Joe

Michael Brandvold

Olly Hahn

Michael O’Connor | World Herald

Michael Brandvold

Jody Havenot

Jody Havenot

Jody Havenot

Blabbermouth

“27: The Legend And Mythology Of The 27 Club”, the inaugural release of the new Simmons Books series, is Gene Simmons‘s witty, insightful, and no-B.S. take on the myth, and the actual people, that make up the “27 club” — the groundbreaking musicians, artists, and celebrities who died at the age of 27, frozen in the collective consciousness at the zenith of their creative output.

The summer of 1969 was a momentous one in modern history. It was a season punctuated with change. Apollo 11 landed on the moon, thousands of young fans flocked to rock ‘n’ roll festivals like Woodstock and the controversial Altamont Freeway concert, the Manson Family cult were on a high-profile killing spree, and the first uprisings that would become the Stonewall Riots began. It was an electric summer of violent endings, new beginnings, and social unrest.

It was also the summer that a myth was born–beginning with the tragic, untimely death of THE ROLLING STONES founder Brian Jones. The world soon lost two more huge music stars: Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. Not only did losing these three beacons of music culture seem to signal the end of a musical era, it also felt like a foreboding sign; they had all died at exactly the same age. All three had lost their lives at the pinnacle of their creative output, and all three were exactly 27 years old.

People have speculated that there could be a dastardly lineage, from the poisoning of blues pioneer Robert Johnson in 1938, through these icons of the ’60s, and more recently to rebel chanteuse Amy Winehouse‘s death from alcohol poisoning in 2011. Could it be a twisted fate that the world’s very best creative souls come to early, often violent, deaths at just 27 years old? Over time, this idea began to be known as, “the 27 club,” and it has persisted in the public imagination.

In “27: The Legend & Mythology Of The 27 Club”, rock ‘n’ roll icon Gene Simmons takes a deep dive into the life stories of these legendary figures, without giving credence to the romanticized idea that being in the “club” is somehow a perverse privilege. Simmons wills us to acknowledge the extraordinary lives, not the sensational deaths, of the musicians and artists who left an indelible mark on the world.

Gene told the WRIF 101.1 FM radio station that he didn’t really set out to write a book that would play up the supernatural aspects of the “club” — instead, he wanted to talk about what lies at the root of self-destructive behavior.

“It’s really about when you become rich and famous and everybody admires you, what is that thing that makes people destroy themselves, even to die? What is that?” Simmons said. “The rest of the world adores you and your fans love you and they give you money and fame and all that, and then you kill yourself. I don’t get it.”

Simmons is the co-founder of KISS — America’s #1 gold-record-award-winning group of all time in all categories (RIAA), Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees since 2014, and 45 years strong as one of rock’s most influential bands. With KISS, Simmons has recorded 44 albums and sold over 100 million records worldwide, and the band continues to sell out stadium tours today. Simmons is also a bestselling author, boasting New York Times bestsellers “Me, Inc.”and “On Power” among others, and has founded a number of hugely successful businesses, including the restaurant chain Rock & Brews.

“27: The Legend & Mythology Of The 27 Club” will be released on October 2 via powerHouse Books.

Loudwire

Continue reading →

My Central Jersey

LINDEN — The year was 1971. Students at the Linden school, which then housed grades 7 through 9 and was known as McManus Junior High School, were getting ready for their ninth-grade spring dance and needed a live band.

The instrumental music teacher at the time, Brooke Ostrander, offered up his band, which played original songs and some contemporary rock hits of the time from such bands as the Moody Blues, the Rolling Stones, and Jethro Tull. Ostrander, who had just started his career at McManus in January 1969, played keyboards and flute for the band, known as Wicked Lester.

While those names may sound unfamiliar, the names of two of Ostrander’s bandmates from that night may ring a bell: Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley — founding members of the legendary rock band KISS.

KISS made its debut in 1974 and went on to be one of the biggest rock bands of the ’70s, known for songs such as “Rock and Roll All Nite.” KISS sold out stadiums to fans drawn by its ground-shaking sound, glam-rock costumes, and, of course, one-of-a-kind makeup, which kept the members’ faces hidden from the public for years.

