03/18/2010
Kiss News
03/18/2010
PAUL ON SIXX SENSE RADIO SHOW TONIGHT
03/18/2010
100 EPISODES OF GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS
Kiss' Gene Simmons survives 100 episodes of life in front of the camera for show 'Family Jewels'
BY Cristina Kinon
Has Gene Simmons broken the reality TV curse?
The Kiss rocker's A&E series, "Gene Simmons Family Jewels," is quickly approaching its 100th episode, and his relationship with girlfriend Shannon Tweed is still intact, his kids Nick and Sophie are behaving themselves, and the media hasn't unearthed some dark family secret that's been hidden for years.
With a history littered with Jessica Simpsons and Nick Lacheys, Hogans and Gosselins, having a clan survive life in front of the camera is a feat worth celebrating.
"Those families were destined to be torn apart. Television cameras just happened to catch it," Simmons told the News. "My life is an open book. What you see is what you get, and I don't care."
Kiss' Gene Simmons survives 100 episodes of life in front of the camera for show 'Family Jewels'
BY Cristina Kinon
Has Gene Simmons broken the reality TV curse?
The Kiss rocker's A&E series, "Gene Simmons Family Jewels," is quickly approaching its 100th episode, and his relationship with girlfriend Shannon Tweed is still intact, his kids Nick and Sophie are behaving themselves, and the media hasn't unearthed some dark family secret that's been hidden for years.
With a history littered with Jessica Simpsons and Nick Lacheys, Hogans and Gosselins, having a clan survive life in front of the camera is a feat worth celebrating.
"Those families were destined to be torn apart. Television cameras just happened to catch it," Simmons told the News. "My life is an open book. What you see is what you get, and I don't care."
"Gene Simmons Family Jewels" returns for a fifth season this Sunday at 9 p.m. on A&E with a special one-hour episode that focuses on Tweed and a personal health scare. When she finds a lump in her breast, the family rallies around her to get through a difficult time.
Simmons and Tweed also will appear on "The Doctors" today at 9 a.m. on WCBS /Ch. 2 to discuss the matter.
"You men out there, you have to talk and make sure your loved one goes today, not tomorrow, to see wonderful doctors who are there to save lives," says Simmons in the segment.
The fifth season of "Family Jewels" is not only a milestone for the series, but a landmark in several of the family members' lives. Gene turns 60, Nick turns 21 and graduates from college, and Sophie graduates from high school - all of which are caught on tape.
"The kids are going from young teenagers to a grown man and a woman," said Simmons. "There's going to be a different dynamic because they're both moving out of the house."
Asked if that's going to be tough for him, Simmons replied, "What do you think?"
Simmons at least has a day job to distract him - he's in the midst of a two-year world tour with Kiss, and working with bandmate Paul Stanley on a new kids' series with production company E1 Television.
The show will either be a live-action "Power Rangers"-type series or a show about a rock band. Either way, the main goal is to expand the Kiss empire.
"This world should be Planet Kiss," said Simmons. "Every step you take should be on hallowed Kiss ground."
But whether he's rocking out on stage, mugging for the cameras or keeping his kids in line, Simmons says he can't complain - life has been pretty good to him.
"Whether people think I'm a moron or a genius, all of it's fair," Simmons said. "I'm lucky enough to not be flipping burgers. I have nothing to whine about and never have.
"If I was growing up, who would I want to be?" he added. "I'd want to be Gene Simmons."
BY Cristina Kinon
Has Gene Simmons broken the reality TV curse?
The Kiss rocker's A&E series, "Gene Simmons Family Jewels," is quickly approaching its 100th episode, and his relationship with girlfriend Shannon Tweed is still intact, his kids Nick and Sophie are behaving themselves, and the media hasn't unearthed some dark family secret that's been hidden for years.
With a history littered with Jessica Simpsons and Nick Lacheys, Hogans and Gosselins, having a clan survive life in front of the camera is a feat worth celebrating.
"Those families were destined to be torn apart. Television cameras just happened to catch it," Simmons told the News. "My life is an open book. What you see is what you get, and I don't care."
Kiss' Gene Simmons survives 100 episodes of life in front of the camera for show 'Family Jewels'
BY Cristina Kinon
Has Gene Simmons broken the reality TV curse?
The Kiss rocker's A&E series, "Gene Simmons Family Jewels," is quickly approaching its 100th episode, and his relationship with girlfriend Shannon Tweed is still intact, his kids Nick and Sophie are behaving themselves, and the media hasn't unearthed some dark family secret that's been hidden for years.
With a history littered with Jessica Simpsons and Nick Lacheys, Hogans and Gosselins, having a clan survive life in front of the camera is a feat worth celebrating.
"Those families were destined to be torn apart. Television cameras just happened to catch it," Simmons told the News. "My life is an open book. What you see is what you get, and I don't care."
"Gene Simmons Family Jewels" returns for a fifth season this Sunday at 9 p.m. on A&E with a special one-hour episode that focuses on Tweed and a personal health scare. When she finds a lump in her breast, the family rallies around her to get through a difficult time.
Simmons and Tweed also will appear on "The Doctors" today at 9 a.m. on WCBS /Ch. 2 to discuss the matter.
"You men out there, you have to talk and make sure your loved one goes today, not tomorrow, to see wonderful doctors who are there to save lives," says Simmons in the segment.
The fifth season of "Family Jewels" is not only a milestone for the series, but a landmark in several of the family members' lives. Gene turns 60, Nick turns 21 and graduates from college, and Sophie graduates from high school - all of which are caught on tape.
"The kids are going from young teenagers to a grown man and a woman," said Simmons. "There's going to be a different dynamic because they're both moving out of the house."
Asked if that's going to be tough for him, Simmons replied, "What do you think?"
Simmons at least has a day job to distract him - he's in the midst of a two-year world tour with Kiss, and working with bandmate Paul Stanley on a new kids' series with production company E1 Television.
The show will either be a live-action "Power Rangers"-type series or a show about a rock band. Either way, the main goal is to expand the Kiss empire.
"This world should be Planet Kiss," said Simmons. "Every step you take should be on hallowed Kiss ground."
