07/25/2010
KISS LIVE IN MINOT
Kiss News
07/25/2010
NORTH DAKOTA KISS ARMY
07/24/2010
ICONIC ROCK GROUP KICKS OFF TOUR
KISS Tour Is for the Children, Says Gene Simmons
by Gary Graff
Photo: Stephen Holman/Tulsa World
KISS For Kids could well be the theme of the iconic rock group's just-started North American tour.
In a novel move for its amphitheater dates, the costumed quartet is giving free lawn tickets to up to four children with each paying adult.
"It's time to give back," bassist Gene Simmons explains to Billboard.com, adding that KISS -- which is also donating $1 per ticket to the Wounded Warrior foundation -- hopes to show the youths "that there's another world out there besides Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers. It's important for them to see how the big boys do it. There's no tapes. There's no background singers backstage. There's no click tracks. It's important for the kids to see that whatever you see on stage is real. We want to spread this. I'm insulted by any act that goes up there with dancers and tapes. It's insulting."
KISS hopes to snare the kids more in the near future via an animated program that's being produced in partnership with E1 Entertainment and will feature the four KISS members as characters. Simmons says he hopes to have the program on air "in the next six months."
Meanwhile, he and his bandmates are planning to give fans old and young alike a freshened KISS show after focusing on the group's "Alive!" album -- which turns 35 this year -- during last year's road trek. "Technology has enabled us to do all kinds of wacky stuff," Simmons explains, while the repertoire includes three songs from last year's "Sonic Boom" album -- "Modern Day Delilah," "Say Yeah" and "Animal" -- as well as the seldom-performed "Crazy Nights." And drummer Eric Singer will be taking over the Peter Criss-sung smash "Beth" each night.KISS Tour Is for the Children, Says Gene Simmons
by Gary Graff
Photo: Stephen Holman/Tulsa World
KISS For Kids could well be the theme of the iconic rock group's just-started North American tour.
In a novel move for its amphitheater dates, the costumed quartet is giving free lawn tickets to up to four children with each paying adult.
"It's time to give back," bassist Gene Simmons explains to Billboard.com, adding that KISS -- which is also donating $1 per ticket to the Wounded Warrior foundation -- hopes to show the youths "that there's another world out there besides Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers. It's important for them to see how the big boys do it. There's no tapes. There's no background singers backstage. There's no click tracks. It's important for the kids to see that whatever you see on stage is real. We want to spread this. I'm insulted by any act that goes up there with dancers and tapes. It's insulting."
KISS hopes to snare the kids more in the near future via an animated program that's being produced in partnership with E1 Entertainment and will feature the four KISS members as characters. Simmons says he hopes to have the program on air "in the next six months."
Meanwhile, he and his bandmates are planning to give fans old and young alike a freshened KISS show after focusing on the group's "Alive!" album -- which turns 35 this year -- during last year's road trek. "Technology has enabled us to do all kinds of wacky stuff," Simmons explains, while the repertoire includes three songs from last year's "Sonic Boom" album -- "Modern Day Delilah," "Say Yeah" and "Animal" -- as well as the seldom-performed "Crazy Nights." And drummer Eric Singer will be taking over the Peter Criss-sung smash "Beth" each night.
"It's acoustic -- there will be no tapes, just two acoustic guitars and bass and that's it," says Simmons, adding that KISS had previously kept the song out of the shows "out of deference to Peter Criss," who has left the band three times, most recently in 2004. "We still have a tug of the heart...Peter and Ace [Frehley] are beloved, as well they should be for the beginning, for helping launch the band. But it's important to note that with them in the band today, KISS wouldn't be around."
Simmons says KISS is anxious to work on a follow-up to "Sonic Boom," the group's first new studio album in 11 years. But he won't guess when that will be. "I think we'll do another one, but we need time," Simmons explains, noting the group's heavy touring schedule as well as his continuing "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" reality series on A&E and co-founder Paul Stanley's burgeoning art career.