But in 1971, Simmons and Stanley were in a small New York-based band that was known first as Rainbow and then Wicked Lester, playing small gigs at an armory, a college campus and a youth convention.

And at least one in Linden, according to multiple sources, with a keyboard and flute player whose full-time job was as a band teacher at McManus.

News of the McManus show resurfaced this year when Mark Kohut, art teacher at School No. 8 and School No. 9, was reading “KISS: Behind the Mask – Official Authorized Biography” by David Leaf and Ken Sharp, which was published by Grand Central Publishing in 2008. The book talked about the band’s early days, including Ostrander’s contributions to Rainbow and Wicked Lester.

Continue reading →

Matt Porter

KISS ARMY – cool off in THE KISS ROOM! Matt Porter is joined by Bobby Dreher and Alex Richter with guests: * BOBBY ROCK, talking about his new book: “This Boy Is Gonna Rock, a drummer’s journey from Houston to Hollywood in search of hair metal heaven” * CHRIS CZYNSZAK from the Decibel Geek Podcast talking about the Nashville Rock Pod Expo 2 * THE KISS ROOM HOUSE BAND™ (Fran Galanti, Steve Foerst, Jim Zagiel, Bobby Dieckmann, with Diana Zagiel and KISS Kidz Miabella and Beth! and MORE! Originally broadcast live on Friday, JULY 13, 2018 via Montco Radio.

KISSmuseum.com

We have well over 100 different designs of official KISS guitar picks from all eras and all decades of the band! Click below to see the entire collection for sale:

KISS Guitar Picks at KISSmuseum.com

Jody Havenot

Ryan Hagen | OCR

Rocker Gene Simmons has settled a lawsuit brought by a broadcaster who alleged Simmons made unwarranted sexual advances during an on-camera interview at the San Manuel Casino near Highland.

Los Angeles County Superior court documents show that an attorney informed the court Monday, July 2, that the case was settled, but it doesn’t provide details of the settlement. Another hearing is set for Aug. 10 to dismiss the case.

A representative for Kiss band member Simmons couldn’t be reached Monday, July 9. When the suit was filed, Simmons said he “did not assault the person making these accusations in the manner alleged in the complaint or harm her in any way.”

“And I look forward to my day in court where the evidence will prove my innocence,” he added.

The lawsuit, filed Dec. 15, alleges Simmons reached over and grabbed the hand of the radio personality, identified as Jane Doe, and “forcefully placed it on his knee and held it on his knee” during a Nov. 1 celebration of the reopening of a casino restaurant. Rock & Brews, co-founded by Simmons and Kiss bandmate Paul Stanley, had finished months of remodeling at its San Manuel Casino location.

The lawsuit accuses Simmons of turning interview questions into sexual innuendos and grabbing the woman’s hand again and making a cooing sound as he said she “must use lotion” before making another sexual innuendo. He then “forcibly flicked/struck” the woman in her throat and provided an “incoherent explanation” for doing so, the lawsuit alleges.

Continue reading →

Michael Brandvold

Jody Havenot

WIMZ

Vinnie Paul will be buried in a KISS -branded casket, just like his brother “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott was after he was killed in 2004,TMZ reports.

According to the gossip site, the late Pantera co-founder will be buried on Saturday in Arlington, Texas, in the same cemetery where Dimebag and their mom lie. As previously reported, a public memorial for Paul will be held Sunday, July 1 at the Bomb Factory concert venue in Dallas.

Following Paul’s death, KISS’ Paul Stanley tweeted , “So sad to hear of the death of Vinnie Paul. Loved when Pantera did shows with us and in later years Vinnie was always front and center at all KISS shows. RIP and condolences to his family.”

Gene Simmons added , “Rest in peace, Vinnie. Our prayers and good wishes go to his family, friends and fans.”

Paul died last Friday at age 54. An official cause of death has yet to be announced.