The Cassius Morris Show – Michael Brandvold Interview
Cassius Morris
Three Sides of the Coin, episode 103 – The Return of Chuck (Klosterman) A Vinnie Vincent Smackdown
Michael Brandvold
KISS’ Ace Frehley is clean, sober, and back on the road
Scott Mervis | The Blade
This was the year that Kiss’ long-awaited entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame became a case of “be careful what you wish for.”
The honor that the band and its Kiss Army lobbied for years to achieve turned into a mess when the Rock Hall limited the induction to the original members and also insisted that any performance would have to involve Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.
In the end, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley refused to play, a spotlight was fixed on Kiss’ dysfunctions, and everyone came away a little bitter.
Stanley said in an NPR interview recently that a performance by the original four would have been a “disservice” to the band: “That lineup has not been together for 14 years and, physically, perhaps, wouldn’t have looked that great, and musically, undoubtedly, probably, would have sounded a bit suspect.”
Later in a phone interview, Frehley scoffed at that notion.
“That’s ridiculous,” he said. “I had just jammed with Peter a few months earlier at [Eddie] Trunk’s 30th Anniversary Party at the Hard Rock in New York. Peter played great. I’m playing better than ever. I don’t think they wanted to open up the whole can of worms that surrounds the fact that they got two other guys dressed up like us. I mean, the last time they performed with us, at ‘Unplugged,’ they had to scrap their album and do a reunion tour. Since they had a tour planned with the current lineup this year, I think they wanted to leave well enough alone and not confuse the fans.”
It wasn’t the only disappointment at the ceremony. Frehley was supposed to be part of a final all-star jam session, but it was scrapped due to the E Street Band speeches going on so long.
There were also some comments thrown around that he didn’t like.
KISS record song with Japanese pop band Momoiro Clover Z
Jeff Giles | Ultimate Classic Rock
Kiss fans waiting impatiently for a follow-up to 2012′s ‘Monster‘ LP will get a little something to tide them over in January, although it may not sound anything like the band they’ve come to know and love.
According to the official Kiss website, the group has teamed up with Momoiro Clover Z, a hugely popular Japanese “idol” pop group, to record a new single. The song’s title has yet to be revealed, but the two acts have already filmed a video, with plans to release the track to stores on Jan. 28.
Ace Frehley hits the Keswick Wednesday
Chris Cameron | The Mercury
Jayme Thornton
Ace Frehley, founding member of the rock band KISS, has had a busy year. The rock/metal guitarist sometimes known as “Space Ace” for his out-of-this-world performances and his sci-fi stage persona, recently released his first album in five years titled, “Space Invader,” he got engaged, and he was inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame with his old bandmates from KISS.
The long-time New York native moved to the West Coast to live with his fiancé, Rachel Gordon, who shares some of the songwriting credits on his new album. Moving to San Diego has helped fuel his creativity.
“It’s a less stressful place and moving here allowed me to focus on the songwriting,” Frehley said.
The guitarist has Attention Deficit Disorder and sought out a quiet studio in California to write and record the new album.
“I don’t have a formula for writing,” he said. “Sometimes it starts on an electric or acoustic guitar just as a melody. It might come to me in the morning or if I’m driving and I’ve noticed that if I buy a new guitar, playing it always inspires me to write new songs.”
Frehley notes that he has about 60 guitars in his current collection, but that collection exceeded more than 150 instruments at one time. Within that collection are the guitarist’s signature Les Paul models manufactured by Gibson and Epiphone.
KISS to close Download Festival
KISS will bring Download 2015 to a close when they headline the main stage on Sunday, June 14.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers have carved themselves emphatically into the pantheon of Rock mythology with their huge choruses, unmistakable visuals and extraordinary, pyrotechnical live performances. KISS return to Donington having graced Monsters of Rock in 1988 and 1996 and headlined Download, Europe’s biggest rock and metal festival, in 2008.
Meanwhile, bassist Gene Simmons said: To all our fans – our intention is to get on that stage, blow the heavens to smithereens and take no prisoners.
Main support comes in the form of the final ever UK Festival Performance by iconic hell-raising metalheads Mötley Crüe. With the Crüe due to disband for good in early 2016, Download will have the honour and privilege of bringing a truly unique festival career to a blazing conclusion.
Bassist Nikki Sixxx said: “It’s always an over the top day and night at Download Festival and we’re really excited to be coming over to the UK and playing the show.”
Rock legends making the ultimate festival pilgrimage don’t stop there as seminal shredder Slash polishes and shines the trusty top hat to make his second appearance at Download with one of rock’s top vocalists, Myles Kennedy, and The Conspirators.
