Laura Schreffler | Haute Living

Designer John Varvatos was joined by a slew of celebrity pals at Neiman Marcus this week to celebrate his new book: John Varvatos: Rock in Fashion. 

Pals such as rock photographer Mick Rock, Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley of KISS, Joe Manganiello, Dean McDermott, George Kotsiopoulos and Avan Jogia were on hand to celebrate Varvatos’ success at the invite-only event.

The coffee-table style book documents the elements of rock style that have embodied the music community for decades.

Continue reading →

Shayam Dodge | Mail Online

He may be a hardcore rocker but Gene Simmons has a heart made of solid gold.

The 64-year-old was honoured for his work with U.S. troops abroad and veterans at home in America during an event in Hollywood, on Thursday.

The KISS bassist is reported to have been brought to tears while giving an emotional speech as his wife Shannon Tweed and his daughter Sophie supported him from the audience.

Wearing his signature dark sunglasses, the dark haired entrepreneur donned a grey sports coat and blue jeans for his appearance at the Salute to Veterans event at Paramount Studios where he was presented with the Durning Patriotism Award.

Sporting steel toed cowboy boots the 6ft2 former reality star towered above his high heeled ladies.

Sophie, 21, wore a strapless red dress with matching strappy open toed stiletto pumps as she smiled throughout the evening, clearly proud of her famous father.

Continue reading →

Morgan Greenwald | Daily Trojan

On Thursday, USC’s Neighborhood Academic Initiative hosted Gene Simmons at the University Club as a guest speaker for 60 students currently in the program.

Path to success · Former KISS star Gene Simmons speaks to Neighborhood Academic Initiative participants at the University Club on Thursday evening about his own experiences facing adversity as an immigrant. – Austin Vogel | Daily Trojan

Others in attendance included Pavel Krapivin, vice president of Warner Bros. and former student of the USC Math, Science and Technology High School, and Kim Thomas-Barrio, executive director of NAI.

NAI is a college access and success program with neighborhood students in grades six through 12 in conjunction with the university.

“[This program] allows the academic rigor students need and the support families need for first generation college-goers from underrepresented minority groups,” Thomas-Barrios said.

Since its first graduating class in 1997, NAI has  graduated more than 700 students. Forty percent of those graduates attended USC with a full four-and-a-half year scholarship package, not including loans.

Continue reading →