10/18/2009
YOU GUYS ROCKED!!!
Kiss News
10/18/2009
TOMMY ROCKS!!!
10/17/2009
KISS IS STILL KING OF CONCERTS
By Mike Doyle
When I was 5 years old, I remember rocking out to KISS downstairs in our family room pretty much every evening before dinner.
My Mom would yell at me to come to the table and sit with the family, but I couldn't. Not until the explosions were finished going off at the end of KISS Alive II would I appear at the dinner table.
I had the makeup kit and the trading cards. I remember applying the small rose tattoo that was included in the Alive II album sleeve to my shoulder, and pretending I was Paul Stanley. KISS was magical to kids back in the 70s.
On Friday night, I was reminded of that magic. The "Hottest Band In The World" made a stop at Hampton Coliseum on Friday night, as KISS returned to Hampton Roads.By Mike Doyle
When I was 5 years old, I remember rocking out to KISS downstairs in our family room pretty much every evening before dinner.
My Mom would yell at me to come to the table and sit with the family, but I couldn't. Not until the explosions were finished going off at the end of KISS Alive II would I appear at the dinner table.
I had the makeup kit and the trading cards. I remember applying the small rose tattoo that was included in the Alive II album sleeve to my shoulder, and pretending I was Paul Stanley. KISS was magical to kids back in the 70s.
On Friday night, I was reminded of that magic. The "Hottest Band In The World" made a stop at Hampton Coliseum on Friday night, as KISS returned to Hampton Roads.
The amazingly well-marketed masked men were in town in support of their KISS Alive 35 World Tour, celebrating 35 years since the release of their breakthrough album, KISS Alive as well as their most recent release Sonic Boom.
The band rose to an incredible level of fame in the late 70s, propelled by their in-concert experience which included massive stage shows, pyrotechnics, and of course, the bands' trademark black and white Kabuki-style make up.
With over 100 million records sold and 24 gold-certified records, KISS showed Hampton why they are considered one of the most influential bands in rock and roll.
Opening with "Deuce," the band kicked off their show in classic KISS style with explosions and giant flames. Gene Simmons prowled the stage as the 'demon,' as if he was hunting certain audience members. In the good old days, of course, Simmons was on the prowl for groupies, but today, he's a tamed family-man, as witnessed in his A&E reality show Gene Simmons' Family Jewels.
However, once the makeup is on, Simmons transforms to his dark lascivious alter ego as punctuated by the blood oozing from his mouth during his bass solo leading into "I Love It Loud". Lead singer and starchild, Paul Stanley is KISS's cheerleader, pumping up the crowd with all of the cliche one-liners, yet somehow (maybe 35 years of brewing charisma) Stanley makes you believe he's talking directly to you.
Members of the KISS Army (the band's massive and loyal fanbase) know that original guitarist and drummer, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss are no longer with the band, and haven't been for quite some time.
Drummer Eric Singer is going on his 18th year with the band; and guitarist Tommy Thayer, has been playing the part of
"Spaceman" since 2003.
The setlist included primarily classic KISS songs as "Strutter," "Hotter Than Hell" (featuring a fire-breathing Gene Simmons), "Black Diamond," and "Let's Go Rock & Roll."
The band's most popular song and party anthem "Rock And Roll All Night" closed out the set with confetti showering down on the audience.
However, the band wasn't quite done. The multi-song encore included some of the best of the night. "Shout It Out Loud," "Lick It Up," "Love Gun," and the infamous "Detroit Rock City" ended the night.
KISS forged the way in live concert experiences. They were one of the first to use fire, explosions, lasers, and other features during their performances.
With KISS, it's about the experience. It's the blood, fire, explosions, makeup, smoking guitars, and costumes that make KISS special. And, it's the sum of the parts that makes us love the music and creates the memories.
On Friday night, my memory took me back to my childhood when KISS was magic.
When I was 5 years old, I remember rocking out to KISS downstairs in our family room pretty much every evening before dinner.
My Mom would yell at me to come to the table and sit with the family, but I couldn't. Not until the explosions were finished going off at the end of KISS Alive II would I appear at the dinner table.
I had the makeup kit and the trading cards. I remember applying the small rose tattoo that was included in the Alive II album sleeve to my shoulder, and pretending I was Paul Stanley. KISS was magical to kids back in the 70s.
