KISS ASYLUM: February 2002 News Archive

From: GeneSimmons.com
Just got back from the Olympics. I'm told over THREE BILLION people viewed the closing ceremonies KISS was on. A newspaper reported that it was THE SINGLE LARGEST VIEWING AUDIENCE IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND. Remarkable...We had a ball. Ace flew in a day late, but made it. Kenny Ortega, the Olympic Closing Ceremony director couldn't have been nicer to us. Kenny and the band go way back to the early 70's. He wrote a musical called "BIMBO'S FLYING CIRCUS" that featured a remarkable song called "Reverie". Both Paul and I caught the show in '74 in Los Angeles and always bring up that song whenever we run into Kenny. The other performers on the show were very cordial to us. Everyone seemed fascinated by our KISSBOOTS. Gloria Estefan, Earth Wind & Fire, Donnie and Marie Osmond, Moby and a host of other celebs hung out backstage. But, when it was time to put on our warpaint, we retreated to our sanctum sanctorium -- our private dressing room to put on our makeup and outfits. Eric Singer and Ace traded barbs and I was busy taking backstage photos for my GENE SIMMONS TONGUE magazine (out in early Spring -- 300,000 print order in America alone!!!). Paul posed. Joey Fatone from N'Sync came by (and assumed the position...you'll see what I mean when the photo is printed) and when we went onstage and sang "Rock and Roll All Nite"...and saw 60,000 people singing along with us...it tugged at our hearts. We thank you all. Ok. Haven't had a chance to post much news over the last week or so. Been much too busy...but here's a review of some of the cool stuff that's happening to me. [More...] [Post Your Comments]

From: Salt Lake Tribune via James Vincent

The Salt Lake Tribune website has a couple of photos of KISS performing at the 2002 Winter Olympic Closing Ceremonies at Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2002:
[Photo 1, 2, 3]. KISSfaq.com also has screen captures and audio of the performance over on the KISSFAQ.com website. Check the "News" section for the screen captures and the "Song of the Moment" section for the audio. WireImage.com also has three thumbnail images of KISS from the event as well. [Post Your Comments]

From: KISSfaq.com
The Live in Las Vegas DVD release may not happen, since there are rumbles (rumors though) that the band are not happy, but it can't hurt to advance order it! The DVD apparently features the 4 songs KISS played in Vegas, along with "bonus coverage with 5 camera angles, plus an interview with the band upon the eve of their farewell tour. Also features the band launching their first-ever theatrical film: Detroit Rock City with a mini performance at the premiere". At the DRC Premier, KISS performed "Cold Gin", "Rock And Roll All Nite", "Detroit Rock City", and "Shout It Out Loud". [More...] [Post Your Comments]

From: PRnewswire.com / Universal Music Enterprises
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- KISS has always been known to do everything larger than life. With that in mind, what better way to close out the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games than with KISS, the hottest band in the world, playing to the world, in celebration of the finest athletes from around the globe. On Sunday, February 24, Rock 'N' Roll's reigning kings KISS performs at Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium for the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games Closing Ceremony in Salt Lake City, UT. KISS, America's number one gold record holder, can add another gold record to their wall as the recently released KISS: The Box Set went gold within the first week, and is on its way to platinum. [Post Your Comments]

