NEWS ALERT – Launch of KISS Hotter Than Hell Ultra Premium Rum 50th Anniversary Edition

KISS Rum Kollection and Drink It Up by KISS release the final product of the rum portfolio with the last of the exclusive barrel aged blend.

Celebrating 50 years of rock legacy, the 2024 anniversary of the 1974 fan revered album ‘Hotter Than Hell’ marks a significant moment in KISStory, highly anticipated by KISS fans worldwide.

The unique new blend of 14 year old rums hold a high sophistication courtesy of aging in ex-bourbon and Batavia arrack leggers from Guyana and Jamaica. Bold, brilliant and befitting of the anniversary celebration.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Sophisticated notes of butterscotch, dates and dark chocolate

Palate: Smooth yet complex, leading with distinct tones of arrack and crème caramel. Clear oak character follows, rounded off with hints of almond, vanilla and fudge

Finish: Full bodied and well-balanced, highlighting the character developed through extended aging

Serving recommendation: Enjoy it neat to allow the full representation of flavours and character to shine centre stage.

Pre-order is available exclusively from 22nd October at brandsforfans.com for Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and United Kingdom.

Click here to order!

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the U.S. (except for skin cancers), accounting for one-third of all new female cancers each year. In 2024, the ACS estimates that about 42,250 women will die from breast cancer.

To support the ACS’s efforts to save more lives from breast cancer, prominent community member Neil McCurry is putting together a major fundraising event in December: KISS Cancer Goodbye III is a three-day KISS-themed music festival and fan fest that will feature numerous world-class rock musicians, including former KISS guitarist (1984-1996) Bruce Kulick, who will appear and play all three days.

The event takes place December 6-8, 2024 on the Harvest House campus (3650 17th St., Sarasota). Times and programming vary each day; visit kisscg.com for detailed information.

Some of the musical highlights will include: the performance of select songs from KISS albums “Dynasty” and “Unmasked,” featuring legendary drummer Anton Fig; The Handsome Devils performing the “Creatures of the Night” album in its entirety; a salute to the four original KISS members’ solo albums, performed by various guest artists; the performance of the “Hotter Than Hell” album on its 50th anniversary; Chris Jericho’s band Kuarantine, featuring special guest Kulick; the performance of the “KISS Alive II” album by the all-star band and special guests; the music of Frehley’s Comet, presented by legendary guitarist/keyboard player – and former Frehley’s Comet member – Tod Howarth; and much, much more.

There will also be a Fan Expo, open all three days, that will include some of the biggest names in KISS memorabilia – including KISS Army Warehouse, KISS Replicas, KISS Army Spain and more – as well as opportunities to meet and get autographs from and pictures with many of the visiting musical artists, including Kulick.

The weekend will be interlaced with charitable raffles and other philanthropic activities. In order to maximize fundraising, the event will include both in-person viewing and livestreaming during portions of the event.

McCurry is hoping to have more of an impact this year than just raising money, though.

“This year, we are also challenging ourselves to find ways to not only continue to raise funds in the fight against cancer but also to provide more education about cancer risks and create a stronger message about the importance of getting checked for early signs of cancer,” he says.

When McCurry – former President & CEO of Sabal Palm Bank (now Seacoast Bank) and current Market Executive for Seacoast – was asked to be a part of the American Cancer Society (ACS) fundraiser “Men Wear Pink” a few years ago, he noticed that the most successful participants seemed to be the ones who created events that matched their interests. That observation led McCurry to an obvious plan of action: to parlay his passion for rock ‘n’ roll – particularly for the legendary rock band KISS – into a means of raising money for the ACS.

While it may seem like a non-traditional hobby for a bank executive, McCurry – who goes by Neil Davis for his musical pursuits – plays bass in KISS tribute band, KISS America. As “Gene Simmons,” McCurry goes all out: full costume and makeup, spitting (not real) blood, and working the stage in Simmons-style platform boots. He has organized numerous music events and gotten to know many rock stars over the years, including the original and replacement members of KISS.

Coordinated under the organizational moniker “Creatures Fest,” McCurry’s KISS Cancer Goodbye I and II events raised over $100,000 to support the American Cancer Society in its battle to cure breast cancer. In 2023, McCurry was the top local Men Wear Pink fundraiser – and the seventh highest fundraiser in the U.S. – bringing in over $63,000 for the cause.

