Chris Czynszak | Decibel Geek 

The Decibel Geek podcast has released Part 3 of their Vinnie Vincent Special with Episode 42 featuring former Vinnie Vincent Invasion vocalist Robert Fleischman.

Known for his vocals on the 1986 self-titled Vinnie Vincent Invasion debut album, Fleischman never appeared outside of a few photographs as a member of the band due to stalled contract negotiations and the addition of Mark Slaughter. Slaughter would go on to appear in the video for lead single ‘Boyz are Gonna Rock’ while lip-synching to Fleischman’s studio tracks. This video also resulted in a lawsuit. Fleischman joins Decibel Geek hosts Chris Czynszak and Aaron Camaro for a discussion detailing his time working with Vinnie Vincent;  three different occasions including the Invasion’s debut album.

Also of note in this interview is Fleischman’s recollections of Vinnie Vincent before he became Ace Frehley’s replacement in KISS as they worked on some demos together which later became the first Invasion album.

This conversation details the behind the scenes process and turmoil that went into making 1986’s Vinnie Vincent Invasion album including Fleischman’s claims of unethical behavior by band members and constant tension between band members, managers, and record executives.

Also included in this conversation are Fleischman’s memories of working with the former KISS guitarist after the breakup of the Invasion and his take on what happened to cause a record deal to fall through in 1990 and why he decided to walk away from a working relationship with Vincent.

Continue reading →

Robert Morast | Hampton Roads

Kiss isn’t the greatest rock band ever. And its albums don’t top the myriad lists of the best records of all time. • But when it comes to rock ’n’ roll merchandising, no act has put its mark on more things that have nothing to do with the music.

There have been an army of Kiss dolls and action figures, a showcase of Kiss shot glasses and more reproductions of the members’ iconic painted faces than anyone has ever needed – on items ranging from ski masks to M&Ms.

Part of this is due to the band’s legion of fans – the Kiss Army – who devour the swath of collectibles as if they were life essentials. But the driving force behind the merchandising has been the band itself, or, namely, bassist Gene Simmons, who has shamelessly shilled everything from condoms to caskets decorated with the band’s signature logo.

As Kiss is about to roll into Farm Bureau Live in Virginia Beach this weekend with Mötley Crüe, we look back at 10 of the most outrageous and curious Kiss items we’ve ever seen.

Chances are you’ll see one or more of these Saturday night.

Mr. Potato Head, the Kiss version

If you want to instantly destroy your cool reputation, put your face on a Mr. Potato Head toy. It doesn’t make things better if the faces are in Kiss makeup. It’s still lame. Not much better: Kiss sock monkeys.

Possible rationale for this product Making money is the only conclusion I can reach.

Kiss Kondoms

Announced in the early 2000s, this concept is at once genius and revolting. It’s the kind of quirky product everyone talks about, but the thought of Gene Simmons’ face on contraception is nonetheless disturbing. And don’t even get me started on the Paul Stanley “studded” condoms.

Possible rationale for this product Simmons claims to have slept with thousands of women (read his autobiography, “Kiss and Makeup”) and doesn’t have the STDs to prove it. He wants to ensure the world can say the same.

Kiss Kaskets

The only Kiss merchandise more bombastic than the condoms is this post-life cocoon decorated in Kiss logos, faces and, of course, flames. It’s a merchandising masterpiece that has to be respected, even if it’s freaky as funk. Also, if you’re into cremation, there’s now a Kiss urn.

Possible rationale for this product Kiss can’t buy your soul, so it wants to lay claim to your corpse.

Continue reading →

Antonio Marino

Our friend Antonio sent us a link to an amazing photo gallery of shots he took last week at the Ace solo show in New York City.

Gallery link is HERE.

Iain Blair | Chicago Tribune

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Get out your makeup and dust off those platform boots, KISS is hitting the road again with one of the summer’s biggest concert tours, teaming up with fellow rock band Motley Crue and kicking off “The Tour” on July 20 in Virginia.

The band, with its painted faces and pyrotechnics, was among the biggest acts of the 1970s, coming out of the glam rock era with hits like “Rock and Roll All Nite” as a predecessor of 1980s the heavy metal groups that included Motley Crue. KISS guitarist and singer Paul Stanley recently spoke to Reuters about the tour, the band’s new album “Monster,” and the secret to the group’s longevity.

Q: After all these years, do you still feel pressure when you hit the road?

A: “I do. I’m very excited about it but I also know there’s a lot to live up to. We’re really up against our own reputation and the legend of what KISS is supposed to be, and that grows bigger and bigger. How much of it’s true I don’t know, but we have to live up to that.”