From: hollywoodreporter.com via Lon Molnar
In what is a last-minute addition to an already stellar lineup, legendary rock band Kiss will perform during Sunday's 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics closing ceremony. Kiss will play its signature hit "Rock and Roll All Nite" in full makeup, founding member Paul Stanley said. "We're going to do the rock 'n' roll national anthem," Stanley said in an interview. "Since every country is being represented, the Kiss Army has to represent with 'rock and roll all nite and party every day.' "Don Mischer, executive producer of the closing ceremony, said the event will be presented thematically as "An American Musical," in which each genre of American music that has reached worldwide acclaim will be showcased. "American music is the most popular music around the world," Mischer said. "And since we have athletes here from 90 nations and this is the closing, we're trying to focus a lot of the show towards the athletes." Kiss as the icons of rock will be joining and already stellar lineup that includes Christina Aguilera and 'N Sync for the pop genre, Dianne Reeves for jazz, Moby for electronica and Gloria Estefan for Latin. Of being including in the festivities, Stanley noted: "It's the Olympics. It's a worldwide celebration of people competing, and for it to be taking place on our soil after the events (of Sept. 11) only makes it that much more important and momentous. It's so interesting for us as a band who has been on farewell tour -- we just see more and more that people keep saying, 'Don't go.' "Stanley added that the band will be performing in an outdoor arena, bare-chested and in tights in very cold weather. "It will certainly make my nipples hard," he said. [Post Your Comments]

From: VirginMega.com
KISS fans were out in force, estimated at nearly 500, in Las Vegas last night (2/20) at the area's Virgin Megastore. Gene Simmons created quite the spectacle after making a surprise late entrance to his scheduled instore appearance. The legendary KISS member stayed much of the night to meet every fan who turned up and to have some fun. As the new KISS box set played continuously throughout the night (cranked to capacity at the rock star's request) Simmons signed copies of the set along with his latest book, Kiss and Make Up, staying for more than three and a half hours until every fan there was able to meet, talk and take a picture with him. After the event concluded, the cult figure took time to sign for members of the store's staff before heading out into the wild Las Vegas night. "It was a memorable night for us all and really was magical for the many KISS fans that arrived as early as 7am Wednesday morning," reported Regional Marketing Coordinator Tom Kern. The local ABC affiliate filmed an interview with Simmons and a few "friends" for broadcast later that night. KISS fan Brian Croce added that it was one of the greatest thrills for him because he grew up being such a big fan of KISS and that "meeting Gene was revisiting my roots." Simmons had appeared earlier in the month for a successful signing at the Times Square store in New York, but there was just something about the Vegas event. [Post Your Comments]

From: Art Asylum

An ART ASYLUM recreation of the jack in the box, gone is the hand crank, the tone of pop go the weasel and the silly little plastic clown head with the cloth suit. This isn't your daddy's jack in the box. The crank is replaced by a button, and when jack saw his new neighbor's he left town, with good reason, because out of this box pops out a insanely detailed sculpture (made of an innovative flexible "skin") super star with one minute of slammin digital music of the artist inside. 'N' THE BOX will explode in summer of 2002, Volume 2 is titled "ROCK 'N' THE BOX."

Also being released are Paul, Peter, Gene, and Ace figures (from the Love Gun Tour) as part of the MINIMATES LINE. Picture if you will, having an army of tiny figures to command. Mini Mates give you that chance. Taking characters for film, T.V, and music and shrinking them down to each figure will come packaged with a puzzle base. Both Art Asylum KISS products will be released in the Summer of 2002.
[View All Of The KISS Products...]
[Post Your Comments]

From: Steven Sime
Just got a one-sheet at work today which says that Kiss Exposed will be released on DVD on March 19th in America. Yes, this is an official release. There won't be any extra bonus footage on it, but there is a feature on there where you can just press a button and it will play the videos and live clips without having to sit through the interviews. Also, it has a main menu that radomly chooses a different song each time you insert the disc into the player. Let's hope the other home videos will be released on DVD, as well. Sure it is just a matter of time. [Post Your Comments]

From: Carlos Espada / Art Asylum
Greetings all. Most of you know me from my KISS tribute band KISSNATION. I also work at ART ASYLUM TOYS and headed the KISS project. It was alot of fun and I got to hang with Gene Simmons himself, who seemed pleased with job we (ART ASYLUM) have done. To view the photos, here is a link to figures.com who covered TOY FAIR. [View The Photos...] [Post Your Comments]

From: WireImage.com
WireImage.com again has some great thumbnail photos of Gene Simmons' recent Book/Box Set autograph signing at Book Soup in West Hollywood on February 14th. Click over to WireImage.com to view all 15 of these great photos! [View The Photos...] [Post Your Comments]

