Joe Perry Kind Of Agrees With Gene Simmons That Rock Is Dead

1037 The Loon
Duane Prokop / Theo Wango

Duane Prokop / Theo Wango

Gene Simmons‘ recent declaration that rock music is dead was met with considerable backlash. But in a new interview, Joe Perry thinks the Kiss bassist has a point, although he added a bit of nuance to Simmons’ words rather than sound rock’s death knell.

“I think he’s right in the sense that this whole era of rock & roll has dwindled down to literally a cottage industry,” he told BAM Magazine. “When we started, being in a rock band was one step away from being an outlaw. No one ever said, ‘Oh good, you’re playing in a rock band, how wonderful!’ But music was so important to the fans, that was our marching music to the revolution.”

Last month, Simmons said that, for several reasons, it has become increasingly difficult for up-and-coming rock acts to make a living, and therefore rock “was murdered.” Perry, who has often spoken about the problems in getting Aerosmith‘s newest music heard by the general public, concurred, adding, “I think that that era of rock bands playing to sold-out arenas and selling millions of records in a pop — yeah, that part of it is dead.”

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Strange Ways podcast, episode 38 – KISS Guitarists

Terry X

285>_10018677Jody Havenot and D-Rock are joined by Jeff Gray and Jeff Scott from Watchin’ You to discuss the KISS Guitarists..we actually recorded this one a few months ago, but due to life, got pushed back until now. We hope you enjoy, KISS ARMY!! And stay tuned, we have new episodes comin’ your way soon!

All KISS Halloween Costumes shipped in one business day!

KISSmuseum.com

banner halloween Free Ship 4

The KISS Halloween store is open! We ship all orders out within one business day and have 2-Day and Overnight shipping options available as well. We absolutely guarantee delivery for Halloween or the KISS Kruise.

Be aware, the KISS Halloween costumes have been discontinued. The items on sale are over stock and plentiful. The items that are not on sale will be sold out soon. Regardless, there will be no more produced in the future!

KISS Halloween Costumes on sale at KISSmuseum.com

 

Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp coming to Calgary

Calgary Herald

Gene SimmonsCALGARY – The legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp is coming to Calgary and will feature rock legend Gene Simmons of KISS fame, the Herald has learned.

The camp, which has been making dreams come true in the United States for the past 18 years, will hold its first foray into Canada January 8-11, 2015 in Calgary.

Simmons, a singer-songwriter, businessman, arena football co-owner of the LA KISS and media icon, headlines the launch of the business venture north of the border.

“Mentoring adult and young rockers at the fantasy camp has always been an amazingly rewarding experience for me,” said Simmons in a statement. “I enjoy teaching and handing over lessons I’ve learned from the business to musicians and upcoming talent.”

Over four days, attendees will get to fulfill their dreams by jamming with their idols who will help them perfect their instrument skills, vocals and stage presence. The campers, with guidance from the counsellors, will write, record and rehearse an original song at Heritage Hall at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and perform before a live audience at the downtown Calgary Fairmont Palliser Hotel.

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Talking Metal, episode 494 – Eddie Trunk talks KISS and more

Talking Metal

mr11-300x224On episode 494 of the Talking Metal podcast Mark Strigl interviews Eddie Trunk.  Topics discussed include Eddie’s radio shows, VH1 Classic, That Metal Show, the strange Paul Stanley “That Metal Show” tweet,  Vinnie Vincent, Wendy Dio, Jimmy Page, Riche Scarlet and Ace Frehley.

Check out Eddie Trunk’s website and on Twiiter.

Support Talking Metal!!!!  Buy a TM t-shirt in the Merch section, use the Paypal tab to make a donation, OR use this link to make a purchase on Amazon.Listen to a non-music version of the episode on Spreaker below.  The interview with Mike Lepond starts at 14 mins into the no music Spreaker version of the episode:

Gene Simmons Meets A Huge Kiss Fan – WCCO’s Chris Shaffer!

Chris Shaffer | CBS

 

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Kiss’s Gene Simmons and his daughter, Sophie Tweed-Simmons, are big supporters of a local nonprofit that provides restorative aid to those in need.
Matter is an organization based in St. Louis Park, and they’re throwing a sold-out fundraising gala Friday night.
Even if you can’t go, Matter is accepting donations online. Most of that money will go to help kids who are going hungry here in Minnesota. Click here to learn more.
And you may not know this about our Chief Meteorologist Chris Shaffer, but he’s a huge KISS fan.
So even though he had the day off, Chris jumped at the chance to interview Gene.
Watch the video above to see Chris get a little music lesson from a rock legend!

Peter Criss: Breast cancer ‘scared the pants off me’

Diana Falzone | Fox News

 

As the drummer and a founding member of the band Kiss, Criss, 68, has is a place in music history, and was inducted with his bandmates into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

What you may not know about Criss, however, is that he is a breast cancer survivor. He joined us in the FOX411 studio to talk about his work as artist ambassador for Hard Rock’s Pinktober Campaign for breast cancer awareness.

FOX411: You had breast cancer. What was it like getting the diagnosis?

Peter Criss: As a man, I thought I must have pulled a muscle, and being in spandex and lipstick and high heels most of my life, I’m pretty used to my body. I just felt like something was wrong and I told her (Criss’ wife) so she mentioned it to the doctor. The doctor said if you were my husband I would send you over to New York Presbyterian to see Dr. Switzel.

But that’s a cancer hospital for women. She goes, “Yeah but I think you should go there.” It blew my mind walking into a huge room like this nothing but women, no men, except for their husbands with them. It felt really uncomfortable for me, and it actually scared the pants off of me.

FOX411: Was your induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame bittersweet?

