Tim McPhate | KissFAQ

KissFAQ  has launched Back In The Solo Album Groove: The KISS Albums. 35 Years Later…, an ambitious multi-week retrospective dedicated to arguably the biggest milestone in KISStory: the 1978 KISS solo albums. Today, the site has published an interview with renowned R&B/jazz guitarist John Tropea, who added his six-string talents to select tracks on Peter Criss’ 1978 solo album.

The following are excerpts from Tropea’s interview with KissFAQ’s Tim McPhate:

On the direction of the material

KF: Peter’s solo album draws heavily upon R&B and traditional rock and roll flavors. And of course, KISS are very much straight-ahead hard rock. Do you recall that the material on this project reflecting a different direction than KISS’ typical musical blueprint?

JT: Oh, I absolutely was aware of that. I mean, playing acoustic guitar on Peter Criss’ record definitely takes it out of a hard rock kind of thing. It was definitely understood that it was not the same thing as a KISS record. It was his solo album. Today, we would call it a vanity project. But not a vanity project that’s vanity like, but for somebody who’s a star.

Recollections of the tracking process

KF: You’ve mentioned some of the other musicians on the tracks you played on were drummer Allan Schwartzberg and bassist Neil Jason. At these session, I believe there was also guitarist Elliott Randall, and pianist Richard T. Bear. Do you recall tracking with the band live? Or were your parts an overdub situation?

JT: As I remember, I think it was Elliott and myself together with the rhythm section. There may have been a day when we went in and either fixed guitars or did some acoustics on top of what we did. I’m sure there was a day like that because we usually did the rhythm section first with the percussion and then we would sweeten it with any additional guitar solos, doubling and whatever.

His impression of the tracks he played on:

KF: John, I sent you the three tracks you played on: “I Can’t Stop The Rain,” “Easy Thing” and “Rock Me Baby.” In listening back to these tracks 35 years later, what’s your take?

JT: My first impression is their really good. I think going into digital recording today, they really had a nice production. Everything was good. I was proud to be on it.

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Tim McPhate | KissFAQ

KissFAQ  has launched Back In The Solo Album Groove: The KISS Albums. 35 Years Later…, an ambitious multi-week retrospective dedicated to arguably the biggest milestone in KISStory: the 1978 KISS solo albums. Today, the site has published an interview with Carol Kaye, who worked as the band’s publicist at the Press Office, a subsidiary of Aucoin Management.

The following are excerpts from Kaye’s interview with KissFAQ’s Tim McPhate:

On the scope of the solo album project:

KF: In the context of the 1978 record industry, just how big of an event was the KISS solo albums?

CK: It was huge. It was huge. The buzz, the momentum and the excitement leading up to the releases and then the actual releases. And of course, people were like, “Is Gene selling more than Paul? Is Peter pissed off? What about Ace?” It was really crazy. But that wasn’t coming from the band; they were happy for each other. It wasn’t an internal “let’s see who sells more” [competition]. It wasn’t that way at all. But it was an amazing thing.. They were on top of the world and being part of it, we were just thrown into this with them. From the minute we got into the office in the morning, the phones were ringing off the hook. We did crazy, crazy things. We did fun things. I remember doing events like the one where there was a painted Volkswagen on display at Sotheby’s with all of the KISS faces on it and we had a big press event about that and [wrote] press releases about it. It was so creative and that’s how I still think of my business. I try to be an extremely creative publicist, which I learned from the greatest band in the world.

KF: The press kits for the solo albums have been described as comparable to those put together by major Hollywood studios to promote movies. Just how atypical were they for a music release at the time?

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G Barton | Classic Rock Magazine

The film promises to offer the most in-depth look yet at the band who formed in New York in the early 70s as Wicked Lester and went on to sell over 75 million albums.

Kiss singer/rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley says: “We are thrilled to have Alan on board to help tell the definitive KIss story. Alan’s knowledge of the band amazed even us.”

Band manager Doc McGhee added: “It’s an epic undertaking and everyone’s committed 100 per cent to bring this story to the big screen. We knew Alan was the only man for the job and we can’t wait to get started.”

Parker is currently in New York where work on the movie has just started. He comments: “I’m incredibly proud to be on board for this film, telling the story of a band I love so much and that has such a rich history.”

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Steve Bartlett | The Telegram

Keith Gosse

It wouldn’t surprise me if St. John’s city council had an emergency vote on roof repairs for Mile One because KISS blew the lid off the place Sunday night.

