Metal Underground
Three classic Kiss songs are the latest in hard rock or metal to be featured as Rocksmith downloadable content. Learn to play 3 great songs by rock legends KISS on guitar or bass! Get “Detroit Rock City,” “Heaven’s On Fire,” and “I Was Made For Loving You” on Rocksmith via Xbox LIVE, PlayStation Network, or Steam.
Paul Stanley of Kiss is threatening to boycott the Kiss Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in April.
For years, fans of KISS have been clamoring for their band to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame even though the members insisted it wasn’t important to them. On April 10, the fan’s dream will come true even though Paul Stanley remains unimpressed.
Stanley talked with Britain’s Classic Rock, saying that the induction ‘was done begrudgingly and because it had become absolutely ludicrous that they were choosing to ignore us.’
He also stated that he has no plans, at the moment, to play at the awards ‘Honestly, I have no plans at the moment to do anything, and that includes playing with Ace and Peter or anyone else. My plan at the moment is to go and accept the award.’
Paul also indicated that some of the members of KISS over the years will not be inducted along with, we assume, the original four:
Michael Brandvold
AXS TV
Joe Polo | Podcastrockcity.com
Wedding memories from the union of Bruce Kulick and Lisa Lane on January 4, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.
Song: “I Dreamed of You”
Vocals by Lisa Lane-Kulick
Guitars by Bruce Kulick
Keyboards by Andrew London
Photos by Rick Gould, with additional photography by Lisa & Gary Bandfield.
Scott Rowley | Ultimate Classic Rock
Words: Jon WiederhornKiss singer Paul Stanley has called the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame “tainted, corrupted and distorted” on the eve of the band’s induction. The New York band have been eligible for the last 15 years, but were only accepted after a huge push from their fans. Speaking exclusively to Classic Rock, Stanley explains just why he’s unimpressed by the accolade – and whether Ace Frehley and Peter Criss are invited.
Did you feel honoured at being inducted in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame?
No, it was done begrudgingly and because it had become absolutely ludicrous that they were choosing to ignore us. At the end of the day most people don’t realise that the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame was a privately created establishment and that it has a self-appointed board. It’s a perfect case of perception becoming reality. People heard ‘Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’ and gave it credibility. So whether it deserves the title has to be weighed against who it inducts. So was it an honour to be nominated? No. It means a lot to the fans and I understand it because it’s validation for them. So for that reason I accept graciously and accept on their behalf.
My feelings and my ambivalence about the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame hasn’t changed any. Their attitude is elitist and it doesn’t reflect the public. It reflects a small group who dictate who meets the criteria that they set up as ‘rock and roll’. I’ve always felt the spirit of rock and roll meant not only ignoring your critics, but ignoring your peers and going your own way. I think we’ve done that pretty much with few exceptions for forty years. So that same criteria that kept us out has not gotten us in. I scratch my head a little and I also take issue with a certain arrogance within that group.
Nonetheless I look at some of the inductees and any club that has Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and The Who and the Beatles and the Stones is company I don’t mind being in and my feelings have nothing to do with any of them, it purely has to do with a system which I think is tainted, corrupted and distorted.
Are you looking forward to playing it?
Honestly, I have no plans at the moment to do anything, and that includes playing with Ace and Peter or anyone else. My plan at the moment is to go and accept the award. Anything else, we’ll see how it unfolds or unravels. It was interesting to me, or offensive to me, that when the question was broached with the hierarchy about inducting additional members it was shut down immediately as ‘a non starter,’ which to me is arrogant. People who sit behind desks need to respect the people who are actually either inductees or possible inductees into this so-called hallowed organization. So the fact that there are 30 or 40 or 50 or some absurd number of Grateful Dead members all inducted, the fact that all of the Chili Peppers, including people who played on early albums that never amounted to very much are not inducted, the fact that John Rutsey, the drummer on the first Rush album is not inducted, the fact that Rob Trujillo, who’s a great guy but didn’t play on any of the classic Metallica albums, was inducted after being in the band six years makes me wonder exactly what are the rules? If the rules don’t apply to everybody then they’re not rules.
Do you plan to bring Ace and Peter up on stage with you?
Of course it goes without saying that Ace and Peter deserve this moment in the
Bobby La Luna
My wife Tina is in the Urology business, brought home the new ” MR P ” 2014 Calendar. Well August, which is Gene’s Birthday month spotlights “MR P” that looks like Gene……and the words, KISS your expectations goodbye….Too funny NOT to share, Rock On!
Iconic ’70s rock photographer Lynn Goldsmith tells of how she convinced Gene Simmons to ride the city bus in full regalia. No one seemed to take notice… These and other stories about this photographer’s amazing career can be seen here.
KISS rocker Gene Simmons is heading back to reality TV for a new show about his efforts to build an arena football team in Los Angeles.
The bass player and his bandmate Paul Stanley became owners of new sporting franchise, Los Angeles KISS last year and now Simmons’ first attempt at running a team is to be captured on camera for cable network AMC.