From: EddieTrunk.com
Gene Simmons Returns! - Gene Simmons returned to the studio for the second time in two months and stayed from 11 til 12:30. Again, Gene took calls on everything ("Is Paul Stanley gay"?, "Why are you so greedy"?), and shyed away from nothing. [More...] [Post Your Comments]

From: Joop

The February issue of KISS Kollector 'zine will be printed within a few days and mailed out to all members very soon. Issue 39 includes part two of our revealing Bill Aucoin interview, a review of a new KISS photobook containing never before published shots from the Japan 1977 tour, more on the KISS Box Set, a review of Gene's autobiography KISS And Make-up, our 10th Anniversary contest where you can win KISS DVD's, videos, games and such, part 1 of a new series on collecting magazines featuring KISS on the cover, all the latest news, and much more. [Post Your Comments]

From: WireImage.com
WireImage.com again has some great thumbnail photos of Gene Simmons' recent Book/Box Set autograph signing at Virgin Mega Store in Times Square on February 8th. Click over to WireImage.com to view all 69 of these great photos! [View The Photos...] [Post Your Comments]

From: Spawn.com

It was just announced today at ToyFair 2002 that McFarlane Toys will release a "KISS Creatures of the Night" line of KISS action figures. It must be noted right away that this line of action figures, despite the name, is NOT from the 1982 era of the band, but more of the 1980 era with the "Dynasty/Unmasked" costumes. Nonetheless, the best part is those Eric Carr fans can rejoice as Eric Carr IS included in this set! These figures will be released in June 2002. You can vote on all of the new 2002 McFarlane toys including the new KISS action figures in the "Favorite Upcoming Music Figures" line and in the "Favorite 2002 McFarlane Toy Series" catagories. If you love these figures make sure to show McFarlane Toys your feelings by voting for KISS! To see the full run down of photos and information on the new KISS Action Figures, head over to Spawn.com's ToyFare 2002 special section for complete coverage! [Post Your Comments]

From: KISSfaq.com
Next week's edition of Demo Stories is up, featuring "Don't Let The Blues Surround You", "Baby, Hold On", "I Wanna Rule The World", and "Jelly Roll". Other updates to the FAQ include: New multimedia includes Gene's controversial NPR radio broadcast, while "Song Of The Moment" has some Neil Bogart material and a White Zombie cover of "God Of Thunder" live from CBGB's. You can catch a glimpse of KISS' performace at the Lane Bryant event from the clip of "Entertainment Tonight"'s coverage of the event, which has a hilarious snippet from Paul. The Thai singles section has also had an update. The corrections to "KISS & Make Up" have had a couple of items added which I originally missed. Editting of the completed "KISS Album Focus" continues at an astonishing pace! More on that soon... http://www.kissfaq.com/ [Post Your Comments]