But whether he's rocking out on stage, mugging for the cameras or keeping his kids in line, Simmons says he can't complain - life has been pretty good to him.
"Whether people think I'm a moron or a genius, all of it's fair," Simmons said. "I'm lucky enough to not be flipping burgers. I have nothing to whine about and never have.
"If I was growing up, who would I want to be?" he added. "I'd want to be Gene Simmons."
03/17/2010
A ROCKER'S ARTISTIC SIDE
KISS's Paul Stanley doesn't just front for the iconic rock band-he has sold millions of dollars of his art work
By MICHELLE WU
Turns out, fronting for KISS may just be Paul Stanley's day job.
The legendary rock band's enigmatic singer has also been pursuing a career in the art world, when he's not on tour or recording.
Mr. Stanley, 58 years old, started selling his colorful abstract paintings at the Wentworth Gallery a few years ago. Last year, he garnered more than $3 million in sales. He has two new gallery shows opening in Florida this weekend.
When Mr. Stanley picked up the paint brush about 10 years ago, he never thought anyone would see his work, he said. He got into painting because he found it to be cathartic, a way to express emotion. "I really just felt I needed another creative outlet," he says.
In 2005, a friend in Hawaii encouraged him to put on a gallery show there, and he agreed. "I was speechless that it was a success and that people wanted to take the pieces home," he says.
KISS's Paul Stanley doesn't just front for the iconic rock band-he has sold millions of dollars of his art work
By MICHELLE WU
Turns out, fronting for KISS may just be Paul Stanley's day job.
The legendary rock band's enigmatic singer has also been pursuing a career in the art world, when he's not on tour or recording.
Mr. Stanley, 58 years old, started selling his colorful abstract paintings at the Wentworth Gallery a few years ago. Last year, he garnered more than $3 million in sales. He has two new gallery shows opening in Florida this weekend.
When Mr. Stanley picked up the paint brush about 10 years ago, he never thought anyone would see his work, he said. He got into painting because he found it to be cathartic, a way to express emotion. "I really just felt I needed another creative outlet," he says.
In 2005, a friend in Hawaii encouraged him to put on a gallery show there, and he agreed. "I was speechless that it was a success and that people wanted to take the pieces home," he says.
Mr. Stanley's paintings are vibrant, colorful, acrylic-on-canvas creations, often featuring abstract patterns and geometric shapes. He describes his work as "kind of a giant stream of consciousness where I use color and texture instead of words."
Though both his music and his art serve as emotional outlets, the similarity between the two end there. "The beauty of art is that there really are no rules as for as I'm concerned-and if there are any, I don't want to want to hear about them," he says. "Music takes a lot more structure...With art, the only boundary is the edge of the canvas."
His upcoming exhibitions will open at Wentworth Gallery's locations in Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., this Friday and Saturday, respectively. Mr. Stanley's original artworks are priced from $15,000 to $80,000, and giclees, which are prints on canvas, sell for about $1,500 to $6,000.
The musician still spends the majority of his time focused on KISS, though. Following the October release of "Sonic Boom," the band's first studio album in 11 years, KISS will hit the road for a three month European tour in May. The enduring rock group, which rose to fame in the '70s and became known for its inventive live performances and marketing, is also working on an animated television show for kids. "We sing about things that are timeless," Mr. Stanley says of the group's broad appeal. "We sing about belief in yourself, celebrating life and following your dreams."
As for KISS's own celebrations, Mr. Stanley says that the band still embodies the storied revelry of its earlier days-but to a different extent. "With time your desire or lifestyle changes," he says. "But rock 'n' roll is as healthy and crazy as ever."
By MICHELLE WU
Turns out, fronting for KISS may just be Paul Stanley's day job.
The legendary rock band's enigmatic singer has also been pursuing a career in the art world, when he's not on tour or recording.
Mr. Stanley, 58 years old, started selling his colorful abstract paintings at the Wentworth Gallery a few years ago. Last year, he garnered more than $3 million in sales. He has two new gallery shows opening in Florida this weekend.
When Mr. Stanley picked up the paint brush about 10 years ago, he never thought anyone would see his work, he said. He got into painting because he found it to be cathartic, a way to express emotion. "I really just felt I needed another creative outlet," he says.
In 2005, a friend in Hawaii encouraged him to put on a gallery show there, and he agreed. "I was speechless that it was a success and that people wanted to take the pieces home," he says.
KISS's Paul Stanley doesn't just front for the iconic rock band-he has sold millions of dollars of his art work
By MICHELLE WU
Turns out, fronting for KISS may just be Paul Stanley's day job.
The legendary rock band's enigmatic singer has also been pursuing a career in the art world, when he's not on tour or recording.
Mr. Stanley, 58 years old, started selling his colorful abstract paintings at the Wentworth Gallery a few years ago. Last year, he garnered more than $3 million in sales. He has two new gallery shows opening in Florida this weekend.
When Mr. Stanley picked up the paint brush about 10 years ago, he never thought anyone would see his work, he said. He got into painting because he found it to be cathartic, a way to express emotion. "I really just felt I needed another creative outlet," he says.
In 2005, a friend in Hawaii encouraged him to put on a gallery show there, and he agreed. "I was speechless that it was a success and that people wanted to take the pieces home," he says.
Mr. Stanley's paintings are vibrant, colorful, acrylic-on-canvas creations, often featuring abstract patterns and geometric shapes. He describes his work as "kind of a giant stream of consciousness where I use color and texture instead of words."
Though both his music and his art serve as emotional outlets, the similarity between the two end there. "The beauty of art is that there really are no rules as for as I'm concerned-and if there are any, I don't want to want to hear about them," he says. "Music takes a lot more structure...With art, the only boundary is the edge of the canvas."
His upcoming exhibitions will open at Wentworth Gallery's locations in Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., this Friday and Saturday, respectively. Mr. Stanley's original artworks are priced from $15,000 to $80,000, and giclees, which are prints on canvas, sell for about $1,500 to $6,000.
The musician still spends the majority of his time focused on KISS, though. Following the October release of "Sonic Boom," the band's first studio album in 11 years, KISS will hit the road for a three month European tour in May. The enduring rock group, which rose to fame in the '70s and became known for its inventive live performances and marketing, is also working on an animated television show for kids. "We sing about things that are timeless," Mr. Stanley says of the group's broad appeal. "We sing about belief in yourself, celebrating life and following your dreams."
