KISS ASYLUM: August 2001 News Archive

From: KISS Hell Online
KISS HELL: Are you playing on the new Alice CD & how would you describe the direction of this album (Dragontown) compared to Brutal Planet?
ERIC SINGER: I am not on the new Alice disc....I have heard a bit of it though....I guess I would describe it as an extension of Brutal Planet in a way....similar style & vibe.
KH: How would you describe the experience of returning to KISS & playing in make-up?
ES: Playing with KISS again this time was so cool!! I felt like a little kid again!! Very inspired. Like a dream come true :-) When I was on stage I felt like I was in another world seeing Gene/Ace & Paul playing in front of me & then realizing that I was playing drums with them...IN MAKE-UP!!! Very surreal feeling.
KH: What music are you listening to lately?
ES: I know this sounds boring. I listen to talk radio here in L.A. although I do like Incubus...cool voice on the singer! I usually listen to most of my older CD's (stuff I grew up on). There are some interesting bands out there. I would like to hear more melodies in the tunes though. Hey every generation has their own thing.
KH: What would you like to see in the upcoming KISS box set?
ES: I am not familiar with what will be included on the Box Set. I saw a set list a few months ago & I'm sure that has changed a bit. I'm sure it will have something for everybody. Doesn't KISS always?
KH: Recently, Badlands 1st CD was re-released, what do you think of the re-release? What are your opinions of that album in retrospect?
ES: I have not seen or heard the re-release yet. I think it is cool that some people may still care or be interested in that band anymore. I thought that BADLANDS was going for a more raw sound & dryness in the recording process. Something that nobody was doing at that time. This was before Soundgarden/Nirvana/Alice In Chains, etc.. I remember people commenting that the record was so "dry" sounding "like an old record." I really liked the bands musical direction. Too bad we all couldn't see eye to eye on a buisness level. I felt the band had potential that was never realized.
KH: Thanks for your time, Please leave a message for the readers of KISS HELL
ES: Thanx to Joe "D" & KISS HELL!!! You always support KISS past & present... as well as the music scene overall. Keep it real. Peace/out ERIC SINGER. [Post Your Comments]

From: David L Wilson / KISS Hell Reporter
Nothing brings out the masses like nostalgia. Set that nostalgia in the not so remote days of Heavy Metal dominance, add a bit of true-life rags to riches story line and you have the Warner Brothers Rock-u-Drama, "Rock Star." As most will know this is the slightly re-molded story of Tim "Ripper" Owens and his graduation from JUDAS PRIEST cover band to JUDAS PRIEST front-man with Mark "Marky-Mark" Walberg playing the lead character. What you may not know is that the producers of the movie strove for as much realism as they could get and employed a veritable who’s-who of eighties Metal-scenesters in supporting roles throughout the film. Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY/OZZY OSBOURNE) Jason Bonham, Jeff Pilson (DOKKEN), Blas Elias (SLAUGHTER) and many others recreate the glory days of Metal in this inspiring period flashback which is due out fall 2001. Playing Zakk Wylde’s wife in the movie is LA Metal scene veteran, actress, model, author, philanthropist and all around beauty, Carrie Stevens. The name may not immediately ring a bell but her face, not to mention other parts of her anatomy, surely will. Carrie can currently be seen in video projects by THIRD EYE BLIND and LIMP BIZKIT as well as in any number of national magazine add campaigns and in the full array of PLAYBOY Magazine related activities. From Coast to Coast and around the world Carrie Stevens’ presence is increasingly hard to miss. Carrie has many gifts that lay beyond her immense physical beauty, the most admirable of which is her depth of heart. In the last year or so Carrie has devoted considerable time and effort to the formation of CarrieCares.Com, a free networking and support group for those who have recently lost a loved one. Carrie comes by her empathy for the bereaved through painful losses of her own and she shares freely from those experiences with any and all who show the need. Acts of genuine altruism in the entertainment business are incredibly rare but one needn't look too far into WWW.CARRIECARIES.COM to be convinced that Carrie's heart and motives are pure. Recently I convinced Carrie to break from her schedule of movie making, photo shoots and web work to speak with me for an hour about "ROCK STAR," her web-sites, her career path, and life in general. [Read The Interview] [Post Your Comments]