Gene Simmons slated to be at Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp
The legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp that has been making dreams come true in the U.S. for the past 18 years is now launching in Canada. The first-ever Canadian camp will take place in Calgary, Alberta from January 8th-11th, 2015 and features the Rock Legend, singer-songwriter, businessman, arena football co-owner of the LA KISS and media icon – Gene Simmons.
Simmons will be visiting Calgary to excite the Rockers of Canada and bring awareness to this life-changing experience. The Rock Legend has been involved with previous Rock Camps, and is excited to pass on his knowledge and Rock out with Canadian Rockers like you!
“Mentoring adult and young rockers at the fantasy camp has always been an amazingly rewarding experience for me,” said Simmons. “I enjoy teaching and handing over lessons I’ve learned from the business to musicians and upcoming talent”.
George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob, Souls of We) and Leland Sklar (who has contributed to over 2,000 albums) will also be joining Simmons as Rock Star Guests of the first Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp in Canada. Additional Rock Star Counsellors include: Lita Ford (The Runaways), Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, DIO, Rick Derringer, John Lennon), Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Queensryche), Teddy Andreadis (Carole King, Guns N Roses, Alice Cooper, BB King, Michael Jackson), Nick Catanese (Black Label Society), and four members of the Canadian Rock group Loverboy – Paul Dean, Matt Frenette, Doug Johnson, Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve.
The Cassius Morris Show – Former KISS Roadie talks “Revenge” tour
Cassius Morris
What’s New in KISS Collecting – KISS Gund Plush Toys
Just released – A new line of super-high quality KISS plush toys and baby wear from the famous Gund company. Gund has been around for over 100 years making stuffed animal toys and the quality of the materials and craftsmanship of the stitching is superb. Everything is in stock and ready to ship!
KISS Plush Toys available at KISSmuseum.com
Three Sides of the Coin, episode 102 – The KISS Kruise and the KISS Las Vegas Residency
Michael Brandvold
Peter Criss of Kiss on surviving breast cancer
NEW YORK (MYFOXNY) – After decades rocking out as the drummer and founding member of Kiss, Peter Criss had thought he’d seen and done it all. But one day eight years ago, something so unusual truly rocked his world.
“I was very ignorant. I was clueless. I thought it was a weight-lifting injury,” said Criss about the breast cancer he discovered.
At the time, Criss’ wife was in the throws of her own cancer battle. She suggested her physician check him out. The doctor recommended Criss visit Dr. Alexander Swistel.
Criss then had a biopsy done in New Jersey that came back negative, but the pain in his nipple area continued.
“I was misdiagnosed. If not for his (Dr. Swistel) going further and going further, through the hands of God, through him I am alive,” said Criss.
Opening weekend a HUGE success for Alive! ’75!
Anthony De Lucia | alive75.com
It was 1975 all over again for KISS fans as “Alive! ’75 – A Tribute to KISS” brought the KISS Alive! album to life in Newton, NJ.From the opening sampled recording of “You wanted the best and you got it…” right on through to the almost two-minutes of confetti to close the show, Alive! ’75 re-created every element of an iconic 1975 KISS performance and left their audience exhausted – and demanding more!
With the single exception of pyrotechnics and open flame which were not permitted in the theater, Alive! ’75 delivered all of the elements one might expect in a 1975 KISS concert, as well as a number of surprises. Using a combination of light, sound, special effects and good old fashion theatrical ingenuity, the show delivered all the blood, smoke and simulated fire fans were looking for. As the curtain opened and the stage set was revealed, folks could be seen pointing and shouting appreciatively in response to recognizing many of the key 1975 visual elements on the set. In fact, fans were completely blown-away when through the magic of “Broadway” a youthful Gene Simmons himself appeared right out of 1975 and on stage along side the Alive! ’75 cast to perform his infamous fire-breathing routine.
Gene Simmons has a few lessons for business that don’t involve tongue wagging or fake blood
Celleen Michele Jones | Biz Journals
Gene Simmons— the Kiss rock star of makeup, tongue-flashing and platform boot fame – is also a shrewd businessman. A self-made entrepreneur. And a complete marketing genius.
Just ask him.
In his recently published book “Me, Inc: Build an Army of One, Unleash Your Inner Rock God, Win in Life and Business,” Israeli-born Simmons, recounts in his uniquely matter-of-fact, say-it-like-it-is manner, how he emigrated to America with his Holocaust-survivor single mother determined to make it big.
Simmons, now 65, has built a merchandising and branding empire around Kiss, the band he co-founded more than 40 years ago and which regularly sells out concert arenas and even Kiss Kruises.
Sharing business advice from a guy known as the Demon isn’t the type of fare often produced by the Jacksonville Business Journal – but having a bonafide member of the Kiss Army on our reporting staff meant we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see what Simmons has to say.
