Gene Simmons was disappointed with the stage setup in the 2002 Olympics closing ceremony in Salt Lake City.

KISS stole the show with their performance of ‘I Wanna Rock and Roll All Nite.’ They had exploding fireworks and heavy guitars. Simmons later said the following about the show:

“It was probably the smallest stage we’ve ever played on. And right in front of us was ice, ice skaters, and we had to stay on that truck platform and the amplifiers were far off in the stands. I was told that two billion people could watch the Olympics on earth and that’s sort of a big deal.”

In 2018, the bassist spoke with the official website of the Olympics and talked about what he remembered from the performance:

“I remember seeing the champion athletes from different countries, different nationalities, different races and different religions all getting together and not worrying about where somebody was from or what language they spoke. The Greeks started this a long time ago and… what a wonderful idea! The Olympics are one of the bright spots on a very tainted human history. If aliens landed on earth and gave us an overview they would say, ‘You guys did a lot of bad stuff, the Inquisition, the Nazis of World War II, all sorts of things. But you did some cool stuff. The Emancipation Proclamation, Magna Carta, the Olympics…’”

Gene also reflected on the atmosphere in the stadium:

“You can’t help but smile. There are people that are holding hands and putting their arms around each other who, if they went back to their countries or borders that separate them, wouldn’t necessarily do that. And I’m using kind language. Elsewhere, enemies in the Olympics unite over a bigger idea than borders and separation of people.”

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Acclaimed studio/touring drummer / author / clinician, Pat Gesualdo, has recorded the drum tracks on the Metal Hall Of Fame All Stars CD/DVD. The charity project is a release from Deko Entertainment / ada / Warner Music Group, and helps bring free music programs to special needs children in health facilities and community centers. This once in a lifetime collaboration of rockstars is huge news for music fans across the globe.

The Metal Hall of Fame All Star Charity CD features Rudy Sarzo, (Whitesnake), Bruce Kulick (KISS), Bob Daisley (Ozzy Osbourne, Rainbow), Chris Poland (Megadeth), guitarist Tony MacAlpine, and Chris Impellitteri (Impellitteri), It also features a jam from the Annual Metal Hall Of Fame Celebrity Gala that includes Steve Vai (David Lee Roth), Geoff Tate (Formerly Queensryche), guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani, Bjorn Englan (Yngwie Malmsteen/Dio Disciples), Chris Poland (Megadeth), and studio/touring drummer Pat Gesualdo. Additional tracks feature outstanding performances by Mike Tirelli (Holy Mother), Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob), Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater) and Michael Romeo (Symphony X).

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Order now at KISSArmyWarehouse.com!

It’s been more than 23 years since Ace Frehley and Gene Simmons shared a stage as members of KISS. Simmons and Paul Stanley were the iconic rock band’s only constants during its five-decade run. The original lineup’s first run, which included drummer Peter Criss, only lasted seven years, but the four original members remain a sentimental favorite of KISS fans.

The original four reunited in 1996, but on April 13, 2001, Ace played his last show with KISS. As has become commonplace with classic rock bands, the band replaced Frehley and continued for another 22 successful years, culminating in an extended farewell tour that ended on Dec. 2, 2023.

Later this month, in North Tonawanda, Simmons and Frehley will be performing on the same stage 48 hours apart. It may be the closest thing to a reunion the two former bandmates will ever have, and it is definitely a rare occurrence. The pair last shared a stage during an Australian tour in 2018.

The Gene Simmons Band will headline a fundraiser for the West Herr Riviera Theatre’s lobby expansion project on Aug. 19. Frehley arrives two days later, on Aug. 21. While it would be a dream come true for Simmons and Frehley to appear onstage together and rock and roll all night, there is little chance it will happen.

Frehley performs in Washington on Aug. 17 and has a three-day break before the Riv show. Simmons has a six-month break after his Riv performance.

Nevertheless, KISS fans will have a unique opportunity to hear at least a few songs performed by both groups, including “Deuce,” “Shout It Out Loud,” and “Rock and Roll All Nite.” With more bands having full lineups that were not on the original recordings, KISS fans will be treated to different performances of two artists that actually played on the hit songs fans grew up listening to on the radio.

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Friday & Saturday, September 13th & 14th, 2024 ONLY!

Friday, September 13th, 2024
6:00pm to 10:00pm

Saturday, September 14th, 2024
12:30pm to 7:00pm

Meet & Greet with Peter Criss!

Purchase Event Tickets & Peter Criss Pro Photo Op Tickets HERE! 

*No tableside selfies allowed*

Maximum of 5 Items Signed Per Guest/Family

***NOTE: Peter will not sign copies of Nothin’ To Lose,
Sealed With A KISS, or Behind the Mask.

No outside drum heads or drum parts.

