| News Archive / December 16-31, 1998 | ||
| KISS NEWS IN LATE DECEMBER 1998 | JANUARY 1, 1999 | ||
| Disclaimer: Not necessarily all of the news as it appears on these pages is confirmed by or coming from official sources. As much as possible we try to avoid unsubstantial rumors, but KISS Kollector can not be held responsible for the validity of any of the information, nor do we accept responsibility for views expressed here by other people. | ||
| DECEMBER 31, 1998 |
| 1998: The year in review or... The year in KISS | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
This past year has been yet another exciting and successful year for KISS and their
fans in the KISS Army. The happening in 1998 was without a doubt the fact that
the original line-up consisting of Paul Stanley Stanley, Gene Simmons Simmons, Peter
Criss and Ace Frehley recorded a new album together for the first time since the late
seventies. Psycho Circus was the result of these recording sessions, and a world
tour by the same name kicked off at the end of the year and is expected to continue for
at least another year. In 1998 KISS also was presented with a Gold award twice: once
for the album Psycho Circus and once for the long form video The Second Coming
which shipped Gold and documents the previous world tour: KISS Alive/Worldwide 1996-1997.
According to Billboard, KISS has only one band (the Beatles) ahead of them in the group
category for most Gold records.
Apart from a new album, a couple of new singles, a new tour and a new home video the band also made a new movie to premiere in early 1999, created another coffee table book entitled KISSTORY II. They also recorded a live EP to be released during the 1999 European Tour, saw lots of new merchandise hit the stores and in fact went way over the top (especially with the prices for these items), made several TV appearances including guest roles on the FOX TV series Millennium and allowed the Hard Rock Cafe to acquire the first-ever released KISS costumes, while KISS' first show on the Psycho Circus Tour was their first concert to be webcast on the Internet. In 1998 there was also a new rumor that Gene Simmons once again filed a lawsuit against someone, this time English singer Robbie Williams for his KISS inspired video clip Let Me Entertain You. Even the BBC web site reported about it. Towards the end of the year Williams explained however, that this was only a rumor. A lawsuit that was actually filed was against KISS. Alice Cooper's music publisher Bizarre Music (also known as Six Palms Music Corporation) sued Paul Stanley Stanley and Bruce Kulick, PolyGram International Publishing and Mercury Records for copyright infringement over the song Dreamin' off Psycho Circus, claiming that the track sounds too similar to Cooper's classic hit (I'm) Eighteen. Meanwhile a demo that Paul Stanley Stanley, Bruce Kulick and the late Eric Carr recorded years ago, without
eventually using it for a KISS album, ended up on the album Garbo Talks towards the
end of the year.
More non-KISS albums containing KISS tunes were released in 1998, including the first ever KISS tribute CD from Holland and in Japan a dance tribute album saw the light of day consisting of a collection of dance version of 26 KISS songs all mixed together. In other fields, the KISS comic Psycho Circus continued on a monthly base and the first few issues also were published as a trade paperback. A new official magazine by the same name and published by the same company responsible for the comic was launched as well. KISS' record company PolyGram, on the other hand, was sold by Dutch electronics giant Philips to Canadian multinational Seagram who already owned Universal Records, renaming the two companies Universal Music Group. This year was also the year that the official web site for the European KISS Army, KISS Kollector Fanclub, moved to a new host to create space for several spectacular changes, and on October 20 the new KISS Kollector Online site officially opened it's virtual doors. Since then there have often been updates on a daily base and the web site has received many, many compliments from the KISS fans worldwide. KISS Kollector Online also prides itself that it has had its share in getting KISS in several charts or year end listings by calling on the KISS Army to vote for KISS in a singles Top 50 here, or an album Top 100 of All Time there. Let's all make 1999 another KISS year to remember!
KISS Kollector Online |
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| Bob Kulick involved in new KISS tribute album? | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
| Deadline/Cleopatra Records is working on a KISS tribute record, for which Pretty Boy Floyd covers Shout It Out Loud, a song they have also played live in concert. Deadline/Cleopatra Records is the label for which Bob Kulick brother of ex-KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick has been producing several other tribute albums, including the soon to be released Alice Cooper tribute disc. | ||
| DECEMBER 30, 1998 |
| Paul explains: no circus acts at the Psycho Circus shows | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
|
In a recent Wall of Sound
interview Paul explained why the much hyped Psycho circus sideshow acts, that did
appear at the Halloween concert in Los Angeles but have been dropped for the rest
of the Psycho Circus Tour, couldn't make it on tour with KISS.
