11/05/2009
KISS ON COVER OF NEW ORLEANS NEWSPAPER
Kiss News
11/05/2009
GENE SIMMONS ON MUSIC, MAKEUP
By Johannes Gernert
Translated from German for KISSonline
Mr. Simmons, your tongue is the most well-known tongue in the world.
The most well-known tongue of the world! Even I met my tongue recently. I was in Mexico for the MTV Latin Awards. Do you know what the award looked like? Like my tongue. At the entrance to the awards stood a giant tongue too, about four feet high. People were taking their pictures with it. It was the craziest thing I had ever seen.
Your makeup is as famous as your tongue. Do you make yourself up or does someone do it for you?
Never! We do it. It takes two hours to do properly. I could probably do it in one, but then the danger exists that it may run. In the beginning when we played in clubs, we could not afford a makeup artist so we'd do it ourselves. Now, I couldn't trust the makeup task to someone else.By Johannes Gernert
Translated from German for KISSonline
Mr. Simmons, your tongue is the most well-known tongue in the world.
The most well-known tongue of the world! Even I met my tongue recently. I was in Mexico for the MTV Latin Awards. Do you know what the award looked like? Like my tongue. At the entrance to the awards stood a giant tongue too, about four feet high. People were taking their pictures with it. It was the craziest thing I had ever seen.
Your makeup is as famous as your tongue. Do you make yourself up or does someone do it for you?
Never! We do it. It takes two hours to do properly. I could probably do it in one, but then the danger exists that it may run. In the beginning when we played in clubs, we could not afford a makeup artist so we'd do it ourselves. Now, I couldn't trust the makeup task to someone else.
Do you ever hate your makeup?
No! Does Superman hate his costume? I am proud of our trademark. Our makeup is us. Nobody is as successful as we are. The makeup never goes out of style. Fashions change. Kiss is timeless. There is a society which examines popular culture, and the largest Pop icon of all time? Kiss. Not even Elvis.
For several years now, you've presented yourselves and your family in a reality show. Why?
I am proud of my children and my girlfriend, with whom I have happily not been married for 26 years. We have two great children, who do not smoke, do not swear, do not drink - because we forbid them to. If you're proud of your life, let people in and show them. See how happy I am, how blessed! I do protect my mother, but everyone can see everything else. Everything. People can insult me if they want. They can call names, but I am paid well for it. That is a good deal.
You have hardly changed in music for 35 years. With women, you are liberal. Are you a conservative in music?
Interesting consideration. But conservatively? We defy the fashions. We mark our territory like animals. That is the most honest thing we can do. If we depended on current trends, we would be like a dog chasing its tail. If you do that, you do not progress. What distinguishes us from the rest of the world? We do what we do best.
Translated from German for KISSonline
Mr. Simmons, your tongue is the most well-known tongue in the world.
The most well-known tongue of the world! Even I met my tongue recently. I was in Mexico for the MTV Latin Awards. Do you know what the award looked like? Like my tongue. At the entrance to the awards stood a giant tongue too, about four feet high. People were taking their pictures with it. It was the craziest thing I had ever seen.
Your makeup is as famous as your tongue. Do you make yourself up or does someone do it for you?
Never! We do it. It takes two hours to do properly. I could probably do it in one, but then the danger exists that it may run. In the beginning when we played in clubs, we could not afford a makeup artist so we'd do it ourselves. Now, I couldn't trust the makeup task to someone else.By Johannes Gernert
Translated from German for KISSonline
Mr. Simmons, your tongue is the most well-known tongue in the world.
The most well-known tongue of the world! Even I met my tongue recently. I was in Mexico for the MTV Latin Awards. Do you know what the award looked like? Like my tongue. At the entrance to the awards stood a giant tongue too, about four feet high. People were taking their pictures with it. It was the craziest thing I had ever seen.
Your makeup is as famous as your tongue. Do you make yourself up or does someone do it for you?
Never! We do it. It takes two hours to do properly. I could probably do it in one, but then the danger exists that it may run. In the beginning when we played in clubs, we could not afford a makeup artist so we'd do it ourselves. Now, I couldn't trust the makeup task to someone else.
Do you ever hate your makeup?
No! Does Superman hate his costume? I am proud of our trademark. Our makeup is us. Nobody is as successful as we are. The makeup never goes out of style. Fashions change. Kiss is timeless. There is a society which examines popular culture, and the largest Pop icon of all time? Kiss. Not even Elvis.