Criss: No. As in any band, it’s like a marriage, you know. There’s good and there’s bad. There’s the great times and the bad times. I wrote a book about it and it still says everything I still stand by. Everyone loves great endings and too bad, it wasn’t a great fairy tale ending. I think money, power, fame changes people a lot. When I was a younger guy, you would have hated me. My head was bigger than my body. I thought I was the greatest thing on the planet.

FOX411: What’s the difference between being a rock star versus a musician?

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Peter Criss Says He’s “Really Proud” to Be an Artist Ambassador for Hard Rock Pinktober Campaign

Smooth Jazz 1059

2135_1362517463Founding KISS drummer Peter Criss is best known for his years keeping the beat for the recently inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band, but he’s also making a name for himself as a spokesman for breast cancer awareness.  While the disease affects far fewer men than women, the 68-year-old rock legend was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008.  Thankfully, he’s been cancer-free going on seven years.

Criss now has been chosen as one of Hard Rock International’s Artist Ambassadors for the 2014 edition of its Pinktober campaign held in conjunction with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Peter is helping to spread the word that men also can be stricken with the disease.

At a recent New York City launch party for the initiative, the drummer told ABC News Radio that he appreciates the chance to team with the Hard Rock organization to help get the message out there.

“I’m really proud that the Hard Rock is getting involved with this with me, because for a while there, you kind of feel like you’re alone,” he explained.  “You know, you’re out there and you’re trying to get the word spread that ‘guys can get it, guys can get it.’  I feel like I’m with the big guys now.”

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Photos: Peter Criss of rock band KISS appears on Staten Island to raise awareness for male breast cancer

Michael Sedon | Staten Island Advance

-43bdff707a6979d3STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — KISS’s Peter Criss is a rock ‘n’ roll legend — a man’s man teens idolize and men want to be.

But for a year, he kept a secret because he didn’t know how fans would view him.

Criss is a breast cancer survivor.

“It was embarrassing to talk about, because it’s not a man thing,” Criss told more than 100 students and faculty members gathered in St. John’s University’s Kelleher Center on Thursday for an event to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

After discovering a painful lump while working out six years ago, he visited his doctor, who initially told him it was nothing to worry about before diagnosing him.

“I was freaked out,” Criss said. “Immediately, I went ‘What? Men don’t get breast cancer.'”

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Alive! ’75 – Bringing the KISS Alive! Album to Life!

Anthony De Lucia, Jr | Alive75.com

Alive75-LogoHey there KISS Fans, listen up – This is not just another KISS tribute band…

Alive! ’75 is a live concert concept performance that brings the KISS Alive! album to life within a period-specific 1975 atmosphere. So much more than just guys dressed as KISS playing KISS songs, the overall experience is completely immersive and is designed to take you back to 1975, to see, hear and FEEL what a 1975-era KISS performance was really like.

DemonThink about it – back in 1975, and following almost two years of non-stop touring across the US and Canada, KISS was determined to hit it big. They criss-crossed the country incessantly, playing anywhere and everywhere they were welcome.  And with virtually no radio support to speak of, KISS was finally about to “make it”.  Their double live album Alive!, released on September 10, 1975, proved to be their break-out album.  And now with Alive! ’75 – A Tribute to KISS, you can experience the magic and excitement of this period in rock ‘n roll KISS-tory…

It all starts with the “pre-show” experience.  As you enter the Alive! ’75 theater, you are completely surrounded by elements of 1975.  Blockbuster movie posters and other large-print advertisements and photographs catch your eye.  Classic TV sitcoms, movie trailers and iconic commercials tickle your senses.  The audio-visual displays, wall art, and an overhead soundtrack of “Time Warp – 1975 with Bill St. James” combine to provide a rich sensory sampling of this by-gone era.  And as if that wasn’t enough, character actors provide an additional element of surprise and entertainment to complete the 1975 experience.

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Ace Frehley Announces 2014 Tour Dates

Michael Gallucci | Ultimate Classic Rock

entertainmentoneNow that Ace Frehley‘s first album in five years, ‘Space Invader,’ is out and getting tons of buzz, it’s time for the Spaceman to hit the road.

Frehley and band will embark on the first leg of their tour in support of the album with a two-week trip through the eastern part of the U.S. The shows start on Nov. 13 in New Jersey and wind down two weeks later, on Nov. 26, in Pennsylvania. You can see the complete itinerary below.

The former Kiss guitarist’s backing band includes Richie Scarlet, who played rhythm guitar on Frehley’s 1989 album ‘Trouble Walking’ and toured with Frehley during the period, Cult bassist Chris Wyse and drummer Scott Coogan, who’s played with Nikki Sixx’s Brides of Destruction.

A couple weeks before the tour starts, on Oct. 28, a double gatefold 180 gram vinyl version of ‘Space Invader’ will be released. Since the record’s release a month ago, it’s debuted at No. 9 on the album chart, the highest position ever reached by a solo Kiss member. It also marks Frehley’s first Top 10 album since his appearance on Kiss’ 1998 reunion album, ‘Pyscho Circus.’

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Strange Ways podcast, episode 36 – The Middle Kids of KISS

Jody Havenot

285>_9954222Join your STRANGE WAYS bros, and special guest DES SHAW from KISSTORY SCIENCE THEATRE for our discussion on The Middle Kids of KISS!! We had a blast taking with Des, and hope you enjoy it, KISS Army!!! This is also the first episode of our new format change..we’re calling STRANGE WAYS WEDNESDAYS!!! We will release a new episode every 2 weeks, on Wednesdays.

So we hope you enjoy this episode, and we’ll see ya in two weeks for our discussion with KEN KELLY!!!