Michael Brandvold

Brett Buchanan | Alternative Nation

KISS was starting a tour, and it was their first headlining show in New York, their hometown. They sold out Madison Square Garden, and they asked me at the last minute to be the opening act for the ten-show, East Coast run. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were both fans of Montrose, and they liked my first solo record. I go on stage to open Madison Square Garden, but nobody knew who I was, or even that I was on the bill, because I was added last minute. I didn’t even have any fans yet anyway.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Sammy Hagar!” The place immediately starts fucking booing. I was still green from Montrose, and I didn’t feel like I was anywhere near famous, so I just tried kicking as much ass as I could. During the third song, which was a Donovan-balled cover called Catch The Wind, people started flipping me off and really losing their shit. I was looking out at the crowd, and I stopped the song. I yelled, “You fucking assholes! You didn’t even give me a chance. You started booing me before hearing the music. Fuck you!”

Everybody in the audience was dressed up like KISS. As far as I could see, they had all the makeup on too. Since it was New York, I said, “I see they’ve flown in an audience from Los Angeles for this show.” That really pissed them off, and they started throw- ing cups at me. I pulled down my pants, dropped my drawers, and pulled out my dick. I shook it at the crowd, then smashed my 1961 Stratocaster to pieces, and walked offstage.

Continue reading →

Matt Porter

Jody Havenot

Michael Brandvold

KISSmuseum.com

We have not done a big poster collection sale in awhile, so here’s one with a bit of everything, from the ’70s to the present!

See the KISS Posters HERE at KISSmuseum.com

Metalhead Zone

KISS’ iconic singer and guitarist Paul Stanley had a recent interview with Finnish Kaoos TV and revealed what he thinks about his future music career.

Paul Stanley asked what he thinks his next move will be. Paul said that he believed that there are lots of opportunities for everyone and when the time comes, he will decide what to do.

Here is his statement:

“I believe that more will come along that I don’t even know about yet. That’s what makes life fabulous. It’s like when you read a book or when you watch a TV series — you don’t know what the next episode is; you don’t know what the next chapter is. That’s what my life is like. Twenty years ago, did I think I would paint? No. Twenty-five years ago, did I think I would star in ‘Phantom Of The Opera’? No.”

He continued:

“Ten years ago, did I think I would write a book? No, but opportunities come up, and then you decide whether they’re interesting to you. We all have so many opportunities that we either don’t take a minute to consider or we think we’re too busy, but there are opportunities all around us.”

You can watch the whole interview right below.

KISSmuseum.com

From now until July 21, 2019, all KISS Magazines, Books and Tour Books are 10% off.

See the KISS Sale on Mags, Books and Tourbooks HERE

Metal Head Zone

KISS legend Gene Simmons shared a new tweet and showed his followers the letter that he sent to Stan Lee in 1982.

Here is what Gene wrote:

“Here’s my 1982 letter to Stan Lee, regarding wanting to be cast as THE THING in the Fantastic Four movie.”

Here is Genes’ letter to Stan Lee:

“Dear Stan,

Everybody’s telling me about plans for a “Fantastic Four” movie. To make a long story short. I want to be the “Thing.”

Here are some scenes from “KISS – Attack Of The Phantom” which was a KISS co-production for television, and an Avco Embassy worldwide feature.

Either way, all the best of luck with the movie. I have been a fan since the beginning, and still, am.

Best of luck,
Gene Simmons.”

You can see the tweet below.

Jody Havenot

Michael Brandvold

Matt Porter

Jody Havenot

Michael Brandvold

ES

He may be a rock god, famous for his menacing “Demon” stage persona, an opulent lifestyle and Olympic-level womanising, but even Gene Simmonshas his limits. The Kiss bassist is turning 70 in August and his band’s current tour, which arrives at the O2 on July 11, will be its last.

“It’s time,” he says. “This tour will take three years and I’ll be 72 when it finishes. That’s a good point to get off the stage.

“We’re the hardest-working band in showbusiness, and that’s exhausting,” he adds in his New York tones. “I’m up there every night in 8in platform boots and 40lbs of armour. I did five-mile walks almost every day for a year to get in shape.”

Over the years Kiss have set a high bar for onstage theatrics with their hugely energetic performances, elaborate costumes and fireworks. Simmons believes that the current tour, which began in January in the US, is the best they’ve done.

“I don’t want to say what’s in it — that would be like telling people what their Christmas present is in July. But it shames past shows. We’ve ramped things right up. If you’re running a race and see the finish line, do you speed up or slow down? When I was a kid, bands often disappointed me live. I saw The Byrds and thought, ‘I really like that song, but maybe I could close my eyes and like it even more.’ There was nothing going on onstage. They were just standing in front of their microphones. We’ve always wanted to be the band we never saw perform. To work our asses off and give the fans bang for their buck. Ed Sheeran is terrific and can sell out Wembley with just a guitar. But I don’t want to do that. I have too much energy inside of me. I want to blow up the sky.”

Continue reading →

Pitchfork

Metallica and Kiss are among the 30 highest-grossing touring bands of 2019 so far.

According to live music industry magazine Pollstar, the thrash icons and the shock rock legends have earned $69.7 and $58.1 million worldwide respectively between November 22, 2018 and May 22, 2019.

Also in the Top 10 are symphonic metallers Trans-Siberian Orchestra ($57.3 million), while classic rock linchpins Fleetwood Mac and Bob Seger have raked in $67.7 million and $52.8 million respectively.

Further down the list of the 100 top-grossing world tours of 2019 are Paul McCartney ($40.7 million), Eagles ($24.2 million), Roger Waters ($11.9 million), Disturbed ($11.0 million), Muse ($9.3 million), Aerosmith ($9.2 million), Shinedown ($8.1 million) and Def Leppard ($5.6 million).

The full list of the top 10 highest-earning touring bands of 2019 so far is:

1. Elton John – $82.6 million
2. Pink – $81.8 million
3. Justin Timberlake – $75.5 million
4. Metallica – $69.7 million
5. Fleetwood Mac – $67.7 million
6. Ed Sheeran – $63.6 million
7. Kiss – $58.1 million
8. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – $57.3 million
9. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band – $52.8 million
10. Travis Scott – $51.7 million

Mike Brandvold