From: Sho.com
Beginning October 1st, see the four original KISS members - Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss -- together on stage, online and in full make-up with the dazzling pyrotechnics for which the band is world renown. See exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and backstage interviews that you can only see here! Plus, chat with Paul Stanley LIVE on Oct. 1st, and enter to win a $500 shopping spree on KISS Online.com. [Post Your Comments]

From: John Connell
Modern Drummer's November issue, just released this week, commemorates the tenth anniversary of the passing of Eric Carr. In the six page spread, MD joins Bruce Kulick, industry insiders and avid fan John Connell in saluting the man with the 'sticks of thunder'. www.moderndrummer.com [Post Your Comments]

From: kissexpos@aol.com
The 2001 KISS Tampa Expo featuring special guests Mark St. John, Bill Aucoin and the KISS Demon Wrestler Dale Torborg will be held Saturday Oct. 27th from 11 AM to 7 PM at the Travel Lodge at Busch Gardens 820 E. Busch Blvd.Tampa, FL.Special guests will do question and answer, photo and autograph sessions. Raffles, trivia and costume contests. Dealers from around the US will be selling all KISS merchandise and collectables. Tickets are $15.00 in advance or $18.00 at the door. Children 12 and under FREE. To order tickets or for more info please visit http://www.kissexpos.com/ [Post Your Comments]

From: http://kiss.animalize.com
Last Thursday, KISS Kollector Fanclub received another message from Gene: a questionnaire in which he updates us all on such topics as the forthcoming box set, Ace Frehley, the KISS Farewell Tour and more. In regards to the box set, Gene states there will be 100 songs - so, in fact there's indeed gonna be five discs now instead of the four discs as originally announced by the record company last month. Gene: "New songs, original demos and a great design - We didn't like the record company's idea, so we did it ourselves." Gene also shares his feelings on Ace Frehley and has some news on the Farewell Tour and the final KISS gig... to find out what he said on all these topics, please surf to http://kiss.animalize.com to view the original questionnaire. [Post Your Comments]

From: swisskiss3@hotmail.com
The Swiss KISS Army will party on Saturday November 17, 2001 in Grenchen (state Solothurn/Soleure - Switzerland) at the local Musikpalast. Fans meeting each other, KISS music, merchandising and last but not least the performance of the tribute band KISSIN' TIME in full "Creatures Of The Night" regalia will turn this upcoming event into one of the hottest night of the year in Switzerland. Doors open at 7 PM and tickets are CHF 22.- swiss francs. For further informations, please e-mail to David Cagliola at swisskiss3@hotmail.com [Post Your Comments]

From: Ericcarrtribute.com
To continue celebrating Eric Carr's life, at ericcarrtribute.com, we're giving away a copy of the excellent "Tale Of The Fox" DVD with a surprise additional item. We'll also be doing some other giveaways during the rest of the year leading up to November. All giveaways can be accessed from the contests page and are conducted via random drawings from correct entries. More and more material is being added to the site, so check it out @ http://www.ericcarrtribute.com/ And the winner is: Alan Kozak is the lastest lucky winner of ericcarrtribute.com giveaways, winning a copy of the promotional 12" single "Lightning" released in 1979 featuring Eric Carr prior to his joining KISS! [Post Your Comments]

From: KULICK.net
Hello everyone, I want to thank all my fans that were concerned about me and my family and want everyone to know that we are all fine. I did fly the day before the tragedy, and was home safely much to my parents delight. In Montreal on Saturday night, at Olympic Stadium, behind the pitchers mound of the major league game between the Montreal Expos and the Philadelphia Phillies, my electric guitar performance of the national anthem was as always very heartfelt. No one could have guessed what terrible events were about to happen a few short days later to America. I find it also very interesting that I have been playing in Grand Funk Railroad, "The American Band." I have been performing the national anthem at our shows, and was very disappointed because of a curfew at the Portland show last Friday that I did not get a chance to perform it. We also use a giant US flag behind us when we do the song "We're an American Band." [More...] [Post Your Comments]

