KISS Online :: News

11/20/2015

KISS SIGHTING: Mardi Gras World New Orleans

KISS is Everywhere!

Thanks to Dimmare for sharing the photo!

11/19/2015

At Last a Gene Simmons Doll That Spits Blood!

By Jeff Giles / Ultimate Classic Rock

KISS fans, your long nightmare of having to pretend that your Gene Simmons action figures are really spitting blood has finally come to an end.

Thanks to the geniuses at Figures Toy Company, the ever-expanding army of KISS merchandise now includes a fully articulated, 12-inch version of Simmons � decked out in his trademark �Demon� garb, natch � that comes packed with �BLOOD SPITTING ACTION.�

The figure, which also comes with a miniature Punisher bass, allows you to recreate Simmons� signature stunt courtesy of an empty head � no jokes, KISS haters � that�s filled with fake blood (or real blood, we guess, if you�re really into that kind of thing) which comes spurting out, as seen in the video below.

Mini-Simmons� blood spewing isn�t without its risks: Buyers are warned that you need to wear rubber gloves while carefully pumping the stuff into the doll�s little noggin, because it�ll stain anything it touches (�Figures Toy Company is not responsible for damage to clothing or other articles that the fake blood comes into contact with�). And at $69.99, this isn�t exactly an impulse buy, or the kind of action figure you�re liable to leave lying around the playroom for your kids to introduce to the other, less awesome toys in the house.

This deluxe-edition Simmons comes courtesy of the same company that, several years ago, rolled out a line of KISS retro action figures, and joins a line of band-approved toys whose recent additions include Funko plushies and official KISS Uglydolls. Budget accordingly this holiday season.

Kiss fans, your long nightmare of having to pretend that your Gene Simmons action figures are really spitting blood has finally come to an end.

Thanks to the geniuses at Figures Toy Company, the ever-expanding army of Kiss merchandise now includes a fully articulated, 12-inch version of Simmons � decked out in his trademark �Demon� garb, natch � that comes packed with �BLOOD SPITTING ACTION.�

The figure, which also comes with a miniature Punisher bass, allows you to recreate Simmons� signature stunt courtesy of an empty head � no jokes, Kiss haters � that�s filled with fake blood (or real blood, we guess, if you�re really into that kind of thing) which comes spurting out, as seen in the video below.

Mini-Simmons� blood spewing isn�t without its risks: Buyers are warned that you need to wear rubber gloves while carefully pumping the stuff into the doll�s little noggin, because it�ll stain anything it touches (�Figures Toy Company is not responsible for damage to clothing or other articles that the fake blood comes into contact with�). And at $69.99, this isn�t exactly an impulse buy, or the kind of action figure you�re liable to leave lying around the playroom for your kids to introduce to the other, less awesome toys in the house.

This deluxe-edition Simmons comes courtesy of the same company that, several years ago, rolled out a line of Kiss retro action figures, and joins a line of band-approved toys whose recent additions include Funko plushies and official Kiss Uglydolls. Budget accordingly this holiday season.

KISS 12 Inch Action Figures: The Demon Blood Spitting Deluxe Version! Figures Toy Company and @kissonline proudly present an all new The Demon figure, with a twist: this one has BLOOD SPITTING ACTION! Danny "The Farrow" Anniello has crafted another superb sculpt for this figure of the classic rocker, one that allows you to recreate the famous KISS concert footage of Gene rocking out on his bass while he spitting blood! Comes inside of resealable plastic clamshell packaging, also includes a mini Punisher bass guitar! @theofficialgenesimmons

A video posted by Figures Toy Company (@figurestoycompany) on Nov 12, 2015 at 6:31pm PST

