Lucy Hobson | Star Pulse

Kiss star Gene Simmons has joked the passengers on the Kiss Kruise worship Satan.

The 64-year-old bassist and his bandmates Paul Stanley, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer are set to host the third annual cruise for fans from October 28, during which they will play an acoustic show without their trademark make-up and celebrate the spooky holiday Halloween.

Gene claims one of the leisure activities on offer to paying passengers is a ceremony celebrating Hell-dweller Beelzebub – who, according to the Christian faith, is an evil fallen angel who rebelled against God and wishes to lead humanity away from moral behavior.

In an interview with UK station Absolute Radio 90s, Gene said: “We’ve been touring the world for two-and-a-half years, on and off, and we’re going to Japan in about a week and a half, and right after the Japanese tour, we do the Kiss Kruise. It’s four or five thousand crazed fans who gather on a ship and worship Satan. We do all kinds of crazy things, wear make-up and all kinds of fun stuff.”

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Peter Arquette | KISSasylum.com

Click HERE to see the entire gallery of yesterday’s record-breaking event! If you attended this event, please email us your photos HERE at our news link to add to this gallery, thanks!

Peter Arquette

Phil Fiumano | NY Rocks TV
 

WFJA Classic Hits

KISS singer/guitarist Paul Stanley has revealed when fans can expect to get their hands on his hotly anticipated book about his life.  On Thursday, Stanley posted a photo on his official Twitter account showing him looking at what appears to be a roll of negatives along with a message that reads, “Going through 60 years of photos to choose some to include in my autobiography coming out this spring.”

The news comes just a few weeks after the publication of Nothing to Lose: The Making of KISS (1972-1975), the book about the rockers’ formation and early years that Stanley co-wrote with band mate Gene Simmonsand veteran rock writer Ken Sharp.

KISS, meanwhile, is preparing to head overseas next month for a brief tour of Japan that is mapped out from October 19 to October 24.  The band also will be taking part in the third installment of their KISS Kruise, which runs from October 28 to November 1, and will follow that up with a November 8 show in Calgary, Canada.

Paul Grimshaw | Weekly Surge

Erin Burge

Because my favorite KISS song is “Beth,” the sticky sweet power ballad that played against type, becoming a not so rock ‘n’ roll hit in 1976, I’ll probably be shunned by many hardcore KISS fans. Even before “Beth” shot to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that year, becoming the band’s highest charting single, I had been witness, as a teenager, to KISS’ garish, gaudy and ghoulish world debut a few years earlier. My friends and I thought of the band as an oddity, a comedic group of twenty-somethings from New York City with a few catchy rock ‘n’ roll tunes, destined to sell a bunch of Halloween costumes, fade out, and not be heard from again. Boy, were we wrong. KISS went on to define theatrical rock ‘n’ roll and marketing savvy in ways that few bands, if any, before or since, have matched, including the KISS Coffeehouse right here in li’l ol’ Myrtle Beach.

By the time the tongue-wagging, blood spitting, fire-breathing KISS bassist Gene Simmons came to Broadway at the Beach, with Starchild Paul Stanley, to open the KISS Coffeehouse in the summer of 2006, I had gained a new respect for the juggernaut and marketing genius that was and is the KISS empire. Simmons, the primary business mastermind behind the realm, has led the band-turned-brand through murky waters, highs and lows, and back to highs again. Along the way the KISS Army, the so-named troops in the official fan club of the band, bolster profits as they pay for annual memberships (currently $45), snap up merchandise, attend conventions, and fill concert venues. Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice enlisted in the KISS Army in 2008. Yep.

Thousands in the KISS Army (officially or unofficially) have visited the one and only KISS Coffeehouse, located at Broadway at the Beach, in Myrtle Beach, but perhaps too few loyal troops graced its funky counters to make its registers rock year-round. Serving a damn good cup o’ Joe, locals and visitors enjoy snacks and real barista-made coffee drinks at this curiosity that is part KISS merchandise retail store, part museum, and part demon-possessed Starbucks. Several weeks ago fans, casual to rabid, were saddened, though maybe not complexly surprised, to hear that the KISS Coffeehouse would close its doors forever. Word spread that Broadway at the Beach, and the Grand Strand, would no longer enjoy its most obvious link to the world of KISS.

