KISS ASYLUM: January 2003 News Archive

From: KREATURESS@aol.com
Who are you going to spend Valentine's Weekend with? Calling all KISS Fans to another Mother of all KISS Expos! The KISS Army will unite again at www.kreaturesofthesouth.com's 10th Anniversary Atlanta KISS Expo Sunday, February 16, 2003 (Valentine's Weekend!) 11am-9pm at The Atlanta Hilton Northeast (5993 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard North) in Norcross, Georgia. Very Special Guests to include: Legendary KISS Manager: Bill Aucoin, Lydia "Beth" Criss, KISSOnline Webmaster Mike Brandvold, "KISS Alive Forever" authors: Curt Gooch & Jeff Suhs, from the "World of Wheels" "The KISS KF150 Pickup Truck," Professional "KISS Airbrush Your Face" Artist for the Big & little fans, Lexington, Kentucky's own "SSG" KISS Tribute Band, and "The Best KISS Show in the World" Louisville, Kentucky's own KISS Tribute Band: "KISS ARMY" performing with a completely new stage show! More surprises to be announced soon! Bill/Lydia/Curt & Jeff will be doing Q & A sessions, ***(Update!) Bill Aucoin's Q & A will be professionally filmed for an upcoming DVD release! ***(Update) Curt & Jeff will be broadcasting (at the expo only) never before seen footage of early vintage KISS-you must be there to see it-this footage will not be released! Photo/Autograph sessions. ***(Update!) KISS & Sony Signatures will be giving out FREE KISS "Psycho Circus" PC Games to the 1st 150 through the door! Live Performances by: SSG/KISS Army, and (of course) some surprises! ***(Update!)Saturday night (2-15) we will have a Pre-KISS Expo Party (in the Hilton) that'll be open to the public! We will have KISS Cakes, an open bar, KISS Raffles, and an acoustic performance by "Lisa Kyle & Drive She Said"! Atlanta's own KISS Tribute band "KISSTORY" will be performing downtown at the Hard Rock Café also Saturday night! (details Saturday at the Hilton). The Expo will Feature well over 100+ KISS Dealer Tables from KISS Dealers all over the world in (2) Giant Ballrooms! Makeup/Costume Contest hosted by Phil Elliott & Atlanta's own "Goddess of Thunder" featuring some of the top KISS look-a-likes from around the world with (3) winners by category: (male-female-kid). Come dressed up for a chance to win $$$ and Prizes! Photo and Video Cameras are welcome! Like last year, we're offering (2) levels of admission. The Souvenir VIP Laminate: This allows the holder to enter The Expo 45 minutes early @ 10:15, and also makes for an instant collectable! The Souvenir VIP Laminate is limited to 125, and the cost is $20. (in advance only). These VIP Laminates Sold out last year, so get yours soon. ***(Update!) The VIP Laminates are now SOLD-OUT! The Souvenir Ticket: This allows the holder to enter the expo @ 11:00, and is numbered. The Souvenir Ticket is $10. (in advance), and $12. (at the door). Kids under 10 will be admitted "FREE" with p. NOTE: Like last year's Atlanta & Charlotte Expos, we will SELL OUT the Hilton's rooms. So get your rooms reserved early:>) So why not enjoy a long Valentine's weekend with your "KISSin' partner at one of the nicest venues on the Expo circuit! You're going to love it! Stay tuned to KISSASYLUM.com for all the latest additions to "The Biggest 100% KISS Expo!" Fans claim our Atlanta & Charlotte KISS Expos are The Best, so maybe it's time you come to a show that'll give you The Biggest Bang for your KISS Dollar and where we all come together as family and friends! The Atlanta KISS Expo is RUN BY THE FANS.....FOR THE FANS!!! Dealer info: ***(Update!) Dealer Tables have now SOLD-OUT! Ticket info: Send check, or money orders (plus $1. for P & H) Payable to: "Kreatures of the South" The address: Atlanta KISS Expo Tickets, PO Box 3456, Cumming, Georgia 30028. You can also "Charge by phone" your tickets using any major credit card. Simply call Phil Elliott @ 678-455-7891, leave a message (if no one answers) and we'll call you back. Callbacks are only for Ticket purchasers and Dealers. ***Laminates will not be sent out until the last week in January. You can Email us with any questions or requests: KREATURESS@aol.com or you can keep track of our other KISS Expo plans by logging onto www.kreaturesofthesouth.com Come "Pucker up" with us on Valentine's weekend February 16th! I-A!

