KISS ASYLUM: May 2003 News Archive

From: Bill Fleming - CEO TracerCorp
(Clarks Summit, PA, May 21, 2003) - You Wanted the Best and You Got the Best - The Hottest Band in the World... KISS! TracerCode, The Standard in Collectibles Authentication, announced today that it has signed the makeup-clad quartet KISS to be among the celebrity guests attending and signing at the 24th National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey, July 24-27, 2003. The band will dress for the occasion in their patented seven-inch heels, outrageous costumes and trademark makeup. Beginning at 1PM Saturday, July 26 the hard rock legends will take part in the most innovative autograph/memorabilia promotion in industry history. Fans can have their photo taken with KISS in a specially designed pavilion. Photos will be printed on the spot. Then, all four members of the band will autograph it. Finally, TracerCode will add its seal of approval, thus authenticating and documenting the entire event for the fan and collector. For the KISS ARMY, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime, unforgettable experience. TracerCode CEO Bill Fleming was beaming when he said; "We are just thrilled with the addition of KISS to the National autograph roster. They have sold millions of records and have millions of fans. To have them at the National involved in such a unique way will make this an event collectors will never forget." KISS is part of the first-ever group of premiere entertainment superstars to attend the National. The band will also be available to sign individual items after the photo shoot. Sports legends such as Ernie Banks, Troy Aikman & Bob Cousy will also be signing at the event, bringing collectors of all genres the widest selection of athletes and performers to choose from. Several autograph package deals can be pre-ordered at http://www.tracercode.com/, and autograph seekers do not even need to attend the event to have their items signed. For the latest information about the autograph pavilion, prices and guest list at the National, visit TracerCode on the web at http://www.tracercode.com/

From: patdemon@videotron.ca
KISS fans! The 5th annual Montreal KISS expo is all set to take place on Sunday, September 28 2003, from 11 am to 7 PM at the Holiday Inn Midtown, located at 420 Sherbrooke street west, in downtown Montreal. This year's show will be our biggest and best yet! Our shows keep getting better and better, and this year should be no exception! If you liked our past shows, you won't want to miss this one! Dealers from Canada and the U.S. will be present all day with the best KISS merchandise. Tons of door prizes! Guests and tribute band are still to be confirmed, but we will be making an announcement very shortly. Just like last year, we will have a KISS look-a-like contest so get your act together and win some cool prizes! Free souvenir for the first 100 regular ticket holders! Once again, we will be selling VIP laminates which give the buyer MANY privileges. VIP laminates allow people to get in at 10:15 instead of 11:00 am! It will also give the opportunity to run into a special guest or two and get a first look at rare KISS merchandise for sale! Ticket holders will also be given a souvenir laminated pass! These special passes are very limited. Only 75 are available so please reserve yours now! Laminates are 25.00$ Canadian. Regular advanced tickets are 14.00$ and 15.00$ day of the show. Our website, kissexpo.com will be updated in the next few weeks. In the meantime, you can call to reserve your VIP's and dealers can also call to reserve tables at the following number: (450)348-4900. Please bear in mind that we can only return phone calls regarding dealer tables and reservations for VIP passes. All the other information you need to know will posted on the web site. We will gladly answer any question by email. You can also reserve laminates by email! Send questions to: info@kissexpo.com In order to serve you better, please note that we speak both French and English. Again, watch for a bigger announcement to be made in the next few weeks. This is just a taste of things to come! Stay tuned!

From: KISS Records/Sancturary Records
KISS fans are in for a real treat. Click Here to view an e-card promoting the "KISS Symphony: Alive IV" album due out July 22nd. It is a nice promotional piece done in Flash that shows parts of KISS' Symphony performance to the tune of Detroit Rock City.

From: PUBLISHERS WEEKLY via Robert Conte
WARNER BOOKS will release this October KISS: BEHIND THE MASK--THE OFFICIAL AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY by David Leaf and Ken Sharp. The first printing of this hardcover book will be 100,000 copies and is priced at $27.95 US/$41.95 CANADA. After three decades of undying adoration, KISS fans will get their first fully authorized and total access look at the band that loves to "rock and roll all nite and party every day!" "I read the original manuscript that David Leaf and Ken Sharp pitched to me in 1998," says former Studio Chikara publisher, Robert V. Conte. "It's an interesting take on the band's history and deserves to be published and enjoyed."