From: EddieTrunk.com
I had the opportunity to attend the Kiss/Lane Bryant event which took place last night at the Roseland Ballroom in NYC. This was a fashion event, NOT a rock event, so the crowd was mostly there to see the designers new line, not Kiss. The room was loaded with fashion press, TV crews, and various celebs (Roseanne Barr was close to me watching). Lane Bryant is a plus size clothing maker, so the models were large women. Personally I would have loved if this was a Victoria's Secret event (more my type of girls!), but this was more girls the size of Anna Nicole Smith (who was a model there, along with Steven Tylers daughter Mia). Anyway, you guys of course want to know about Kiss. The Roseland stage had the huge black Kiss curtain covering it, with a long models runway coming right from the center of the stage out through the entire floor. The show began around 8PM with the low bottom end bass sound Kiss uses to open all their shows, followed by the "You Wanted The Best" intro, slightly altered to include some words about Lane Bryant. Kiss opened with "Shout It Out Loud" and two things were clear right off the bat. The band looked great, everybody active, thin, and in great shape, however the band was not playing live. The vocals were live, allowing Paul Stanley to talk to the crowd between songs, etc. But all the instrument tracks were obviously a backing tape. I assume this was done because Kiss was not rehersed and didn't feel like bothering for a five song set at a fashion show where most in attendence didn't even know anything outside of R&R All Night! The music tracks were not studio cuts from the records, but recorded live arrangements made for this type of use. Dance artists or "track acts" as they are called, often do this for club appearences, etc. That being said, the band sold it as a live show best they could and I doubt many knew the instrumental tracks were all recorded. The vocals, which were live, sounded great. The stage was very simple, with a drum riser (again Eric Singer in the catman makeup), and plenty of pyro, bombs (which were louder then hell and scared the shit out of everybody!), and confetti. The five song set also included "Lick It Up", "God Of Thunder", "Love Gun" and set closer "R&R All Night", which you could just tell was the only song this crowd really knew. A very strange event, but somehow Kiss made it work. But it wasn't a rock vibe in the crowd in anyway. It was over in 30 minutes, and Kiss closed the show walking the runway with all the models as "I Was Made For Loving You" and "God Gave R&R To You" (the album versions) played over the PA. It was so strange to see Kiss play where they were not the main attraction. Nobody pushed against the stage, nobody singing and pumping their fists, in fact when Paul smashed his guitar at the end he just flipped it to the guy closest to the stage. Another interesting chapter in the never ending saga of this band. [More...] [Post Your Comments]

From: Allen Tuller
Gene Simmons Tongue Magazine

Hi, it's that Gene Simmons Tongue publisher again! Just want to keep you loyal fans in the loop to what's been going on. We're still moving and grooving, putting together more stories, getting more photos' and simply putting together the pieces of the puzzle. We are shooting for a May 21st on-sale date! It may sound like a long ways away but in actuality we will go to press in only 8 short weeks. Subscribers will actually get the first issue even earlier and the subscription page is all set to go and take your orders. We plan on starting out with four issues a year but if demand calls for it (and I know it will!!) we may go straight into a 6X frequency and then go monthly in the year ahead. The magazine will be $3.99 but you can get the first 4 issues delivered right to your door for only $6.99! That's a 56% discount. Isn't America great! Just go to http://www.genesimmonstongue.com and sign up! Okay, enough sales pitch, here's what's going on. Gene, Steve, yours truly and the whole GS Tongue team have been working our asses off talking to celebrities, recording artists and gorgeous girls (I love this job!), setting up stories for our first few issues. The Demon himself has interviewed Fred Durst and Hugh Hefner and has been our man on the scene at many tough assignments such as the Adult Video Awards and The Miss Nude USA contest. I've even given Gene a camera so we can get photographic evidence of what I'll call "Gene's World I put up a sample cover design on the web site with some cover stories but keep in mind the Premiere Issue will feature a well known celebrity and that this cover was just made up for display and promotional materials. So please don't bombard me with E-mails saying "Who is that?" I am open to any story suggestions that you guys might have and I'm crazy enough to ask you to send me any that you might have. The magazine is for you and I want to hear what you want to read about! I appreciate your input but don't get mad at me if I cannot respond to all my E-mails. I promise to look at all the ideas and discuss them with Gene and the GSTongue Magazine team. I'll keep ya posted. Thanks! [Post Your Comments]

From: Joop van Pelt

Just received Dragonfly Clothing Company's "Spring Collection" catalog. Unfortunately they don't have a Gene Simmons Dragonfly catalog yet, but their Spring Collection includes a full page (see scan) of KISS workershirts with some great artwork. The cover of the catalog features the KISS logo and solo album faces, and inside there's also a page which includes a KISS boardshort with the Rock And Roll Over artwork. [Post Your Comments]