Original reports had the store closing at the end of this month, but Weekly Surge has learned that the Coffeehouse will stay open through Dec. 31, complete with a proper send-off, tentatively including: a Dec 28 party with a KISS tribute band, a meet-n-greet with an undetermined member of KISS, and fire sale deals on any remaining stock.

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New Jersey KISS Expo

An authentic Eric Carr owned Floor Tom Drum will be the main prize of this year’s raffle. Raffle tickets are only $1 and you can buy as many as you like at the front ticket desk.

In mid 1991, LUDWIG sent a complete ebony with Silver Chrome finish drum set, as a gift to ERIC CARR of KISS to his home address:  630 First Ave, Apt 28E New York City, New York 10016. It has been in storage for over 20 years and is in perfect, beautiful condition. Even comes with the original shipping box with Eric’s name and address on the side!

The drum and other items from the raffle will be on display all day – a unique chance to win a unique item!

All info for the Expo is HERE at njkissexpo.com

Eric Hynes | Slate

NME

Photo: Danny North/NME

Kiss bassist Gene Simmons will be singing the US National Anthem this weekend at London’s Wembley Stadium for the NFL International Series game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings.

Simmons will sing ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ before the 6pm [BST] kick-off on Sunday September 29. He has previously sung the US National Anthem at last year’s Oakland Raiders’ home game against the San Diego Chargers, reports Antimusic.

Speaking about his impending performance at the American Football game, Simmons commented: “I’m excited to be touching down in London to sing our US National Anthem at the Vikings-Steelers game. I always love playing a role in these types of high-action, fast-paced games, not to mention returning to the UK and performing in front of some the best fans in the world!”

Gene Simmons recently rated Miley Cyrus‘s tongue-wagging display at the MTV VMAs last month, calling it “a girl’s version”. Cyrus stuck out her tongue provocatively on numerous occasions during her now infamous medley with Robin Thicke at the awards bash – a performance which also saw her point at Thicke’s crotch with a foam finger and “twerk” against the front of his trousers. Cyrus’s exploits became a hot topic online and drew criticism from a leading US parents’ group and the inventor of the foam finger, who claimed that the singer had “degraded” an “icon”.

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Sharayah Brown

New Jersey KISS Expo

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Raritan Center
97 Sunfield Avenue
Edison NJ 08837

Schedule of events:
9:00 am – Box office opens
10:00 am – Doors open for Platinum ticket holders
10:05 am – Tommy Thayer autograph session starts
11:00 am – Doors open for Gold ticket holders
12:00 pm – UD Replicas product presentation
12:30 pm – Ken Kelly, album artist
1:00 pm – Jim Cara, Gene axe bass building presentation
2:00 pm – Tommy Thayer question and answer session
3:00 pm – Lydia Criss
4:00 pm – MAIN EVENT – Nothin’ to Lose book panel
6:00 pm – Raffle ticket drawing for Eric Carr drum + more
7:00 pm – Tommy Thayer autograph session winds down

Tribute band KISS Nation will be be performing mini-sets throughout the day.

Tickets will be available at the door for only $10 each!

Visit njkissexpo.com for directions and all info.

BWW TV

AXS TV has licensed all seven seasons, 168 episodes of the international hit reality series GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS which explores the life of tongue-wagging KISS front man Gene Simmons, his longtime girlfriend (and now wife) former Playboy Playmate of the Year, Shannon Tweed, their children Nick and Sophie and rescue dog, Snippy. GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS debuts on Thursday, October 3 with back-to-back episodes beginning at 8 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. PT. The network will then air a marathon on Saturday, October 5, including all 13 episodes of Season 1 from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET | 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT. The show will regularly air every Thursday night with back-to-back episodes starting at 8 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. PT.

“GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS is a one-of-kind look into the home life of an American icon,” said AXS TV founding partner, Mark Cuban. “Gene Simmons continues to be at the forefront of American entertainment and this program extends our mission to bring music and pop culture back to television.”

GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS kicks off AXS TV‘s Thursday night comedy lineup which also includes performance series GOTHAM COMEDY LIVE at 10 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. PT.

GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS gives viewers an up close and personal look at the anything, but ordinary family life of this not-so-nuclear family, as Gene and Shannon transition from 28 years of “Happily Unmarried Bliss,” to finally tying the knot.

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Jeffrey Winslow | Examiner

Joe Polo

New Jersey KISS Expo

People have been asking – “what kind of KISS merchandise will be at the NJ KISS Expo?” The short answer is – EVERYTHING! The old and the new, the mundane and the extravagant, the cheap and the expensive, the expected and the unexpected… There is no better place to start your quest to complete your KISS collection!

Most importantly, you are being connected to the largest network of KISS dealers in the world….and the largest KISS dealers will be there – KISSonline.com, KISSmuseum.com, KISSarmywarehouse.com, Gene Simmons Axe guitars, John Rubin, Ross Koondel, and many, many more. There is nowhere in the Universe you will ever see such volume and variety of KISS Collectibles in one place! Below are photos the dealers have sent us of just a small offering of the items they will be bringing. The photo of the truck is just a single collection bought recently by one of the dealers – it will all be there for sale this Saturday!

Info and directions to the 2013 New Jersey KISS Expo are at njkissexpo.com

Ben Smith | VH1

When road manager J.R. Smalling introduced KISS as “The hottest band in the land” on their breakthrough double live album Alive!, it wasn’t just hyperbole. There was no one else in the world at that moment delivering a more exciting live concert experience full of great songs, electric performances and groundbreaking theatricality. And while that 1975 album was the band’s watershed release they had already built up a large and fanatical live following from non-stop touring since the release of their self-titled debut album in 1974.

Fin Costello

The new book Nothin’ To Lose: The Making of Kiss (1972 – 1975) chronicles the band’s embryonic days as rock n’roll fanatics from New York City’s outer boroughs with a relentless will to succeed. The book is an oral history and includes interviews with the band, their friends, and crew, as well as opening acts and other musicians who were there first hand to witness the group’s hard scrabble ascent to worldwide fame. Co-authors and for nearly 40 years the band’s leading lights, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons sat down to talk about the band’s past and future.

VH1 TUNER: How did this book come about?

Paul Stanley: Ken Sharpe put the book together. He’s a long time fan. We’ve known him since he was literally about 8 years old. He’s an avid fan of the band and an avid fan of rock n’ roll. He’s been conducting and compiling interviews over the years and it seemed a natural thing for us to do at this point. We’ve always told the story from our point of view but it’s really interesting to hear what managers, promoters, roadies, all kinds of people who were there recall because quite honestly there’s things in the book that I don’t remember. I don’t know that they’re true but if they make me look good then they’re true (laughter).

VH1: What was it about those years that you wanted to focus on that you felt was special and was an untold side of the Kiss story?

Gene Simmons: When you’re at the front of a train all you’re seeing is what’s coming at you. We have a very unique advantage because we get that adrenaline rush but you don’t get a chance to figure out what it all means. What the side scenery is like. Do I have my mother’s hips? You know, all that stuff which everyone else in the train gets and then the very last person sees it all go by. So they’re all different perspectives of an interesting, astonishing train ride that we’ve had which is now approaching 40 years and boy, do we look good (laughter).

VH1: I was watching an old interview with you from your first time playing England and the interviewer asks what you care more about, the music or the spectacle and Gene you say “The audience.”

Gene Simmons: Well, sure. If you ever lose sight of the fact that your bosses are standing on their seats then you become delusional and think it’s all about you. At the end of the day we just work here and it’s our job like court jesters to make the kings all around us proud. We need to earn the crown that’s being bestowed upon us by those who have the power because, let’s call it for what it is, if our bosses, our fans don’t like what we’re doing or any band, that’s why the word “Next” is in the dictionary. So we’ve been around 40 years and proud by the way to have given a chance to lots of new bands on their first tour – AC/DC, Rush, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue – you name a big band, we gave them their first start because we’re also fans but at the end of the day, we can’t crown anybody, we all bow to everybody’s bosses, the fans.

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Vincent Bonsignore | Los Angeles Daily News

No seriously, I told my wife Tuesday morning. I really do have to go to the House of Blues on Sunset for a press conference announcing the newest football coach for L.A.’s newest professional football team.