For several years now, you've presented yourselves and your family in a reality show. Why?
I am proud of my children and my girlfriend, with whom I have happily not been married for 26 years. We have two great children, who do not smoke, do not swear, do not drink - because we forbid them to. If you're proud of your life, let people in and show them. See how happy I am, how blessed! I do protect my mother, but everyone can see everything else. Everything. People can insult me if they want. They can call names, but I am paid well for it. That is a good deal.
You have hardly changed in music for 35 years. With women, you are liberal. Are you a conservative in music?
Interesting consideration. But conservatively? We defy the fashions. We mark our territory like animals. That is the most honest thing we can do. If we depended on current trends, we would be like a dog chasing its tail. If you do that, you do not progress. What distinguishes us from the rest of the world? We do what we do best.
11/05/2009
SUPRISINGLY PRATICAL KISS BRANDED ITEMS
Kiss merchandise for hearth, home, and the hereafter
Kiss sweeps into the United Center on Friday on a cloud of hairspray and stage smoke, proving to fans that even in middle-age, its members still know how to rock--and sell some merch. The make-up masked quartet have had its faces and band logo painted, plastered, screen-printed, engraved, and stenciled onto any number of products over the years, but what's out there for the band's more practical fans? (Not everyone's gonna be ready to drop $250 on a "KISS Creatures box set" tableaux.) The A.V. Club sifted through T-shirts, lithographs, and Gene Simmons busts to find seven unexpectedly practical items with Kiss branding.
Kiss pencils
Sure, you could get an ordinary yellow No. 2 pencil with a pink eraser, but why would you ever do that when you could erase while staring at Ace Frehley (he might not be in the band anymore, but his legacy lives on in pencil form)? While not exciting, a Kiss pencil is certainly much more practical than a Kiss pen--because even Kiss know that mistakes happen.
Kiss merchandise for hearth, home, and the hereafter
Kiss sweeps into the United Center on Friday on a cloud of hairspray and stage smoke, proving to fans that even in middle-age, its members still know how to rock--and sell some merch. The make-up masked quartet have had its faces and band logo painted, plastered, screen-printed, engraved, and stenciled onto any number of products over the years, but what's out there for the band's more practical fans? (Not everyone's gonna be ready to drop $250 on a "KISS Creatures box set" tableaux.) The A.V. Club sifted through T-shirts, lithographs, and Gene Simmons busts to find seven unexpectedly practical items with Kiss branding.
Kiss pencils
Sure, you could get an ordinary yellow No. 2 pencil with a pink eraser, but why would you ever do that when you could erase while staring at Ace Frehley (he might not be in the band anymore, but his legacy lives on in pencil form)? While not exciting, a Kiss pencil is certainly much more practical than a Kiss pen--because even Kiss know that mistakes happen.
Kiss retro-style Thermos five-pack
Never let it be said that Kiss doesn't keep the working man in mind. The band's job might involve endless nights of bouncing around with guitars while wearing tights, but the guys know that the rest of us have to punch a time-card five days a week. Thank the lord (or the dark master) for this set of hot and cold thermoses. Each one bears a different image so your co-workers can't mock you for bringing in the same Kiss Thermos every day. Not only will they keep your soup hot, they'll also keep your beer cold so you can surreptitiously drink at your desk.
Kiss "Rock And Roll Over Cocktail Table"
One of the challenges of throwing a cocktail party is having enough surface area for placing stuff down. Fortunately, the Kiss brand knows your struggles. Perhaps nothing says "well-prepared host or hostess" like a cocktail table, and perhaps nothing says "hard-rocking host or hostess who happens to be well prepared" like a cocktail table graced with the images of your four favorite face-painted rockers.
Kiss Toothbrush
The people at Hasbro, with consent from Kiss, have come up with a way to make polishing those pearly whites totally rock; gone are the days of feeling like you just wasted two minutes of your life on routine, boring daily hygiene. This magical, musical toothbrush is not only tricked out with Kiss' image, it also plays "Rock N' Roll All Night" while you brush. From the website:
Sound vibrations stream from the bristles through your teeth so you can actually hear the music inside your head. To increase the volume, simply increase your brushing pressure. The better you brush, the better the sound! If you brush well, you'll actually hear two full minutes of music by your favorite artists.
This toothbrush just proved that stereo systems are for pussies.