On Friday night, I was reminded of that magic. The "Hottest Band In The World" made a stop at Hampton Coliseum on Friday night, as KISS returned to Hampton Roads.By Mike Doyle
When I was 5 years old, I remember rocking out to KISS downstairs in our family room pretty much every evening before dinner.
My Mom would yell at me to come to the table and sit with the family, but I couldn't. Not until the explosions were finished going off at the end of KISS Alive II would I appear at the dinner table.
I had the makeup kit and the trading cards. I remember applying the small rose tattoo that was included in the Alive II album sleeve to my shoulder, and pretending I was Paul Stanley. KISS was magical to kids back in the 70s.
On Friday night, I was reminded of that magic. The "Hottest Band In The World" made a stop at Hampton Coliseum on Friday night, as KISS returned to Hampton Roads.
The amazingly well-marketed masked men were in town in support of their KISS Alive 35 World Tour, celebrating 35 years since the release of their breakthrough album, KISS Alive as well as their most recent release Sonic Boom.
The band rose to an incredible level of fame in the late 70s, propelled by their in-concert experience which included massive stage shows, pyrotechnics, and of course, the bands' trademark black and white Kabuki-style make up.
With over 100 million records sold and 24 gold-certified records, KISS showed Hampton why they are considered one of the most influential bands in rock and roll.
Opening with "Deuce," the band kicked off their show in classic KISS style with explosions and giant flames. Gene Simmons prowled the stage as the 'demon,' as if he was hunting certain audience members. In the good old days, of course, Simmons was on the prowl for groupies, but today, he's a tamed family-man, as witnessed in his A&E reality show Gene Simmons' Family Jewels.
However, once the makeup is on, Simmons transforms to his dark lascivious alter ego as punctuated by the blood oozing from his mouth during his bass solo leading into "I Love It Loud". Lead singer and starchild, Paul Stanley is KISS's cheerleader, pumping up the crowd with all of the cliche one-liners, yet somehow (maybe 35 years of brewing charisma) Stanley makes you believe he's talking directly to you.
Members of the KISS Army (the band's massive and loyal fanbase) know that original guitarist and drummer, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss are no longer with the band, and haven't been for quite some time.
Drummer Eric Singer is going on his 18th year with the band; and guitarist Tommy Thayer, has been playing the part of
"Spaceman" since 2003.
The setlist included primarily classic KISS songs as "Strutter," "Hotter Than Hell" (featuring a fire-breathing Gene Simmons), "Black Diamond," and "Let's Go Rock & Roll."
The band's most popular song and party anthem "Rock And Roll All Night" closed out the set with confetti showering down on the audience.
However, the band wasn't quite done. The multi-song encore included some of the best of the night. "Shout It Out Loud," "Lick It Up," "Love Gun," and the infamous "Detroit Rock City" ended the night.
KISS forged the way in live concert experiences. They were one of the first to use fire, explosions, lasers, and other features during their performances.
With KISS, it's about the experience. It's the blood, fire, explosions, makeup, smoking guitars, and costumes that make KISS special. And, it's the sum of the parts that makes us love the music and creates the memories.
On Friday night, my memory took me back to my childhood when KISS was magic.
10/17/2009
FACE PAINTED & PASSIONATE FOR KISS
10/17/2009
KISS DREAM COME TRUE
10/17/2009
GOLDMINE'S COBO REVIEW
by Eric HarabadianThey say "where there's smoke there's fire" and on Sept. 25 there was plenty of that, along with enough explosions and fireworks to set off the Fourth of July! You see, this was the opener of the "Kiss Alive 35" North American 40-plus city tour, and the classic quartet returned to the place where it all started for them back in 1975.
The seminal Kiss Alive! album catapulted the then-fledgling group from marginal success to multi-platinum status. The original album cover was taken at Michigan Palace, but the back cover, where the majority of the live album was recorded, displayed an anticipatory crowd at the sold-out Cobo Arena.
One might say that it was the mid-'70s all over again. There was a nostalgic glint in people's eyes and a palpable buzz and energy in the air. And the seemingly ageless and unstoppable rock n' roll machine known as Kiss delivered a timeless two-hour-plus extravaganza that seemed destined for the history books.
by Eric HarabadianThey say "where there's smoke there's fire" and on Sept. 25 there was plenty of that, along with enough explosions and fireworks to set off the Fourth of July! You see, this was the opener of the "Kiss Alive 35" North American 40-plus city tour, and the classic quartet returned to the place where it all started for them back in 1975.