Q: So what can fans expect?

A: “The apocalypse! It’s a lot more than people usually get in one night. It’s being bombarded with rock ‘n’ roll. Motley’s co-headlining, and one thing we didn’t want to do was the kind of sabotage between bands that happens. We always figured, let a band go out and do the greatest show they can, and that’ll only amp us up to do what we do that much better. There’s no ego clashes, and this is another way to give fans more than just a concert – it’s an event.”

Q: What about the new album which you also produced? What can fans expect from that?

A: “‘Monster’ is done. Its heart is beating, and it’s chained down until we release it in October. I was asked if it’s a great Kiss album and I said, forget about Kiss – I truly believe it’s far beyond being a Kiss album. It’s a great album of its genre with all the elements of all the classic bands that I listened to – all the music that inspired me – The Who, the Stones, Humble Pie, (Eric) Clapton, (Jimi) Hendrix, Led Zeppelin. That’s what I grew up with, and it inspired me to create passion, chaos, something sexually aggressive that’d celebrate life. That’s a description of rock ‘n’ roll.”

Q: So many bands implode after they make it big. Do you guys still hang out together off-stage?

A: “Well, Gene Simmons lives five minutes away – I can see his ego from here (laughs). We have a great relationship, and the key is knowing its limitations. If you want a family, go have one, as a band isn’t a family. It may start out like that, but if it evolves into something else you haven’t lost anything. I told this other very famous band, well-known for all their in-fighting, ‘Look, if you make magic on stage, anything else is a bonus. Be thankful for that.'”

Q: You’ve outlasted all sorts of movements in music – punk rock, grunge rock. What’s the secret to the band’s longevity?

Continue reading →

Ultimate Guitar

Kiss have revealed some of the techniques they employed early in their career that helped them become one of the most recognizable rock acts of all time.

One trick involved tricking fans into thinking they were a busy touring band, as Paul Stanley explains:

“We had a rule that we wouldn’t play more than once every eight or 12 weeks because we wanted people to think we were busy. We were literally sitting in our loft starving and rehearsing,” Stanley told the Guardian

“[The makeup] was warpaint … makeup does not give it enough respect,” he said. “I remember seeing the Beatles as a kid and thinking there must have been a Beatle mother cos they all looked like they were connected. There’s no question that our outfits and our boot-heels and our makeup was a unique definition of who we were.”

A notable low point for the band was when they released a disastrous dance album, “The Elder“, which lost them support from critics and fans alike.

“We lost the plot. We forgot why we did this. We forgot why we got into it. And I don’t think we’ve ever forgotten that since,” said Stanley, who says it took years for the band to recover. “People abandoned us in droves, and rightfully so, because we betrayed them and we betrayed ourselves.”

The lesson? Be distinctive, fake it till you make it, and stick to your morals. Even if that happens to include putting your band on every piece of merchandise imaginable.

Market Watch

SANTA MONICA, CA, Jul 16, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — “Destroyer boasts plenty of sound effects, orchestras, and choirs that paved the way for other bands to rip them off for many years to come… easily one of the best albums in the Kiss canon.” – Pitchfork

Ken Kelly

KISS is regarded as one of the most influential rock and roll bands of all-time and holds the honor as one of America’s top gold-record champions. On August 21, 2012, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) will release KISS’s 1976 multi-platinum, landmark album Destroyer: Resurrected, newly remixed from the original master tapes by the album’s original producer, Bob Ezrin. Ezrin pulled the tapes from the vaults and painstakingly remixed the entire album, enhancing the sound and bringing out its rich texture and vibrancy, while keeping the integrity of the original recording intact. Destroyer: Resurrected will also include rare and unreleased recordings rediscovered during the remixing process, plus the originally intended cover artwork.

Hot on the heels of their breakthrough hit album Alive!, KISS released their fourth studio album Destroyer which is considered the most ambitious studio recording of KISS’s ’70s catalog. Bob Ezrin, who had previously worked with Alice Cooper, was brought in to produce the album and among the production flourishes Ezrin introduced to KISS were sound effects, strings, a children’s choir, reversed drumming and the eerie, echoing sounds of screaming children over Gene Simmons’ vocals on “God of Thunder.” Upon its release, Destroyer reached the No. 11 position on the Billboard Top 200 and, with the help of the surprise top-10 hit “Beth,” was their first album to go platinum.