Kiss Condom
Kiss understands the necessity of preventing unwanted pregnancies; it also understands that, even if you aren't sleeping with dozens of groupies on a nightly basis, you've still gotta keep those irritating STDs at bay. The Kiss condom's wrapper declares that it's "tongue lubricated," which doesn't seem completely sanitary. But hey, that's sex, Kiss-style, baby.
Kiss coffeehouse franchise
Once you get past building some giant boots and a sparkly belt as part of the "signature Kiss Coffeehouse storefront," you can start selling "coffee with attitude" as fast as your minions can brew it. And hey, maybe Gene Simmons will show up for a photo op at your grand opening!
Kiss Kasket
It doesn't get more practical than this: The sensible far-thinking Kiss fan has to start preparing for the end, now. After you rock out for the final time, won't it be a little bit easier on your friends and family if they aren't burdened with tasks like choosing an appropriate casket for you? Your folks will be able to grieve just a little less knowing that you'll be going six feet deep in a water-tight vessel that the worms won't be able to crawl in or out of, and with Kiss Forever boldly emblazoned across the coffin's side, your priorities in life will remain plain in death. Oh, and while you patiently wait for the time when you and the Kiss logo can rest together for eternity, the Kasket (remember, it's watertight!) doubles as an "edgy" cooler to hold beers at those cocktail parties you'll be having now that you have the Kiss cocktail table.
Kiss sweeps into the United Center on Friday on a cloud of hairspray and stage smoke, proving to fans that even in middle-age, its members still know how to rock--and sell some merch. The make-up masked quartet have had its faces and band logo painted, plastered, screen-printed, engraved, and stenciled onto any number of products over the years, but what's out there for the band's more practical fans? (Not everyone's gonna be ready to drop $250 on a "KISS Creatures box set" tableaux.) The A.V. Club sifted through T-shirts, lithographs, and Gene Simmons busts to find seven unexpectedly practical items with Kiss branding.
Kiss pencils
Sure, you could get an ordinary yellow No. 2 pencil with a pink eraser, but why would you ever do that when you could erase while staring at Ace Frehley (he might not be in the band anymore, but his legacy lives on in pencil form)? While not exciting, a Kiss pencil is certainly much more practical than a Kiss pen--because even Kiss know that mistakes happen.
Kiss merchandise for hearth, home, and the hereafter
Kiss sweeps into the United Center on Friday on a cloud of hairspray and stage smoke, proving to fans that even in middle-age, its members still know how to rock--and sell some merch. The make-up masked quartet have had its faces and band logo painted, plastered, screen-printed, engraved, and stenciled onto any number of products over the years, but what's out there for the band's more practical fans? (Not everyone's gonna be ready to drop $250 on a "KISS Creatures box set" tableaux.) The A.V. Club sifted through T-shirts, lithographs, and Gene Simmons busts to find seven unexpectedly practical items with Kiss branding.
Kiss pencils
Sure, you could get an ordinary yellow No. 2 pencil with a pink eraser, but why would you ever do that when you could erase while staring at Ace Frehley (he might not be in the band anymore, but his legacy lives on in pencil form)? While not exciting, a Kiss pencil is certainly much more practical than a Kiss pen--because even Kiss know that mistakes happen.
Kiss retro-style Thermos five-pack
Never let it be said that Kiss doesn't keep the working man in mind. The band's job might involve endless nights of bouncing around with guitars while wearing tights, but the guys know that the rest of us have to punch a time-card five days a week. Thank the lord (or the dark master) for this set of hot and cold thermoses. Each one bears a different image so your co-workers can't mock you for bringing in the same Kiss Thermos every day. Not only will they keep your soup hot, they'll also keep your beer cold so you can surreptitiously drink at your desk.
Kiss "Rock And Roll Over Cocktail Table"
One of the challenges of throwing a cocktail party is having enough surface area for placing stuff down. Fortunately, the Kiss brand knows your struggles. Perhaps nothing says "well-prepared host or hostess" like a cocktail table, and perhaps nothing says "hard-rocking host or hostess who happens to be well prepared" like a cocktail table graced with the images of your four favorite face-painted rockers.