As for KISS's own celebrations, Mr. Stanley says that the band still embodies the storied revelry of its earlier days-but to a different extent. "With time your desire or lifestyle changes," he says. "But rock 'n' roll is as healthy and crazy as ever."
03/17/2010
KISS ARMY WYOMING PRE-SALE TODAY
03/17/2010
LATEST KISS TATTOOS
03/17/2010
GENE SIMMONS' TOP 10 CARTOON STARS
The KISS hellrasier lists his all-time animated favourites
1. Max Fleischer's Superman
These original animations by Max Fleischer were like little movies and so realistically drawn. Seeing them as a kid, my jaw would drop. Like Fleischer, other major cartoonists like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Bob Kane who did Batman, were almost always exclusively Jewish and created these kinds of superheroes with secret identities. The secret is that Superman is really Jewish.
2. Michigan J Frog
He first appeared in a fifties Warner Bros short (One Froggy Evening). A construction worker finds a century old suitcase in a building's cornerstone and out comes this frog bursting into song with top hat and cane. With dollar signs in his eyes the man puts him in front of an audience but the frog doesn't sing and he loses all his money. So the frog's put back into the suitcase and the situation repeats itself in the 21st century. It shows the greed in man.
The KISS hellrasier lists his all-time animated favourites
1. Max Fleischer's Superman
These original animations by Max Fleischer were like little movies and so realistically drawn. Seeing them as a kid, my jaw would drop. Like Fleischer, other major cartoonists like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Bob Kane who did Batman, were almost always exclusively Jewish and created these kinds of superheroes with secret identities. The secret is that Superman is really Jewish.
2. Michigan J Frog
He first appeared in a fifties Warner Bros short (One Froggy Evening). A construction worker finds a century old suitcase in a building's cornerstone and out comes this frog bursting into song with top hat and cane. With dollar signs in his eyes the man puts him in front of an audience but the frog doesn�t sing and he loses all his money. So the frog's put back into the suitcase and the situation repeats itself in the 21st century. It shows the greed in man.
3. Pepe Le Pew
He was based on black and white movie star Charles Boyer (Boyer's character Pepe le Moko from 1938 film Algiers) and insatiable with his lust because of course he was always after that pussy. You saw him using paint as a ploy but it's always about the chase, it's the human condition. The woman always feigns that she's not interested, 'I'm not easy, I'm not hard to get', when the truth is, we all know she wants some.
4. Snidely Whiplash
Snidley featured in the Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties, a short in-between the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons and was the cliche of the silent villain. He would always be waxing his moustache and wearing a top hat. He always wore black and had wide angled White Anglo Saxon Protestant features and generally lurked around. He was the arch-nemesis of Dudley Do-Right, a Mountie who was lucky to catch him.
5. Willy Zilla
My Dad the Rock Star was a cartoon show that I created and had 26 episodes. It's about a 12-year-old boy called Willy whose father's an over the top rock star with green hair, and his mother a hippy. The inspiration came from when my son was nine-years-old or so and took to school a poster of me throwing up blood and spitting fire and said 'This is my dad the rock star'.
6. Tom (and Jerry)
The entire premise is that the cat is going to try to torture the mouse, but ultimately get his comeuppance. Tom always ended up beaten because he was the bad guy. I knew Hanna Barbera and met them many years ago to discuss a KISS cartoon. They ended up producing our movie KISS Meets The Phantom. I still have signed cells in my collection that they signed for me.
7. Marvin the Martian
Dressed in Roman headgear you never see his face, just his eyes. Marvin first appeared in a series of Bugs Bunny cartoons. They first meet on the moon and Bugs asks 'What's up Doc' and Marvin says 'Oh, I'm going to blow up the Earth' in this Dick Van Dyke accent; and his voice is shocking. You expect something ominous to come out of his mouth He thinks he�s so bad, but he's just silly.
8. Wile E. Coyote
It was a very violent cartoon and of course Roadrunner never got the sad end of this, it was always Wile E. Coyote. He was integral to this unique cartoon where you never saw towns, you never saw people. Only if there was a truck coming might you see the hand of the truck driver, there were no other people ever in it. Wile E. Coyote who never caught the Roadrunner was unlike any other character before or since.
9. Droopy
I love Droopy. He's a dog patterned after Truman Capote and that's dangerous. He clearly seems to be a dog of angst because you never heard emotion in his voice and he was a happy go lucky dog, kind of like Truman, who I knew back in New York, along with Warhol and all those guys. I don't know (what he thought of Droopy) but I'm sure he got a kick out of it.
10. Dr. Quest
Johnny Quest was a strange choice for a cartoon because the boy was neither funny nor strong and had an Indian sidekick with a turban, they were all peculiar choices; especially the father as a scientist who invented all kinds of things. And it's odd that he brings his boy and his best friend along with a dog and a bodyguard but hardly spends time with the boy. Very strange indeed.
1. Max Fleischer's Superman
These original animations by Max Fleischer were like little movies and so realistically drawn. Seeing them as a kid, my jaw would drop. Like Fleischer, other major cartoonists like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Bob Kane who did Batman, were almost always exclusively Jewish and created these kinds of superheroes with secret identities. The secret is that Superman is really Jewish.
2. Michigan J Frog
He first appeared in a fifties Warner Bros short (One Froggy Evening). A construction worker finds a century old suitcase in a building's cornerstone and out comes this frog bursting into song with top hat and cane. With dollar signs in his eyes the man puts him in front of an audience but the frog doesn't sing and he loses all his money. So the frog's put back into the suitcase and the situation repeats itself in the 21st century. It shows the greed in man.
The KISS hellrasier lists his all-time animated favourites
1. Max Fleischer's Superman
These original animations by Max Fleischer were like little movies and so realistically drawn. Seeing them as a kid, my jaw would drop. Like Fleischer, other major cartoonists like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Bob Kane who did Batman, were almost always exclusively Jewish and created these kinds of superheroes with secret identities. The secret is that Superman is really Jewish.