From: Kathy Labonte
The KISS Army OnLine (KAOL) just donated $3,000 to the Alzheimer's Association on September 9th - 2 days prior to the World Trade Center attack. MusiCare Online, the non-profit record label responsible for the KISS Army Tribute CD packages, is now compelled to join the rest of the nation in turning attention to the current crisis at hand. We have set up a process for all KISS fans as a united group to make a donation towards the many organizations that currently need aid in New York. Our website has been altered so that donations may be accepted directly thru Visa or MasterCard.The concept is similar to the PBS fundraisers and very simple:

In return for a $20 donation, you will receive a KISS Tribute package of your choice.

In return for a $50 donation, you will receive all three of the currently available KISS Tribute projects on the MusiCare label.
If you would like to donate larger or smaller sums you have the option of doing that as well - there is no limit and our goal is to obviously collect as much as we can. If you already have the KAOL KISS Tribute projects or even if you have no interest in them, we still urge you to donate as a KISS fan and music lover. I've been monitoring the KISS mailing lists, newsgroups and bulletin boards and everyone seems to want to try and help but are not sure how. MusiCare Online was started for purposes just like this - to help others thru the love of music. You don't need to be a KISS fan, just a lover of music to understand the concept. All of the donations will be gathered and sent to New York from MusiCare Online representing the KISS Army as a collective. The American Red Cross, the Police Officer's Widow Fund, the Firefighter's Widow Fund, and so many, many more organizations are all considerable recipients. We will forward the money to whomever needs it most at the time. If you're one of those who feel helpless right now, this is a way to get involved and contribute. Each donation Tribute package will also come with a full color 19x27 KISS Army poster personalized with the information surrounding your donation. We will be collecting contributions for the rest of this month and indefinitely. Please come to www.kissarmyonline.com to make your contribution. Full details of the KISS Tribute packages being distributed can be found on the site. [Post Your Comments]

From: EricCarrRocks84@aol.com
Hi there everyone. I wanted to let everyone know that tickets are now availiable for the Eric Carr Memorial Concert. The proceeds of this concert are going to be given to the Children's Cancer Hospitals in Eric's name. Anyone interested in getting tickets and coming please email Marty Johncey at the address on the site. Check out the site for more info and pass this info on to anyone who might like to come to this wonderful event. [Post Your Comments]

September 11

From: Dark Horse Comics
Oregon-based Dark Horse Comics announced plans to publish an all-new line of comic books based on the incredible adventures of the legendary rock band KISS. The first four KISS projects -- The Demon, Starchild, Space, and Cat Man -- will begin publication in late spring, 2002. "KISS has always been about defying the odds...KISS has always been guilty as charged of making a complete spectacle of itself...you're damn right we do!," said KISS frontman Gene Simmons, "I can't think of a better place to have a partner in crime than Mike Richardson and Dark Horse. Open wide, here comes a big one..." This cooperative partnership ensures that Simmons will maintain an active role in the making of these books, overseeing the creative direction and working with Dark Horse to select the best writers and artists for each project. "KISS has a long history in comics," said Mike Richardson, Dark Horse's founder and publisher. "Gene has built an entertainment phenomenon that commands attention and creates excitement wherever he takes it. We intend to continue that tradition by bringing to life KISS stories that every true fan will appreciate." [Post Your Comments]

From: George V DeCampo
The first annual Baltimore KISS Expo is now just 1 month away. So here's an update on whats going on. The specail guest is Bruce Kulick and The Demon will be on hand to sign autographs and do there Q&A. Also Tod Howarth from Frehleys Comet will be at the Expo to perform some of the comets classic songs. There will also be performances by Ralph Carle The Prophecy and Mr Speed a great kiss tribute band from cleveland. The Baltimore expo will be held at the Columbia Hilton hotel Columbia md right outside of Baltimore on october 14th. Tickets are $10.00 in advance and $12.00 at the door. We also have sold out of vendor tables which means there will be tons of great KISS memorabila on hand to buy or trade. And we will also have the 1st annual Baltimore KISS Expo shirts for sale. So make plans to attend now as tickets are limited. For more info check out the baltimore expo web page [Post Your Comments]