From: sstierwalt@digitaltropic.com
The first ever Cincinnati KISS Expo 2003 is happening on Sunday March 23rd 10AM - 6PM. The Expo will take place at the Holiday Inn 3855 Hauck Rd. I-275 at Rt. 42 Exit 46 Cincinnati (Sharonsville). Special guests will be former KISS drummer Eric Singer and live performances from Mr. Speed, SSG and the all girl tribute band Black Diamonds. There will be a special Q/A session with Eric Singer in which you can ask him any question you like. You can also get your photo taken with Eric and get your KISS items autographed. Steve Stierwalt, Jr. from www.kissfreaks.com will be the MC for the event. There will be KISS Trivia and KISS Costume contests also. There will also be KISS related giveaways throughout the day. Tickets are $16 in advance and $20 at the door (kids 12 and under free 1 per paid adult ticket). Order tickets by mail - send check or money order to: Karen Olvey PO BOX 167, OH 45113. They will also be available at Ticketmaster - 513-721-6100 in the next week or so. Don’t miss out on this special 1st ever Cincinnati KISS Expo. The first one in any city is always the best so don’t miss it! Help make this one of the new great cities for KISS Expos! We also have 125 special VIP Laminates available for $25 each. You’ll receive a special collectors Laminate/Lanyard, 1 hour early admission (9AM) to the expo plus you will receive a FREE Gene Simmons Creatures action figure (Given to you at the door). To reserve these laminates, for dealer table info or any other questions - please call Allan at 937-289-1605. To reserve a room at the Holiday Inn call 513-563-8330 and ask for the KISS Expo rate.

From: Billboard.com
Aerosmith and Kiss will embark on a co-headlining North American tour beginning in August and running through October, sources confirm. The tour of approximately 40 dates will be produced by Clear Channel Entertainment and is expected to play 90% amphitheaters, with arenas and possibly a couple of stadiums also in the mix. Kiss will perform in full makeup, sources say, and Aerosmith will be touring in support of a new Columbia blues album. "We want to really try to get everybody in a room at the same time," bassist Tom Hamilton told Billboard.com about the album last September. "It's funny because it triggers all of the competition and uncomfortableness that we've always had going into the studio, and it's going to mean everybody is going to have to be open, vulnerable, and brave, and go in there and do that process like we used to do it." Aerosmith grossed nearly $40 million from touring in 2002. The group was recently nominated for the best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal for "Girls of Summer," drawn from last year's "O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits" compilation. Aerosmith has also signed on to appear at the Feb. 7 Salute to the Blues concert at New York's Radio City Music Hall. As for Kiss, the group grossed more than $60 million from its 2000-2001 "farewell" tour. As previously reported, Kiss will join the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for a one-off Feb. 28 concert at the city's 48,000-capacity Telestra Dome. The group has also scheduled a March 11-13 stand at Tokyo's Budokan Hall.

From: KISS ASYLUM
Today, January 20th, KISS ASYLUM along with all of Paul Stanley's online fans would like to wish Paul a very Happy Birthday!

From: Blabbermouth.net
KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley and bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons shot a TV commercial for the Universal Orlando Resorts early Friday morning, Jan. 10. "They stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel Orlando and the shoot was there poolside," reads a message on the band's official web site. "The actual shooting with Gene and Paul lasted about two hours, 9:30 am - 11:30 am. They had to start makeup very early, about 7:30 am. "Gene and Paul appeared Friday in their new stage costumes reminiscent of the 'Alive!' 75-76 era. This was the first appearance of Gene in the new outfit and Paul's second ([the first being the] Samick guitar shoot in December)." The Hard Rock Orlando has several KISS collectibles on display in their lobby, including one of Gene Simmons' personal Axe bass guitars, one of Paul's Reunion tour full-length feather jackets, and one of Paul's rhinestone covered PS-2000 touring guitars. Next up on KISS' agenda is a Feb. 28 show with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in Australia, as well as three sold-out dates (March 11-13) at Budokan Hall in Tokyo. Drummer Peter Criss will be rejoining the band for these shows, while lead guitarist Ace Frehley has indicated that he has no plans to return to the group at this time.

