Local KISS fans won’t want to miss KISS Cancer Goodbye III, a three-day KISS-themed music festival held December 6-8 at Harvest House in Sarasota. Organized by Neil McCurry, a local banking executive and bassist for the KISS tribute band KISS America, the event aims to raise funds for breast cancer research. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer in U.S. women, responsible for one-third of all new female cancer cases. In 2024, the ACS projects 42,250 breast cancer deaths.

McCurry was an 11 year old impressionable boy when he first became interested in the music, makeup and props that go along with KISS. A few years later, he started his own KISS band. Almost 20 years later, he’s still rockin’ and rollin’ KISS style. “Some things we outgrow as time goes on, some things we should outgrow and some things we never outgrow.” he says.

KISS Cancer Goodbye III will feature rock legends Eric Singer (KISS drummer 1991-2023) and Bruce Kulick (KISS guitarist 1984-1996) as co-headliners. McCurry’s previous events raised over $100,000 for the ACS, with last year’s Men Wear Pink campaign raising $63,000 locally. McCurry’s aim is to raise funds while increasing awareness about cancer risks and early detection. “This year, we are 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. A lifelong resident of the area, McCurry enjoys giving back to his community. He expects a larger local turnout this year, noting, “I wanted to create something that adds to the enjoyment of living in Sarasota.”

McCurry, who performs as “Gene Simmons” with full costume and stage antics–which involves hours of preparation–has organized several events over the years. Harvest House, the presenting partner, features a state-of-the-art community center with an elevated stage, advanced sound and lighting, and a 16-ft video wall, creating a rock concert experience with an intimate feel.

Tickets for the event are $59 for all three days or $24.95 per day. For more information and tickets, visit kisscg.com.

Pictured: Neil McCurry as Gene Simmons raises breast cancer awareness with KISS Cancer Goodby III. Provided photos/Creatures Fest.

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Ace Frehley recently went on Instagram and shared an AI-generated image of a coin featuring a guitar icon and the words ‘ACE V.’ He teased in the caption, “This crypto stuff is wild…should I launch ‘Ace Coin’?”

It’s unclear whether Frehley is serious about launching his own cryptocurrency, but many fans in the comments agree that it’s a bad idea if he does. Some believe making a physical version of the coin is better.

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In a new interview with Fox 5 Las Vegas, Ace Frehley opened up about his relationship with former bandmates Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.

When asked if he was still in touch with Simmons and Stanley, the guitarist briefly responded, “Occasionally.”

He added, “I’m doing great solo. Doing a lot of shows and the response, the album’s doing fantastic, ‘10,000 Volts.’”

Frehley had previously shared his ‘revenge’ plan against the two members.

“They would stifle my creativity,” the guitarist told Guitar Tales with Dave Cohen. “If I did a great guitar solo in the studio, they would never acknowledge it. ‘All right. We got that done. Let’s move on.’ I never got the adulation that I would have given other people. I never felt like they appreciated me and that’s not a good feeling.”

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Great looking ornament for your KISSmas tree! Limited Supply!

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670 vintage posters from 24 countries!

​Every KISS poster* of magazines from all over the world from 1974 to September 1983

All listed, inventoried, catalogued (issue / year, size, description) in 160 glorious color pages

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A stunning Collector’s Guide or just eye candy for any KISS fan!

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The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer remembered for iconic alter ego, “The Spaceman,” in the 70s and 80s, will make the stop on his solo tour.

In 1990 Ace Frehley discussed his new band, featuring Sandy Slavin on drums and Richie Scarlett replacing Todd Howard. The new album was heavier, focusing on guitars. Frehley mentioned performing classic Kiss songs and covers like ELO’s “Don’t Bring Me Down.” He reflected on Kiss’s merchandising over-commercialization and his past substance abuse issues. Frehley expressed openness to a Kiss reunion if given equal production control. He highlighted collaborations with Skid Row and the success of his new album and tour. Frehley also shared his health improvement and commitment to making music for enjoyment, not necessity.

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Episode 597. Idolator recently shared a new story titled, KISS Finally Admits The Truth About Their Band Name + Other Secret Facts Most Fans Don’t Know. We went through this list so see if there were any secret facts we didn’t know. Sorry, but most of this article is filled with “duh!” moments. But join us and let us know if you learned anything new, any secrets you didn’t know.

The pair wed in 2005, four years after they first started dating, and are parents to three children

Paul Stanley and Erin Sutton have nearly two decades down and “forever” to go!

The KISS frontman, 72, shared a special message to his wife on X (formerly known as Twitter) alongside a throwback photo from their wedding, as they celebrated their 19-year marriage anniversary.

In the snap he shared, the pair could be seen smiling widely as they posed for the camera after saying “I do.” Stanley’s arm could be seen wrapped around Sutton’s — with his new wedding band in focus — as she held her wedding bouquet.

“HAPPY ANNIVERSARY BABY!,” he captioned a photo. “Married 19 years today and I know one lifetime will never be enough.”

The pair wed in November 2005, four years after they first started dating. Since then, they have welcomed three children: Colin Michael, Sarah Brianna and Emily Grace. Sutton is also stepmom to Stanley’s adult son, musician Evan Shane, from the singer’s previous marriage to Pamela Bowen. Stanley and Bowen wed in 1992 and divorced in 2001.