Kiss Toothbrush
The people at Hasbro, with consent from Kiss, have come up with a way to make polishing those pearly whites totally rock; gone are the days of feeling like you just wasted two minutes of your life on routine, boring daily hygiene. This magical, musical toothbrush is not only tricked out with Kiss' image, it also plays "Rock N' Roll All Night" while you brush. From the website:
Sound vibrations stream from the bristles through your teeth so you can actually hear the music inside your head. To increase the volume, simply increase your brushing pressure. The better you brush, the better the sound! If you brush well, you'll actually hear two full minutes of music by your favorite artists.
This toothbrush just proved that stereo systems are for pussies.
Kiss Condom
Kiss understands the necessity of preventing unwanted pregnancies; it also understands that, even if you aren't sleeping with dozens of groupies on a nightly basis, you've still gotta keep those irritating STDs at bay. The Kiss condom's wrapper declares that it's "tongue lubricated," which doesn't seem completely sanitary. But hey, that's sex, Kiss-style, baby.
Kiss coffeehouse franchise
Once you get past building some giant boots and a sparkly belt as part of the "signature Kiss Coffeehouse storefront," you can start selling "coffee with attitude" as fast as your minions can brew it. And hey, maybe Gene Simmons will show up for a photo op at your grand opening!
Kiss Kasket
It doesn't get more practical than this: The sensible far-thinking Kiss fan has to start preparing for the end, now. After you rock out for the final time, won't it be a little bit easier on your friends and family if they aren't burdened with tasks like choosing an appropriate casket for you? Your folks will be able to grieve just a little less knowing that you'll be going six feet deep in a water-tight vessel that the worms won't be able to crawl in or out of, and with Kiss Forever boldly emblazoned across the coffin's side, your priorities in life will remain plain in death. Oh, and while you patiently wait for the time when you and the Kiss logo can rest together for eternity, the Kasket (remember, it's watertight!) doubles as an "edgy" cooler to hold beers at those cocktail parties you'll be having now that you have the Kiss cocktail table.
11/04/2009
KISS IS EVERYWHERE!
11/04/2009
KISS ARMY WORLDWIDE BOOK AVAILABLE NOW
In celebration of the arrival of the band's first studio album in eleven years, KISS has pushed up the release of their book "Kiss Army Worldwide: The Ultimate Fanzine Phenomenon" to coincide with the group's North American tour.
For the first time in KISS history, KISS fans everywhere will get an inside look and visual history told through concert photos and unique fanzines chronicling the iconic band from their beginnings in the 1970s until today. "Kiss Army Worldwide: The Ultimate Fanzine Phenomenon" includes never-before-released photos, rare fanzine covers, unique and engaging content, and other shared memorabilia from both the fans and the band. This is the ultimate must-have for every KISS fan!
The book features commentary by legendary front men Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, who provide invaluable insight on topics such as the rock and roll DIY aspect of fanzines, how these fanzines greatly contributed to the band's evolution into one of the most epic and legendary bands in music history, as well as the band's appreciation of their adoring fans. In addition, it showcases interviews with members of the KISS Army from all over the world.
With KISS fans giddy with anticipation for the band's first album in over a decade and their North American tour this fall, this book will become an essential item for millions of KISS fans everywhere. Finally, here is THE ultimate book for KISS fanatics!
In celebration of the arrival of the band's first studio album in eleven years, KISS has pushed up the release of their book "Kiss Army Worldwide: The Ultimate Fanzine Phenomenon" to coincide with the group's North American tour.
For the first time in KISS history, KISS fans everywhere will get an inside look and visual history told through concert photos and unique fanzines chronicling the iconic band from their beginnings in the 1970s until today. "Kiss Army Worldwide: The Ultimate Fanzine Phenomenon" includes never-before-released photos, rare fanzine covers, unique and engaging content, and other shared memorabilia from both the fans and the band. This is the ultimate must-have for every KISS fan!
The book features commentary by legendary front men Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, who provide invaluable insight on topics such as the rock and roll DIY aspect of fanzines, how these fanzines greatly contributed to the band's evolution into one of the most epic and legendary bands in music history, as well as the band's appreciation of their adoring fans. In addition, it showcases interviews with members of the KISS Army from all over the world.
With KISS fans giddy with anticipation for the band's first album in over a decade and their North American tour this fall, this book will become an essential item for millions of KISS fans everywhere. Finally, here is THE ultimate book for KISS fanatics!
KISS is regarded as one of the most influential rock and roll bands of all time. Their career milestones are staggering. KISS holds honors as one of America's top gold record champions, recording 37 albums over 36 years and selling over 100 million albums worldwide.