The next KISS project will likely be a fourth version of the popular "KISSology" DVD series, which Simmons says is coming "soon" and will feature "some new stuff but some stuff nobody's ever seen before, going all the way back to 1973." The group is also expecting to film a third commercial for Dr. Pepper in the near future.
by Gary Graff
Photo: Stephen Holman/Tulsa World
KISS For Kids could well be the theme of the iconic rock group's just-started North American tour.
In a novel move for its amphitheater dates, the costumed quartet is giving free lawn tickets to up to four children with each paying adult.
"It's time to give back," bassist Gene Simmons explains to Billboard.com, adding that KISS -- which is also donating $1 per ticket to the Wounded Warrior foundation -- hopes to show the youths "that there's another world out there besides Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers. It's important for them to see how the big boys do it. There's no tapes. There's no background singers backstage. There's no click tracks. It's important for the kids to see that whatever you see on stage is real. We want to spread this. I'm insulted by any act that goes up there with dancers and tapes. It's insulting."
KISS hopes to snare the kids more in the near future via an animated program that's being produced in partnership with E1 Entertainment and will feature the four KISS members as characters. Simmons says he hopes to have the program on air "in the next six months."
Meanwhile, he and his bandmates are planning to give fans old and young alike a freshened KISS show after focusing on the group's "Alive!" album -- which turns 35 this year -- during last year's road trek. "Technology has enabled us to do all kinds of wacky stuff," Simmons explains, while the repertoire includes three songs from last year's "Sonic Boom" album -- "Modern Day Delilah," "Say Yeah" and "Animal" -- as well as the seldom-performed "Crazy Nights." And drummer Eric Singer will be taking over the Peter Criss-sung smash "Beth" each night.KISS Tour Is for the Children, Says Gene Simmons
by Gary Graff
Photo: Stephen Holman/Tulsa World
KISS For Kids could well be the theme of the iconic rock group's just-started North American tour.
In a novel move for its amphitheater dates, the costumed quartet is giving free lawn tickets to up to four children with each paying adult.
"It's time to give back," bassist Gene Simmons explains to Billboard.com, adding that KISS -- which is also donating $1 per ticket to the Wounded Warrior foundation -- hopes to show the youths "that there's another world out there besides Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers. It's important for them to see how the big boys do it. There's no tapes. There's no background singers backstage. There's no click tracks. It's important for the kids to see that whatever you see on stage is real. We want to spread this. I'm insulted by any act that goes up there with dancers and tapes. It's insulting."
KISS hopes to snare the kids more in the near future via an animated program that's being produced in partnership with E1 Entertainment and will feature the four KISS members as characters. Simmons says he hopes to have the program on air "in the next six months."
Meanwhile, he and his bandmates are planning to give fans old and young alike a freshened KISS show after focusing on the group's "Alive!" album -- which turns 35 this year -- during last year's road trek. "Technology has enabled us to do all kinds of wacky stuff," Simmons explains, while the repertoire includes three songs from last year's "Sonic Boom" album -- "Modern Day Delilah," "Say Yeah" and "Animal" -- as well as the seldom-performed "Crazy Nights." And drummer Eric Singer will be taking over the Peter Criss-sung smash "Beth" each night.
"It's acoustic -- there will be no tapes, just two acoustic guitars and bass and that's it," says Simmons, adding that KISS had previously kept the song out of the shows "out of deference to Peter Criss," who has left the band three times, most recently in 2004. "We still have a tug of the heart...Peter and Ace [Frehley] are beloved, as well they should be for the beginning, for helping launch the band. But it's important to note that with them in the band today, KISS wouldn't be around."
Simmons says KISS is anxious to work on a follow-up to "Sonic Boom," the group's first new studio album in 11 years. But he won't guess when that will be. "I think we'll do another one, but we need time," Simmons explains, noting the group's heavy touring schedule as well as his continuing "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" reality series on A&E and co-founder Paul Stanley's burgeoning art career.