"Initially, the idea was to have it in the audience, as part of the audience almost. Unfortunately, safety issues and regulations within most halls across America made it impossible. We couldn't pull it off as far as insurance and regulations." Scroll down to read the full article. |
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| KISS at No. 3 in Holland's Teletext Christmas Poll 1998 | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
|
Thanks to the KISS Army the latest KISS album Psycho Circus is No. 3 on the
so called Hittekst page on Teletext by Dutch tv/radio station VARA in their annual
Hittekst Christmas Poll. Every year fans can vote for their favorite albums, so a little
while ago KISS Kollector Online called on the KISS Army to vote for KISS' Psycho
Circus. And yes, the KISS Army did it again!
The Top 5 reads like this: 1. Manic Street Preachers - This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours 2. Madonna - Ray Of Light 3. KISS - Psycho Circus 4. REM - Up 5. Massive Attack - Mezzanine |
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| KISS' Paul Stanley talks Playboy, tour | ||
| - From Wall of Sound - | ||
"You know, Playboy's not known for a homely bunch," says an audibly pleased Paul Stanley, describing the women who posed "only wearing KISS make-up and perfume." "We obviously saw photos it was a hard job, and it got harder but there were no rejects." By the way, the perfume remark doesn't mean it's a scratch 'n' sniff feature. "No, but if it was, you'd all be smiling," Stanley says. There will be plenty of KISS to see in the coming year, too. The group will be on tour throughout 1999, including a pre game appearance at the Super Bowl on Jan. 31. The Detroit Rock City movie actually filmed in Toronto is finished and will be out during the summer. And though the band is contemplating plans for a millennial bash, no details are being divulged. What we won't see, however is the Psycho Circus the group of circus performers that appeared at KISS' Halloween show at Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium that was supposed to go on the road with the band in lieu of the standard opening act. "Initially, the idea was to have it in the audience, as part of the audience almost," the guitarist says. "Unfortunately, safety issues and regulations within most halls across America made it impossible. We couldn't pull it off as far as insurance and regulations. So we dropped that and said 'What can we do to compensate? More bombs!'" |
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| KISS concert holds back nothing | ||
| - From Michigan Live - | ||
"Imagine," says KISS' Gene Simmons, calling from his hotel room in Chicago,
"that fans have handed you a blank check. It comes with only one string. You must
use it to throw the biggest party folks have ever seen." That, in effect, explains
why anyone who catches KISS original members Simmons on bass, Paul Stanley and
Ace Frehley on guitars and Peter Criss on drums, all in make-up and its Psycho
Circus 3-D on New Year's Eve at the Palace of Auburn Hills will see quite a sight.
You'll experience more lights than you'd find in a small city, more power than found in some third-world countries, and more thrills and chills than you've seen at even KISS' earlier efforts. Rockets will carry a multi-ton drum set overhead. Stanley will fly through the arena, and Simmons, well, those in 'Blood Seats' had better watch out when he launches into God of Thunder. "Those are seats reserved for the brave, the fearless, the worthy," he says, his voice more matter-of-fact than manic. "I'm going to fly over and vomit blood. It's like a red badge of courage, 'Gene chunked over my head'." That's saying something for a band that first hit the right chord with fans in 1975 with Rock And Roll All Nite. Criss celebrated the half-century mark last year, Simmons hits the big 5-0 this August, and Stanley and Frehley aren't far behind. They've outlived the rumors that Criss suffered a debilitating disease and would never play again, that Simmons had a cow's tongue surgically grafted on so he could perform his signature routine. Or, goes the most recent, that studio musicians were hired to play the instrumentals on the new Psycho Circus album, a backward compliment, Simmons said, since in effect it says the music is so good, the original members couldn't have done it themselves. "Those are the musings, all untrue, of people who don't have a life," Simmons said with a marked disdain. "They should stick to their afternoon games of mah-jong."