11/19/2015

A journal aboard the KISS Kruise V

By Ken Sharp / Goldmine Magazine

October 30, 12:25 PM, Spinnaker Lounge, Ax Petting Zoo

Enter the Ax Petting Zoo. This isn�t an enclosure for wild animals but a showcase for Gene Simmons� personal bass line. Who else could pull off brandishing an Axe shaped guitar that would make Lizzy Borden proud than Gene Simmons? Other bass guitars in Gene�s deep arsenal sport exquisite design/handiwork teeming with gleaming studs, animal-like scales and even one emblazoned with the U.S. flag. Fans from Brazil, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, Russia and Japan mingle and have the opportunity to try out these monster 4-string basses. �It�s like a history of Gene Simmons seeing his evolution through the various bass guitars he uses on and off the stage,� marvels David Latt, 54, owner of an automotive dealership from Houston, Texas.�

Christina Vitagliano, coordinator for Gene Simmons� bass line fills us in on �The Demon�s� 4-string arsenal: �Because Gene and KISS have become so iconic, so have his basses. He has three standard basses, an acoustic Punisher, his standard Axe bass and his standard Punisher bass. But there are also tons of custom models like a Dragon scale Axe and Punisher bass. Ken Kelly, the artist who did the covers for �Destroyer� and �Love Gun� does hand-painted Punisher and Axe basses for Gene as well. �

John Upshaw Downs, a 56-year-old resident of Charleston, South Carolina took his fascination with Gene�s basses all the way to a Washington, D.C. prestigious institution. �I have always loved Gene�s iconic Axe bass. I read an article on how Eddie Van Halen got his Frankinstrat put into the Smithsonian. I thought, why not put his iconic bass into the Smithsonian as well. I contacted the curator of the museum, Eric Jontz, and with his help the Gene Simmons Axe bass is now proudly part of the Smithsonian museum where fans from all generations can come and enjoy this unique one-of-a-kind instrument.� For more info on Gene�s line of basses, check out www.genesimmonsaxe.com

October 30, 5:15PM, Pool Deck, KISS �Unmasked� electric set

Fans from over 30 countries gather together on the pool deck; hanging off the upper tier are a multitude of large banners from Germany, Spain, Australia, France, Brazil, Finland, England, Denmark, Canada and others proudly displaying the flag of their country. The band clambers onto the stage like conquering heroes and Paul Stanley exclaims: �We�ve always done the sailaway show acoustically; this is like we�re in a rehearsal with 3,000 people!� They kick off the set with �Flaming Youth� as the ship leaves port and begins its seaward jaunt to Jamaica. This rare airing of �Flaming Youth,� a fist-pumping anthem culled from the band�s 1976 album, �Destroyer,� indicates that this is no normal set but rather one which finds the band dusting off lesser or never before performed gems in their vast catalog, many voted on by this year�s KISS kruisers. Other jewels plucked out of the KISS canon including �Ladies Room� and �Mr. Speed� from �Rock �N Roll Over� � plus several deep cuts gleaned from the group�s second album, �Hotter than Hell�: �Strange Ways,� �Mainline, �Coming Home,� and �All the Way.� �This is my fourth KISS Kruise,� raved Kjell Solberg, an office worker from Elverum, Norway. �I was so excited to hear all the real obscure deep cuts and celebrate with the entire KISS Navy!�

October 31, Halloween, 7:45 PM, Spinnaker Lounge, KISS meet and greet and photo op

A long line of fans, an Army (or should that be Navy) of KISS t-shirts is the evening�s chosen attire by most; there are also some fans adorned in KISS makeup and some wearing elaborately designed costumes mimicking their musical heroes. Fans of all ages file through waiting in anticipation for the moment they can meet Paul, Gene, Eric and Tommy and pose for a photo of the band in makeup and decked out in their �Alive!� costumes. Yumiko Nemoto, a 53-year-old office worker, from Tokyo, Japan is radiant and overcome with joy. �I can�t believe I just met these superheroes of rock! I first saw KISS play at the Budokan in Tokyo in 1977 and here I am, many decades later, meeting them in the flesh. Being able to meet the band and have my photo taken with them in full kabuki makeup is a dream come true!�

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11/18/2015