From: LaneBryant.com
Just a reminder to all KISS fans, LaneBryant.com is showing the webcast of the KISS Lane Bryant Fashion show tonight (2/6/02) at 7:00pm EST. You can view the webcast using Real Player or Windows Media Player. [Watch The Webcast...] [Post Your Comments]

From: Kevin Coughlin

Just returned from the "The Big Kiss: Lane Bryant and Kiss Rock the Runway Spring Collection 2002" fashion show held at the Roseland Ballroom in Kiss' (and my) hometown of New York Rock City. It was "excitingly strange" (if there is such a term) to see my favorite band play in such an intimate setting like Roseland (where Kiss also performed during their Kiss Convention tour of 1995), yet...at a fashion show? In typical Kiss fashion (pardon the pun), there was the larger than life black curtain with silver KISS logo in front of the stage and the traditional "You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best" introduction as the band launched into "Shout it Out Loud". Now Roseland is a small venue so the band did have to limit their pyrotechnics, but yes there were some! (in fact, I saw an elderly woman fall off her chair during some of the explosions!). Kiss had most of their Farewell Tour stage in-tact (including stacks of non-working Marshall amps!), all except the infamous KISS logo sign. Instead, the corporate lackeys running the show had a Lane Bryant banner (hey, they were footing the bill) draped across Peter's, er, I mean Eric (the "scab" catman) Singer's drum riser. The only sign off a Kiss logo was on the bass drum head. In front of the stage was a long 50-foot model runway. The band played at a suspiciously low volume, compared to many other shows I've witnessed at this venue. I was told they would be playing live and NOT lip-synch the set. If this is a fact, then they indeed played a very tight set. The second song (I recall) was "Lick it Up", followed by "Love Gun" and "God of Thunder". Between songs, Paul bantered "This is not your ordinary New York fashion show is it?" All in All, the band was well received by an audience of non-Kiss fans as this was an invite-only gig. There were obviously no extended solos as fashion shows usually are done within 30 minutes tops. The band closed their set with the Rock and Roll Anthem: "Rock and Roll All Nite" complete with confetti and pyro. I was in the back of the venue (with the runway models in front) and could not see if Paul smashed his guitar or not. (I did see the pinwheel pyro however) When the set was over the band strolled up the runway to pose with the models as "I was made for Loving You" blared over the P.A. system. If this show is a warm up for the proposed summer "Farewell Tour" of Europe, then Kiss is in good shape with Eric behind the kit. (This is the fifth metro-New York area "Farewell" show in 2 years!) Call me a cynic, but I'd like to see the REAL catman on stage the next time...and probably last time Kiss bids their REAL FAREWELL.
From: Bill Goldstein
I just got back from the KISS/Lane Bryant show at Roseland Ballroom, here in NYC. WOW, what a show! The band was awesome. Everyone (especially Gene) was in great spirits, and the show went off without a hitch. Well, almost...During Ace's RARAN solo, his firework "spinner" on his headstock just kinda fizzled, and didn't spin. I doubt though that anyone other than me noticed...The guys sang, but didn't actually play their instruments... It didn't matter though... The show was fantastic! As we were leaving, they handed out special KISS/Lane Bryant t-shirts... Overall, the best I've seen the band in awhile... Definitely check it out on the web tomorrow night!! [Post Your Comments]

From: Yahoo.com
More photos of KISS' event at the Lane Bryant fashion show can be seen at Yahoo.com [View The Photos...] [Post Your Comments]

From: NY Post.com via Scott Ryfun
THE quiet and high-minded National Public Radio airwaves were shattered earlier this week by a name-calling confrontation between - of all people - tongue-waggling KISS frontman Gene Simmons and soft-spoken interviewer Terry Gross. Simmons, a guest on Gross's show, "Fresh Air," called her "boring." And Gross called Simmons "obnoxious." No one could remember the kind of dust-up that reminded fans more of the Howard Stern show "The notion is if you're going to welcome me with open arms you also have to welcome me with open legs," said Simmons, was on the show to promote his new book, "KISS and Make-Up." "That's a really obnoxious thing to say," Gross fired back. "No, it's not. Why should I say something behind your back that I can't tell you to your face?" said Simmons. The interview was apparently so controversial that NPR has declined to make it available on its Website where it posts at least portions of nearly all other interviews that appear on "Fresh Air," one of its most popular daily shows. At one point, Gross asked Simmons about his "studded codpiece." "It holds my manhood, otherwise it would be too much for you to take," Simmons said. "You'd have to put the book down and confront life." The conversation continued: [More...] [Post Your Comments]