The next KISS project will likely be a fourth version of the popular "KISSology" DVD series, which Simmons says is coming "soon" and will feature "some new stuff but some stuff nobody's ever seen before, going all the way back to 1973." The group is also expecting to film a third commercial for Dr. Pepper in the near future.
07/24/2010
CHEYENNE WOUNDED WARRIORS DONATION
07/24/2010
BEST CONCERT EVER!
07/24/2010
CHEYENNE FRONTIER DAYS CHAIRMEN GET KISSED!
07/24/2010
ANOTHER GREAT DR. PEPPER DISPLAY
07/24/2010
GETTING THE KISS STAGE READY
07/24/2010
KISS HITS THE ROAD
By Phil Wahba
NEW YORK (Reuters) - As the concert business struggles with top-name cancellations this summer, KISS hits the road in North America, betting that its spectacle of classic rock, pyrotechnics and fire-breathing will lure cash-strapped concert-goers looking for dependable entertainment.
The group is set to embark on its 32-date "Hottest Show on Earth" tour of the United States and Canada that starts on Friday in Cheyenne, Wyoming and ends in Fontana, California in September to promote its "Sonic Boom" album.
The fact that KISS still plays 15,000-seat venues 37 years into its career comes from providing fans with what they want and touring with regularity, even when the band's popularity ebbed and flowed, its lead singer said.
"It's about the marathon," KISS co-founder Paul Stanley told Reuters. "It's more about who lasts the longest -- if you're depressed or lose your drive because of one tour or one show, then you're in the wrong business."
Stanley says fans are now "more discerning" and artists have to give them high-quality, high production entertainment if they hope to fill arenas and amphitheaters during this economic downturn. "They want bang for their buck," he said.
By Phil Wahba
NEW YORK (Reuters) - As the concert business struggles with top-name cancellations this summer, KISS hits the road in North America, betting that its spectacle of classic rock, pyrotechnics and fire-breathing will lure cash-strapped concert-goers looking for dependable entertainment.
The group is set to embark on its 32-date "Hottest Show on Earth" tour of the United States and Canada that starts on Friday in Cheyenne, Wyoming and ends in Fontana, California in September to promote its "Sonic Boom" album.
The fact that KISS still plays 15,000-seat venues 37 years into its career comes from providing fans with what they want and touring with regularity, even when the band's popularity ebbed and flowed, its lead singer said.
"It's about the marathon," KISS co-founder Paul Stanley told Reuters. "It's more about who lasts the longest -- if you're depressed or lose your drive because of one tour or one show, then you're in the wrong business."
Stanley says fans are now "more discerning" and artists have to give them high-quality, high production entertainment if they hope to fill arenas and amphitheaters during this economic downturn. "They want bang for their buck," he said.
KISS has been riding a wave of renewed popularity since it put its trademark make-up back on in 1996, in contrast to the early 1980s when album and ticket sales plummeted and the band was regarded as hard rock has-beens.
Several artists have been finding this summer a tough slog. Earlier this month, concert industry publication Pollstar said that ticket sales from the top 100 tours in North America had slipped 17 percent in the first half of 2010, compared to a year ago.
Organizers of the all-female Lilith tour scrapped about a third of the shows, while Christina Aguilera shelved her tour altogether.
"It's fairly simple -- there are only so many dollars available," said Stanley, a guitarist who sings lead on classics like "Detroit Rock City".
TRIED AND TRUE
Fans have come to expect to hear certain songs in their original versions and see stunts like bassist and co-founder Gene Simmons breathing fire.
Stanley feels little sympathy for any superstar complaining about the drudgery of touring and playing songs the same way year after year.
"They're great songs, and on top of that, you have to respect your audience. When somebody comes to a concert and pays hard-earned money, they don't deserve to hear a band turn 'Love Gun' into a reggae tune," Stanley said.
"If a band is bored with their own material, maybe they should stay home. We're proud of every song."
One novelty of the tour will be a contest to select local, unsigned bands to open the KISS show.
Acts such as Judas Priest, AC/DC and Bon Jovi opened shows for KISS early in their careers, and Stanley said new bands need all the breaks they can get.