Originally released as the B-side to the single “Detroit Rock City,” “Beth,” — the heart-yearning ballad co-written and performed by drummer Peter Criss — was quickly picked Continue reading →

News Desk | Music Rooms

Photo by Tracy

Bass player Gene is often the most visible member of the ‘Crazy Crazy Nights’ group through his outrageous comments and starring in his own reality show, ‘Gene Simmons FamilyJewels’, but Paul says he has equal input within their group.

When asked if any of the band – which also includes Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer – were jealous of Gene, he exclusively told BANG Showbiz: “Well, he gets attention for reasons that have nothing to do with what I do.  It’s not a slight, but I’m busy living my life, not creating a life for television.

“There is no such thing as reality television, there’s reality and there’s television. I find it interesting though, when, because of those activities, some people have a sense of Gene’s role in the band being far greater than what it actually is.

“There’s a transference because he somehow gets given a certain cache which is a little distorted. But so be it. My life is full and spectacular.”

Paul also admitted he and Gene have had their arguments and fallouts, but they are getting currently getting on better than ever.

Continue reading →

Sofia Ambrosia | Examiner

Musician Gene Simmons debuted the launch of his Simmons Comics Anthology, enthusiastically signing copies of his comic books at Comic-Con International 2012 at San Diego Convention Center on July 13, 2012 in San Diego, California.

The KISS rock star donned in his signature black threads and dark sunglasses, posed with extras dressed up as characters in his comics, Zipper, who comes complete with swimming goggles and chains and Dominatrix, who is attired in a leotard, Mexican wrestling mask, red gloves and red boots!

Continue reading →

Michael Hann | The Guardian

You have to wash your hands before touching Kiss‘s new book. Given that only 1,000 have been printed, one would imagine the copy being shown to journalists in a hotel basement in London will be given a wipedown and sold along with the other 999.

It would be a very Kiss thing to do. On the one hand, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons – long the only two members of Kiss who matter, and around whom drummers and lead guitarists rotate and revolve – want to make a statement about their legacy. On the other, their chosen instrument is an extraordinary collection of photos, almost as large as life – Kiss Monster Book is 3ft high and opens to 5ft wide – that won’t fit on your bookshelf and will cost you $4,299.

Kiss at their peak permeated American popular culture. Even now, after 39 years, they are still loved around the world, and still working – a new album, Monster, follows later this year. And their story is about more than just pyrotechnics, sexual conquests and money-grubbing.

1973: The first year

Reading on mobile? Watch here.

Gene Simmons Paul and I were in a band called Wicked Lester, and we had a recording contract with Epic Records. It was kinda like Three Dog Night or the Doobie Brothers – everything all over the place. Some pop stuff, some heavy stuff, some of this. There was no identity. We were looking the gift horse in the mouth and saying: “This isn’t real. We don’t believe in it.” We quit. We quit our own recording contract to go back and start with songs. And we started to write Strutter and Deuce and Black Diamond. Once we had those core songs, we understood the musical identity.

Paul Stanley [We] were basically following that same formula of: don’t bore us, get to the chorus. We weren’t about 20-minute jams. By the time you get to the second chorus, you can sing the song. You know it. That’s good songwriting. It’s not an exercise in jerking off.

GS [The makeup] was warpaint. Let me give you a sense of our warpaint – makeup does not give it enough respect. We played a place called the Daisy. There couldn’t have been more than 50 to 100 people there. When we looked across the stage, we felt as if we belonged together. I remember seeing the Beatles as a kid and thinking there must have been a Beatle mother cos they all looked like they were connected. There’s no question that our outfits and our boot-heels and our makeup was a unique definition of who we were and helped us become who we are.

Continue reading →

Haris Ansari | News Pakistan

Sebastian Bach, the former Skid Row front-man, has revealed that Kiss has remained one of his favourite heavy metal bands in the history.

The 44-year-old singer, who remained the lead vocalist of Skid Row from 1987 to 1996, expressed his admiration for Gene Simmons, and asserted that he is one of the best performer in front of the audience.

“One of my favourite bands in history is Kiss. One of the coolest things I’ve always loved about Gene Simmons is that he truly lets the fans be the boss. Whatever the fans think is cool, Gene tries to give us what we want. Always”, Bach stated in a recent interview.

The Canadian went on to admit that his band never really cared what fans wanted from them, though, he insisted that it is the support of the fans that made them a huge success.

“For almost 40 years now, Kiss has let the fans be the boss, and the fans love them for it. They really know how to succeed in this business. And my old band? Is the complete opposite of that. Individually, I’m sure we all appreciate the fans for putting us where we are today and giving us a great life. I know I do! But collectively, as a band, we don’t care at all about what it is that the fans want”, Bach concluded.