2. Michigan J Frog
He first appeared in a fifties Warner Bros short (One Froggy Evening). A construction worker finds a century old suitcase in a building's cornerstone and out comes this frog bursting into song with top hat and cane. With dollar signs in his eyes the man puts him in front of an audience but the frog doesn�t sing and he loses all his money. So the frog's put back into the suitcase and the situation repeats itself in the 21st century. It shows the greed in man.
3. Pepe Le Pew
He was based on black and white movie star Charles Boyer (Boyer's character Pepe le Moko from 1938 film Algiers) and insatiable with his lust because of course he was always after that pussy. You saw him using paint as a ploy but it's always about the chase, it's the human condition. The woman always feigns that she's not interested, 'I'm not easy, I'm not hard to get', when the truth is, we all know she wants some.
4. Snidely Whiplash
Snidley featured in the Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties, a short in-between the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons and was the cliche of the silent villain. He would always be waxing his moustache and wearing a top hat. He always wore black and had wide angled White Anglo Saxon Protestant features and generally lurked around. He was the arch-nemesis of Dudley Do-Right, a Mountie who was lucky to catch him.
5. Willy Zilla
My Dad the Rock Star was a cartoon show that I created and had 26 episodes. It's about a 12-year-old boy called Willy whose father's an over the top rock star with green hair, and his mother a hippy. The inspiration came from when my son was nine-years-old or so and took to school a poster of me throwing up blood and spitting fire and said 'This is my dad the rock star'.
6. Tom (and Jerry)
The entire premise is that the cat is going to try to torture the mouse, but ultimately get his comeuppance. Tom always ended up beaten because he was the bad guy. I knew Hanna Barbera and met them many years ago to discuss a KISS cartoon. They ended up producing our movie KISS Meets The Phantom. I still have signed cells in my collection that they signed for me.
7. Marvin the Martian
Dressed in Roman headgear you never see his face, just his eyes. Marvin first appeared in a series of Bugs Bunny cartoons. They first meet on the moon and Bugs asks 'What's up Doc' and Marvin says 'Oh, I'm going to blow up the Earth' in this Dick Van Dyke accent; and his voice is shocking. You expect something ominous to come out of his mouth He thinks he�s so bad, but he's just silly.
8. Wile E. Coyote
It was a very violent cartoon and of course Roadrunner never got the sad end of this, it was always Wile E. Coyote. He was integral to this unique cartoon where you never saw towns, you never saw people. Only if there was a truck coming might you see the hand of the truck driver, there were no other people ever in it. Wile E. Coyote who never caught the Roadrunner was unlike any other character before or since.
9. Droopy
I love Droopy. He's a dog patterned after Truman Capote and that's dangerous. He clearly seems to be a dog of angst because you never heard emotion in his voice and he was a happy go lucky dog, kind of like Truman, who I knew back in New York, along with Warhol and all those guys. I don't know (what he thought of Droopy) but I'm sure he got a kick out of it.
10. Dr. Quest
Johnny Quest was a strange choice for a cartoon because the boy was neither funny nor strong and had an Indian sidekick with a turban, they were all peculiar choices; especially the father as a scientist who invented all kinds of things. And it's odd that he brings his boy and his best friend along with a dog and a bodyguard but hardly spends time with the boy. Very strange indeed.
03/16/2010
PAUL STANLEY INTERVIEW
Photo and Interview by MARKO SYRJALA
KISS returns to Europe in the spring with their massive SONIC BOOM OVER EUROPE tour after two years on the road with their mega successful ALIVE 35 tour. The new tour is a part of the band's world tour to support their latest studio disc SONIC BOOM which was released last August. In Early February the band did a series of press conferences in Europe. They first spent a couple of days in Germany and then later on two days in the U.K to promote their forthcoming tour. In London we had an amazing chance to interview Kiss' lead vocalist/guitarist and founding member Paul Stanley. Topics covered included the upcoming tour and the latest album but some other interesting information as well...read on.
INTERVIEW BY MARKO SYRJALA
EUROPEAN TOUR
Q: You are now here promoting you upcoming SONIC BOOM OVER EUROPE tour. What can European fans expect from that tour?
A: The stage is the same one that we used in the States with all the video screens. It's that stage with some new bells and whistles added in... and a new set list for Europe.
Q: It's great to hear that there are changes in the set list. So have you already decided how many SONIC BOOM songs will be on the set list?
A: My guess is there's got to be four.
Q: How about the 80/90's material. There are lots of fans in Europe who are huge fans of the eighties and nineties KISS material. Will there be songs included from that period as well?
Photo and Interview by MARKO SYRJALA
KISS returns to Europe in the spring with their massive SONIC BOOM OVER EUROPE tour after two years on the road with their mega successful ALIVE 35 tour. The new tour is a part of the band's world tour to support their latest studio disc SONIC BOOM which was released last August. In Early February the band did a series of press conferences in Europe. They first spent a couple of days in Germany and then later on two days in the U.K to promote their forthcoming tour. In London we had an amazing chance to interview Kiss' lead vocalist/guitarist and founding member Paul Stanley. Topics covered included the upcoming tour and the latest album but some other interesting information as well...read on.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Q: You are now here promoting you upcoming SONIC BOOM OVER EUROPE tour. What can European fans expect from that tour?
A: The stage is the same one that we used in the States with all the video screens. It's that stage with some new bells and whistles added in... and a new set list for Europe.
Q: It's great to hear that there are changes in the set list. So have you already decided how many SONIC BOOM songs will be on the set list?
A: My guess is there's got to be four.
Q: How about the 80/90's material. There are lots of fans in Europe who are huge fans of the eighties and nineties KISS material. Will there be songs included from that period as well?
A: I'm sure "Crazy Nights" will be in the set and "God Gave Rock & Roll to You". It's really hard to cover everything from the beginning. So it means we have to leave out some songs. We can't just keep adding songs. It's great when people say "how about doing this one or that one" so ok then, what will be taken out of the show then?
Q: Everybody remembers that THE ALIVE 35 tour was hugely successful here in Europe. What kind of expectations do you have for this upcoming tour?
