Kiss News

Congratulations to Craig Johnson of Billings, Mont., for winning our KISS 40th Anniversary Tour VIP Sweepstakes. Craig won an all-expenses-paid trip to catch the legendary band�s tour stop on Aug. 31 at The Woodlands, outside of Houston.

Chideo sends its thanks to everyone who entered. Your donations support Augusta Warrior Project, which collaborates, connects, educates and advocates for both serving and veteran military of all eras, wounded or not.

�It was a fun time but went by way, way too fast,� Craig told us by email after the show. �I�ve been a big fan for over 25 years. In fact, all my close friends use to refer to me as �that guy who loves KISS.�

�This summer I saw KISS in Irvine, Calif. I went to their website the next day to see if they had any pictures of the show. While there, I saw a banner ad for the Chideo KISS 40th Anniversary Sweepstakes. Not expecting to win, I entered anyway because I thought it (would) be funny if I won a trip not only to see KISS but to also meet them as well.

�When I got the call telling me I won � I didn�t believe it. I thought someone was playing a joke on me.�

Craig said the day of the show started with an unplugged KISS concert in front a small crowd of die-hard fans. The band played several classic songs such as �Christine Sixteen,� �Beth,� �Hard Luck Woman� and �Coming Home� � all while telling jokes and taking pictures with the crowd during songs. Then the band members came around one by one and signed autographs and talked to the crowd.

�Then five of us took a backstage tour. We got to see up close all the stage props, equipment, drum sets, guitars, machines and everything else it takes to put on a KISS concert,� Craig said. �I knew it took quite a bit of work, but I had no idea how much. Backstage, we also met the drum, bass, and guitar techs for the band. They were all friendly and answered any questions we had. In fact, not only were the techs nice, EVERYONE on this trip was great.�

Later, Craig had his picture taken with the band in full makeup and gear.

�Even though it was right before the show � KISS was still having fun with everyone and not making anyone feel rushed,� he said. �The actual concert itself was AMAZING � this was my 9th concert and they�ve never sounded better. I want to thank Chideo, KISS, and the Augusta Warrior Project for making this trip possible. HAD A BLAST � THANK YOU!!!�

Here's KISS on the cover of the latest issue of the Malibu Times.

Thanks to Robert Weedman for sharing the image with us!

Watch 4th and Loud tonight at our NEW TIME 10|9c on AMC TV.

KISS will perform live at Fashion Rocks at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn next Tuesday, September 9, 2014. The evening will feature performances by some of music�s most innovative trendsetters including KISS, Afrojack, Duran Duran, Jennifer Lopez, Miranda Lambert, Nico & Vinz, Pitbull, Rita Ora, The Band Perry and Usher. The event will be broadcast as a two-hour extravaganza on the CBS television network (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

Tickets can be purchased online via Ticketmaster by visiting www.barclayscenter.com or www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 800- 745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center beginning Saturday, August 2 at noon (if tickets are still available). For information on individual suites, please call 718-BK-SUITE.
 

KISS Army...

The numbers for the US 40th Anniversary Tour say it all!

42 shows. Over 600,000 fans. Amazing and thank YOU!

Special thanks to our great friends and tour mates Def Leppard who ROCKED the house every night!

AND we're not done yet!

By Matthew Keever

KISS, Def Leppard
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
August 31, 2014

"Everybody's got a front row seat tonight," said KISS lead vocalist and guitarist Paul Stanley after recognizing fans on the distant lawn, "and just in case you didn't realize it, you're looking at a band onstage that's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!"

The crowd erupted with cheers, but Stanley barely let the applause sink in before moving on. After all, he was confined by a looming city-imposed curfew, and this was a KISS performance. There was much to be done.

Houston wanted the best, and it got the best. Sunday night, KISS concluded its 40th anniversary tour at a sold-out Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, where new and old fans alike basked in the glory that is "the greatest show on earth."

"We couldn't end the tour without coming to the rock and roll capital of this here Texas," Stanley said. "We have been coming here for so long -- we used to play the Summit. Matter of fact, we were coming here before some of you were born, so I know what to expect from y'all, so don't play us cheap. Don't let us down."

Fans didn't let up, and neither did the band. Stanley flew through the air, literally soaring over fans' heads and outstretched fingertips to a rotating stage in the middle of the venue.

Gene Simmons, meanwhile, breathed fire and threw a burning sword into the ground before floating into the rafters. This, of course, was while the two were dressed as Starchild and The Demon, accompanied by Spaceman and Catman.