From: Music Industry Network
KISS, America's #1 Gold Record Award Winning Champion Group (RIAA-Group category) and Sanctuary Records Group are proud to announce the formation of KISS Records, a joint venture between KISS and Sanctuary Records Group, it was announced today by Merck Mercuriadis, Chief Executive Officer, Sanctuary Group Inc. and longtime KISS manager Doc McGhee, President, McGhee Entertainment. Merck Mercuriadis commented, "We wanted the best and we got the best. KISS are the barometer that everyone looks to for gold records, ticket sales, licensing income, merchandising sales and as a result are the perfect partners for Sanctuary's 360 model. Gene and Paul have lead the way throughout their career and continue to do so with the formation of KISS Records and this revolutionary deal with Sanctuary." "After seeing what has been going on at the major record labels," Doc McGhee adds, "KISS searched for an innovative way to reach their audience. We looked mostly at new and up and coming independent labels. In doing so, we talked with Sanctuary Records and found what we were looking for. By forming KISS Records we can control how we appear, and with the great staff at Sanctuary Records, we feel we have the opportunity to create something very special in the 21st century. Both KISS and Sanctuary Group believe that if it's worth doing, it's worth over doing." Debuting on KISS Records/Sanctuary Records on July 22, KISS Symphony: Alive IV, is unlike anything recorded or released before by the Rock Icons. KISS Symphony: Alive IV, captures one of the world's greatest performing rock bands with the prestigious 60-piece Melbourne Symphony Orchestra live before a sold-out crowd from Australia's Telstra Dome while on the 2003 tour. The energy packed two-disc set promises to captivate and tantalize fans new and old alike with twenty-two newly recorded live tracks featuring ten classic KISS tracks backed by the 60-piece Melbourne Symphony, six never-performed-live acoustic versions of KISS classics and six raw classic KISS tracks sans orchestra. This spectacular concert event proved to be a memorable show highlighted by the Melbourne Symphony appearing in full KISS makeup and will be released as a DVD, in the future. KISS' lead singer Paul Stanley states, "KISS Records is the continuation of the road paved by us for the past thirty years. Our first release KISS Symphony: Alive IV ushers in a new era where we will exert uncompromising attention to detail, control of quality, and overall feel and direction from concept to completion." With a sly grin, Stanley adds, "With KISS Symphony, you are cordially invited to witness the unholy marriage of black tie and black leather." "After 30 years, KISS has finally come home. KISS Records signals the end of one era and along with our perfect partners, Sanctuary Records, the beginning of a new one. You better believe it," comments KISS bassist Gene Simmons. As for the KISS Symphony, Simmons says, "KISS and The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, never have so many grown men and women looked better in KISS make-up." KISS' drummer Peter Criss comments, "I am moved deeply to know that after thirty years millions of people are still being touched by our music. It was an honor to perform with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. As a writer and performer it was truly a dream come true." "As the new kid in town, I'm honored and excited to be part of the continuing KISS legacy. I know that KISS Symphony: Alive IV will put die-hard KISS fans in the middle of the action like nothing they've ever experienced before. I was blown away by the immediate acceptance of the fans and the thrill of being onstage for a show as important as KISS Symphony, " states new KISS lead guitar player Tommy Thayer.

From: Billboard.com
Kiss is launching an imprint with Sanctuary Records, Billboard Bulletin reports. Kiss Records, to be announced today (May 5), will kick off with a new, two-disc live set, "The Kiss Symphony: Alive IV," which captures the band's Feb. 28 performance with the Melbourne Orchestra. A DVD and a pay-per-view television special chronicling the show are also expected. The deal marks the end of Kiss' long association with Mercury/Universal, the final release of which was last August's "The Very Best of Kiss." As previously reported, vocalist/bassist Gene Simmons recently resurrected his Simmons Records label in partnership with Sanctuary. Kiss kicks off a North American tour with Aerosmith Aug. 2 in Hartford, Conn., with longtime guitarist Ace Frehley replaced by Tommy Thayer. The group is offering a three-tiered ticketing package for select shows, including a $1,000 extravaganza that includes a ticket in the first four rows and a chance to meet the band afterward. For more information, visit Kiss' official Web site. Before the Aerosmith tour, Kiss will perform May 17 at Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM's annual Wango Tango at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Other confirmed acts include Nelly, Christina Aguilera, Sugar Ray, and Craig David with Sting. [More...]