Ace Frehley Kicks off ‘Space Invader’ tour in New Brunswick
Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley kicked off his “Space Invader” tour on November 13 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
His setlist was as follows:
01. Lost In Limbo (first time played live since 1992)
02. Gimme A Feelin’ (live debut)
03. Toys (live debut)
04. Parasite (KISS song)
05. Snowblind
06. Love Gun (KISS song) (Scot Coogan on vocals)
07. Breakout (Richie Scarlett on vocals)
08. Space Invader (live debut)
09. King Of The Night Time World (KISS song) (Scot Coogan on vocals)
10. Strutter (KISS song) (Scot Coogan on vocals)
11. Change (started song but aborted)
12. Bass Solo
13. Strange Ways (KISS song) (Chris Wyse on vocals)
14. Rock Soldiers
15. New York Groove (HELLO cover)
16. Shock Me (KISS song)
17. Ace Frehley Guitar Solo
18. Rocket Ride (KISS song)
19. 2 Young 2 Die (Richie Scarlett on vocals)
20. Shot Full Of Rock (first time played live since 2008)
Encore:
21. Cold Gin (KISS song)
Frehley‘s touring lineup includes none other than Richie Scarlet, who rode shotgun performing rhythm guitar and vocal duties on Ace‘s “Trouble Walking” platter in 1989, and is doing so again on stage. Richie toured with Ace in 1984 and 1985 and periodically from 1989 through 1995 and was also known for touring with Sebastian Bach.
Peter Criss gets cancer survivors Hall of Fame nod
Former KISS member Peter Criss will be this year’s inductee into the Cancer Research and Treatment Fund’s Cancer Survivor Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame “honors an inspirational cancer survivor with an induction into our Cancer Survivors Hall of Fame. These individuals represent the courage of all who struggle daily with the battle against cancer.”
Criss was exercising in 2007 when he noticed a lump in his breast. The lump was diagnosed as breast cancer and, in 2008, Peter had a lumpectomy followed by a mastectomy. Because the disease was found early, he did not have to go through chemotherapy.
Since that time, Criss has been an vocal advocate against the stigma of breast cancer in men. He told reporters in 2009 “It can happen to you, and when it does, if you don’t deal with it right away, with your ‘dude’ and your metal and your tattoos, you’ll go in the box and we’ll see you.”
KISS will somehow figure into the plot of ‘Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2’
Jeff Giles | Ultimate Classic Rock
Because just one movie starring Kevin James as a buffoonish security guard wasn’t enough for America, now we have ‘Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2′ on the way … and judging from the trailer, Kiss will somehow work their way into the story.
You can catch a glimpse through the recently released trailer above — two and a half minutes of James clowning his way through the presumed comedic highlights of a plot that sends his character to Vegas, where he somehow ends up leading the charge against a freaky-eyed kingpin hellbent on robbing the city.
Along the way, Blart punches an elderly housekeeper, is assaulted by a bird and manages to find time for a Kiss concert — although as you can see from the screenshot below, that ain’t Kiss up on the stage:
New KISS Retro T-Shirt line available now!
If you were wondering why there was an absence of KISS T-Shirts last summer, KISS’s long-time licensee, Live Nation, had given up their KISS clothing line. Not a good thing right as the band was going out on tour, but finally several companies have taken over the rights and we now have a whole new series! And this retro design line is just what we wanted to see…amazing!
New KISS Shirts available at KISSmuseum.com
KISS to rock 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade
Chad Bowar | Loudwire
Some of the icons of Thanksgiving include turkey, football and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but this year, musical icons KISS will lend their presence to the Macy’s parade for the first time ever.
No, there won’t be a giant inflatable Gene Simmons balloon. The band will perform in the 88th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade on Nov. 27 in New York. The band, led by more than 600 cheerleaders from around the country, will perform a KISS medley. More than 3.5 million people line the streets of Manhattan annually to watch the parade, with another 50 million watching on TV.
KISS’ Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley say, “2014 has been a banner year for us and participating in one of the country’s most beloved events caps off what has truly been a spectacular 40th anniversary. We can’t wait to rock the Big Apple with our fans on Thanksgiving.”
“Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the most popular and visually spectacular holiday parade in America, and there is no doubt that KISS, unequalled in the world of concert performance, will deliver stunning theatrics at the Parade,” says Juli Boylan-Riddles of KISS’s brand management company Epic Rights.
KISS are currently in the midst of playing a Las Vegas residency at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. They have played three shows so far, with six more to go. The next one is Nov. 12, with the residency wrapping up Nov. 23.
Ace Frehley says one nice thing about each former KISS bandmate
Loudwire