I joke, of course, but if there ever was a show to wreck the rafters and release the rivets, it was this one.

There were explosions. Lots and lots of explosions.

And lots and lots of pyro.

And a whole lot of other things that made it a one-of-a-kind, over-the-top rock spectacle.

The band landed on stage playing on a monstrous mechanical spider that did all sorts things throughout the show.

They kicked it off with the song “Psycho Circus” and proceeded to rock ‘n’ roll all nite, delivering a set that mixed most of their popular stuff with a few new ones.

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Matthew Wilkening | Ultimate Classic Rock

Yes, it’s Kiss lead guitarist Tommy Thayer, in a photo taken from the 1976 yearbook of Sunset High School in Beaverton, Oregon. Thayer has been a member of the famous facepaint-wearing group for over 10 years now. He fulfilled the same role — sometimes with only slightly less makeup — in the band Black ‘n Blue for much of the ’80s.

Thayer rose literally from the ground level of the Kiss organization to reach his on-stage position. In a 2006 interview, he describes being hired to clean Gene Simmons’ gutters and paint Paul Stanley’s house. However he soon began working with them to assemble the massive ‘Kisstory’ book, produced and edited several of their long-form home videos, and helped original members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss re-learn their parts for the group’s 1996 reunion tour. Six years later, he wound up taking over both Frehley’s job and Spaceman on-stage persona.

Joe Degraffenreid passed away on Wednesday July 31st in Noble Oklahoma. Joe D was born on October 16 1970. Joe was a very talented person who was a very talented musician who was very passionate about his music. Joe has played with many other fellow musicians throughout his life. Joe never met anyone he didn’t like. He was a fun-loving son, boyfriend, brother, and fellow musician as well as a great friend. Joe D. Spent the last 2 1/2 years playing in a band called 10BURN4. Joe’s passion and love was practicing and playing with 10BURN4. Joe was the lead guitar for 10BURN4 and was very talented and a awesome guitar player. Joe played his own unique style of guitar by plugging his guitar into his Marshall Amp and he would entertain many many people and they would stop what they were doing to listen to Joe amaze the crowd with his awesomeness. His guitar solos and his special way of adding uniqueness to his playing was nothing but amazing.

One of Joe’s hobbies was collecting KISS memorabilia. He has loved KISS since he was a child. He was known worldwide for his KISS HELL fanzine. Joe was a guitar player in the band called “Faux Kiss”. He was “Ace Frehley” and absolutely loved playing KISS songs as “Ace Frehley”. Joe was always amazing to watch play his guitar. He knew anything and everything about music.

Aside from his music his other love is his girlfriend of 3 years Jessica. Those two loved each other so much and Jessica loved going and watching Joe play his band gigs. Joe’s fellow band member of 10BURN4, Shawn, was Joe’s best friend as well as fellow musician and they loved being on stage together bringing Rock & Roll to the OKC area.

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Tim McPhate | KissFAQ

KissFAQ  has launched Back In The Solo Album Groove: The KISS Albums. 35 Years Later…, an ambitious multi-week retrospective dedicated to arguably the biggest milestone in KISStory: the 1978 KISS solo albums. Today, the site has published an exclusive interview with John Cavazos, a member of the Citrus College Singers who was participated on Gene Simmons’ 1978 solo album.

The following are excerpts from Cavazos’ interview with KissFAQ’s Tim McPhate:

On a nail-biting experience with Cher:

KF: Before we get to Gene’s album, let’s chat about Cher. In his 2001 autobiography, Gene Simmons recounts the story of how the ensemble sang for Cher on her birthday in May 1978. Can you tell us about this experience?

JC: Yeah, actually I was the guy that sang the solo to her. It was her 30th birthday and they obviously were dating at the time. And Gene invited us to come to [his] bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel. And he surprised her. I’m sure she wasn’t too happy about it at first because, you know, she didn’t have any makeup on or anything. But we sang a capella the song “If” by the group Bread. And it happened to be in the pop show that we did. It happened to be my solo with the group backing me up. So he brought her out and after a couple of seconds she warmed up and smiled, and we started singing. And I started walking toward her to sing the solo and, as I would normally do, I would take the lady by the hand. And so I took her [hand] and when I did she grabbed me and I was really nervous. You know, hello it’s Cher! And she took her hand and put it on my heart and I’m sure it was bumping a mile a minute. And as I was singing, “And one by one, the stars will all go out,” she looked at me and she goes, “Oh, you’re nervous. How sweet.” And I about pooped my pants because I thought, “Oh my gosh.” (laughs) She was actually very, very sweet about it and she knew we were just kids and we were in awe of who she was. And of course, KISS was very popular at the time and nobody had ever seen them without their makeup. It was really a super cool moment for all of us.