From: "KISS ASYLUM / Inner Sanctum Australian KISS Fanclub EXCLUSIVE www.kissfanclub.net
Bruce Kulick called the fanclub recently in the lead up to his Australian tour supporting his newly released Transformer CD, his second solo disc since parting with KISS back in 1996. I firstly asked Bruce about the passing of Sean Delaney to which I was informed that he had met him backstage once while on tour. He remembered that Sean was really excited to be there. Bruce went on to give his condolences saying it was a real shame on his passing. I asked Bruce what improvements or changes had been made since his last release Audiodog. Saying that while he was proud of Audiodog he was pleased with the progress he has made vocally on Transformer. I told him his voice sounded great and that fans have reacted positively to it. Asking if he was sorry he didn't start earlier?, he replied quite frankly and honestly by saying that now he "had to use it" and that "circumstances had made it necessary". He doesn't think he would have been ready to use it earlier anyway. Bruce was very gracious in accepting acclaim for Audiodog and I praised him in particular for the tracks I don't mind and What do you think. Bruce also thought these were highlights and added that Crazy was a highlight on the Transformer disc for him. Incidently Bruce revealed that there were no other titles bandied around for Transformer and that the names of both Transformer and Audiodog had been floating around since his Union days. Bruce thought it interesting that there is a band now called Audioslave which is in the same vein. When probed about the setlist for his upcoming Aussie tour he revealed that it would be similar to his last tour downunder with the addition of Transformer tracks and stuff off Carnival of Souls. Incidently he also added that he liked some of the stuff on Carnival of Souls but Revenge was his favourite KISS album that he played on. Does it piss you off when fans ask a lot questions from your days in KISS? No, he replied, adding that as long as they were including stuff on what he was doing now, he has no problem acknowledging his contributions and time with KISS, those days had bought him many fans for which he was grateful. I asked if he had been approached about doing the Symphony gig to which he said he was not, adding that Tommy had already stepped into the space shoes a couple of times prior so it was only natural he did it. Bruce did not sound at all keen on taking on the space role and when probed on it felt it did hurt the KISS legacy in a way with new members playing roles. Bruce thinks it is unlikely that KISS will drop the makeup now as it sells. He expressed a view that KISS currently is not interested in making new music and was only interested in sticking to the classics. Bruce did however recently send his new album to Gene and talked to him just last week on the phone. Gene discussed and expressed his opinion on the release, so yes, there is still communication between the former band mates. He stated he also bumps into Paul now and again. I queried Bruce on his comments he had made about the credits appearing in the boxset booklet. He revealed that Gene and Paul were not being honest about it but was not forthcoming in revealing his full involvement in the recording process. He did say however that he played some of the Bass on the release. When pressed about whether Tommy played on anything he said he was not there all the time so couldn't comment. Bruce said his favourite tour was the Hot in the Shade because of "the whole package" and the fact that classic KISS songs were introduced into the setlist. He also remembered fondly the Ś95 South American and Australian tours. Bruce was more than happy to answer ANY question put forward such as this one sent in by a fan, "I read that you were instructed how to play, note for note, many of the songs on Asylum, Crazy Nights and Hot In The Shade and that you would get pretty pissed off because Gene would go onto say in interviews that it took you awhile to get rid of the pop crap sound but it was actually Gene & Paul that was dictating how you should play in the first place. Any truth in that???". Bruce said that yes in the early days he was instructed what to play somewhat, it never really worried him the spin that was being expressed in the media saying that they were only trying to get across that they had come out with a heavier album. Bruce also stated there was never too much disagreement in the studio particularly when you had someone in there like Bob Ezrin who pretty much took control. In closing Bruce wanted to make it clear that he couldn't make it to Perth this time around due to his touring commitments with Grand Funk and other prior engagements. He asked me let the fans in Perth know that it was not that he didn't want to go or a snub or anything like that and to send them his apologies. Adding he would like to see them included on any new tours in the future. He urged all fans to come out and see him to which I said that I will see him in Brisbane and am really looking forward to it. I thanked Bruce for giving fans new music and the opportunity to see him live. We exchanged thankyous, I told him he was a legend and hung up.

From: J.van.Pelt@vpro.nl
While working on the upcoming May issue of KISS Kollector magazine, the very sad news came in that Sean Delaney had passed away. So, obviously, some changes were quickly made in order to be able to include some sort of tribute to the man who was also known as the 'fifth KISS'. It seems like only yesterday that Sean was special guest at the KISS Kollector Expo in Holland last November, where he talked about his many happy times with KISS, his not-so-happy times with KISS, revealed a lot of 'secret' info from the world of KISS and also informed fans about his upcoming autobiography. Apart from paying respect to Sean Delaney, the upcoming issue will include a report on the recent KISS Symphony extravaganza in Australia, an exclusive interview with former New England drummer Hirsh Gardner talking about his KISS related days, a report on the unique Las Vegas concert, a report on An Audience With Peter Criss, reviews of new KISS related albums, a piece on collecting magazines with KISS on the cover, never before seen photos and much, much more.