From: USA Today via Jon Romanovich
His band Kiss has sold more than 80 million records worldwide. He's said to have bedded upwards of 4,600 women. He's been part of one of most outrageous bands in American history, whose use of makeup and pyrotechnics set the standard for glam bands in the '80s, and for newer groups like Slipknot and Mudvayne. Talk to rock and roll legend Gene Simmons about his autobiography Kiss and Make Up (Crown); KISS: The Box Set (Universal Music Enterprises), which features 30 previously unreleased band and solo demos, outtakes and live recordings, from 1968 through 2001; and his other business ventures (Kiss caskets, anyone?). [More...] [Post Your Comments]

From: KISSfreaks.com
Another fantastic Indianapolis KISS Expo happened Saturday 2/2/2002. The day featured Bill Aucoin, Eric Singer, Andre Augustine, SSG and tribute band Mr. Speed. Also spotted at the Expo were Bill Starkey, Dale Sherman and The Goddess of Thunder. Read the Rest at www.kissfreaks.com [Post Your Comments]

From: Kathy Labonte
It was recently brought to my attention that many of you have been attempting to order the "A World Without Heroes" novel with CD Soundtrack thru mail order distributors, chains like Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc... Often they tell you that they are sold out or backordered and have not led people to the direct source: The KISS Army OnLine (KAOL) website. We are the actual publishers of the book and accompanying soundtrack disc and still have some of these packages in stock. However, we are almost sold out as well. At this time, there are less than TEN copies left and this will be officially out of print with no plans of a re-print in store. The novel was written by Dale Sherman and combines the real timeline and facts of KISS history with a fictional story of the Talismans. The CD in the back sleeve holds 25 tracks of KISS songs re-recorded by bands all over the world which follow the storyline chapter by chapter. So, if you've been looking for this and want to help clear our inventory, come by the website and pick up one of the handful of copies left. www.kissarmyonline.com [Post Your Comments]

From: Billboard.com via Chris Stompanato

Knowing bassist Gene Simmons' admitted penchant for the ladies, it comes as no surprise that Kiss will perform at a lingerie fashion show next week as part of New York's annual "Fashion Week." The make-up clad act will turn out a set on Tuesday (Feb. 5) during Lane Bryant's third annual intimate apparel runway show, and the debut of the retailer's "First Kiss" line, at the city's Roseland Ballroom. While the event won't be open to the throng of fans Kiss generally draws to its concerts, it will be Webcast at 7 p.m. ET the following evening via Lane Bryant's official Web site. Along with the band's performance, models such as Carre Otis, Mia Tyler, Kate Dillon, Marcus Schenkenberg, and Tyson Beckford will strut their stuff on the runway. While in New York, Simmons will be a busy man. On Feb. 7, he'll appear on NBC's "Late Night With Conan O'Brien," and at 6 p.m. the following day, he'll sign copies of his Random House/Crown autobiography "Kiss and Make-Up" and the Kiss box set recently released by Universal at Virgin Megastore's Times Square location. Simmons also has signings set up for Valentine's Day at Book Soup in Los Angeles, and Feb. 20 at the Las Vegas Virgin Megastore, located inside Caesar's Palace. Published last December, "Kiss and Make-Up" has appeared on the New York Times' Hardcover Non-Fiction Bestsellers list. The Kiss box set was released in late November, and has sold 82,000 copies in the U.S. to date, according to SoundScan. [Post Your Comments]