Kiss News

A new feature animated film titled Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery was released Friday on DVD and Blu-ray.  Some KISS fans may feel that pairing the famous rockers with the cartoon canine seems a bit odd, but band members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons beg to differ.

�KISS is iconic.  Scooby-Doo is iconic.  KISS is iconic in the same way that Batman or Superman are, so to take two worlds and combine �em together allows both to be true to themselves,� Stanley tells ABC Radio.

The singer/guitarist adds, �I mean, we�re a rock band, but we�re way more than a rock band.  Rock bands are so pigeonholed and so afraid to walk outside of their comfort zone.  KISS isn�t like that, so for us this was something that seemed very natural.�

Simmons has a similar opinion, maintaining that a KISS collaboration with Scooby-Doo �makes perfect sense.�

The bassist also points out, �Anything that�s iconic, that stands the test time is classic, and we only get involved in that,� noting that KISS previously has worked with such other animated franchises as SpongeBob SquarePants, The Fairly Oddparents and Family Guy, not to mention being the subject of various comic books over the years.

The plot of Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery centers around a big Halloween concert that the band is scheduled to play at a KISS-themed amusement park called KISS World.  Unfortunately, a mysterious character named the Crimson Witch is scaring off visitors to the park, which could lead to the show being cancelled.  Enter Scooby-Doo and the rest of the young Mystery Inc. gang, who proceed to join forces with KISS to see if they can foil the evildoer�s sinister plan.

The movie includes six classic KISS songs, and features voice cameos from such stars as Garry Marshall, Penny Marshall, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, Pauley Perrette and Darius Rucker.

Stanley says the animated flick compares favorably to another feature-length KISS project, the campy live-action 1978 TV movie KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park.

�This is much more cohesive, and that was quite disjointed and kind of [had] a lot of loose ends,� Paul maintains.  �So this is much more a finished product, and�we�re just really pleased with it.�

In other KISS news, Simmons tells ABC Radio that the band is writing new material, which may or may not result in a new studio album.

�Some of us think there�s a new record coming, some of us don�t,� he says. �So stay tuned.�  Drummer Eric Singer, meanwhile, adds, �Some of us hope there�s a new record coming.�

Note from Gene:

We were invited to Minneapolis to attend the Starkey Foundation Gala.
   Starkey's Bill and Tani Austin's team go around the world and give hearing impaired children free hearing aids, allowing many of them to hear for the first time.
    The Gala honored President Bush and had his friend President Clinton speak at the event.
    Lots of celebs and performers attended, as well as a funny and feisty Katy Perry.
    I'm happy to report we raised quite a bit of money to help make children's lives better!

https://www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org/

"Did You Forget THIS?!? There are only a few of these limited The KISS Kruise COLLECTOR's Guitars left. I THOUGHT this one might be yours..." - Paul Stanley

http://www.paulstanleyguitars.com

NEW! To celebrate the fifth KISS Kruise, Paul Stanley is offering a maximum of 50 members of the KISS Navy a very special Guitar + Meet & Greet opportunity aboard KISS Kruise V!

You'll get:

- A Paul Stanley Limited Special Custom KISS Kruise V Ibanez guitar autographed to you, in person, by the Starchild!

- An intimate acoustic performance aboard the KISS Kruise V! Paul will perform a relaxed, acoustic set sharing memories about his music and the stories behind the songs spanning his incredible career. One microphone. One acoustic guitar. 150 friends. Will one of them be you?

In addition, three lucky fans will be randomly selected from the group to sing with Paul. AND... ONE lucky person walks away with the acoustic guitar played and signed by Paul!

Get up close and personal with Paul in this exclusive Paul Stanley Collectors' Club performance. This intimate event is limited to buyers of Paul Stanley's KISS Kruise V guitars and microphones and the buyer's ONE guest. (Parents with minor children are welcome to bring their children too.)

