"On Tour With KISS"
Written by Spiro Papadatos (The Gene from Alive! & Cold Gin) about last year's convention tour. Features several of photos of him and local (female) crew from various conventions, but only few of KISS members.

"KISS Reunite On MTV"
Article about the "Unplugged" taping with lots of never-before-seen photos from the taping and rehearsals, including a good close-up of Paul's lyrical "Cheat Sheet!"

"KISS Storms Japan"
Photos and article on Japan '95 tour, mostly of fans in make-up, but also great live shots of Bruce and Gene.

"The KISS Mannequins"
This is a very interesting piece about the making of the twenty mannequins used on the convention tour. Written by one of the ladies who works at the manufacturer, it includes many "Making of" photos.

"KISS Boots"
Another cool article, this one's about Mr. Pasquale DiFabrizio, who made all of the KISS boots in the seventies and, while the article doesn't mention it, probably did all of the new ones as well. There are some really neat photos of Mr. DiFabrizio with the molds of each band member's feet that he made and the boxes he kept them in for all of these years. (Vinnie Vincent's box has "Vinnie Cusano" written on it!)

"Bootlegging - The Industry Under The Industry"
While not extremely informative, I found it interesting that the band would include an article on bootleg videos (Complete with a rating system) in an "official" magazine!

"Cold Gin Distilled"
Gerri Miller's extensive article on the KISS tribute band with lots of photos.

The issue also includes a very well-written "KISS Manifesto," a gallery of fan artwork, and more cartoons/comics that didn't make it into the KISSTORY book. The only ads in the book are the previously mentioned YWTBYGTB ad, the new Paul Stanley Iceman ad, a Gene Punisher ad that has no photos of him, just the guitar and the same handwritten note that was on the flyer, the KISS Army Depot ad (which has no new stuff in it), and the now-manditory KISSTORY ad. Overall, the magazine is impressive, although there are some mistakes (Several articles have missing text), and there is really nothing new. I was at least glad to see that Bruce and Eric are well represented in it and weren't "airbrushed" out of the picture due to the current reunion tour!

[Aside: The only difference from the Japanese version and the European version is Strutter '78 rather than "Strutter" and tracks 18 and 19 are different. I have the European track list featured farther down on this page.]

[Aside: The KISS Asylum did not want to start a war of words here. Now there is two views of the story for all to judge. PLEASE do NOT send nasty letters to the Vinnie Vincent Site!! I just want to drop the whole thing!]

From: A source that wishes to be anonymous but was with KISS backstage recently

"Gene was presented with a copy of the merchandise list that is being offered for sale by the Official Vinnie Vincent web page. He went BALLISTIC! He wrote notes all over the page, and faxed his lawyer the sheet. Vinnie has NO authority to sell the KISS Creatures photo polaroids, and they are definitely going after him for that. He is also selling KISS demos, but because he didn't have a contract with KISS, and he wrote the songs, they can't stop him from selling them. However, the songs that were released, were PUBLISHED by KISS, so Vinnie will have to pay royalties to Gene and Paul for each CD and tape PRESSED (regardless to how many he sells).

[Aside: Another KISS greatest hits compiliation! This CD looks a lot like the Double Platinum CD. But at least this compilation has some rare songs on it. The track list is not that bad actually. It will no doubtingly improve on the Smashes CD.]

*News footage from US MTV:

*Gene talks about the Bruce and Eric situation and the plans for the Unreleased studio album. [I could not resist....here it is! Enjoy!]

Gerri Miller: What's the status of the finished studio album?
Gene Simmons: Don't know, Legally the only people that can decide that are Polygram becuase we handed it in to the label
G: don't they follow what you want?
GS: No. we can lead them creatively and they avhe to decide
G: But you can suggest strongly what to do and not to do
GS: Sure, we wanted the record out
G: Before the Reunion though
GS: Yes
G: It it was up to you whaould it come out at all?
GS: Absoluetly it will be coming out and I can't answer the question when. WI don't know how long this thing is gonna last and it hardly makes sense to release a Bruce and Eric album while Ace and Peter are on tour.
G: But if you are going to be touring until next summer at lest, wouldn't it make more sense to put out an Alive4 or a studio album with Peter and Ace?
GS: A possibility too. All are possibilities. It all depends on what the people involved want to do
G: That could conceivably delay the release of the sutdio album with Bruce and Eric een further. Two or three years down the line, would you want to release that old stuff?
GS: It's not unheard of. It's been done lots. You like it or you don't no matter when it comes out. The reality is some songs might be 10 years old. There's a song called "Childhood's End" on the record that I started writing when I was 14. So what?
G: What's the likelyhood of the unreleased album coming out as part of the boxed set you've talked about?
GS: It's a possibility. So's the possibility that it comes out on its own or as a double album with some Ace and Peter material. There's a possibility of Ace and Peter material coming out first, then that. Or the other way. Anything's possible.

*Gene says no to PPV for now
*Gene says that they did not want to use the "Staircases" on stage so they have more room to walk around
*Gene talks about why KISS picks these "newer" bands as openers.
*Gene briefly talks about possible new stage ideas and tricks
*Gene says he is not interested in doing a CD-ROM....[but Ace has expressed interest!]
*Gene likes the idea of the Internet as far as the idea of having a "forum to talk" but says "I can't imagine anything more boring than to sit in front of a computer and type." "I think the whole Internet is boring as hell." Gene quickly mentions that the Internet people are the minority. Gene likes the idea of Fan KISS web pages versus doing an Official one.
*Ace talks about future new surprised during the Solo like shooting a Rocket out of his guitar and having a light fall and explode on stage.
*Ace also talks about having some Graphics like an exploding Les Paul go on on the video screen while he is doing the Solo.
*Ace says the KISS dropped 2,000 Man becuase the band felt that it was too long being 5 mins and all.
*Ace said that the EARLIEST KISS would do a new studio album would be next fall. He hopes they will do one....he said it was the nest logical step
*Peter is also interviewed.

*Bruce and Eric Article
Nothing new here we have not already heard but Bruce is writing with Curt Cuomo (who has written with Paul Stanley on the unreleased KISS studio album) for a new album Bruce hopes to put out next year either by himself or with another group. KISS own's the rights to "I Walk Alone."

I would suggest you pick this up on the news stands when it comes out. Some cool stuff there! I just hit on some of the more interesting topics.
[ED NOTE: Please don't ask me to explain to much more etc via email. I love to answer all your emial but I just don't have the time to do it. I would LOVE to have transcribed this ENTIRE interview but I just don't have the time much less answer tons of emails concerning it. If someone has the new Metal Edge and wants to transcribe it and submit it to The KISS Asylum. We would love to take it!!!]