2011. MINI USA's proceeds from those sales will also be donated to UNICEF.

"MINI and its owners have long been dedicated to contributing to philanthropic and charitable efforts," said Jim McDowell, Vice President - MINI USA. "MINI USA had established a relationship with KISS as we kick off the 'MINI Rocks the Rivals' tour in the US, and these fundraising initiatives were an ideal way for us to incorporate a fun charitable component to the campaign with these original pieces of art."

For additional information, images and video please visit: www.miniusanews.com.

By Mike Magrath

Do you like the Mini Countryman? Old men dressed like monsters in bondage? Helping children affected by the earthquake in Japan and other disasters? Being yelled at by said monsters about said children while standing on Mini Countrymen?

If you answered yes to all of the above, this story is for you!

The Twitterverse has been abuzz for the last day with rumors that Kiss, or at least Gene Simmons, was attending some BMW functions. For example, Martha Stewart tweeted, "me and kisses [sic] gene simmons who is sitting next to me at per se dinner for bmw http://twitpic.com/4ndwbq" and the even less coherent, "Gene simmons of kiss mini coopers part bmw. He does have funny eating habits and he is not in makeup tonight."

Right. Whatever that was intended to mean, Mini rolled out Kiss (and not Mini Kiss like so many expected) for the 2011 New York Auto Show to kick off "Mini Rocks the Rivals" test-drive program. The idea is to go "on the road" with the hot-selling Countryman to provide consumer ride-and-drives side-by-side with the competition.

The other part of this is an auction. The four vehicles -- one styled after each member of the band and signed by all four -- will be auctioned off and all proceeds donated to UNICEF. The auction starts on May 29 and runs for 10 days.By Mike Magrath

Do you like the Mini Countryman? Old men dressed like monsters in bondage? Helping children affected by the earthquake in Japan and other disasters? Being yelled at by said monsters about said children while standing on Mini Countrymen?

If you answered yes to all of the above, this story is for you!

The Twitterverse has been abuzz for the last day with rumors that Kiss, or at least Gene Simmons, was attending some BMW functions. For example, Martha Stewart tweeted, "me and kisses [sic] gene simmons who is sitting next to me at per se dinner for bmw http://twitpic.com/4ndwbq" and the even less coherent, "Gene simmons of kiss mini coopers part bmw. He does have funny eating habits and he is not in makeup tonight."

Right. Whatever that was intended to mean, Mini rolled out Kiss (and not Mini Kiss like so many expected) for the 2011 New York Auto Show to kick off "Mini Rocks the Rivals" test-drive program. The idea is to go "on the road" with the hot-selling Countryman to provide consumer ride-and-drives side-by-side with the competition.

The other part of this is an auction. The four vehicles -- one styled after each member of the band and signed by all four -- will be auctioned off and all proceeds donated to UNICEF. The auction starts on May 29 and runs for 10 days.

Mini also announced that it will sell the Kiss design graphics packs that can be bought and installed at authorized Mini dealers. Again, proceeds will be donated to UNICEF. Kiss wraps will be available on April 21.

No, they didn't play.