Kiss News

By Cheryl Baehr / www.riverfronttimes.com

Rock & Brews (17258 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield; 636-536-2739), the music-themed restaurant that opened last week in the Chesterfield Valley, wants to KISS away St. Louis' hunger.

That's right. The massive restaurant, which occupies the former Estancia Mexican Restaurant space on Chesterfield Airport Road, is devoted to all things KISS, as well as the many other scions of hard rock (Guns n Roses, the Grateful Dead, the Rolling Stones) whose music and memorabilia assert themselves throughout the space like a Jack Daniels-fueled Hard Rock Cafe.

The concept comes from KISS members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, together with concert promoters Dave and Dell Furano and restaurateur Michael Zislis. One night after a KISS concert, the longtime friends were sitting around when Dave Furano asked, "What's better than rock and brews?" "Nothing," the rest of the group concurred, and plans for a chain of music-oriented restaurants was set in motion.

"We are a rock & roll themed biergarten with craft beer and craft food," says Chesterfield's general manager Kyle O'Neal. "We want to get over the stigma that we are just a rock & roll bar. We're really a family restaurant, and we want to appeal to everyone from 2 to 82."

The Chesterfield Rock & Brews is the seventeenth location of the chain and features the traditional American bar and grill fare that defines the concept. O'Neal emphasizes that this is a from-scratch kitchen with almost everything made in-house.

Additionally, each Rock & Brews features local items that are special to the individual location. For example, the Chesterfield restaurant will soon be adding pork steaks and gooey butter cake to the menu.

In the mean time, look for appetizers like fried calamari and Bavarian pretzels, several varieties of wings, burgers, pizzas, steaks and ribs. Specialties include the "Gastropub Burger," which features a large patty of fresh ground beef on sesame brioche topped with Swiss cheese, an sunny-side-up egg, bacon and caramelized onions. The sweet soy glaze on the "Asian chicken wings" is so delectably sticky and gooey it'll make you want to "lick it up."

Cocktails carry on the music theme, as different drinks are named after and inspired by popular rock songs, like the "Hot Blooded," a Foreigner-themed bloody Mary or the "Rock You Like a Hurricane," a Scorpions-inspired take on the New Orleans classic. The restaurant also has a small tasting bar where patrons can hang out and sample different craft beers.

Rock & Brews is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sundays from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Click Here to view more photos of Rock & Brews.

By Lauren Sausser / www.postandcourier.com

Superstar musicians Darius Rucker and Tommy Thayer teamed up at the Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital on Monday to unveil a new smartphone app which will benefit the Children's Miracle Network.

The "storybook" app features the tale of Ernest Hummingbird, who wants to learn to sing but is discouraged because hummingbirds are only supposed to hum. In the end, he overcomes that obstacle.

"It is a story of perseverance and pursuing your dreams," said Thayer, a guitarist for the rock band KISS. "It's a beautiful little story. It's a lot of fun."

Thayer said he's been working on the project for two years.

More than a dozen pediatric patients gathered in the MUSC Children's Hospital atrium on Monday to listen as Rucker and Thayer shared the app and sang a song about best friends. The musicians also donated 10 iPad minis to the hospital for children to use and to read the digital storybook. 

Rucker, who narrates "Ernest Hummingbird," is a longtime supporter of the MUSC Children's Hospital. Last year, his family donated $265,000 to help construct a new building on the corner of Calhoun Street and Courtenay Drive.

"For me, it's all about giving back," Rucker, a country singer and Hootie & the Blowfish founder, said.

Proceeds from the sale of the "Ernest Hummingbird" app, which was illustrated by David Feiss of "Cow and Chicken" fame, will benefit the Children's Miracle Network. The group raises funds and awareness for its 170 member hospitals, including MUSC Children's Hospital.

The app costs $2.99 but will be available for free through Tuesday. Download the storybook online at ndsi.co/ernest.

KISSmas time, the best time of year!

http://bit.ly/2fFD8nn

Pictured are the KISS Comic #2 cover and alternative covers.