- A photo with Paul and your new guitar! (If you'd like your guest in the photo too, he or she is welcome to join you!)

Got out MY ORIGINAL KISS ALIVE JUMPSUIT today!!! REAL rock history What do YOU think?!? - Paul Stanley

By Mardi Suhs / CadillacNews.com

CADILLAC � A valuable piece of KISS memorabilia from the band's 1975 visit to Cadillac will be on display during the KISS Cadillac Homecoming 40th Anniversary Celebration in October.

The Key to the City of Cadillac, presented to the band during a civic breakfast 40 years ago, is being loaned to organizer Jim Neff by a KISS fan and memorabilia collector.

Civic breakfast

Cadillac civic and business leaders used to meet once a month for breakfast at Bill Oliver's Caberfae Lodge. In 1975, they were scheduled to meet on Friday, Oct. 10, during the KISS visit.

"The KISS concert was Thursday night and the regularly scheduled breakfast just happened to be that next morning," Neff explained. "It just all fell together. It was easy to adapt the breakfast to include KISS."

School administrators, city officials and football coaches Neff and Dave Brines arrived early that morning and had KISS make-up applied by members of the band and volunteers.

"Some of the make up was really bad, but the good stuff was done by the guys (in the band)," Neff recalled.

"Gene Simmons painted my face like his," said former Cadillac High School Principal John Laurent. "Then Bill Smith, our superintendent, had his face painted. I didn't have a problem getting the make up. We also had a press conference that morning and all the city dignitaries, their faces were painted, too."

During the breakfast, then Mayor Raymond "Pete" Wagner presented the band with a large key to the city and proclaimed Oct. 10, "KISS Day."

Since then, Neff always wondered what happened to the key.

Memorabilia collector

Legions of KISS fans and collectors across the globe keep track of band memorabilia, including Michigan native Thad Zylka.

Zylka, who lives in Las Vegas, has been tracking Jim Neff's Cadillac News columns about the KISS Cadillac movie and 40th anniversary celebration.

In June, he contacted Neff and told him he had the KISS Key to the City.

"I just thought you'd like to know who has the key," Zylka said in his first call, explaining that he bought it in 2000 at an auction in Los Angeles.

"This is a really cool thing," said Neff, from a loft in his home, where he spends hours every week organizing the October anniversary event. "I just never knew what happened with the key, I heard rumors that it had been sold. When he contacted me, I was tickled."

As the two men swapped fan stories, Neff threw out a question � would Zylka consider loaning the key for display during the homecoming festivities?

"You know, this key could have wound up in the hands of anyone, anywhere in the world," Neff said. "But it went to a Michigan fan who loves the KISS Cadillac story."

Since purchasing the key, Zylka has increased its value by going to KISS book signings and concerts and having it signed by the original members of the band.

To make sure the key is on display in a secure location, Neff is considering placing it in the Cadillac High School trophy case at the entrance across from the athletic office. When people arrive for the Mr. Speed (World's Best KISS Tribute) concert on Saturday, Oct. 10, they will walk right past it.

The KISS Cadillac Homecoming, October 9-10

A 40-year celebration of the rock band KISS's visit to Cadillac will be held during the Cadillac Viking Homecoming festivities in October. The event is a collaboration between Cadillac Area Festival & Events, Cadillac Area Public Schools, the Cadillac Viking Athletic Boosters, and the Cadillac Band Boosters. All net proceeds from the event will benefit the two booster clubs.

The "enhanced" traditional CHS homecoming will include the pep assembly, parade, football game and homecoming dance. There will be a re-creation of the concert in the gym featuring KISS tribute band Mr. Speed, the unveiling of a permanent KISS monument, walking tours of "KISStorical" markers at spots around town and more.

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

Here's Eric Singer on the cover of the new issue of Drummer Magazine in the UK.

Thanks KISS News for the image!

KISS is Everywhere!

Here's Gene Simmons on the cover of the new issue of Bass Guitar Magazine.