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Just wow! Very hard to find item, shows up about once a decade. This was the wooden case that JC Penny put some KISS stickers on and made it a cassette case back in 1979. Take a look at the photos and see the awesome condition this one is in. You have to be the real deal collector to have this one.

Only 1 Available!  Check it out!

During a recent interview on VRP Rocks, Bruce Kulick said he is ‘disappointed but not surprised’ that Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley left him out of the KISS farewell.

“I was disappointed that I wasn’t involved but I didn’t expect to be involved,” the guitarist revealed. “I never got the vibe. I didn’t know about the avatars, okay? That was a very last minute where I only heard a little peep about something unusual happening on the last night.”

Kulick added, “And then there it was, the beginning of ‘God Gave Rock and Roll’ with my guitar blasting through the Madison Square Garden and that’s the future. So I know they missed an opportunity not celebrating in a bigger way, the KISS history, all the years.”

“I really wish they would have mentioned all the other players, all the other very important influential people in their career but it was their show, their choice. Not mine,” the rocker reflected on Gene and Paul’s decision.

He continued, “I know the fans were as well. I got so much feedback that they didn’t understand that but it was truly the last show and they are concentrating in a very big way in this next era of KISS which would be this avatar.”

“And that with technology and what’s could be being created and coming in three years from now or whatever, who knows how incredible that could be,” Bruce said of the avatars.

This isn’t the first time Kulick talked about being invited to the farewell show. “I’ve made peace with not being included in KISS’ ‘End of the Road.’ That said, no, they never called me,” he told Guitar World.

He also noted, “I’ve always missed being in KISS, but if being in KISS meant being the Spaceman like Tommy, I wouldn’t want to do it. And if being a part of the final shows meant I had to ask to be there, I’d rather stay home. I guess that’s why Ace respects me and has always been kind to me.”

“I’m not disappointed they didn’t ask me to be in KISS again. To be in KISS again, I would have had to be the Spaceman, right? If I had done that, I would have negated my entire non-makeup era,” Kulick further shared.

Even though he left the band in 1996, Kulick performed with his KISS bandmates for a few shows over the years.

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Spooky Empire has been postponed to November 1-3, 2024 due to Hurricane Milton! Your tickets will transfer to the new date.

Order tickets here!

Genesis Publications has announced “Rock Visions: Rock ‘N’ Roll Graphics From The Print Age”, a stunning collection of memorabilia from 12 of the most legendary bands and artists of our times. Published in a highly collectable limited edition of only 500 numbered sets, each copy is individually signed by Sir Elton John and curator Rob Roth, with Artluxe copies also including a fine art print signed by Alice Cooper.

“Rock Visions” chronicles the art of 12 titans of rock: Alice Cooper, BAD COMPANY, David Bowie, Elton John, JOURNEY, KISS, LED ZEPPELIN, PINK FLOYD, QUEEN, THE ROLLING STONES, STEVE MILLER BAND and THE WHO. From original tour programs to backstage passes, concert tickets, t-shirts, posters, and record sleeves, “Rock Visions” documents the graphic legacy imprinted on modern culture by the biggest names in rock — an astounding showcase of over 1,700 rare, vintage treasures.

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If you want to know who played which instruments on a Kiss album, the liner notes will probably not tell you the complete story.

“A lot of the Kiss records, they way things are done is that sometimes the instruments that you think are members of the band are not members of the band at all, or the member of the band you think is playing the instrument,” Gene Simmons explains in the band’s 2005 book Kiss: Behind the Mask.

Below you will find a list of 17 musicians who secretly performed on one or more of the band’s studio albums, including four members who would later wind up officially joining Kiss.

Of course, to maintain the band’s mysterious image, none of these guest musicians were listed on the original credits for the albums on which they performed. “They wanted to make it seem like the group is playing everything,” Lou Reed and Alice Cooper guitarist Dick Wagner (who played on two Kiss albums) explained in Behind the Mask. “So at that particular point in their career they didn’t really want to give credits. I’m sure today they’d feel differently. There’s always a feeling of ‘It would be nice if they gave me credit.’ But to say that it made me crazy, no. I had a lot of fun with them. They’re great guys, it was fun to hang out with them.”