A: I think if anybody thought that was great, and it was, then this will be greater. It wasn't a fluke, it wasn't by chance that the last tour was great...the band is great!
Q: Once this European leg is over you're going to continue this tour in the U.S. Do you have plans to continue this tour after those U.S shows? Perhaps Japan or Australian tours are also on the way?
A: Not sure...there's talk that after we do Europe we go back to do the States again but I really don't know? We'll have to see. There are so many offers to play, but I also want to be home. There's little ones in my house that want daddy home and that's a priority.
Q: It's a great thing that you're now going to play a club gig here in London. Is it completely out of the question that you would do more shows like this in the future, in kind of the same vein as what you did with the KISS IN YOUR FACE shows some years ago?
A: It's very difficult to be able to do them. The fact is we were over here and we're not in touring mode, we haven't even started rehearsals for the tour. We're just basically going up there and playing. But when we're on tour, days off are very important for us to take it easy. You can't go out there and exert that amount of energy and kick that amount of ass and have a day off and go "hey lets go play a club". That's ok if you are playing 90mins a night or if you're playing two shows a week, but we don�t do that. So a day off is a day where we take it easy.
Q: Well... After this SONIC BOOM tour is completely done, what KISS will do next?
A: As of now, I really don't know. There's nothing hidden that we haven't announced.
SONIC BOOM
Q: Overall, how satisfied you are for the sales numbers and overall feedback what you�ve got of SONIC BOOM? Was there anything surprising there either in positive or negative way?
A: I'm thrilled because it's a great album. I said from the beginning whether it sells 10 million copies or 1 million copies, it's all the same to me. At this stage of the game it about making a great album, anything else is just a bonus. In America we had the album available exclusively at one place which has a good side and a bad side. The good side is they support it, the bad side is, it's the only place you can get it. So there are plusses and minuses but I couldn't want a better album, I couldn't imagine a better album.
Q: The reviews for the album have been very positive all the way.
A: That's right. The reviews for SONIC BOOM have been really good. It's great to do an album which is undeniably good, right? "laughs". Thank you.
Q: From producers view, what was the biggest difference to produce this album vs. your latest solo album LIVE TO WIN?
A: It was totally different. LIVE TO WIN wasn't a KISS album. It was me trying not to do a KISS album. If I wanted to do a one man KISS album I would do ANIMALIZE. To do a KISS album I wanted all the elements that make great KISS; everybody contributing, Gene and I writing together and no outside writers. Those all are things that over the years fell away for reason or another. It's easy to make an album when you don't write the songs and someone else writes them for you. It's easy to make an album when you let someone else play your instrument. It's easy to make an album when you say I have to have 4 songs on the album whether they are good or bad. It can be easy to make an album but it's not the way we should make an album. This album was made following certain rules, somebody was in charge, and it is much easier with someone in charge. The band will tell you it was the easiest album that we ever made because we had great guidelines.
Q: You've stated many times that this is the best line up of KISS ever. Now after finishing your first studio album with this lineup, do you still agree with that statement?
A: I totally agree with that statement. There aren't nights when the band isn't in top form. Like I've said before, we've now got a band with four people who are all saying, "How can we make the band more famous?" instead of, "How can I make me more famous?"
Q: Although it was stated that all material on SONIC BOOM is brand new, actually there are a couple of songs which were originally written a long time ago, like "Nobody's Perfect" by Gene. Would you tell us something more about those songs and how you decided which material was used for this album?
A: I never heard another version of that song. Was it called "Nobody�s Perfect"?
Q: Yes, and actually there are some early tapes where you can hear the rough version of that song...
A: I don't know? Most of the songs he has rehashed I always know about because I hear them year after year. That song sounded really good. Most songs that have not been used usually haven't been used for a reason. We tweaked that song so... I can't say?
Q: Many fans criticized, especially here in Europe, that when album came out there wasn't enough promotion made for it. Was there any certain reason why you didn't do a promo tour like this when album was coming out?
A: Probably because we are busy. Also, its great to do promotion but someone has to pay for it. If someone isn't willing to pay for the promotion I am not a charity. I give you a great album and if you want more than a great album then you need to buy me a ticket and find me a place to play.
Q: Well because our time is soon coming to an end here is the very last question. Is SONIC BOOM going to be the very last KISS album ever?
A: I don't think so. I think that within the next twelve months we are doing another album.
Q: Really???
A: Yeah. I think it will take twelve months to eighteen months.
Q: That's something to wait for. Thanks for your time and have a good show tonight.
A: Thank you and have a good time.
KISS returns to Europe in the spring with their massive SONIC BOOM OVER EUROPE tour after two years on the road with their mega successful ALIVE 35 tour. The new tour is a part of the band's world tour to support their latest studio disc SONIC BOOM which was released last August. In Early February the band did a series of press conferences in Europe. They first spent a couple of days in Germany and then later on two days in the U.K to promote their forthcoming tour. In London we had an amazing chance to interview Kiss' lead vocalist/guitarist and founding member Paul Stanley. Topics covered included the upcoming tour and the latest album but some other interesting information as well...read on.
INTERVIEW BY MARKO SYRJALA
EUROPEAN TOUR
Q: You are now here promoting you upcoming SONIC BOOM OVER EUROPE tour. What can European fans expect from that tour?
A: The stage is the same one that we used in the States with all the video screens. It's that stage with some new bells and whistles added in... and a new set list for Europe.
Q: It's great to hear that there are changes in the set list. So have you already decided how many SONIC BOOM songs will be on the set list?
A: My guess is there's got to be four.
Q: How about the 80/90's material. There are lots of fans in Europe who are huge fans of the eighties and nineties KISS material. Will there be songs included from that period as well?
Photo and Interview by MARKO SYRJALA
KISS returns to Europe in the spring with their massive SONIC BOOM OVER EUROPE tour after two years on the road with their mega successful ALIVE 35 tour. The new tour is a part of the band's world tour to support their latest studio disc SONIC BOOM which was released last August. In Early February the band did a series of press conferences in Europe. They first spent a couple of days in Germany and then later on two days in the U.K to promote their forthcoming tour. In London we had an amazing chance to interview Kiss' lead vocalist/guitarist and founding member Paul Stanley. Topics covered included the upcoming tour and the latest album but some other interesting information as well...read on.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Q: You are now here promoting you upcoming SONIC BOOM OVER EUROPE tour. What can European fans expect from that tour?