Recollections of the ensemble’s work at Cherokee Studios on Simmons’ album:

KF: John, what do you remember about heading out to Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles for Gene’s album?

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Joe Polo

Tim McPhate | KissFAQ

This week, KissFAQ launched Back In The Solo Album Groove: The KISS Albums. 35 Years Later…, an ambitious multi-week retrospective dedicated to arguably the biggest milestone in KISStory: the 1978 KISS solo albums. In conjunction with the launch, the site has published an interview with former Piper drummer Richie Fontana.

With Piper being managed by Bill Aucoin, Fontana received an invitation to play drums on Paul Stanley’s 1978 solo album. Fontan plays on the first four tracks of the album. The drummer detailed his recolllections of the sessions, plus his thoughts on the entire album and Bill Aucoin, amongother topics.

The following are excerpts from Fontana’s interview with KissFAQ’s Tim McPhate:

On learning the material and getting takes of the songs:

KF: Did Paul play you any of the material? How did you first hear the songs?

RF: Actually, I first heard the songs — I think the other guys too, Bob Kulick and Steve Buslowe, probably also — when I walked into the studio to record them. I walked in, Paul was there [with] Bob Kulick [and] Steve Buslowe. We just sat around and Paul played the songs solo on guitar, just so we could hear them from top to bottom. And then we all plugged in, got on our instruments and we started to create the parts. And we just started running through some ideas of what to play where and all that. Everything was pretty much done on the spot. Once we had it together, we had a structure and an arrangement going for the basic track, they started rolling tape and we just started doing takes. And it was like bang! Just like that.

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Mike Fowler

You wanted the best. You got the best … KISS!

Like many KISS fans, waiting for the next tour or even show to come close to your home town is a big deal: a big event!

I’ve been fortunate enough over the years to have met the band, hung out with Doc, Tommy and Eric after a concert in 2009, ( http://kissasylum.com/Archives/News/2009/07/20090725-01Meet.shtml ),and even had my photo of Gene Simmons displayed on his desk on GS Family Jewels, (http://kissasylum.com/Archives/News/2011/10/20111019-01Gift.shtml ). This time it was my 15th time seeing them in concert  and it happened during the KISS 40th Anniversary- Monster Tour.

Once again, my seat was front stage, Gene’s side and I had a great time! I have to admit, I was hoping for new material and varied set list, but what songs would they take out and annoy the masses? All in all, a great night and I wanted to share a few of my photos with you.

Cheers

Mike S. Fowler

KISSmuseum.com

An original printing, near mint, 1977 poster signed by Ace Frehley is up for auction this weekend on eBay. Making this all the more special, this poster is number 1 in a series of 25 signed at a private signing session Ace did with the KISS Museum, (not one of those Horror Convention lines), and the signature is as neat and clear as they come.

Go to eBay.com to view the auction and to read all other details about this piece. Auction ends Sunday.

CLICK HERE for eBay auction ending Sunday.

Stephen Cooke | Entertainment Reporter

ADRIEN VECZAN

You wanted the greatest contrast between Halifax Metro Centre concerts in one week, you got the greatest contrast.

It’s hard to imagine many fans of Tegan and Sara’s emotional and vulnerable indie-electro pop from Tuesday night also being in attendance for Thursday night’s uncorking of some vintage overproof testosterone, courtesy of Kiss.

OK, maybe some of the parents from Tuesday were present to cut loose and shout it out loud; and there was more makeup per capita on Thursday night as nearly every row in the house had at least one Kissciple with batwings or cat whiskers painted on their faces.

After the obligatory ads for the Kiss Kruise and Hotter Than Hell Las Vegas Wedding Chapel on the giant video screens came the words everyone was waiting to hear: “YOU WANTED THE BEST, YOU GOT THE BEST. … THE HOTTEST ROCK ’N’ ROLL BAND IN THE WORLD …”

As the curtain dropped, a skin-warming blast of pyrotechnics provided the exclamation point, and over 8,000 fans were on their feet with their fists in the air. Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Tommy Thayer descended from the ceiling atop the metal framework of the Monster Tour’s much-vaunted Spider Stage, while Eric Singer pounded out the beat to Psycho Circus.