September 10

From: Kathy Labonte
Summer is over and so are the KAOL promotional sales for 2001. We've had a great year so far with the release of KAOL 3 "The Spirit of '78". Since it debuted in March, we've sold out of the first pressing and are midway thru the second batch. All summer long we've run specials on "Creatures of The Net" and "The Spirit of '78" and I'm proud to announce that as we head into the fall, we've cleared another $3,000 for donation to the Massachusetts Alzheimer's Association! This brings our Alzheimer's total to $10,000 in just 1 year plus the $5,000 we raised for The Children's Hospital with previous KISS Tribute CDs over the years - a grand total of $15,000 since KAOL began. The KISS Army will once again be engraved upon The Spirit of Remembrance Wall in Cambridge, Mass next spring for the 2001 plaque ceremony. We will be attending as we did earlier this year (pictures and story on website). Thank you all so much for your contribution and all the great feedback and reviews you've left behind about the unique KISS tribute CDs we call KAOL. If you haven't yet purchased one of the infamous KAOL Tribute CDs I urge you to give it a shot now. Stock is continuing to dwindle and we're really not sure what items will be repressed as we sell out. The best recommendation for first timers is to purchase "The Spirit of '78" which is a double CD set celebrating the 1978 KISS solo albums. The musical remakes are fantastic and part of the package includes a video disc packed with music videos and behind the scenes footage of the KAOL artists and rare KISS memorabilia. UPCOMING PROJECT - Well, believe it or not we do have another project in the creative stages right now and it's huge. No, it's not "KAOL 4" and it's not a standard tribute CD. It will be another joint effort with author Dale Sherman in what will be an explosive release with material years in the making. It will involve THREE books, never before released interviews with former members inside and close to the band, and of course a whole lot of KAOL music on CD. Stay tuned... As a footnote to the above announcement, we have less than 60 copies of Dale's orignal "A World WIthout Heroes" left in print. These WILL NOT be reprinted once they are gone. The book comes with a KAOL Soundtrack disc in the back sleeve - 25 KISS songs remade for the story soundtrack by musicians all over the world. Every book is hand numbered and comes with a collector's pen and bookmark set. With the upcoming release of a new Dale Sherman/KAOL project next year these will most certainly be sought after so grab one of the last copies now. Visit www.kissarmyonline.com [Post Your Comments]

September 6

From: Bruce Kulick / KULICK.net
Bruce Kulick is going to perform the American Anthem at the start of the Montreal / Philly evening game on Saturday, September the 8th . [Post Your Comments]

From: Bruce Kulick / KULICK.net
There are now two confirmed UNION dates in the U.S. that will serve as warm up shows for UNION's big show in Argentina. The dates are Thursday, October 11th at Paladino's in Canoga Park, CA and Friday, October 12th at The Shack in Fullerton, CA. More information forthcoming. [Post Your Comments]

September 5

From: Ezuma.com
Sep 04, 2001; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Musicians Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons from 'KISS' with model Shannon Tweed at the premiere of 'Rock Star.' Click below for more photos of Gene & Paul at the premiere.
[Photo 1] [Photo 2] [Photo 3] [Photo 4] [Photo 5] [Photo 6]
[Post Your Comments]

September 4

From: Joe / KISS Hell Fanzine
Gene filled out this Q&A on August 24th for the next KISS HELL issue.
KISS HELL: What projects are you currently involved in?
GENE SIMMONS: Gene Simmons Tongue Magazine. Superman Meets KISS - DC. KISS Comics - Dark Horse. And Hundreds More!
KH: Can you tell us a little about the upcoming KISS box set?
GS: 100 Toons. Amazing Package!
KH: What can fans expect from your autobiography?
GS: The Truth, the Whole Truth And Nothing But The Truth. So Help Me God.
KH: Are there still plans to release ALIVE IV at some point?
GS: Yep.
KH: What music are you listening to lately?
GS: Not much - Just New Demos.
Message to KISS HELL-"All The Best GENE $IMMONS" [Post Your Comments]