Stanley said the band plans to have a new album out sometime next year, adding that there will be no 11-year gap as there was before "Sonic Boom."
"In our case, it's really for us to make a statement about who we are and what we'll be tomorrow," Stanley said of the plans for a new album.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - As the concert business struggles with top-name cancellations this summer, KISS hits the road in North America, betting that its spectacle of classic rock, pyrotechnics and fire-breathing will lure cash-strapped concert-goers looking for dependable entertainment.
The group is set to embark on its 32-date "Hottest Show on Earth" tour of the United States and Canada that starts on Friday in Cheyenne, Wyoming and ends in Fontana, California in September to promote its "Sonic Boom" album.
The fact that KISS still plays 15,000-seat venues 37 years into its career comes from providing fans with what they want and touring with regularity, even when the band's popularity ebbed and flowed, its lead singer said.
"It's about the marathon," KISS co-founder Paul Stanley told Reuters. "It's more about who lasts the longest -- if you're depressed or lose your drive because of one tour or one show, then you're in the wrong business."
Stanley says fans are now "more discerning" and artists have to give them high-quality, high production entertainment if they hope to fill arenas and amphitheaters during this economic downturn. "They want bang for their buck," he said.
By Phil Wahba
NEW YORK (Reuters) - As the concert business struggles with top-name cancellations this summer, KISS hits the road in North America, betting that its spectacle of classic rock, pyrotechnics and fire-breathing will lure cash-strapped concert-goers looking for dependable entertainment.
The group is set to embark on its 32-date "Hottest Show on Earth" tour of the United States and Canada that starts on Friday in Cheyenne, Wyoming and ends in Fontana, California in September to promote its "Sonic Boom" album.
The fact that KISS still plays 15,000-seat venues 37 years into its career comes from providing fans with what they want and touring with regularity, even when the band's popularity ebbed and flowed, its lead singer said.
"It's about the marathon," KISS co-founder Paul Stanley told Reuters. "It's more about who lasts the longest -- if you're depressed or lose your drive because of one tour or one show, then you're in the wrong business."
Stanley says fans are now "more discerning" and artists have to give them high-quality, high production entertainment if they hope to fill arenas and amphitheaters during this economic downturn. "They want bang for their buck," he said.
KISS has been riding a wave of renewed popularity since it put its trademark make-up back on in 1996, in contrast to the early 1980s when album and ticket sales plummeted and the band was regarded as hard rock has-beens.
Several artists have been finding this summer a tough slog. Earlier this month, concert industry publication Pollstar said that ticket sales from the top 100 tours in North America had slipped 17 percent in the first half of 2010, compared to a year ago.
Organizers of the all-female Lilith tour scrapped about a third of the shows, while Christina Aguilera shelved her tour altogether.
"It's fairly simple -- there are only so many dollars available," said Stanley, a guitarist who sings lead on classics like "Detroit Rock City".
TRIED AND TRUE
Fans have come to expect to hear certain songs in their original versions and see stunts like bassist and co-founder Gene Simmons breathing fire.
Stanley feels little sympathy for any superstar complaining about the drudgery of touring and playing songs the same way year after year.
"They're great songs, and on top of that, you have to respect your audience. When somebody comes to a concert and pays hard-earned money, they don't deserve to hear a band turn 'Love Gun' into a reggae tune," Stanley said.
"If a band is bored with their own material, maybe they should stay home. We're proud of every song."
One novelty of the tour will be a contest to select local, unsigned bands to open the KISS show.
Acts such as Judas Priest, AC/DC and Bon Jovi opened shows for KISS early in their careers, and Stanley said new bands need all the breaks they can get.
Stanley said the band plans to have a new album out sometime next year, adding that there will be no 11-year gap as there was before "Sonic Boom."
"In our case, it's really for us to make a statement about who we are and what we'll be tomorrow," Stanley said of the plans for a new album.
07/23/2010
The Best Concert Ever