From: Blabbermouth.net
KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley recently addressed the band's decision to abandon their retirement plans in favor of further touring and a possible new studio album. Appearing live on the "Merry KISSmass Special" hosted by WNEW radio personality Eddie Trunk on Dec. 21, Stanley explained that the group's [2000] 'Farewell' tour "was done in the same way that [basketball player] Michael Jordan retired, and [boxer] Sugar Ray Leonard retired... You reach a point where you think that, for whatever reason, you've done everything you want to, or need to, and you say goodbye. It's true for that time, [but] it may not turn out to be true later. "The problem with being in the public eye ‹ and the blessing of being in the public eye ‹ is, anything you say is supposed to be true forever, and we all know that people change, how you feel changes, and what you wanna do with your life may change," he added. "So, that being said, after a break, I certainly started thinking, 'Gee, I'm not ready to hang it up. I wanna continue, and I wanna continue playing,' whatever that means. "KISS is something that I've been a part of for 30 years now, and... I found something really interesting. After the 'Farewell' tour, I was getting my car fixed, and this guy came over to meŠ and I was thinking, 'It's over, we did the 'Farewell' tour,' and this guy comes walking over to me, and he goes, 'Wow, I was at the 'Farewell' tour, and it was so awesome. When are you doing the '30th Anniversary Tour'?' And a light bulb went off in my head. I went, 'Wait a minute...' Fans and people at large ‹ the vast majority of people ‹ don't care whether you've done a farewell tour. God knows there are bands that have made careers out of farewell tours. But at the end of the day, people wanna see KISS, and I wanna be there. And what means in terms of regularity, whatever, everything is up in the air and up for grabs." With regards to guitarist Ace Frehley's absence from the group's current touring lineup, Stanley said, "God knows [sighs]... I'm trying to think... We spoke to Ace, I can't tell you for how long. He was wooed, he was pursued, he was talked to, and at some point, he stopped returning calls. We told him, and we showed him, how much we wanted him with us. And we also said ‹ and maybe he didn't realize this ‹ 'We really want you on board, but if you're not, and we decide to work, then the train leaves without you.' It was really [a case of], 'Let's gear up to do some exciting things that only a band like KISS can." "All I know is that I have a desire to do certain things," Paul continued. "I have a desire, and there is a multitude of fans who want to see KISS. After that, who is in the band... It's no secret ‹ what could be better than having all of the original members? For a lot of reasons. We're so blessed. I believe it's a sin ‹ truly a sin ‹ for people who have been in this band to not appreciate how blessed we all are. And whatever else you may wanna do, it just seems like such a shame not to take advantage of being in the band." When asked to explain the reasons behind the band's decision to continue performing as KISS with non-original members assuming the "Spaceman" and "Catman" identities created for Frehley and drummer Peter Criss rather than being given new identities of their own, Stanley said, "[Coming up with fresh identities for the new members is] of no interest to the general public. The general public and the people who come to see this band identify the band by what the members look like. They don't necessarily know all the names. I know some fans may find that hard to believe, but everybody on the street doesn't know every member's name, but there's an image of the band that we all created, and as I said before, it's great to have the original guys, but this isn't something where I'm gonna short-change the majority of the public. There are die-hards ‹ and I understand it ‹ who say, 'Hey, how can you put someone else in that makeup?' I have to say that there's a vast majority who aren't saying that. So look, you can't please everybody all of the time, and I'm not going to. And the worst thing that anybody can ever try to do is please everyone. And you know what?! There are people now who are saying, 'Why do you have Peter back?' It's like, who is gonna be happy all the time? When Eric Carr joined the band, I can't tell how many die-hard fans said to me, 'I'm never gonna come see the band again.' Well, God rest his soul, Eric Carr was instrumental [in] and a cornerstone of keeping this band going. So you always have somebody going, 'I'm not gonna go along with it.' And you know something? I respect that. If you don't want to, don't. All I can tell you, is when I get up there, and when the band gets up there, it will be everything ‹ and always has been ‹ everything that people expect. That's my obligation and that's my responsibility, and that's what I will do ‹ make sure that when people come to see KISS, they won't be disappointed, and no one has been."