So what's this 3-D about? "I soft-peddle it," Simmons said. "You have to see it to believe it. That phrase tells you so much. With every ticket, our fans will get a pair of 3-D glasses, and when they focus on the video screens behind us, well, what your eyes see, you won't believe. Your fancy will be tickled." Or is that, he said, noting the process' in-your-face nature, "I'll tickle your fancy." "If I got any closer to most people, I'd get arrested," Stanley quipped in a Newhouse News Service story. "We've never been one to stop at what's comfortable," Simmons said. "We always want to take it further. I love it. Going on stage is very therapeutic. I feel every emotion when I'm out there. At a KISS concert, there are no rules for anybody." Soon after the Palace date, Simmons and his band mates will head for the studio to record a soundtrack to the upcoming New Line Cinema movie, Detroit Rock City, a tale of four teenagers trying to find their way inside a sold out KISS concert. "It's a very, very hip movie and it will be coming your way soon," Simmons said. "Then we kick off the Super Bowl and host the American Music Awards. Playboy will come out with 'The Girls of KISS' on the cover no kidding, it's girls in KISS make-up and nothing else." As for New Year's Eve, "we're playing the classics, the songs everyone wants to hear, just like they remember them, and a few songs from Psycho Circus. We'll probably see some of the diehards out there, people who have been with us from the beginning, and some of them will bring their kids who experience KISS for themselves. KISS concerts defy all logic," he said. Usually, music has a way of 'compartmentalizing' its fans, but that's not the case at the concerts on the tour so far. "It spans the ages", Simmons said, and that's just fine with him. "I'm still chomping at the bit ready to step up for more," he said. "The way I looked at it from the start, when you dream, you have to dream big." |
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| DECEMBER 29, 1998 |
| KISS concert reviews in German magazines | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
Another German magazine, pop mag Bravo, has a one page review of the Dodger Stadium
show accompanied by four photos. The double heading reads: "Shock Rock!
Outrageous phantasy outfits, wild shows, heavy sound: shock rock now celebrates a
comeback in the USA" and "KISS. Fire, blood and thunder: KISS causes
the new shock rock trend!"
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| KISS twice in Rock Top 100 of All Time? | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
|
Could it be that KISS Kollector Online's call on the KISS Army to vote for KISS in
Arrow Classic Rock's Rock 100 Legendaries was so successful that KISS appeared
in this All Time Top 100 twice? I Was Made For Lovin' You can be found at
No. 38 (last year it was at 82) and at the end of the list the DJ said KISS was
also at No. 12 with Rock And Roll All Nite, although this song was not
played during the all day show on Holland's only classic rock radio station.
The Rock 100 Legendaries show aired on Sunday, December 27. But when checking out the entire list at Arrow Classic Rock's web site, it turns out that The Kinks are at No. 12 with the song You Really Got Me... so maybe the re-run on Sunday will explain what went wrong? |
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| KISS drops in Pop Top 100 of All Time | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
| KISS also appeared in the Pop Top 100 of All Time. TMF, Holland's music video station kinda like MTV, aired their Top 100 of All Time called 'Eeuwige 100', on Sunday December 27 and I Was Made For Lovin' You dropped from No. 44 (last year) to No. 55 this year. | ||
| KISS, McFarlane re-team for new line of figures | ||
| - From MTV Online - | ||
KISS fans with holiday money burning holes in their pockets will want to head out
to toy stores next month for the arrival of the latest line of KISS merchandise
from Spawn creator Todd McFarlane.
The comic book kingpin behind Spawn and McFarlane Toys teamed up with KISS in 1997, and has since released a number of different lines of KISS figures as well as a monthly comic series. Now that partnership enters a new stage with the launch of McFarlane's 'Psycho Circus Tour Edition' KISS figures, which are slated to hit stores in mid-January. As opposed to previous lines which featured the glam-metal granddaddies packaged with axes, missile launchers, and other such weaponry, the new line features Gene, Peter, Ace, and Paul in their Psycho Circus stage duds toting replicas of their actual instruments (even Peter's bass drum footpedal). The figures are expected to retail for around $8 each. Of course, KISS isn't the only rock act to tie into the McFarlane empire. This year the man behind Spawn teamed with Pearl Jam for the video for Do The Evolution, supplied Korn with cover art for its Follow The Leader, and plans to team with Ozzy Osbourne in the coming year (for more, see our feature 'Todd McFarlane: His Art And Remarks'). |
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| DECEMBER 25, 1998 |
| Our KISSmas special: an exclusive interview with Gene | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP & RH - | ||
|
First of all, KISS Kollector Online would like to wish all of you KISS fans, and especially
those on the Internet, a merry KISSmas. Season's greetings go out to Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter
and their crew as well of course. For the occasion we've got something special for you...
