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!

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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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In a new interview with VRP Rocks, former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick shared his thoughts on the late drummer Eric Carr. He mentioned that Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley didn’t let Carr show his full talent.

“He’s so loved by the fans and he deserves every bit of it. He was somewhat tortured on his own thing but he was the most giving to the fans,” Kulick said of Carr. “He had more talent than Gene and Paul allowed him to do, which happens, but I know that Gene and Paul were very respectful of his musical contributions — his drumming, his vocals, and how he can contribute,” Kulick said.

He also recalled a song called ‘Little Caesar,’ a song connected to Carr. “I always carry him in my heart, I do, and I have a soft spot for him and the fans know that he had a real impact in those years. Another unusual thing was the fact that yes, he was in makeup for a little while and then of course I got to be with him without the makeup. That’s unusual obviously Vinnie [Vincent] for a hot minute was both, but it was just for a short period. Eric walked into ‘The Elder’ actually, which is really crazy. Then ‘Creatures of the Night’ wow, and ‘Lick It Up,’ wow. So at least he got to show what a drum sound everybody wants that right stuff like what ‘I Love it Loud’ sounds like and things like that.”

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Oct 18th and 19th in the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel. Actors, writers, performers, musicians and collectors are all in attendance!

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oastal Carolina’s trip to Virginia did not go as planned. The Chants lost to James Madison in a 39-7 blowout Thursday despite being tied in the first quarter.

When the game was close, one James Madison defensive player’s face paint drew attention. On a second-and-4 play, Coastal Carolina running back Braydon Bennett tried to make some headway on the ground, but JMU sophomore linebacker Gannon Weathersby met him quickly. Bennett recently surpassed 2,000 total yards in his five seasons at Coastal.

Weathersby stopped Bennett for a 1-yard gain, and the ESPN broadcast zoomed in on the JMU defender’s face paint. The design was white and black, and Weathersby’s face recalled the makeup style of the rock band Kiss.

Weathersby’s face paint also drew attention on social media. The Barstool Sports podcast Unnecessary Roughness’ X account also posted a photo of Weathersby’s face paint, adding: “What a look for this James Madison player.”

Weathersby finished the game with two tackles.

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For those who want to live like a rock star, here’s a true gem. Or should we say, jewel. The Beverly Hills, CA, mansion formerly owned by Kiss frontman Gene Simmons is back on the market, and it’s completely unrecognizable from its glam-metal days.

Fans of the rock legend may recall that the one-of-a-kind abode was the setting for the singer’s reality TV show, “Gene Simmons Family Jewels,” which ran on the A&E network from 2006 until 2012.

Simmons and his wife, Shannon Tweed Simmons, purchased the property in 1986 for $1.3 million. They lived there for decades with their two children.

Gene Simmons has drawn controversy over remarks he made to contestants on Dancing With the Stars while serving as a guest judge on the show’s hair metal episod