A: The stage is the same one that we used in the States with all the video screens. It's that stage with some new bells and whistles added in... and a new set list for Europe.
Q: It's great to hear that there are changes in the set list. So have you already decided how many SONIC BOOM songs will be on the set list?
A: My guess is there's got to be four.
Q: How about the 80/90's material. There are lots of fans in Europe who are huge fans of the eighties and nineties KISS material. Will there be songs included from that period as well?
A: I'm sure "Crazy Nights" will be in the set and "God Gave Rock & Roll to You". It's really hard to cover everything from the beginning. So it means we have to leave out some songs. We can't just keep adding songs. It's great when people say "how about doing this one or that one" so ok then, what will be taken out of the show then?
Q: Everybody remembers that THE ALIVE 35 tour was hugely successful here in Europe. What kind of expectations do you have for this upcoming tour?
A: I think if anybody thought that was great, and it was, then this will be greater. It wasn't a fluke, it wasn't by chance that the last tour was great...the band is great!
Q: Once this European leg is over you're going to continue this tour in the U.S. Do you have plans to continue this tour after those U.S shows? Perhaps Japan or Australian tours are also on the way?
A: Not sure...there's talk that after we do Europe we go back to do the States again but I really don't know? We'll have to see. There are so many offers to play, but I also want to be home. There's little ones in my house that want daddy home and that's a priority.
Q: It's a great thing that you're now going to play a club gig here in London. Is it completely out of the question that you would do more shows like this in the future, in kind of the same vein as what you did with the KISS IN YOUR FACE shows some years ago?
A: It's very difficult to be able to do them. The fact is we were over here and we're not in touring mode, we haven't even started rehearsals for the tour. We're just basically going up there and playing. But when we're on tour, days off are very important for us to take it easy. You can't go out there and exert that amount of energy and kick that amount of ass and have a day off and go "hey lets go play a club". That's ok if you are playing 90mins a night or if you're playing two shows a week, but we don�t do that. So a day off is a day where we take it easy.
Q: Well... After this SONIC BOOM tour is completely done, what KISS will do next?
A: As of now, I really don't know. There's nothing hidden that we haven't announced.
SONIC BOOM
Q: Overall, how satisfied you are for the sales numbers and overall feedback what you�ve got of SONIC BOOM? Was there anything surprising there either in positive or negative way?
A: I'm thrilled because it's a great album. I said from the beginning whether it sells 10 million copies or 1 million copies, it's all the same to me. At this stage of the game it about making a great album, anything else is just a bonus. In America we had the album available exclusively at one place which has a good side and a bad side. The good side is they support it, the bad side is, it's the only place you can get it. So there are plusses and minuses but I couldn't want a better album, I couldn't imagine a better album.
Q: The reviews for the album have been very positive all the way.
A: That's right. The reviews for SONIC BOOM have been really good. It's great to do an album which is undeniably good, right? "laughs". Thank you.
Q: From producers view, what was the biggest difference to produce this album vs. your latest solo album LIVE TO WIN?
A: It was totally different. LIVE TO WIN wasn't a KISS album. It was me trying not to do a KISS album. If I wanted to do a one man KISS album I would do ANIMALIZE. To do a KISS album I wanted all the elements that make great KISS; everybody contributing, Gene and I writing together and no outside writers. Those all are things that over the years fell away for reason or another. It's easy to make an album when you don't write the songs and someone else writes them for you. It's easy to make an album when you let someone else play your instrument. It's easy to make an album when you say I have to have 4 songs on the album whether they are good or bad. It can be easy to make an album but it's not the way we should make an album. This album was made following certain rules, somebody was in charge, and it is much easier with someone in charge. The band will tell you it was the easiest album that we ever made because we had great guidelines.
Q: You've stated many times that this is the best line up of KISS ever. Now after finishing your first studio album with this lineup, do you still agree with that statement?
A: I totally agree with that statement. There aren't nights when the band isn't in top form. Like I've said before, we've now got a band with four people who are all saying, "How can we make the band more famous?" instead of, "How can I make me more famous?"
Q: Although it was stated that all material on SONIC BOOM is brand new, actually there are a couple of songs which were originally written a long time ago, like "Nobody's Perfect" by Gene. Would you tell us something more about those songs and how you decided which material was used for this album?
A: I never heard another version of that song. Was it called "Nobody�s Perfect"?
Q: Yes, and actually there are some early tapes where you can hear the rough version of that song...
A: I don't know? Most of the songs he has rehashed I always know about because I hear them year after year. That song sounded really good. Most songs that have not been used usually haven't been used for a reason. We tweaked that song so... I can't say?
Q: Many fans criticized, especially here in Europe, that when album came out there wasn't enough promotion made for it. Was there any certain reason why you didn't do a promo tour like this when album was coming out?
A: Probably because we are busy. Also, its great to do promotion but someone has to pay for it. If someone isn't willing to pay for the promotion I am not a charity. I give you a great album and if you want more than a great album then you need to buy me a ticket and find me a place to play.
Q: Well because our time is soon coming to an end here is the very last question. Is SONIC BOOM going to be the very last KISS album ever?
A: I don't think so. I think that within the next twelve months we are doing another album.
Q: Really???
A: Yeah. I think it will take twelve months to eighteen months.
Q: That's something to wait for. Thanks for your time and have a good show tonight.
A: Thank you and have a good time.
03/16/2010
KISS-FAN-VAN
03/16/2010
SIX OF THE BEST WITH ERIC SINGER
Six of the Best: Drummers pick their defining records
From Black Sabbath to Alice Cooper and KISS, Eric Singer tells Phil Ascott how he's landed gigs with rock and metal royalty over the past 25 years through determination, talent and good fortune. Perhaps God really can give rock n' roll to you...
KISS - Sonic Boom (2009)
Harking back to their classic Destroyer album, Paul Stanley instigated new rules for the writing and recording process of the band's first album in 11 years, ensuring jam sessions rocked and rolled all nite...