Rockologists remake of “Let Me Rock You” and “Out Of Control” will not be signed.
Only the original releases from Casablanca Records will be signed.

Drum heads will be available at the event at Peter’s table with proceeds going to charity.

For any additional questions, please email
axe@famousmonsters.com

Bryan Adams is releasing a special double A-side single featuring two songs – “War Machine” and “Rock And Roll Hell” – through his new independent label, Bad Records. These songs were originally written by Adams, Jim Vallance, and Gene Simmons for KISS’ 1982 album, Creatures Of The Night.

Available for pre-order now as a limited edition double A-side 7” single, available exclusively via Bryan’s webstore (releasing August 30, 2024).

Measures 39 x 54 inches.  Still rolled and sealed!  Awesome vintage poster!  Stock photo. Only 2 Available!

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Every band that’s lasted more than 20 years usually has that one album where they get a second wind. No matter if they were considered yesterday’s news just months before, these records are the ones that remind everyone why acts were so good to begin with, either by going in a different direction or delivering more of the tunes that everyone knows and loves. Kiss never had a problem with straying too far away from the formula, but that dramatic return to the makeup was dead in the water before it had even got started on Psycho Circus.

Because, really, what is Kiss without their makeup? Yes, they technically qualify as musicians, but even the most hardened members of the Kiss army will tell outsiders that they are entertainers first and foremost, and the music is almost secondary to the massive stage show. So how the hell did they manage to pull off a makeup-less version of themselves at all?

It wasn’t an easy decision, but Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons eventually decided to clean off their faces after they lost Peter Criss and Ace Frehley. It had been a long time coming for Criss to leave, but Frehley deciding to quit after Music From the Elder was probably down to the fact that he couldn’t stand the idea of doing another album with hard rock mixed with oboes.

So when the group rebranded after Creatures of the Night, it was time for them to enter the MTV generation. Now, instead of the ‘Demon’ persona that could have killed in music video form, Simmons traded his look for a glamorous look that might as well have been the opposite of his strengths.

They still managed to squeak by for a decade with a new lineup, but when Frehley and Criss joined the group for a few tunes at MTV Unplugged, something felt different. Maybe everyone could let bygones be bygones and make a new record; it was all just a matter of getting everyone on the same page.

Listening to the record Psycho Circus, it initially seems promising. The guitars roar, and Stanley’s delivery of the title track’s chorus would have made a great opening for their tour. However, the rest of the album tells a different story. Aside from ‘Into the Void’, contributed by Frehley, the album feels as though the band members were forced to be in the same room together, lacking genuine cohesion and unity.

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You don’t need a rock star’s bankroll to collect pop music memorabilia. But when Madonna’s stage-worn pointy bras are selling at auction for the price of a new Cadillac, it certainly helps.

From concert posters and handwritten song lyrics to one-of-a-kind treasures owned by famous musicians, we dove deep into the lucrative business of rock collectibles and curated a list of pricey artifacts that even includes mass-market novelties like pinball machines and toy microphones. What you won’t see at this gig are vintage vinyl records and star-owned musical instruments (think Hendrix guitars), which are largely considered their own collecting genres.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, in the words of Jack Black in “School of Rock,” “You just sit back and enjoy the magic of rock!”

17. KISS Wireless Microphone

Value: $3,400

In the late ’70s, competing for toy store shelf space with Star Wars action figures was a KISS-merch juggernaut that spawned everything from school lunchboxes to radio-controlled vans. To date, it’s estimated the band has licensed its name to more than 3,000 different products.

15. KISS Radio-Controlled Van

Value: $5,000

There isn’t much KISS didn’t put its name on, and the band’s memorabilia from the 1970s can be extremely valuable. This remote-controlled van dates back to 1978 and features imagery of the original members.

This toy made by Aucoin has stayed in its packaging since the beginning and has been in storage for most of the past 44 years. It sold for nearly $5,000 on eBay in September 2022.

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Ever wanted to watch Wonder Woman cover a Kiss song?

That’s exactly what happened in 1980 when Lynda Carter, still riding high off the success of her starring role in the Wonder Woman TV show, appeared in Lynda Carter Encore!, her second TV variety special.

During a particularly extravagant “Rock ‘n Roll Fantasy” sequence, Carter performs the Bad Company song of the same name, Tina Turner‘s version of Creedence Clearwater Revival‘s “Proud Mary,” Bette Midler’s “Friends” and perhaps most bizarrely, Kiss’ disco-inspired 1979 smash “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.” The song was one of the biggest hits of the band’s career, hitting No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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