Over 30 years of record-breaking tours around the globe include high-profile appearances at Super Bowl XXXIII, the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the 2005 Rockin' The Corps concert dedicated to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and most recently, the 2009 "American Idol" finale before 30 million viewers. In September 2009, KISS received their first nomination for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The KISS legacy continues to grow, generation after generation, transcending age, race, and creed. The unparalleled devotion and loyalty of the KISS Army to the "Hottest Band in the World" is a striking testament to the band's unbreakable bond with its fans.
"Kiss Army Worldwide: The Ultimate Fanzine Phenomenon" is currently available at Amazon.com, BN.com, and other booksellers.
For the first time in KISS history, KISS fans everywhere will get an inside look and visual history told through concert photos and unique fanzines chronicling the iconic band from their beginnings in the 1970s until today. "Kiss Army Worldwide: The Ultimate Fanzine Phenomenon" includes never-before-released photos, rare fanzine covers, unique and engaging content, and other shared memorabilia from both the fans and the band. This is the ultimate must-have for every KISS fan!
The book features commentary by legendary front men Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, who provide invaluable insight on topics such as the rock and roll DIY aspect of fanzines, how these fanzines greatly contributed to the band's evolution into one of the most epic and legendary bands in music history, as well as the band's appreciation of their adoring fans. In addition, it showcases interviews with members of the KISS Army from all over the world.
With KISS fans giddy with anticipation for the band's first album in over a decade and their North American tour this fall, this book will become an essential item for millions of KISS fans everywhere. Finally, here is THE ultimate book for KISS fanatics!
In celebration of the arrival of the band's first studio album in eleven years, KISS has pushed up the release of their book "Kiss Army Worldwide: The Ultimate Fanzine Phenomenon" to coincide with the group's North American tour.
For the first time in KISS history, KISS fans everywhere will get an inside look and visual history told through concert photos and unique fanzines chronicling the iconic band from their beginnings in the 1970s until today. "Kiss Army Worldwide: The Ultimate Fanzine Phenomenon" includes never-before-released photos, rare fanzine covers, unique and engaging content, and other shared memorabilia from both the fans and the band. This is the ultimate must-have for every KISS fan!
The book features commentary by legendary front men Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, who provide invaluable insight on topics such as the rock and roll DIY aspect of fanzines, how these fanzines greatly contributed to the band's evolution into one of the most epic and legendary bands in music history, as well as the band's appreciation of their adoring fans. In addition, it showcases interviews with members of the KISS Army from all over the world.
With KISS fans giddy with anticipation for the band's first album in over a decade and their North American tour this fall, this book will become an essential item for millions of KISS fans everywhere. Finally, here is THE ultimate book for KISS fanatics!
KISS is regarded as one of the most influential rock and roll bands of all time. Their career milestones are staggering. KISS holds honors as one of America's top gold record champions, recording 37 albums over 36 years and selling over 100 million albums worldwide.
Over 30 years of record-breaking tours around the globe include high-profile appearances at Super Bowl XXXIII, the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the 2005 Rockin' The Corps concert dedicated to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and most recently, the 2009 "American Idol" finale before 30 million viewers. In September 2009, KISS received their first nomination for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The KISS legacy continues to grow, generation after generation, transcending age, race, and creed. The unparalleled devotion and loyalty of the KISS Army to the "Hottest Band in the World" is a striking testament to the band's unbreakable bond with its fans.
"Kiss Army Worldwide: The Ultimate Fanzine Phenomenon" is currently available at Amazon.com, BN.com, and other booksellers.
11/04/2009
SWITZERLAND LOVES KISS!
11/03/2009
Letter to KISS
11/03/2009
KISS AT 60: ROCKING HARD AS EVER
Maybe they're now eligible for the cover of AARP magazine, but Simmons and mates rock as hard as ever
By William Weir
The 60-year-old rock-star club is boosting its ranks -- joining this year are Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and, maybe most shockingly, Kiss co-founder Gene Simmons.
"It means as much as you want to make it seem," Simmons says of age. Along with the three other members of Kiss -- all in full Kiss regalia -- Simmons is waiting this night to go on stage for a sold-out show at Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut. The dressing rooms are marked off for each member of Kiss, as well as one for "Pyro" -- fire being a classic part of any Kiss show. Not much happens pre-show -- besides the road crew and some hangers-on, the guys of opening act Buckcherry wander about, as does veteran rock manager Doc McGhee. The members of Kiss are nowhere to be seen until they show up in McGhee's room for an interview.