The untitled series will be the rock star’s first reality TV show since “Gene Simmons Family Jewels” ended after seven seasons.
– See more at: http://wixy.com/news/030030-gene-simmons-turns-football-team-into-reality-tv/#sthash.NJCgY5Yn.dpuf
Michael Brandvold
KISS frontman Paul Stanley is in the studio recording an audio verion of his memoir, “Face The Music: A Life Exposed”.
Stanley tweeted a photo from the session earlier today (Friday, February 5), writing, “Recording spoken word version of my autobiography ‘Face The Music’. 180 pages done and 230 left to go!”
“Face The Music: A Life Exposed” will be released on April 8 via HarperOne The 432-page hardcover will feature rare photographs of the legendary rocker and detail his hard-partying lifestyle as one of the co-founders of the heavy rock band who has sold over eighty million albums and performed more than two thousand shows around the world.
Dave Lifton | Ultimate Classic Rock
Jim Dyson
With the L.A. Kiss set to begin their inaugural Arena Football League season on March 15, the team’s owners, Kiss members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, have signed a deal with AMC to film a reality show based on the team. The show will debut in the summer of 2014.
“We look forward to capturing all the trials and tribulations of launching a sports franchise in a great sports city like Los Angeles,” Eliot Goldberg, AMC’s Senior Vice President for Unscripted Programming, told the Hollywood Reporter. “These are incredibly dedicated athletes, coaches and management who want to win, and the fact that the team has rock and roll royalty in the owners box just adds another great dimension to the series.”
The 10-episode series, which does not yet have a title, will be produced by Thinkfactory Media, the same company responsible for Simmons’ previous foray into reality programming, ‘Gene Simmons Family Jewels.’ Stanley and Simmons are expected to be featured in the show.
“We are thrilled to partner with AMC in bringing our show to the viewing public,” Stanley said. “Anyone who knows Gene and I knows we have never played by the rules. This opportunity to see the making of our team of rebels, the L.A. Kiss, from behind the scenes will once again show everyone that we play to win.”
For me the best Paul tunes are the mid-to-up-tempo simple rockers. No list like this could ever be complete or right but these are the kind of Stanley steamers I find myself popping on to shut up any friends in doubt of Paul’s sheer rock prowess or his singular knack for crafting groovy rockers with hooks that endure. Bottom line, Paul’s material has its own cocksure feel illuminated by great arrangements, sharp guitar lines and well-honed, commanding vocals. Re-acquaint yourself with his style.
IT’S ALRIGHT – One of his very best, this blues-based rock’n’rolla is arguably the most KISS-like cut on Pauls ’78 solo debutPaul Stanley and yet at the same time shows Paul tipping a decidedly Stonsey honky-tonk hat. It also recalls Rod Stewart classics like “Hot Legs and “Every Picture Tells A Story”. Pauly had already proven an ability to cop a Rod vibe on “Hard Luck Woman” and “It’s Alright” is the rocking flip side to my ears however, unlike Maggie Mays’ lover, Paul will give you “breakfast in bed” and not “kick you in the head”. This ain’t metal and this ain’t no disco. This is fooling around at the very least and definitive Paul Stanley; ever cavalier and never desperate. ”If you want me to stay for the night, it’s alright”.
DOWN ON YOUR KNEES – One of four new Paul-penned KISS songs on the Killers compilation, “Down On Your Knees” is still one of my favorites all time, hits included. It’s a well-timed DON’T FREAK OUT PEOPLE! to core fans dismayed by the poppy Unmaskedand decidedly left-of-centerThe Elderalbums. Killers made it clear KISS had no plans to slow down or, as some feared, pack it in altogether. Backdrop aside, the track has a tight, almost ACDC-like guitar hook that showcases Paul at his raw vocal best with a post-solo section bridge that has him sounding every bit the ‘All American Man’. Plus this is Paul at perhaps his most sexist (yes, ‘ist’) since ‘Makin’ Love” offRock & Roll Over. ((( I couldn’t help but PARTNERS IN CRIME to this list – A kinky bed-mate off Killers, this tune has also always had my ear and gets better with time. Sure, it’s slightly 80′s land-locked with the repeating wang-bar dives in the chorus but everything about it just works so well, like it could not be improved even if Gene had showed up. Built around a bluesy Deep Purple-esque riff, it’s a welcome divergence to me and happens to have one of his cooler 80′s lyrics: “You’re coveting abuses, tripping with excuses, I know you got a lover at home”))))
BULLETPROOF – Off Paul’s long-awaited 2nd solo outing Live To Win, “Bulletproof” is a sturdy well-crafted near hit, the kind that keep KISS fans like me believing everyone else is crazy. Ultra-slick mix aside, it’s got it all and even if the held-back verses may cause a slight cringe among the faithful, the pay-off of the eventual guitar n’ drum break as it launches into the “Bullet Proof” chorus riff proves ample evidence Stanley can deliver a current sounding hit in an era. If only there were still classic rock stations playing new rock instead of the constant retread that dominates the format and has for 20 years (thanks Clear Channel).