Over the years, the “Detroit Rock City” singer has penned tributes to her whenever they celebrate a new milestone in their relationship. For their tenth wedding anniversary he explained how he viewed their marriage, saying, “Some people say marriage is confining like jail. Mine was my ticket to freedom.”

For their 14-year anniversary, he wrote a sentimental tribute noting how far the pair have come in their relationship. “… I married Erin and found my key to a life filled with gifts I never imagined,” he wrote on Facebook. “My love for her only grows deeper. Find that person you love and who loves you regardless of anyone else’s concept, intolerance or prejudice. Nothing is more meaningful.”

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When an ancient evil threatens Earth, the KISS 4K team must use their powers (both supernatural and musical), to replace the Aurora Borealis. If they fail, Santa Claus won?t be able to guide his sleigh and the demons will rule the earth forever. This is a KISSMAS 4K story that could only be told by Chuck Dixon and drawn by Tone Rodriguez.

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Bruce Kulick spoke about the “problems” KISS had with Ace Frehley following the classic lineup’s reunion, noting how Tommy Thayer was better suited for the revamped makeup era than him.

After one failed audition, Bruce Kulick joined KISS in 1984 and became a mainstay — and a focal point — of the NYC hard rock trailblazers’ unmasked era. Kulick ended up parting ways with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley in 1996, as the famous MTV Unplugged show proved there was plenty of demand for seeing Ace Frehley and Peter Criss return to their Spaceman and Catman costumes.

“I was never fired the first time. It was simply, ‘Well, we’re making all this money. Now we’re selling out from arenas to stadiums in makeup.’ So my era ran its course”, he tells Loaded Radio in a new interview. Asked why he was never approached with an offer to rejoin after Frehley permanently left the band in 2001, the guitarist offered (transcription via Blabbermouth):

“That’s a great question. And not everyone’s aware of some of the backstory. I would hear things about them having problems with Ace and Ace was getting erratic or difficult. And [later KISS guitarist] Tommy Thayer was tour-managing with them; he was on the road with them.”

“Even during my era, he was involved with the band, helping with ‘Kisstory’ and doing things for the group. He wrote some songs with Gene and was always part of the inner circle, shall I say. So from what I understood, there were one or two things that KISS did — not a concert, even though once Ace was almost not gonna make it and they made Tommy get the outfit on. [He had a] similar build — tall and thin — and Ace made it to the show. But there were a couple of other things they needed to do.”

Kulick went on:

“I believe ‘That ’70s Show’, when they were taping, Ace didn’t show up. ‘Tommy, get the outfit on.’ And then I think there was a private gig, too, that no one would really know about — one of those things where you go to an island and play for some rich people. And Ace wouldn’t go. And KISS wasn’t gonna say, ‘All right, we’re not gonna take the gig.’ So if they ever had a thought of me, I think they would have known that that probably would have been a lot harder.”

“Tommy was younger, there already, if you know what I mean, working with them. And Tommy, not everybody knows that he was in a tribute band for fun at times called Cold Gin as Ace Frehley.”

“I lost the big gig for the right reasons”

In the end, Tommy Thayer proved to be just as reliable as Kulick was, and the older guitarist notes how Thayer’s playing style was also much closer to Frehley’s. Nevertheless, he admits he would have been tempted by the offer, had he ever received one:

“Had they gone to me, I can’t say I absolutely would have said ‘no.’ I miss being in KISS. I do realize it would have kind of pooped on my era because then I’d have to kind of play the role of the ‘Spaceman’ and shoot rockets and play more like Ace. I was never given that direction from Gene and Paul, where Tommy knew that it actually was more comfortable with his natural style of guitar playing. He wasn’t a Floyd Rose, play-some-flashy-riffs king of the mountain.”

Defending Tommy Thayer & Eric Singer’s work in KISS, Kulick added:

“I never felt like [Gene and Paul] made the wrong choice — ever. I always felt that was the right way to go ’cause then Tommy could assume the role of the Spaceman in the group. Eric sometimes gets some criticism, like Tommy has, but Eric being behind the drums and having five years in the band without the makeup, maybe he gets a little less.”

“Neither of them really deserves criticism because they’re talented players doing a great job. And it was Gene and Paul’s choice to say, ‘And now you’re the Catman,’ ‘And now you’re the Spaceman.’ It wasn’t [Thayer and Singer] saying, ‘Please, I wanna be the Spaceman.’ And to new generations, Tommy is the Spaceman. Even though Eric has a lot of credibility from ‘Revenge’ and ‘MTV Unplugged’ and ‘Carnival Of Souls’ and all the work that we did together for those five years.”

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• Creatures of the Night album (performed in its entirety)
• Dynasty & Unmasked albums (select songs from each album)
• KISS Solo albums (3 songs from each solo album)
• The Elder album (performed in its entirety)
• Non-Make Era (various songs performed by Chris Jerico’s band, Kuarantine)
• KISS & Hotter then Hell albums (50th anniversary of both albums featuring select songs)
• Alive II album (entire album performed)
• Frehley’s Comet (salute to the music hosted by Tod Howarth)
• Deep Cuts (a performance of classic songs that have rarely been played live)