The seminal Kiss Alive! album catapulted the then-fledgling group from marginal success to multi-platinum status. The original album cover was taken at Michigan Palace, but the back cover, where the majority of the live album was recorded, displayed an anticipatory crowd at the sold-out Cobo Arena.
One might say that it was the mid-'70s all over again. There was a nostalgic glint in people's eyes and a palpable buzz and energy in the air. And the seemingly ageless and unstoppable rock n' roll machine known as Kiss delivered a timeless two-hour-plus extravaganza that seemed destined for the history books.
They kicked things off with "Deuce" followed closely by a faithful and grooving "Strutter." Ever the consummate MC, guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley riled up the crowd leading into the mid-tempo "Got to Choose." "Hotter Than Hell" kept the hysteria in high gear as lead guitarist Tommy Thayer, flanked by a barrage of flames and fog, dove into a succinct, well-crafted solo.
The band essentially was counting down the lion's share of the original double album as "Nothin' to Lose" continued the love affair with the Detroit audience. At this juncture Stanley shared memories of playing Cobo early in their career.
The main set featured 15 Kiss standards. Additional highlights included cool drum and guitar interplay from long-time associate Eric Singer and Thayer, respectively, on "Parasite." "She" was another standout with strong group backing vocals and a spotlight for Thayer's chops and pyrotechnic theatrics. Gene Simmons got the venue rumbling with the bass intro to "100,000 Years" that laid the groundwork for Singer's revolving drum-riser showmanship and some call-and-response interplay with the crowd from Stanley.
Rock-steady versions of "Cold Gin," "Let Me Go Rock And Roll" and an abbreviated "Black Diamond" also did not disappoint. After a sincere-sounding message from Stanley to Detroit fans about overcoming economic adversity, they broke into the anthemic "Rock And Roll All Night," complete with cannons shooting streamers of confetti into the air.
Kiss was not stingy on encores, with a string of crowd-pleasers including "Shout It Out Loud," "Lick It Up," "I Love It Loud," "Modern Day Delilah" (off the upcoming disc Sonic Boom), "Love Gun" and, naturally, "Detroit Rock City."
Yes, indeed, bombs, fireworks, flames, blood and sweat were supplied by the band in copious amounts. Just as plentiful was the enthusiasm of the fans happy to see their costumed heroes within the hallowed halls of Cobo once again!
10/16/2009
KISS ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA SUNDAY
10/16/2009
KISS FEATURED ON YAHOO MUSIC TODAY
10/16/2009
KISS IN PHILLY & DC
by Kevin Eck
They say you never forget your first Kiss. I vividly remember mine.
The date was Dec. 20, 1977, and I was 10. That was the night I saw the self-professed hottest band in the land for the very first time, at the old Capital Centre in Landover.
What I experienced that night was much deeper than a school-boy infatuation. It was the start of a lifelong relationship, and even though there have been peaks and valleys over the past 32 years, the passion is still there ...by Kevin Eck
They say you never forget your first Kiss. I vividly remember mine.
The date was Dec. 20, 1977, and I was 10. That was the night I saw the self-professed hottest band in the land for the very first time, at the old Capital Centre in Landover.
What I experienced that night was much deeper than a school-boy infatuation. It was the start of a lifelong relationship, and even though there have been peaks and valleys over the past 32 years, the passion is still there ...
I've lost count of how many times I have seen Kiss in concert, but it�s more than 20. I added two more shows to the list earlier this week when I saw the makeup-adorned rockers at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia Monday night and Verizon Center in Washington the next night as part of the Alive 35 Tour, which celebrates Kiss' 35th anniversary.
The members of Kiss may be long in the tooth � their ages range from 48 to 60 � but they�re not short on energy, as the band performed for two hours each night and kept the crowd on its feet the entire time.
Kiss dug into its extensive catalog of catchy, three-chord rock songs and pulled out 18 classics, two-thirds of which came from its first three albums � "Kiss," "Hotter than Hell" and "Dressed to Kill," all of which were released between 1974 and 1975. I can't find much fault with the song selection.
All the staples of a Kiss concert were on display, from the pyro explosions, to tongue-wagging bassist Gene Simmons spitting up fake blood and breathing fire, to the blizzard of confetti that filled the arena during "Rock and Roll All Nite."