Dick Wagner
Destroyer (1976), Revenge (1992)

Dick Wagner, who had worked with Bob Ezrin on classic albums by Lou Reed and Alice Cooper, was recruited by the producer for some secret contributions on Kiss’ 1976 album Destroyer. He can be heard on “Beth,” “Flaming Youth,” “Great Expectations” and to Ace Frehley‘s extreme displeasure, performing the solo on “Sweet Pain.” “I had done a solo on ‘Sweet Pain’ and it was okay,” Frehley recalled in Behind the Mask. “I said, ‘Maybe I’ll come in tomorrow and take another shot at it.’ Instead… When I first played the record back, I go, ‘That’s not my fucking solo! What the fuck is this shit?’ I called Gene and tore him a new asshole. He gave me some bullshit saying, ‘We tried to call you but we couldn’t find you.’ one of many bullshit stories, lies, lies, lies.” (Frehley’s solo was restored for 2012’s Destroyer: Resurrected reissue.) When Erzin teamed up with Kiss for a third time on 1992’s Revenge, he called in Wagner once again for the solo on the ballad “Every Time I Look at You.”

Jimmy Maelen
Love Gun (1977)

Jimmy Maelen was a highly popular studio musician, playing percussion for everybody from Roxy Music, Peter Gabriel, Dire Straits, Madonna, Duran Duran and David Bowie. His conga playing added an exotic dimension to “Almost Human” from 1977’s Love Gun.

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Bruce Kulick has entered the world of luthiery by teaming up with Johnny DiFatta’s AXN Guitars for ‘80s-style Super Strats that pay homage to his days in Kiss.

Together, they will craft boutique, vintage-inspired instruments under the brand name Kulick Guitars, as the guitarist seeks to establish himself off the stage as much as he has on it.

Kulick enjoyed a 12-year stint in Kiss that produced eight studio albums. Last year he wrapped up a 23-year run with Grand Funk Railroad.

Upon leaving the band, he told Guitar World he wanted to return to the “powerful instruments” that weren’t appropriate in the band. To do so, he noted he had “jumped down the rabbit hole of discovery” to learn “what made my Kiss guitars so great.”

He subsequently forged a partnership with DiFatta, whose USA-made AXN guitars — and diehard passion for Kiss — made them a perfect match. The duo have already crafted re-creations of Kulick’s unmissable banana ESP M-1 and an M-1 style guitar inspired by the cover of Kiss’s 1985 album, Asylum, that features Kulick’s face. Kulick has been test-driving the guitar on the road.

“Johnny’s knowledge of these instruments is tremendous, and matches my experience as a guitar slinger of the time, inspiring many spirited conversations,” Kulick says. “My early Kiss Super Strats were Charvels with the gold decal and angle headstock, loaded with EMGs. But, after [1985’s] Animalize, I was introduced to ESP. The early M-1 models had necks that were better in my hand.”

Ultimately, he says he wants to create instruments worthy of having his name on the headstock. In addition to Kiss and Grand Funk, the guitarist has toured with Meat Loaf and Michael Bolton, and recorded with Paul Stanley and Billy Squier.

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500 PIECE JIGSAW PUZZLE: KISS fans will have a blast completing this 500 piece puzzle featuring classic KISS imagery. This unique puzzle measures 14 x 19 inches when fully assembled.  Limited Supply!

Order now at KISSArmyWarehouse.com!

Gene Simmons Family Jewels was a wholesome family reality TV show that aired in the early 2000s. Even though Gene Simmons was a member of KISS he was a docile father and husband who just wanted his family to enjoy one another’s company. The series was loved by many due to its real-life scenarios that could resonate within anyone’s own family. Gene was pretty funny. But I would argue his children stole the show. The Simmons’ were the perfect mix of Rock and Roll and Leave it to Beaver. And I just love walking down memory lane.

The KISS legend had a way with his children. He reminded me of my own father, just with a lot less make-up. Gene enjoyed handing out advice to his two teenagers, but sometimes, it came with a side of embarrassment. But as my dad always said, “I’ll get smarter as you get older.” And he and Gene were not wrong. Gene and his Playboy wife, Shannon Tweed, decided to give Nick a talk about the birds and the bees, with the high schooler wishing he could be anywhere else.

The former model noted that the only exercise that Gene does occurs every second night, causing his son to turn bright red. Shannon shared that she lived in a town called “Dildo.” Her son, Nick, poetically notes, “This is where I jump off a cliff.” Shannon found herself in a laughing fit as she stated that she loved grossing her son out. Nick giggled and said, “I’m never coming back. This is the end of my run on this show.” It was clear that the parents were just enjoying razzing their son. And the interactions also made viewers laugh.

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