Chris | Decibel Geek

The Decibel Geek podcast has released Episode 41 – KISS Kovers for downloading and streaming as a part of their KISSMAS in July promotion which features KISS-related themes each week during the month of July. In this episode, hosts Aaron Camaro and Chris Czynszak discuss the volume and diversity of KISS songs that have been covered over the years and spin some of their favorites. Tracks by Dinosaur Jr., Sweet, Anthrax, and Skid Row are included among others.

Also in this episode are clips of KISS cover songs from very different genres including flamenco and disco versions.

Also included in this episode is the announcement of Part 3 of the Vinnie Vincent Special that garnered much attention in 2011. The special will feature an in-depth conversation with someone that worked closely with the former KISS lead guitarist. The Vinnie Vincent Special Part 3 will be available on 7/18.

The week following the Vinnie Vincent special is wide open and hosts Chris Czynszak and Aaron Camaro want to hear from listeners for suggestions of a KISS themed-show. They will pick their favorite suggestion and the episode will be available for download/stream on 7/25. To suggest a KISS related show subject, e-mail decibelgeek@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (540)-DBGEEK-1.

The Decibel Geek Podcast was launched in June of 2011 by Chris Czynszak, a former rock journalist and webmaster. With co-host Aaron Camaro, the Decibel Geek Podcast is quickly earning a reputation as one of the go-to music commentary podcasts on the internet. All episodes are available on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, as well as the official Decibel Geek Podcast website.

Direct Link to Episode: http://dbgeekshow.blogspot.com/2012/07/episode-41-kiss-kovers.html

Michael Branvold

Welcome to episode 10 of the podcast Dropping The Needle, July 9, 2012. This episode we discuss how KISS’ Own Hype and Marketing Hurt the Release of their New Single Hell or Hallelujah.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Dropping The Needle is the podcast where all music from all genres is discussed. New releases, classic albums, rediscovered music, signed and unsigned. No ass kissing, just two guys talking about music. Dropping The Needle is hosted Michael Brandvold from Michael Brandvold Marketing and Mitch Lafon from Bravewords.com.

Tune in to the next episode of Dropping The Needle to see what artists we drop the needle on.

Belfast Telegraph

Gene Simmons says geeks across the world have “won” now superheroes are so popular.

The Kiss rocker has been a life-long fan of comic books and has put his name to his own range of the publications.

Gene is thrilled comics are popular and has also enjoyed seeing how well movies such as Avengers Assemble and The Amazing Spider-Man have gone down with fans.

“In simple terms, we’ve won,” he told USA Today. “When I was growing up, they used to make fun of us: ‘Oh, that comic-book funny-animal stuff.’ Really? Comic books have surpassed almost all other forms of literature because superheroes have taken the place of cowboys as the great mythic American character.

“They have secret identities and individual problems – no different than the Greek gods who were vain and jealous and fought with each other. The Greeks had their gods, and we have our comic books.”

Gene will attend Comic-Con in San Diego later this month, where he will promote his new range of animated literature.

The characters he’s introducing include a reluctant hero dressed in leather and a female who often finds herself feeling “hot and bothered”.

He is adamant his comics will take the world by storm. “It’s never enough for me just to have a thing in my mind,” he explained. “I want to hold it, play with it. It becomes part of your everyday life, the bobblehead you keep on your office table and all that other fun stuff.

Continue reading →

Arati Patel | The Hollywood Reporter

The seventh season of Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels returns to A&E tonight and in the coming weeks, the KISS rocker is giving more of himself. First, in the July 9 episode “Kiss a Vet,” where he helps a band of veterans from “Rock The Vet” perfect some key Gene Simmons-approved rock moves. Later in the show, Simmons takes the stage with the war heroes for the third annual Rock The Vet benefit concert (see clip above) — giving the cause, which is close to his heart, the spotlight.

But all is not well behind-the-scenes. Shannon Tweed thinks her husband gives too much of himself in other ways — particularly when it comes to the groupies that always seem to circle Simmons no matter where he goes. Tweed’s main complaint: why does the picture-taking and public fawning have to be so touchy-feely? Simmons’ response: he can’t control who he meets backstage. Watch the tense exchange below:

Jay Allen Sanford | San Diego Reader

Kiss bassist Gene Simmons has announced that the comic books originally planned for local publisher IDW will now instead be published by rival Arcana Comics.

In Spring 2007, Simmons was working with IDW on a horror anthology comic titled Gene Simmons House Of Horror. “Think Chiller meets the Twilight Zone,” publisher Chris Ryall told the Reader at the time.