As usual, front man and rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley commanded the stage. During the latter part of the show, he summed up the band's lack of pretense in regard to its live performances: "If you're here to hear about saving the whales, or ending world hunger, or who to vote for, you're in the wrong place! You came here to forget about all that stuff."
While Kiss has always been more about flashy stage shows and larger-than-life characters than musical virtuosity, the band sounded tighter on these shows than it did during its glory years in the '70s.
That�s due in large part to the presence of lead guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer. It's clear that Kiss is a better band with them playing alongside founding members Simmons and Stanley.
Kiss got the show off to a rousing start with the vintage one-two punch of "Deuce" and "Strutter," the first two tracks on Kiss' landmark 1975 live album, "Alive!" Eleven of the first 13 songs Kiss played were included on "Alive!"
Surprisingly, the band only performed one song - "Modern Day Delilah" - off its latest album, "Sonic Boom," which was released last week. Kiss played a five-song encore, including "Lick It Up," the only song in the set from the era when Kiss performed without makeup.
While watching Kiss close Tuesday night's show with "Detroit, Rock City," I really tried to savor the moment because I knew it could very well be the last time I see the band live.
Then again, I have felt that way at every Kiss concert I�ve attended since the band put the makeup back on in 1996. Something tells me this was not a Kiss goodbye.
They say you never forget your first Kiss. I vividly remember mine.
The date was Dec. 20, 1977, and I was 10. That was the night I saw the self-professed hottest band in the land for the very first time, at the old Capital Centre in Landover.
What I experienced that night was much deeper than a school-boy infatuation. It was the start of a lifelong relationship, and even though there have been peaks and valleys over the past 32 years, the passion is still there ...by Kevin Eck
They say you never forget your first Kiss. I vividly remember mine.
The date was Dec. 20, 1977, and I was 10. That was the night I saw the self-professed hottest band in the land for the very first time, at the old Capital Centre in Landover.
What I experienced that night was much deeper than a school-boy infatuation. It was the start of a lifelong relationship, and even though there have been peaks and valleys over the past 32 years, the passion is still there ...
I've lost count of how many times I have seen Kiss in concert, but it�s more than 20. I added two more shows to the list earlier this week when I saw the makeup-adorned rockers at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia Monday night and Verizon Center in Washington the next night as part of the Alive 35 Tour, which celebrates Kiss' 35th anniversary.
The members of Kiss may be long in the tooth � their ages range from 48 to 60 � but they�re not short on energy, as the band performed for two hours each night and kept the crowd on its feet the entire time.
Kiss dug into its extensive catalog of catchy, three-chord rock songs and pulled out 18 classics, two-thirds of which came from its first three albums � "Kiss," "Hotter than Hell" and "Dressed to Kill," all of which were released between 1974 and 1975. I can't find much fault with the song selection.
All the staples of a Kiss concert were on display, from the pyro explosions, to tongue-wagging bassist Gene Simmons spitting up fake blood and breathing fire, to the blizzard of confetti that filled the arena during "Rock and Roll All Nite."
As usual, front man and rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley commanded the stage. During the latter part of the show, he summed up the band's lack of pretense in regard to its live performances: "If you're here to hear about saving the whales, or ending world hunger, or who to vote for, you're in the wrong place! You came here to forget about all that stuff."
While Kiss has always been more about flashy stage shows and larger-than-life characters than musical virtuosity, the band sounded tighter on these shows than it did during its glory years in the '70s.
That�s due in large part to the presence of lead guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer. It's clear that Kiss is a better band with them playing alongside founding members Simmons and Stanley.
Kiss got the show off to a rousing start with the vintage one-two punch of "Deuce" and "Strutter," the first two tracks on Kiss' landmark 1975 live album, "Alive!" Eleven of the first 13 songs Kiss played were included on "Alive!"
Surprisingly, the band only performed one song - "Modern Day Delilah" - off its latest album, "Sonic Boom," which was released last week. Kiss played a five-song encore, including "Lick It Up," the only song in the set from the era when Kiss performed without makeup.
While watching Kiss close Tuesday night's show with "Detroit, Rock City," I really tried to savor the moment because I knew it could very well be the last time I see the band live.
Then again, I have felt that way at every Kiss concert I�ve attended since the band put the makeup back on in 1996. Something tells me this was not a Kiss goodbye.
10/16/2009
GUITAR HERO & KISS SET TO ROCK!