CLICK here to visit Dynamite Comics.

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

Here's Gene Simmons and Tommy Thayer on the cover of France's Metal Obs' magazine.

http://www.metalobs.com/

Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer (with Doc Mcghee) and Gene Simmons backstage on KKVI just before heading to the stage for the Creatures of the Deep show #2.

Photos by Keith Leroux for KISSONLINE

KISS and Sixthman Announce KISS Kruise VII � Setting sail next year from New Orleans November 5 � 10, 2017.

Watch for details at TheKISSKruise.com

America�s #1 Gold Record Award winning group of all time in every category and legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famers KISS and Sixthman, the industry leader in music festivals at sea, join fans in celebrating the success of The KISS Kruise VI! Sailing was jam-packed with five days of up close and intimate deep cut masked and unmasked concerts, custom stage set up from the 1982 Creatures of the Night tour, fan-band activities and a story filled Q&A with KISS along with rockin� shows from an additional roster of incredible artists. The Caribbean sun and Norwegian Pearl were the backdrop to the sold out music festival at sea which made port stops in Cozumel, Mexico and Grand Cayman (where government officials designated November 7^th as the official KISS Day of the island!)

This year�s KISS fan vacation of a lifetime unleashed Paul, Gene, Eric and Tommy in an Unmasked Electric show under the lights and stars on the ship�s pool deck, plus a two-night reimagining of their 1982 Creatures Tour in the intimate Stardust Theater.

Joining the rock legends for dozens of performances spread out over six stages were the classic rock power duo of Whitford/St. Holmes comprised of guitarists Brad Whitford (Aerosmith) and Derek St. Holmes (Ted Nugent), metal stars Skid Row, hard rocking progressive metal trio King�s X, Australian-American metal collective The Dead Daisies and heartland glam rockers Enuff Z�Nuff. Also appearing on the bill were experi-metal trio Magnetico, �80s rock tribute specialists Cleveland�s Breakfast Club, hair metal tribute band Teaze, KISS founding member Gene Simmons� daughter Sophie Simmons, a surprise performance from Gene�s son, Nick Simmons and New York City-based power poppers The Dives, featuring frontman Evan Stanley, son of KISS� Paul Stanley.

During the KISS Q&A session on the final day at sea, fans were treated to the news they all hoped to hear, as the band announced that The KISS Kruise VII will set sail November 5-10, 2017, from New Orleans to multiple ports TBD. Watch for details at TheKISSKruise.com

�We had an amazing time on vacation with our KISS Navy,� said Gene Simmons. �Our fans are truly the best in the world, and we�re so excited to come back together with them on our seventh Kiss Kruise in 2017!� added Paul Stanley.

Beyond the music, KISS Kruisers enjoyed a wide range of on-ship activities such as KISS face painting, a full service tattoo parlor, photo opportunities with KISS memorabilia and once-in-a-lifetime chances to mingle with their favorite artists � and always a highlight, commemorative photos with KISS themselves, with or without their iconic makeup. With 15 decks of dining and entertainment, Norwegian Pearl was a destination of her own, offering guests access to 13 bars and lounges, 19 dining experiences, one outdoor pool, hot tubs, and an award-winning spa. Guests enjoyed shooting hoops on the sports court, bowling at the onboard bowling alley and tempting lady luck at the Pearl Club Casino. Plus KISS Kruise guests enjoyed daylong excursions to the picturesque Caribbean islands of Cozumel, Mexico and George Town, Grand Cayman, real life tropical paradises with eye-catching turquoise waters, white sand beaches, shipwrecks, coral reefs and quaint Caribbean villages.

To learn more about The KISS Kruise VII, please visit TheKISSKruise.com.

Connect with the KISS Kruise on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram #TheKISSKruise.

WOW! Monterrey, Mexico! 30,000 maniacs, Muchas gracias!

Photo by Dean Snowden for KISSONLINE.