"I will tell you that we are playing longer than we have ever played. As you can see, this is not kid stuff. You have to be pretty strong to be able to physically do 2 1/2 hours of rocking the house."Maybe they're now eligible for the cover of AARP magazine, but Simmons and mates rock as hard as ever
By William Weir
The 60-year-old rock-star club is boosting its ranks -- joining this year are Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and, maybe most shockingly, Kiss co-founder Gene Simmons.
"It means as much as you want to make it seem," Simmons says of age. Along with the three other members of Kiss -- all in full Kiss regalia -- Simmons is waiting this night to go on stage for a sold-out show at Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut. The dressing rooms are marked off for each member of Kiss, as well as one for "Pyro" -- fire being a classic part of any Kiss show. Not much happens pre-show -- besides the road crew and some hangers-on, the guys of opening act Buckcherry wander about, as does veteran rock manager Doc McGhee. The members of Kiss are nowhere to be seen until they show up in McGhee's room for an interview.
"I will tell you that we are playing longer than we have ever played. As you can see, this is not kid stuff. You have to be pretty strong to be able to physically do 2 1/2 hours of rocking the house."
While Springsteen's music and persona have allowed for the onset of maturity with songs about the complexities of relationships, Kiss continues to spit blood, breathe fire and shoot rockets out of guitars. The tradition continues with this fall's release of "Sonic Boom," the band's first album of new material in 11 years.
So while it may be a jolt when the Boss appears on the cover of AARP magazine, it's even more disconcerting to imagine "the Demon" gracing the same cover. But Simmons -- whose family-life cable TV reality series, "Gene Simmons Family Jewels," has found fans -- is proceeding boldly into his years. He did indeed appear at an AARP event last year, where he told an audience that "60 is the new 20."
Theirs is a physically taxing show. "Just try walking around for 2 1/2 hours in these," Simmons says, placing his platform boots onto the coffee table. Even sitting down in them appears to take considerable work.
The years of bounding around onstage have taken a toll, in part leading to a couple of hip replacements for the group's other remaining original member, guitarist Paul Stanley, 57. But you won't hear them complaining.
"It's not unusual for one of us to be sick, but the last thing we're going to do is go on stage and tell people," Stanley says. "When we go up on the stage, we're Supermen."
The guys in Kiss work hard, no doubt. They're also proud self-marketers (items for sale at its Web site: Kiss wine, Kiss bingo games, Kiss Mr. Potato Heads -- for a while, you could purchase a $4,500 Kiss Kasket).
But even they couldn't have calculated how their costumes would serve them in the long run. The Rolling Stones are a spry bunch onstage, but camera close-ups reveal the years. Kiss members in makeup look, more or less, like Kiss always has.
The outlandish get-ups lend themselves to what could prove to be the most innovative business model in music -- the rock band in which age isn't a factor. Stanley says that's the long-term goal.
"I don't delude myself into believing that I'm not replaceable," he says. "Should I leave or should Gene leave, hopefully the band would continue."
In the 1970s, fans circulated wild tales about the band ("'Kiss' stands for 'Knights In Satan's Service!' "Gene had a cow tongue surgically grafted onto his own!") that fueled their mystery, as well as parents' fears about letting their kids go to the shows. Judging by the crowd at Mohegan Sun, going to a Kiss show now is an event for the whole family.
At the merchandise counter, wearing a Kiss T-shirt shirt ("If it's too loud, you're too old" emblazoned on the back), Bridget Walker of Woodstock, Conn., was helping her 10-year-old son, Christopher, pick out his own concert shirt. Walker, 36, has seen the band "seven or eight times," beginning in the 1980s. She saw the band most recently in Detroit with her 14-year-old daughter. Has the experience changed much over the years?
"Not really," she said. "They're older, but aren't we all?"
Kiss
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: United Center
Price: $20.50-$126 at 312-455-4500
By William Weir
The 60-year-old rock-star club is boosting its ranks -- joining this year are Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and, maybe most shockingly, Kiss co-founder Gene Simmons.
