The KISSFAQ - September '04 News

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.

Friday, September 24, 2004 5:25:45 PM - New KISSFAQ Feature - Inside The Tourbooks
Started a project to scan some of the older KISS Tourbooks. First up, 1995 KISS Konvention. See the tour books page... «Post A Comment»

Thursday, September 23, 2004 4:57:43 AM - Kulick on forthcoming release
Bruce recently recorded some lead work for the forthcoming Chris Catena album "Discovery - Return of the Galactic Freakboy." The album is Chris' follow-up to his 2003 release, "Freak Out," on which both Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer appeared... «Post A Comment»

Sunday, September 19, 2004 9:46:10 AM - Gene Simmons NPR interview published in book

Gene's infamous encounter on Terry Gross' NPR radio show appears in transcribed form in Terry's new book "All I Did Was Ask : Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and Artists" (Hyperion ISBN# 1-4013001-0-3). The editorial review from Publishers Weekly (on Amazon.com) comments: "Conducting a good interview requires exhaustive research, good timing, the ability to steer the interview back on course when it meanders, a knack for close listening and thinking about the next question, flexibility and editing skills. Gross, the polite and generous host of NPR's Fresh Air, is a pro, and here she collects some of her favorite interviews with people in the arts. The result is a wide-ranging and entertaining look into the creative process. With a few exceptions, the interviews are from the show's national broadcast debut year in 1987, but they never seem dated, as many of the guests are still active or well known, and the topics are timeless. Whether she's asking Johnny Cash about the difference between a singer and a song stylist, discussing the role of class in British actor Michael Caine's life or examining the eternal intricacies of the human face with Chuck Close, Gross remains sensitive, engaged and informed. The two notable exceptions are her interviews with cable opinion-slinger Bill O'Reilly and Kiss front man Gene Simmons, whose pugnacity and sexism, respectively, unseat the usually collected host and challenge her to summon interview skills she rarely exercises. Overall, however, this is an often funny and completely fascinating anthology."

"Her interview with Gene Simmons of Kiss, which is included in the book, prompted Entertainment Weekly to name Simmons its male "Crackpot of the Year" (Hyperion PR)... «Post A Comment»

Sunday, September 19, 2004 4:42:40 AM - KISS Quarterly Magazine, Issue #2
The second issue of "KISS: The Official Authorized Quarterly Magazine" is due shortly (Late September/Early October). According to an online posting by publisher Warren Lapine, the second issue will contain:
- Interviews with Paul, Gene, Tommy, and Paco Zimmerman.
- Features about NASCAR, the KISS Jet, and the making of "Rock and Roll Over."
- Product reviews and a review of a rehersal tape from KISS' loft that predates their record contract.
- Paul and Gene discuss the studio work that earned them the studio time that they used to record KISS' first demo.
- And lots and lots of coverage of the Rock the Nation Tour.
- And on top of that great pictures, pinups, and a four page pull out poster.

The magazine can be ordered online from KISS: The Official Authorized Quarterly Magazine... «Post A Comment»

Friday, September 17, 2004 5:33:00 AM - Gene Simmons' "Speaking In Tongues" CD Art

(Updated: Sunday, September 19, 2004 4:42:40 AM) "Speaking In Tongues" (Sanctuary CD 06076-84707-2) cover art. The CD will apparently be a spoken word show (according to details posted on the Sanctuary UK website, and elsewhere: "This is a spoken word recording of 2 Gene Simmons speaking engagements."), probably culled from the less-than-successful DVD of the same title. The full track-listing is currently unknown and unpublicized, but the CD could possibly be enhanced with additional material since the DVD included audio-bites of previously unreleased Gene Simmons demos, including: "Rain Keeps Falling" (a 1992 song Gene demoed with the members of Silent Rage), "I Wanna Rule The World," "Granny Takes A Trip," "I Am Yours," "Damn I'm Good," "Every Day Above Ground," and "I Turn To Stone" (songs considered for use on "Psycho Circus"), "Take It Like A Man" (1983-5 demo), "Jelly Roll" and "Rotten To The Core" (1976 demos prior to "Rock And Roll Over"), "Mirage" (which was recorded by Doro in 1990), and "Am I Loosing My Mind," "Penny Arcade," "IT 2," "You Kill Me," "Rock It Hard," "Son Of 7th," "Too Hot Too Cold," and "Into The Void" (Gene had this title for a song as far back as 1974). The original PR for "Speaking In Tongues" indicated: "Additionally, the DVD & CD includes for the first time anywhere, over ten unheard and never-before-released Gene Simmons songs from the seventies through the nineties." Full demos may not be included since Gene is planning on issuing his "100" boxset of unreleased demos.