From: www.kreaturesofthesouth.com
Who are you going to spend Valentine's Weekend with? Calling all KISS Fans to another Mother of all KISS Expos! The KISS Army will unite again at www.kreaturesofthesouth.com's 10th Anniversary Atlanta KISS Expo Sunday, February 16, 2003 (Valentine's Weekend!) 11am-9pm at The Atlanta Hilton Northeast (5993 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard North) in Norcross, Georgia. Very Special Guests to include: Legendary KISS Manager: Bill Aucoin, Lydia "Beth" Criss, KISSOnline Webmaster Mike Brandvold, "KISS Alive Forever" authors: Curt Gooch & Jeff Suhs, Lexington, Kentucky's own "SSG" KISS Tribute Band, and "The Best KISS Show in the World" Louisville, Kentucky's own KISS Tribute Band: "KISS ARMY" performing with a completely new stage show! More surprises to be announced soon! Bill/Lydia/Curt & Jeff will be doing Q & A sessions, ***(Update!) Bill Aucoin's Q & A will be professionally filmed for an upcoming DVD release! ***(Update) Curt & Jeff will be broadcasting (at the expo only) never before seen footage of early vintage KISS-you must be there to see it-this footage will not be released! Photo/Autograph sessions. ***(Update!) KISS & Sony Signatures will be giving out FREE KISS PC Games to the 1st 150 through the door! Live Performances by: SSG/KISS Army, and (of course) some surprises! ***(Update!)Saturday night (2-15) we will have a Pre-KISS Expo Party (in the Hilton) that'll be open to the public! We will have KISS Cakes, an open bar, KISS Raffles, and maybe an acoustic performance or two! Atlanta's own KISS Tribute band "KISSTORY" will be performing downtown at the Hard Rock Café also Saturday night! (details Saturday at the Hilton). The Expo will Feature well over 100+ KISS Dealer Tables from KISS Dealers all over the world in (2) Giant Ballrooms! Makeup/Costume Contest hosted by Phil Elliott & Atlanta's own "Goddess of Thunder" featuring some of the top KISS look-a-likes from around the world with (3) winners by category: (male-female-kid). Come dressed up for a chance to win $$$ and Prizes! Photo and Video Cameras are welcome! Like last year, we're offering (2) levels of admission. The Souvenir VIP Laminate: This allows the holder to enter The Expo 45 minutes early @ 10:15, and also makes for an instant collectable! The Souvenir VIP Laminate is limited to 125, and the cost is $20. (in advance only). These VIP Laminates Sold out last year, so get yours soon. ***(Update!) There are 25 VIP Laminates left-so hurry up and get yours today! The Souvenir Ticket: This allows the holder to enter the expo @ 11:00, and is numbered. The Souvenir Ticket is $10. (in advance), and $12. (at the door). Kids under 10 will be admitted "FREE" with p. NOTE: Like last year's Atlanta & Charlotte Expos, we will SELL OUT the Hilton's rooms. So get your rooms reserved early:>) So why not enjoy a long Valentine's weekend with your "KISSin' partner at one of the nicest venues on the Expo circuit! You're going to love it! Stay tuned to KISSASYLUM.com for all the latest additions to "The Biggest 100% KISS Expo!" Fans claim our Atlanta & Charlotte KISS Expos are The Best, so maybe it's time you come to a show that'll give you The Biggest Bang for your KISS Dollar and where we all come together as family and friends! The Atlanta KISS Expo is RUN BY THE FANS.....FOR THE FANS!!! Dealer info: ***(Update!) There are 10 Dealer Tables left-hurry up and get on board! Write/Fax/Email/Call us your complete mailing address, and we'll send you a "Dealer packet" with all the necessary info. This packet will include a table map where you can pick your table location. Our Phone: 678-455-7891. The address: Atlanta KISS Expo Dealer Info, PO Box 3456, Cumming, Georgia 30028. Ticket/Laminate info: Send check, or money orders (plus $1. for P & H) Payable to: "Kreatures of the South" The address: Atlanta KISS Expo Tickets, PO Box 3456, Cumming, Georgia 30028. You can also "Charge by phone" your tickets using any major credit card. Simply call Phil Elliott @ 678-455-7891, leave a message (if no one answers) and we'll call you back. Callbacks are only for Ticket purchasers and Dealers. ***Laminates will not be sent out until the last week in January You will receive a confirmation letter with all the details (when you order). You can Email us with any questions or requests: KREATURESS@aol.com or you can keep track of our other KISS Expo plans by logging onto www.kreaturesofthesouth.com Come "Pucker up" with us on Valentine's weekend February 16th! I-A!