"It means as much as you want to make it seem," Simmons says of age. Along with the three other members of Kiss -- all in full Kiss regalia -- Simmons is waiting this night to go on stage for a sold-out show at Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut. The dressing rooms are marked off for each member of Kiss, as well as one for "Pyro" -- fire being a classic part of any Kiss show. Not much happens pre-show -- besides the road crew and some hangers-on, the guys of opening act Buckcherry wander about, as does veteran rock manager Doc McGhee. The members of Kiss are nowhere to be seen until they show up in McGhee's room for an interview.
"I will tell you that we are playing longer than we have ever played. As you can see, this is not kid stuff. You have to be pretty strong to be able to physically do 2 1/2 hours of rocking the house."Maybe they're now eligible for the cover of AARP magazine, but Simmons and mates rock as hard as ever
By William Weir
The 60-year-old rock-star club is boosting its ranks -- joining this year are Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and, maybe most shockingly, Kiss co-founder Gene Simmons.
"It means as much as you want to make it seem," Simmons says of age. Along with the three other members of Kiss -- all in full Kiss regalia -- Simmons is waiting this night to go on stage for a sold-out show at Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut. The dressing rooms are marked off for each member of Kiss, as well as one for "Pyro" -- fire being a classic part of any Kiss show. Not much happens pre-show -- besides the road crew and some hangers-on, the guys of opening act Buckcherry wander about, as does veteran rock manager Doc McGhee. The members of Kiss are nowhere to be seen until they show up in McGhee's room for an interview.
"I will tell you that we are playing longer than we have ever played. As you can see, this is not kid stuff. You have to be pretty strong to be able to physically do 2 1/2 hours of rocking the house."
While Springsteen's music and persona have allowed for the onset of maturity with songs about the complexities of relationships, Kiss continues to spit blood, breathe fire and shoot rockets out of guitars. The tradition continues with this fall's release of "Sonic Boom," the band's first album of new material in 11 years.
So while it may be a jolt when the Boss appears on the cover of AARP magazine, it's even more disconcerting to imagine "the Demon" gracing the same cover. But Simmons -- whose family-life cable TV reality series, "Gene Simmons Family Jewels," has found fans -- is proceeding boldly into his years. He did indeed appear at an AARP event last year, where he told an audience that "60 is the new 20."
Theirs is a physically taxing show. "Just try walking around for 2 1/2 hours in these," Simmons says, placing his platform boots onto the coffee table. Even sitting down in them appears to take considerable work.
The years of bounding around onstage have taken a toll, in part leading to a couple of hip replacements for the group's other remaining original member, guitarist Paul Stanley, 57. But you won't hear them complaining.
"It's not unusual for one of us to be sick, but the last thing we're going to do is go on stage and tell people," Stanley says. "When we go up on the stage, we're Supermen."
The guys in Kiss work hard, no doubt. They're also proud self-marketers (items for sale at its Web site: Kiss wine, Kiss bingo games, Kiss Mr. Potato Heads -- for a while, you could purchase a $4,500 Kiss Kasket).
But even they couldn't have calculated how their costumes would serve them in the long run. The Rolling Stones are a spry bunch onstage, but camera close-ups reveal the years. Kiss members in makeup look, more or less, like Kiss always has.
The outlandish get-ups lend themselves to what could prove to be the most innovative business model in music -- the rock band in which age isn't a factor. Stanley says that's the long-term goal.
"I don't delude myself into believing that I'm not replaceable," he says. "Should I leave or should Gene leave, hopefully the band would continue."
In the 1970s, fans circulated wild tales about the band ("'Kiss' stands for 'Knights In Satan's Service!' "Gene had a cow tongue surgically grafted onto his own!") that fueled their mystery, as well as parents' fears about letting their kids go to the shows. Judging by the crowd at Mohegan Sun, going to a Kiss show now is an event for the whole family.
At the merchandise counter, wearing a Kiss T-shirt shirt ("If it's too loud, you're too old" emblazoned on the back), Bridget Walker of Woodstock, Conn., was helping her 10-year-old son, Christopher, pick out his own concert shirt. Walker, 36, has seen the band "seven or eight times," beginning in the 1980s. She saw the band most recently in Detroit with her 14-year-old daughter. Has the experience changed much over the years?
"Not really," she said. "They're older, but aren't we all?"
Kiss
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: United Center
Price: $20.50-$126 at 312-455-4500
11/03/2009
BELGIUM KISS EXPO ROCKED
11/03/2009
KISS ARMY... YOU LOOKED GREAT ON HALLOWEEN!
