This "News" page generally only relates to matters of interest to the KISSFAQ. There's no need to replicate news that can be seen on other KISS websites. If you use information appearing on this or any other KISSFAQ page, in print (fanzines) or online (directly quoted or rewritten), please have the courtesy to say where it came from. If printing in fanzines, I'd love a copy sent to the KISSFAQ PO Box. Should you want official announcements please visit the band's official website at: KISSONLINE.COM.
Kiss heading into studio
Thursday, February 26, 2009 7:47:27 PM
Paul was on "Happy Hour" on Fox Business where he stated, "We're actually in the studio coming this week, and we'll be doing our first album in ten years and it will very much be a throw back to what we did in the begining. We just finished 30 shows in Europe. The biggest most successful tour we've ever done. "KISS ALIVE 35;" doing the live album...Live! Played to about 400,000 people."
Review: "Black Diamond" 10th Anniversary Edition
Saturday, February 14, 2009 9:43:54 AM
Click on cover to order from Amazon.com
Let me start by stating an important caveat: Dale Sherman's "Black Diamond" book was one of a few major inspirations behind the original online "Kiss Album Focus." Enough about the latter, this review is all about the 10th Anniversary edition of Dale's unauthorized Kiss biography. Still published by CG Publishing, Dale has revamped and enhanced the story to include much of the details that have surfaced in the decade since original publication. The original cover has been replaced with a more appropriate, though less suggestive, design (bye Haley!). As a result, the book has grown in size and content, and new photos and images have been added to the 312 page work and the band's story is brought into the latter years of the first decade of the 21st century.
When first published in April 1997, "Black Diamond" represented the culmination of eight years of work by Dale. Dale had been writing about Kiss since 1984, and apart from being involved in the "Strange Ways" fanzine, had written articles for other fanzines. At that time I was still living in the UK and just starting to build what was known as the "KissFAQ II." As a fan, this was the first major unauthorized biography of the internet era for me to encounter. I recall being particularly excited about the prospects of the book's publication since I owned so few Kiss-related books at that point. I was soon engaged in email conversations with Dale, and while it proved difficult to locate a copy of the book in the UK, I ultimately did obtain one and WOW...
Foremost, what I've always liked best about "Black Diamond" is Dale's informational and non-bludgeoning writing style. He manages to work into his comprehensive story many obscure details, without giving the reader sensory overload. The work is well copy-edited; since it doesn't leave the reader feeling abused either! In many sections Dale's underlying passion comes across clearly. Where the 1997 version ends with the Alive/Worldwide tour in progress, this edition allows Dale to bring the story up-to-date with his signature style. The 1997 version also included an audio CD featuring interview segments with Eric Carr from 1990. This is replaced with a transcription from that interview.
For anyone who's read the first (or second) editions of "Black Diamond," the 10th Anniversary edition will prove a refreshing re-read. Some of the changes are subtle, just minor re-writings that further enhance the original clarity. In some sections, notably Peter Criss' pre-Kisstory, many details have been added. Throughout though, the book is simply highly readable and an enjoyable look back on the history of an important band. While there are no stunning new revelations, the author's writing style gently holds your attention to the point where you'll suddenly realize more time has passed than you originally intended! I think you'll also pick up on information that is buried in the dearth of information in other works, but don't doubt that many will learn something new.
"Black Diamond" remains an important part of the Kiss-related library, and the 10th Anniversary edition will make a valued addition to any Kiss fan's collection, even owners of the original printings. It also serves as an important read to more casual fans as it doesn't skip over any major sections of Kisstory, instead presenting the overall picture in a highly objective manner. Ultimately, "Black Diamond" remains what one other original reviewer described as being a "splendid book."
The KissFAQ is giving away a "Black Diamond" pack, that includes a copy of the new printing and a gloss cover stock varient of the 1997 version (complete with audio CD). The winner of the giveaway was Sean F...
Obscure Kulick
Saturday, February 14, 2009 9:43:54 AM
Recently, the KissFAQ has been working on revisions to Vol. 2 of the "Kiss Album Focus." We've come up with a brief mention of Bruce Kulick from 1976: "The members of the new band are Bruce Kulick, on lead guitar... Adding to the excitement of the live show is the presence of four dancers, the Showstoppers, who formerly played the New York area as a separate act... "We're blowing people away. We were at the Belmont Race Track recently and it was a ball!!! The record is on the big pop stations now and a lot of little kids buy our record and yet we have been doing the disco nightclubs. "This is our first opportunity to perform for children. They are the most responsive, fun, wonderful audience. Your disco audiences are highly critical and not super responsive." The band that Bruce was working with: the Andrea True Connection.
Australia Burns
Thursday, February 12, 2009 5:43:45 AM
As many of you may know parts of Australia has been savaged by bushfires, on a scale even those of us in California (and elsewhere) could possibly not imagine. More than 180 have been killed. In the face of this tremendous disaster, the KissFAQ would like to draw fellow Kiss fan's attentions to the Red Cross/2009 Victorian Bushfire Fund, who have been working to aleviate the suffering of those affected by the fires. If you can't make a donation, spare a thought/prayer for those affected by this horrible event.
Remembering Mark St. John
Saturday, February 07, 2009 6:06:18 AM
Today would have been Mark St. John's 53rd birthday. Since he passed away in 2007, take a moment to remember a musician gone too soon.
"Master of Flash"
Thursday, February 05, 2009 5:51:09 AM
Now the the story about the source of "King of the Night Time World" has been confirmed, here's another one. The song title and lyrics for a song "Master of Flash" have turned up on documentation attributed to Gene Simmons, and it was thought that it was perhaps a song planned for use in the early 1980s. However, the song was written by Robert Blain and Jon Montgomery in 1976, with the copyright being transferred to KISS in 1980. Jon Montgomery had been a member Street Punk. I think Bobby Blain was a keyboard player who was part of the New York Dolls circle of related bands... Jon has a version of "Master of Flash" up on his MySpace. Somehow I just don't hear Gene singing that, which might explain why it was never used, though it is likely that it would have had a lot of work done to be transformed into a Kiss song and is possible that only part of the song was wanted! Hear Jon's recording, HERE.
Ace art
Thursday, January 29, 2009 4:50:37 PM
This cool Ace Frehley art, by Per Thomas, was included in an article "Does Classic Rock?," in Bremen, Germany newspaper "Weser Kurier" on January, 28. Thanks to Juern Schulze for sharing it with us!
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