Good choice, since there was more clown-white in the crowd than onstage, and these larger than life, hotter than hell rock figures went into action, with bat-man Simmons spreading his costume’s leathery wings, spaceman Thayer weaving dreamily in his platform moon boots and Stanley as the star-faced ringleader.

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Tim McPhate | KissFAQ

This week, KissFAQ launched Back In The Solo Album Groove: The KISS Albums. 35 Years Later…, an ambitious multi-week retrospective dedicated to arguably the biggest milestone in KISStory: the 1978 KISS solo albums. In conjunction with the launch, the site has published an interview with former Starz guitarist Brendan Harkin.

With Starz being managed by Bill Aucoin, Harkin received an invitation through Sean Delaney to play on Peter Criss’ album. The following are excerpts from Harkin’s interview with KissFAQ’s Tim McPhate:

On his recollection of the invitation to play on Criss’ album:

KF: Do you recall how you were offered the opportunity to play on Peter Criss’ solo album?

BH: This is interesting. Because I don’t know if I’ve even listened to that record. This record was just one of many records I did at the time. You [mentioned] Vini Poncia [co-]produced it, and maybe he did, but my involvement was through Sean Delaney. And I just assumed that Sean was producing it. Maybe he just produced several tunes on it or maybe he was working with Vini, I don’t know. But it was through Sean and he knew I could do the session [guitar] thing and put in what was needed on stuff. I actually played on a bunch of stuff on that record. I got credited with one song and Sean said, “Well, Peter wants stars, not Starz the band, but actual stars to play on the record. He doesn’t want people who are not huge stars.” And he said, “I can only credit you [with] one small credit on the record.” But I went into Electric Lady with Sean numerous times to fill in lots of little parts, just kind of polishing stuff off. And to tell you the truth, I couldn’t tell you what I played on and what I didn’t. I can’t even tell you what I got credited to play on.

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Tim McPhate | KissFAQ

This week, KissFAQ launched Back In The Solo Album Groove: The KISS Albums. 35 Years Later…, an ambitious multi-week retrospective dedicated to arguably the biggest milestone in KISStory: the 1978 KISS solo albums. In conjunction with the launch, the site has published an exclusive interview with founder of the Citrus College Singers Ben D. Bollinger.

As director of the Citrus Singers, Bollinger played a key role as the liaison between Gene Simmons and his ensemble of 30 students. The ensemble provided lush background vocals on three songs on Simmons’ 1978 solo album: “True Confessions,” “Always Near You/Nowhere To Hide” and “When You Wish Upon A Star.” The students’ participation added a key element to the LP, which spanned a variety of material — from straight-ahead rockers and Beatlesque ballads to experimental songs and a cover of a Disney classic.

The following are excerpts from Bollinger’s interview with KissFAQ’s Tim McPhate:

On the invitation to participate on the album:

KF: And moving ahead one decade later to 1978 and the natural question: How did you come to receive an invitation to participate on Gene Simmons’ solo album?

BDB: Well, it’s really interesting how this happened. I was doing a lot of television work and a lot of studio work and I had a dear friend in Cher. Gene ended up living with Cher for a period of time. And he asked me if I would bring my singers in 1978 to celebrate her birthday at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunset Boulevard. And I told him, “Sure, I’d be happy to.” And she loved a song called “If.” And I had a brilliant young singer by the name of John Cavazos, and the group was excellent at the time. And we went out and sang for

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Stephen Cooke | The Chronicle Herald

Ted Pritchard

In my days as a young private in the Kiss Army, my favourite commanding officer had to be Ace Frehley, the mysterious Space Ace guitarist of the greasepaint-covered rock act.

For one thing, there was this childhood obsession with astronauts. For another, his image was less likely to cause nightmares compared to demonic, blood-spitting bandmate Gene Simmons. (Cut me some slack, I was nine when Destroyer came out.)

Plus there were some great songs credited to the silver lame-clad rock alien, like Shock Me, Rocket Ride and, the only hit from those ill-fated 1978 Kiss solo albums, New York Groove.

Cut to 30 years after Frehley’s initial departure from the band and Kiss remains a worldwide phenomenon.

Taking its theme park approach to rock ’n’ roll around the globe and bringing its new high-tech Spider stage to the Halifax Metro Centre on Thursday night, Simmons and the band’s Starchild, singer-guitarist Paul Stanley, remain the only constants since they first put on the makeup four decades ago.