GIMME MORE – An uptempo rocker the band toyed with live only on theLick It Up tour, “Gimme More” may be my favorite 80′s Paul rocker. Sure, he would attempt the land speed record several times in the 80′s but even the frantic”Under The Gun”can’t hold a flash pot to the clever fusion of metal, classic rock, and punk that is “Gimme More”. It showcases Paul’s old-school Robert Plant vibe and an expanding vocal range. New members of the band also shine on the recording with Eric Carr executing bitchin’ rapid-fire Bonham-like double bass fills in the whistle-stop breaks and, when given the nod, co-writer Vinnie Vincent ripping balls off with urgent screaming lead fills. “Gimme More” is only one of the reason’s the Lick It Up album is way underrated by KISSTory. I am of the steady opinion that the record is a close 2nd only to Creatures Of The Night as their 80′s best and vastly superior to any of the other non-makeup releases.
MR. SPEED – An oft forgotten southern-fried golden oldie off Rock & Roll Over I am happy KISS had the moxie to attempt and Paul the inclination to write. A lot of folks complain that their chief problem after the 70′s was that KISS followed trends instead of making them but “Mr. Speed” is more proof that Paul has always had an ear to the radio. Sure, they never intended a hit with it, but the Lynyrd Skynyrd inspired intro riff strikes me as a prime example of how Paul’s tunes generally have more cohesion with what else is happening musically with other acts at a given time. Certainly more so than with any of Gene’s tunes every tried to but, again, Paul has always been the more rooted one of the two and, as a result, makes a perfect complement to Ace Frehley’s Jimmy Page-like lead work. “Mr. Speed” also has a wonderful turn-around complete with KISStastic descending harmonies and another great Peter Criss pocket for the Starchilds’ reply to the Demons’ “Calling Dr. Love” epiphany. It is my assertion that anyone who has not heard “Mr. Speed” could never really understand the band or what Paul Stanley is all about: a riff, a groove and a chorus ….timely classic rock & roll.
Krazy Knights
Gus Griesinger | Backstage Axxess
Long time KISS, and now Grand Funk Railroad guitarist, Bruce Kulick stopped by NAMM this year to promote a new guitar. The guitar is a replica of an earlier 6-string Bruce played in the early to mid 1990’s with KISS. Rock n Roll Relics are the makers of this well crafted guitar and a there is a limited run of 25. Bruce talked about how this guitar was chosen to be made a replica of and the specifics of it (Details listed below of where to purchase the remaining few before they sell out).
In addition to the guitar, we talk about Bruce’s recent nuptials, the current status of Grand Funk Railroad and of course, KISS’ recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We ask many specifics of what Bruce knows about the plans for the induction itself and whether or not he will be in attendance.
It’s all here as we interview a longtime friend of the site, Bruce Kulick!
Gene Simmons is comfortable being on television. He stars in the A&E reality series Gene Simmons: Family Jewels, and has appeared as himself on hit shows like Castle and Ugly Betty. So it’s no surprise the KISS superstar is guesting in the 14th season on show CSI.
“We’re really excited to have Gene Simmons guest-starring on CSI, playing himself in a rock-and-roll-themed murder mystery,” said executive producers Don McGill and Carol Mendelsohn.
Simmons will appear in the 17th episode tentatively scheduled for March 12.
The Israeli-born rock star played bass for the band KiSS. He co-founded the metal/rock band in the 70′s. With them, Simmons has sold over 100 million records.
KISS singer/guitarist Paul Stanley ‘s upcoming autobiography, Face the Music: A Life Exposed , will be hitting stores a little earlier than initially expected. An April 22 release date was announced in December, but the book’s arrival has now been pushed up to April 8, which is two days before KISS will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
To celebrate the memoir’s publication, Stanley has scheduled a book-signing tour that includes multiple stops in the New York City area and in Southern California. The trek currently includes six signing events, running from an April 7 appearance at a Barnes & Noble store in the Tribeca section of New York City through an April 25 visit to the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco.
A few rock stars have written brief reviews of Stanley’s book, including Led Zeppelin ‘s Jimmy Page , Elton John and Foo Fighters ‘ Dave Grohl .
Page writes, “Paul Stanley proves himself as an artist in music and on canvas and now with a great book.”
John says the memoir is “[b]oth honest and inspirational,” adding that it features “[a]mazing tales from one of rock’s great frontmen.”
Grohl adds, “Paul is a great man who has achieved great things. From the Popcorn Club all the way to the Hall of Fame, his story is inspiring and motivating for anyone who dreams big.”
Here are all of Stanley’s confirmed book-signing appearances:
Greetings from Jendell, KISS ARMY! It’s a brand new year, and your KISS Army bros are starting this year off with a Q&A session. We had a blast, and hope you do too!