“And Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley from KISS figure into all this how, again?”

“They own the L.A. KISS the football team I was telling you about.” I told her.

The skepticism hanging in the air was stifling at this point.

“You know I have the Daily News app, right?” my wife reminded me. “If that story doesn’t show up on your site by tonight you’re in big trouble. I got my eye on you, buddy.”

Welcome to my world, where L.A.’s various entertainment boulevards sometimes cross at the most curious intersections.

And how sometimes explaining your work day and whereabouts to your wife sounds like a precursor to the “Jerry Springer Show.”

Tuesday being a prime example, as professional football was ushered back to Los Angeles by the two front men of one of the most iconic rock bands in music history.

Sounds about right.

I mean, of course Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley would buy an Arena Football League team, name them the KISS, situate them in Los Angeles and welcome new coach Bill McMillen to town at a press conference on Sunset Boulevard where a strange brew of sports reporters, TV personalities and scantily clad beautiful women would gather at a bar at the House of Blues.

All that was missing was Tim Tebow, the banished NFL quarterback who KISS has mounted a very public pursuit of.

Here is guessing the notoriously virtuous Tebow would have been a bit uneasy in the dimly lit settings Tuesday – kind of how he looks dropping back to throw a football, come to think of it.

As for me, I loved every second of it.

It was zany and campy and a bit off the grind, but that’s the allure of the whole thing.

And while I might not rush out to see a KISS game, consider me intrigued enough by the Simmons and Stanley presentation Tuesday to be sure to check them out from time to time.

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Matthew Wilkening | 1037 The Loon

On Sept. 18, 1983, an unthinkable event in Kiss-story took place: the world’s most famous masked band removed their makeup and revealed their true faces.Granted, the news wasn’t as earth-shaking as it would have been if the group had come clean a few years earlier, say the mid-to-late ’70s, when they were undeniably the hottest band in the land. However, by this time, internal tensions and a series of questionable disco and pop-influenced albums had severely crippled their commercial standing.

Original members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley had also departed the group, and even the back-to-basics creative triumph of 1982′s ‘Creatures of the Night‘ failed to reignite their career. In his book ‘Kiss and Make-Up,’ Gene Simmons reveals how the band’s other remaining founding member, Paul Stanley, convinced him it was time for a big change while they were recording ‘Lick it Up,’ their 11th studio album:

“‘Let’s prove something to the fans,’ Paul said, ‘Let’s go and be a real band without makeup.’ I reluctantly agreed. I didn’t know if it was going to work, but I heard what Paul was saying — there was nowhere else for us to go. We did a photo session just to see what it would look like. We looked straight into the camera lens. We were defiant. I made one small concession to the fans — I stuck out my tongue, to try to keep something that connected us with the past.”(Nothing small about that concession, when you think about it!)

Speaking of the public unveiling on MTV — which you can see below — Simmons says, “We made the best of it, but I was scared stiff.” Turns out Stanley was indeed right, as the

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Chronicle Live

They were the rock stars dressed like Marvel comic book heroes who took America by storm – and a band which also made waves here in the UK.

Formed in New York City, Kiss combined a modicum of musical talent with a prodigious work ethic to become one of the biggest rock acts of the 1970s – and beyond.

Their stock in trade, of course, would be their outrageous and outlandish stage-wear and black and white painted faces, plus a stunning stage show that featured blood-spitting, fire-breathing, guitars that fired rockets, and pyrotechnics.

Albums like Destroyer and Alive were massive sellers, especially in the US, while singles like Crazy Crazy Nights and God Gave Rock And Roll To You would bring them major hits in Britain.

But on this day in 1983, with their career somewhat on the wane, Kiss appeared for the first time without their make-up on that recent innovation, MTV.

A little over a month later, the foursome were on tour and in the region at a packed Newcastle City Hall.

Our reviewer was impressed, but first up, he dealt with the band’s new look.

“Even without their make-up – or should that be especially without – these guys could never win a beauty contest, but their music is something else.

“Their banks of speakers blasted out exactly what the crowd wanted – some of the sweatiest rock around – so loud that my ears were still numb the next day.”

Despite the new image, it was clear Kiss could still put on a trademark over-the-top show.

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