"I was pleasantly surprised when Paul called up to say, 'I'm thinking about doing a new record but I want to do it as a band and play live. No outside songwriters.' That was basically saying make sure it's your idea, don't bring a song that you had going with someone else. Paul used to write his songs and Gene used to write his, then they'd bring the material to the band and each would get a certain amount of material on the record. That was thrown out the window. It was like, 'We're gonna jam ideas and arrange them so that we're comfortable enough to go into a studio. Then in the studio we'll put them under the microscope.' Brilliant. That's how I first started making records. I used an old Rogers kit - I wanted to use vintage - and a Pearl free-floating plexiglas snare that was perfect with it."Six of the Best: Drummers pick their defining records
From Black Sabbath to Alice Cooper and KISS, Eric Singer tells Phil Ascott how he's landed gigs with rock and metal royalty over the past 25 years through determination, talent and good fortune. Perhaps God really can give rock n' roll to you...
KISS - Sonic Boom (2009)
Harking back to their classic Destroyer album, Paul Stanley instigated new rules for the writing and recording process of the band's first album in 11 years, ensuring jam sessions rocked and rolled all nite...
"I was pleasantly surprised when Paul called up to say, 'I'm thinking about doing a new record but I want to do it as a band and play live. No outside songwriters.' That was basically saying make sure it's your idea, don't bring a song that you had going with someone else. Paul used to write his songs and Gene used to write his, then they'd bring the material to the band and each would get a certain amount of material on the record. That was thrown out the window. It was like, 'We're gonna jam ideas and arrange them so that we're comfortable enough to go into a studio. Then in the studio we'll put them under the microscope.' Brilliant. That's how I first started making records. I used an old Rogers kit - I wanted to use vintage - and a Pearl free-floating plexiglas snare that was perfect with it."
Alice Cooper - The Eyes of Alice Cooper (2003)
Eric's second album with glam shock icon Vincent Furnier was unfairly maligned, according to Singer...
"I played on Brutal Planet (2000,) The Eyes of Alice Cooper and Along Came a Spider (2008.) But out of all those Alice albums, Eyes... was the most fun and the coolest because it was done garage-style, live as a band. We literally went to a room, with all the amps and the drums in the same room, not even really using partitions, and we just blasted the songs out. I got frustrated sometimes because you have so much volume, with the bass guitar and the guitars bleeding into the mics, but we did most songs without a click track, just live as a band. It was truly old school. Probably because of a bad record label and no support, that record went by unnoticed, but if anyone gets the chance then go check that record out because it's a really cool, straight rock n' roll record."
KISS - Revenge (1992)
Another chance meeting whilst recording with Badlands landed Eric his most prestigious gig to date, although it would be a while before he entered the studio with the glam rock titans.
"I was in New York recording the Badlands album in 1989 and someone said [KISS guitarist/singer] Paul Stanley was looking for a drummer for his solo tour. Ironically I was staying at a hotel right around the corner from his offices so I went over and met with him, chatted a bit, and the next thing I know he's hired me. I played on 'God Gave Rock N' Roll To You' for the Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey soundtrack, as Eric Carr was ill. Then when he was too ill to do Revenge I got called in to play as a studio musician. Producer Bob Ezrin was a crazy guy but a genius. I remember we were recording a track playing along to a drum machine so he could monitor the time, and he would speed the drum machine up and slow it down in different sections to have the song move around and feel more natural."
Badlands - Badlands (1989)
Ray Gillen, the young singer who replaced Glenn Hughes in Black Sabbath for the initial Eternal Idol sessions only to quit the band along with Eric, formed this 'supergroup' with ex-Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee.
"I get a lot of drummers to this day that ask me about that band. The guys were great players and for me it was the chance to do our own music, write my own drum parts that didn't have a predetermined drum sound or direction. KISS have a sound and style. I have to make my drumming fit in to the sound. Same with Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper. But when you create your own music you're like a painter and you have a wide open canvas to create what you want, your own sound. I enjoyed that experience but it didn't work out on a business level. I used two Pearl MLX kits and the GLX to record and we recorded live, not to click tracks. We were inspired by Zeppelin, Sabbath, Deep Purple, Grand Funk Railroad, Humble Pie - it was about being organic, like a classic 70s rock band."
Black Sabbath - The Eternal Idol (1987)
From heaven to hell. What started in the Caribbean paradise of George Martin's AIR Studios descended into squabbling and ended three producers, two singers, two bassists and a mess of an album later.
"A completely different record, not the same vibe at all. Things were very disjointed and you could see things unravelling. The recording was initially a lot of fun because we were in the Caribbean for six weeks, swimming in the ocean and we had a gourmet chef in the studio. I used an old Pearl GLX to record. It had Super Gripper lugs - you didn't have to unscrew the tension rods all the way to take the drum heads off. It was supposed to make it quicker, but a lot of people thought they were a pain in the ass. I thought they were some of the better drums Pearl made, really loud with a big, bombastic sound. I still have that kit. We got a really cool drum sound originally, but they ended up switching producers twice and I was long gone out of the project by the time it was mixed."
Black Sabbath - Seventh Star (1986)
As they say, "Right place, right time." Just a year into his first professional job touring with '80s metal princess Lita Ford, Singer was drafted in for sessions with her boyfriend at the time, one Tony Iommi.
"It was the first actual record I did for anybody! It was going to be a Tony Iommi solo album with lots of different singers but ended up becoming Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi and had Glenn Hughes singing on the whole record. Most of those songs started with just us jamming riffs; there were no melodies or arrangements, per se, with a vocalist in mind. It does help when you know what the vocal phrasing is going to be because as a drummer you can accentuate and be more melodic and enhance the arrangements. We didn't have that luxury. For my first record it was a great experience working with Tony. I recorded with a Sonor Phonic red mahogany veneer kit in standard sizes, two 24" bass drums, and 13", 14" 16" and 18" toms. I bought that kit in 1979 and still have it to this day."
From Black Sabbath to Alice Cooper and KISS, Eric Singer tells Phil Ascott how he's landed gigs with rock and metal royalty over the past 25 years through determination, talent and good fortune. Perhaps God really can give rock n' roll to you...