The comic was originally to be published by the Kiss bassist’s own Simmons Comic Group, in partnership with IDW, but an apparent falling out with co-creator (and fellow musician) Jazan Wild led to the two announced issues being canceled.

“We all agreed and listed the books to come out on Halloween and even had a collector’s book that was going to be in Barnes and Noble and Borders,” according to Wild, who says he spent five months working with Simmons on the comic. “But, Gene Simmons has a ton of things going at any given time, and sadly this one seemed to not be the right time for him…since I own the story and all of the art, I decided to change the title to Jazan Wild’s Funhouse Of Horrors and let everyone see this terrific story…I know thousands of people ordered this book.”

Continue reading →

Dave Swanson | Ultimate Classic Rock

Pete Cade

As previously announced, the classic Kiss album ‘Destroyer’ is getting the deluxe treatment. According toBravewords,  a release date has finally been set for August 21. The 35th anniversary deluxe edition will be a two-CD set that will include rare material as well as a new remix of the album, done by original producer Bob Ezrin.

Following the floodgate opening success of ‘Alive,’ ‘Destroyer’ was a huge hit for the band, spawning the hit singles ‘Shout It Out Loud’ and ‘Beth.’  The new reissue will also feature the long-rumored original cover art by Ken Kelly that was axed by the record company because they apparently thought the original art was too, ahem, violent.

Bassist Gene Simmons told Ultimate Classic Rock of his excitement for the upcoming reissue adding  “You’ll hear the DNA of what it’s all about, [with] a big booklet that shows the making of [the album] and what everybody was going through.”

‘Destroyer,’ a top ten US hit for the band ,was released on March 15, 1976, thus making the ’35th Anniversary Edition’ over a year late. Nevertheless, the album cemented Kiss’ status as rock superstars of the era. It remains one of the band’s most loved albums.

CNN

Kreatures of the South

We are just a few weeks away from the 2012 ORLANDO KISS EXPO, and we’d like to announce our awesome lineup of guests. Celebrating the ’20th Anniversary’ of “REVENGE” (undoubtedly one of KISS’ heaviest LP’s ever!) Former KISS Lead Guitarist BRUCE KULICK…..joining BRUCE will be one of his former bandmates Former MOTLEY CRUE & UNION Lead Vocalist JOHN CORABI…..Both JOHN & BRUCE will be performing a very special acoustic set for the fans LIVE…..Former KISS Cheif Bodyguard ‘BIG’ JOHN HARTE.…..and hailing from Sarasota F…L…A is our KISS Tribute Band “KISS AMERICA!” Come on out, and share in the celebration of the latest “MONSTER“ release with your fellow KISS Army mates! For more details on the show please check us out at: www.kreaturesofthesouth.com

Chris Czynszak | Decibel Geek

Photographer and ex-wife of KISS drummer Peter Criss, LYDIA CRISS is the featured guest on the latest episode of the Decibel Geek Podcast as part of their KISSMAS in JULY in which each episode for July 2012 will be KISS themed.

In the interview, Criss shares details of the 2^nd printing of her well-received coffee table book Sealed With a KISS. Published 2006, Sealed With a KISS quickly outsold its initial limited print run. This 2^nd printing features more never before seen photos as well as a listing of Peter Criss’ musical performances before joining KISS in 1973.

Also included in this conversation are Criss’ memories of the inner-workings of KISS from struggling Manhattan musicians to their crest in popularity in 1977 being named the #1 most popular band in America by a Gallup poll.

Lydia Criss became known to fans of KISS in 1976 when she accepted the award for Beth being the top single of the year at the People’s Choice Awards. In this conversation listeners will learn about the conversation Lydia had with Gene Simmons that led her to appear in their place to accept the award. Also of note is Lydia’s recollections on why the song, originally titled Beck, became known as Beth and how it differs from previous reports from Simmons and Destroyer producer Bob Ezrin.

Lydia Criss is now accepting pre-orders for the 2^nd printing of Sealed With a KISS at www.lydiacriss.com. Publication is expected for late July 2012.

The Decibel Geek Podcast was launched in June of 2011 by Chris Czynszak, a former rock journalist and webmaster. With co-host Aaron Camaro, the Decibel Geek Podcast is quickly earning a reputation as one of the go-to music commentary podcasts on the internet. All episodes are available on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, as well as the official Decibel Geek Podcast website.

 Direct Link to Interview: http://dbgeekshow.blogspot.com/2012/07/episode-40-peter-criss-discussion.html

To access the Decibel Geek Podcast visit www.dbgeekshow.blogspot.com .