Release is still scheduled for September 28, 2004 in the US, and October 4 in the UK (SANCD298). What killer promotion is being done for this release since 10 days prior to release no indication of what the product contains has been made available in many areas where the product would be purchased; but perhaps soundscan results for "Asshole" and the DVD of "Speaking In Tongues" has killed any budget for that! "Gene Simmons, arguably the most opinionated man in music, offers a fascinating look at... himself. Following two speaking engagements in Australia, Speaking In Tongues is a spoken word show of Gene speaking his mind on his favorite topics - money, success, KISS, fame, and of course girls! Not only is Speaking In Tongues a forum for the man to espouse his philosophies, it is also an in-depth look at his home, his family, and his business dealings. Part stand-up comedy, part self-help seminar, and part MTV cribs, Gene Simmons' Speaking In Tongues is a fascinating look at rock 'n roll's favorite Asshole" (Sanctuary PR). The "Speaking In Tongues" DVD (Sanctuary SVE4009) is scheduled for release in the UK on October 25... «Post A Comment»

Tuesday, September 14, 2004 5:54:50 AM - KISS & The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
The nominations are in... And as usual the so-called "Rock" "Hall Of Fame" has excluded the likes of KISS, Van Halen, and Black Sabbath... Nominated acts this year include Grandmaster Flash, U2, Randy Newman, the O'Jays and the Pretenders for the 2005 induction. Before anyone gets their knickers in a twist, would KISS really want to be associated with an entity so out of touch with reality as to not even understanding the basic meaning of the terms "Rock" & "Hall Of Fame"... «Post A Comment»

Monday, September 13, 2004 4:20:02 AM - Gene Simmons NASCAR Interview
(From Washington Post) "Gene Simmons and his tongue came to Richmond International Raceway last weekend to promote three KISS-themed NASCAR vehicles and a line of die-cast collectible replicas
You want to talk about NASCAR?
Of course, I do.
You're a NASCAR fan?
Very much so.
Why is that?
When we were all little boys growing up, most American boys, what did we do? We bought cars and we put them together and we painted them."
Read more, HERE... «Post A Comment»

Monday, September 13, 2004 4:20:02 AM - Gene Simmons Attends Chevy Rock & Roll 400 NASCAR Nextel Cup Race
(From Blabbermouth) "Morning Call is reporting that Simmons (photo) came to Richmond International Raceway on Saturday (Sept. 11) to watch Kevin Harvick drive a car sponsored by his band, KISS. Gene admitted he doesn't have the guts to even get inside a racecar ("I drive like a grandma," he said. "I'm embarrassing."), then made a case that NASCAR is what America is all about. "This is the biggest slice of America,'' he said. "Why isn't the story of 100,000 people watching cars go around 100 mile an hour front-page news? As far as I'm concerned, this is the true American story where Americans come to watch stock cars made in America race around"
Gene hung with US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld during the event... «Post A Comment»

Monday, September 13, 2004 4:20:02 AM - Gene Simmons attends Emerson Radio 250 at Richmond
Gene attended the Emerson Radio 250 at Richmond on 9/10/04... «Post A Comment»

Monday, September 13, 2004 4:20:02 AM - Gene Simmons Attends 'American Idol' News Conference,
(From Blabbermouth) "The Times-Picayune is reporting that KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons attended a news conference in New Orleans last week in connection with his stint as a guest judge on "American Idol". Midway through an eight-city audition tour, the show came to New Orleans to survey local talent for the first time. Casting producers whittled thousands of contestants down to about 50, and the star judges arrived to send about half of those remaining "on to Hollywood" for the contest's next round. Simmons was asked to share his first impressions of the process. "The first thing is the amazing amount of courage it takes to get up there — no music, no drums, no nothing — and stand in front of four people you've never met in your life, who maybe are larger than life because they're on television or make records or whatever, and just give," Simmons said. "They're all winners in that sense. "Now, having gone through the bullshit part, most of them suck"... «Post A Comment»

Monday, August 30, 2004 6:55:54 PM - KISS Gold = KISS "Sound + Vision" DVD

KISS "Gold 1974-1982 (Sound + Vision)" will include the "Exposed DVD" ... «Post A Comment»

Monday, August 30, 2004 6:55:54 PM - Ron Leejack pre-Wicked Lester Recordings
(From GMH) While it's known that Ron Leejack, who replaced Stephen Coronel on guitar in Wicked Lester, had done studio session work with Cactus for their "Restrictions" album, he also did some live work with the band. Rhino Records is releasing "Fully Unleashed: The Live Gigs," which includes Ron on some tracks from "a June 1971 gig at the Gilligan's club in Buffalo." More, HERE... «Post A Comment»