KISS - Sonic Boom (2009)
Harking back to their classic Destroyer album, Paul Stanley instigated new rules for the writing and recording process of the band's first album in 11 years, ensuring jam sessions rocked and rolled all nite...
"I was pleasantly surprised when Paul called up to say, 'I'm thinking about doing a new record but I want to do it as a band and play live. No outside songwriters.' That was basically saying make sure it's your idea, don't bring a song that you had going with someone else. Paul used to write his songs and Gene used to write his, then they'd bring the material to the band and each would get a certain amount of material on the record. That was thrown out the window. It was like, 'We're gonna jam ideas and arrange them so that we're comfortable enough to go into a studio. Then in the studio we'll put them under the microscope.' Brilliant. That's how I first started making records. I used an old Rogers kit - I wanted to use vintage - and a Pearl free-floating plexiglas snare that was perfect with it."Six of the Best: Drummers pick their defining records
From Black Sabbath to Alice Cooper and KISS, Eric Singer tells Phil Ascott how he's landed gigs with rock and metal royalty over the past 25 years through determination, talent and good fortune. Perhaps God really can give rock n' roll to you...
KISS - Sonic Boom (2009)
Harking back to their classic Destroyer album, Paul Stanley instigated new rules for the writing and recording process of the band's first album in 11 years, ensuring jam sessions rocked and rolled all nite...
"I was pleasantly surprised when Paul called up to say, 'I'm thinking about doing a new record but I want to do it as a band and play live. No outside songwriters.' That was basically saying make sure it's your idea, don't bring a song that you had going with someone else. Paul used to write his songs and Gene used to write his, then they'd bring the material to the band and each would get a certain amount of material on the record. That was thrown out the window. It was like, 'We're gonna jam ideas and arrange them so that we're comfortable enough to go into a studio. Then in the studio we'll put them under the microscope.' Brilliant. That's how I first started making records. I used an old Rogers kit - I wanted to use vintage - and a Pearl free-floating plexiglas snare that was perfect with it."
Alice Cooper - The Eyes of Alice Cooper (2003)
Eric's second album with glam shock icon Vincent Furnier was unfairly maligned, according to Singer...
"I played on Brutal Planet (2000,) The Eyes of Alice Cooper and Along Came a Spider (2008.) But out of all those Alice albums, Eyes... was the most fun and the coolest because it was done garage-style, live as a band. We literally went to a room, with all the amps and the drums in the same room, not even really using partitions, and we just blasted the songs out. I got frustrated sometimes because you have so much volume, with the bass guitar and the guitars bleeding into the mics, but we did most songs without a click track, just live as a band. It was truly old school. Probably because of a bad record label and no support, that record went by unnoticed, but if anyone gets the chance then go check that record out because it's a really cool, straight rock n' roll record."
KISS - Revenge (1992)
Another chance meeting whilst recording with Badlands landed Eric his most prestigious gig to date, although it would be a while before he entered the studio with the glam rock titans.
"I was in New York recording the Badlands album in 1989 and someone said [KISS guitarist/singer] Paul Stanley was looking for a drummer for his solo tour. Ironically I was staying at a hotel right around the corner from his offices so I went over and met with him, chatted a bit, and the next thing I know he's hired me. I played on 'God Gave Rock N' Roll To You' for the Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey soundtrack, as Eric Carr was ill. Then when he was too ill to do Revenge I got called in to play as a studio musician. Producer Bob Ezrin was a crazy guy but a genius. I remember we were recording a track playing along to a drum machine so he could monitor the time, and he would speed the drum machine up and slow it down in different sections to have the song move around and feel more natural."
Badlands - Badlands (1989)
Ray Gillen, the young singer who replaced Glenn Hughes in Black Sabbath for the initial Eternal Idol sessions only to quit the band along with Eric, formed this 'supergroup' with ex-Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee.
"I get a lot of drummers to this day that ask me about that band. The guys were great players and for me it was the chance to do our own music, write my own drum parts that didn't have a predetermined drum sound or direction. KISS have a sound and style. I have to make my drumming fit in to the sound. Same with Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper. But when you create your own music you're like a painter and you have a wide open canvas to create what you want, your own sound. I enjoyed that experience but it didn't work out on a business level. I used two Pearl MLX kits and the GLX to record and we recorded live, not to click tracks. We were inspired by Zeppelin, Sabbath, Deep Purple, Grand Funk Railroad, Humble Pie - it was about being organic, like a classic 70s rock band."
Black Sabbath - The Eternal Idol (1987)
From heaven to hell. What started in the Caribbean paradise of George Martin's AIR Studios descended into squabbling and ended three producers, two singers, two bassists and a mess of an album later.
"A completely different record, not the same vibe at all. Things were very disjointed and you could see things unravelling. The recording was initially a lot of fun because we were in the Caribbean for six weeks, swimming in the ocean and we had a gourmet chef in the studio. I used an old Pearl GLX to record. It had Super Gripper lugs - you didn't have to unscrew the tension rods all the way to take the drum heads off. It was supposed to make it quicker, but a lot of people thought they were a pain in the ass. I thought they were some of the better drums Pearl made, really loud with a big, bombastic sound. I still have that kit. We got a really cool drum sound originally, but they ended up switching producers twice and I was long gone out of the project by the time it was mixed."
Black Sabbath - Seventh Star (1986)
As they say, "Right place, right time." Just a year into his first professional job touring with '80s metal princess Lita Ford, Singer was drafted in for sessions with her boyfriend at the time, one Tony Iommi.
"It was the first actual record I did for anybody! It was going to be a Tony Iommi solo album with lots of different singers but ended up becoming Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi and had Glenn Hughes singing on the whole record. Most of those songs started with just us jamming riffs; there were no melodies or arrangements, per se, with a vocalist in mind. It does help when you know what the vocal phrasing is going to be because as a drummer you can accentuate and be more melodic and enhance the arrangements. We didn't have that luxury. For my first record it was a great experience working with Tony. I recorded with a Sonor Phonic red mahogany veneer kit in standard sizes, two 24" bass drums, and 13", 14" 16" and 18" toms. I bought that kit in 1979 and still have it to this day."