There’s still a Spaceman in the band, though, with guitarist Tommy Thayer wearing the shiny moonboots since becoming a full-time member in 2002.

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Free Britney | The Hollywood Gossip

Gene Simmons has rekindled his feud with Michael Jackson fans, refusing to dial down his previously-expressed belief that MJ was a child molester.

A fan group supporting Wade Robson – the dancer-choreographer who recently accused Jackson of child sex abuse – reached out to the KISS rocker.

Their Twitter exchange drew the wrath of Jackson fans, but Simmons, who was booted from an MJ tribute concert in 2011, would not back off.

The glam rocker retorted, “In 80s, i went out w/Diana Ross, we visited Michael Jackson. You don’t know me. Don’t make up things about me.”

Simmons then continued, “FACT, He paid a family $22 million to settle one case. FACT, He paid $3.5 mil to another family. I stand by my words.”

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Something else!

Gene Simmons speaks emotionally about the passing of Eric Carr, and Kiss’ last-ditch effort to include him in a video — an appearance that would ultimately be the cancer-stricken drummer’s last.

Carr followed founding member Peter Criss behind the kit, performing with Kiss from 1980 through his death in 1991 after a battle with heart cancer. Carr was just 41.

His final months coincided with Kiss being asked to contribute a song for the film “Bill and Red’s Bogus Journey,” a reworking of a 1973 song by Argent that the group dubbed “God Gave Rock ‘n’ Roll to You II.”

“We decided to do it, recorded it with Bob Ezrin, and Eric kept pleading to come in and record,” Simmons says at Fandomfest in Louisville, Kentucky. “The doctors said: ‘Absolutely not. I don’t care what you do, he has to stay in the hospital — whether he’s got a chance to live or not. You have to stay here under observation. The cancer could come back fast.’ So, he’s getting chemo, and staying in the hospital.”

With Carr incapacitated, Eric Singer (Kiss’ drummer to this day) sat in on the soundtrack single, which was to be issued by Interscope. Carr, meanwhile, made a final plea — this time to participate in the music video to accompany the track.

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Tim McPhate | KissFAQ

This week, KissFAQ launched Back In The Solo Album Groove: The KISS Albums. 35 Years Later…, an ambitious multi-week retrospective dedicated to arguably the biggest milestone in KISStory: the 1978 KISS solo albums. In conjunction with the first week launch, the site has published an interview with former Aucoin Management Director of Production Stephanie Tudor.

The following are excerpts from Byrd’s interview with KissFAQ’s Tim McPhate

On Bill Aucoin:

KF: When you were first hired, what were your general impressions of Bill Aucoin?

ST: Oh, he was a genius. He was a fireball, full of energy, full of creative ideas, and he loved what he did. He was a great businessman, a master at merchandising and marketing. And he was really just a joy to be around. He wore many, many hats. He was always considered, at the time, the fifth member of KISS. And he truly loved his artists and just did a fabulous job. I’ve never seen a manager quite like him, then or since then.  And he was my mentor. I was a young girl; I had worked at Columbia Records prior to working for Aucoin. I had never worked on a show or touring — I learned everything I know now basically from the 10 years I spent working under that man.

On Whether The Solo Albums Are A Success Or Not:

KF: In terms of results, Stephanie, do you quantify the KISS solo albums as a success?

ST: Oh, absolutely. I think the project was received very well. I think there was such a buzz about it, and everyone was so excited. And I don’t think there was ever a moment when anyone thought, “Oh, this could really not work.” I think everybody was extremely positive about it. The group was psyched about it. You know, as a project moves along, of course the manager hears bits and pieces of it and Bill was always super positive about what the outcome was going to be. And he was right. And I don’t think it ever took away any of the mystery of the group at all. It stayed intact. KISS went on after the solo albums as a unit and it was just a creative outlet. I mean, there was a huge buzz back then.

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Chris Czynszak | Decibel Geek

Original KISS road crew member, Peter “Moose” Oreckinto returns to the Decibel Geek podcast for a 2^nd week to continue discussing the early days of the band and the struggles they encountered.

In this long-form discussion, Oreckinto discusses pivotal early concerts for the band including the Fillmore East showcase for record executives in January of 1974, television tapings for ABC’s In Concert and the Mike Douglas Show, and a strange concert at an Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska in front of some very surprised soldiers.

This in-depth discussion also has Oreckinto recounting his return to the band after injury rehabilitation in a management role on the Destroyer tour and how playing baseball stadiums differed from the early club days.

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