Fireworks exploded every few minutes, and flames rose high in the air, warming the fans standing in front of their seats. The evening's soundtrack ranged from "Deuce," from KISS's 1974 debut album, all the way to "Psycho Circus" off their 18th studio album of the same name.

The quartet ended the evening with "Detroit Rock City" and "Rock and Roll All Night," two classics that have been staples of their performances for years that still resonate with fans of all ages.

Put succinctly by a fellow concertgoer, "Kiss is a circus that every adult should see at least once in his or her lifetime."

Def Leppard opened, taking the stage at 8 o'clock sharp after enticing the crowd with a countdown on the big screens on either side of the stage. Vocalist Joe Elliott emerged from behind the curtain donning a white jacket and a black sequined T-shirt, which looked about as hot as KISS' high-flying pyrotechnics.

From opener "Let It Go" to "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and two encores, Def Leppard was as well-received as the makeup-donning quartet that closed out the evening. Percussionist Rick Allen brought the ruckus, reminding everyone that even the loss of a limb can't keep a person from being a rock star if he or she wants it badly enough.

Here's KISS and the SOLD OUT crowd at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Houston, Texas!

Here's Paul Stanley with Richard Fortus, Phil Collen and Joe Elliott just after KISS left the stage in Houston.

Photo by Keith Leroux for KISSONLINE

By Sean Derrick

Rating: *****

With the now famous phrase �You wanted the best, you got the best. The hottest band in the world�KISS!� the curtain dropped to a fiery opening as bassist Gene Simmons, and guitarists Paul Stanley and Tommy Thayer dropped down from the rafters riding a giant movable light rig that is in the shape of a spider to perform �Psycho Circus� on Thursday night at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in St. Louis.

With that the band that was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performed in front of a packed house of screaming rabid Kiss fans, also known as members of the Kiss Army. The Dead Daisies and Def Leppard opened the show.

Kiss has always been known for their over the top stage shows that keep fans interest glued to the stage with a spectacle of sight and sound.

Musically they sounded strong and tight, something that a band who is celebrating their 40th anniversary should be doing at this point.

KISS  hammed it up for the photographers and knew how to play to the audience. It was pure showmanship at its finest. Stanley reminisced with the crowd about playing at Forest park during the KSHE 95 Kite Fly in 1974, as well as The Checkerdome and Kiel Auditorium, playing to the crowd�s heart strings.

But the main theme was spectacle. For instance, in the middle of �Lick it Up� the giant spider light rig came down to the stage, enabling Stanley and Thayer to hop on and ride to the rafters while playing The Who�s �Won�t Get Fooled Again�.

Traditions at a Kiss show rule the roost. From Simmons� fire breathing blood spitting bass routine to pyro spraying out of Thayer�s guitar and Eric Singer�s drum kit rising to the rafters, the fans eat it all up. Their motto for a Kiss show? �The bigger the better�. The rabid fandom that is the Kiss Army get vocally upset if the band tries to tone down anything or take away one of their signature shticks. To this end the band listens and reciprocates. Why wouldn�t they? With packed houses for every show why change a good thing?

Thursday�s show was packed with goodies for the fans. There was Simmons� �flying� up 30 feet to sing �God of Thunder� from atop of the spider rig, and Stanley got a ride 15 feet above the crowd to a revolving satellite stage behind the soundboard in the middle of the house to perform �Love Gun�.

Say what you will about the band but a Kiss show is a spectacle in and of itself, a fun raucous party atmosphere that is like no other.

The Dead Daisies opened the show with a vibrant set from the band that features St. Louis native Richard Fortus who used to play in Guns �n Roses. Another GnR alumni Dizzy Reed is also a part of the band, as well as Thin Lizzy bassist Marco Mendoza along with Brian Tichey (drummer for Whitesnake, Billy Idol and Ozzy) and guitarist David Lowry and Jon Stevens on vocals. Touring in support of their self titled debut album. The band has been getting serious play on KSHE 95.

Def Leppard held the support slot with a 75 minute set that read as a greatest hits playlist. The highlight of their set was the infectious instrumental �Switch 625�.

Kiss Setlist:
Psycho Circus
Deuce
Shout It Out Loud
War Machine
Hotter Than Hell
I Love It Loud
Lick it Up (With snippet of The Who�s �Won�t Get Fooled Again�)
God of Thunder
Hide Your Heart
Dr. Love
Love Gun
Black Diamond (With intro of Led Zeppelin�s �Stairway to Heaven�)
Detroit Rock City
Rock and Roll all Night

Here's our Demon on the cover of Las Vegas Weekly.