Check out our Features section, where we have just added a brand new and very exclusive feature: outtakes of an interview with Gene Simmons conducted by Holland's weekly magazine Nieuwe Revu. Although the magazine only printed a short part of the interview, we have managed to get a hold of the entire, unedited and uncensored interview. |
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| Online ticket ordering for European shows | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, RH - | ||
|
Although you can no longer order tickets for the KISS show in Holland on March 13 through KISS
Kollector Online, tickets are still available. They can be ordered online at the web site of
TicketService, the Dutch equivalent to Ticketmaster. The price per ticket amounts to
approximately $35. International credit card orders are being accepted.
Tickets for the March 25 show at London's Wembley Arena are also still available and can be obtained from the WAYAHEAD box office. To get tickets for the concert in Brussels, Belgium, on March 23, you may surf to Online With Rock. Unfortunately their web pages are only available in Dutch and French. |
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| Paul helps a three year old | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, RH - | ||
|
A couple of days ago KISSONLINE,
the official KISS web site, ran this amazing story on the December 16 Omaha show, as reported
by Darrin Barner:
After the opening song, Paul stopped the band from starting the next song because a three year old was in the first 2 rows in an open floor concert. I am sure he was pushed away when the crowd rushed the stage, when the show started. Paul said "we need to stop and everyone back up, we have a serious problem down here by the stage, a three year old is by himself and could get hurt. Get him out of here and get his mommy and daddy back together and get them over their to my seats." Paul then pointed to some seats off to his left about 50 feet away. Then two hours later when Paul smashes his guitar, he ran up and gave the kid the guitar, and on the big screen, it showed a kid with great big ear protection muffs on his head and the with part of the guitar. Also in the Omaha paper, an editor did an article with Paul a week before the show and said he is one of the classiest guys he has ever interviewed. |
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| DECEMBER 23, 1998 |
| Producer Fairbairn on KISS in Billboard magazine | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
|
Recently Bruce Fairbairn was interviewed by Billboard because of KISS' Psycho
Circus album that he produced. Here are some of the highlights:
"We didn't want to chase the trend and say 'Let's call Puff Daddy or have the Spice Girls sing on it'. We just tried to stay true to what KISS does best and what people remember them for." "Making the KISS record was very satisfying because of the way the guys all pulled in the same direction. It had the potential of being a nightmare because they're all disparate and strong characters musically and as people." |
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| Millennium episode airs on January 14 in Holland | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
| SBS6, the TV station that airs the FOX TV series Millennium in Holland, informed us recently that they will air the episode Thirteen Years Later with KISS on January 14. This is, of course, subject to change, if programming has to be rescheduled at the last minute or if the tapes from the USA arrive in a different order. | ||
| KISS dominates Amusement Business' Concert Top 10 | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
|
In one of this month's issues of Billboard magazine KISS dominates the Amusement Business
Boxscore Top 10 Concert Grosses. KISS can be found in the Top 10 no less than four times.
They're at No. 3 with the November 23 show at Madison Square Garden in New York: 15,173 fans (sell out) and grossing $986,476; at No. 5 with the November 22 show at Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey: 14,858 fans (sell out) and grossing $748,945; at No. 7 with the November 27 show at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in UNIONdale: 12,773 fans (capacity: 14,007) and grossin $626,658; at No. 8 with the November 21 show at First UNION Center in Philadelphia: 12,927 fans (capacity: 15,690) and grossing $566,130. |
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| DECEMBER 21, 1998 |
| New issue KISS Kollector Magazine out today | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
Stories include a review of the Halloween show at Dodger Stadium, the fanclub trip to L.A. plus an extensive interview with Gene conducted the day after the Halloween concert. Also included are part 2 of the interview with bassist Jimmy Haslip (who reveals on which KISS album he replaced Gene), a quick rundown of 25 years of KISStory, stories on Eric Carr and much more. Furthermore, exclusive photos from Dodger Stadium, a photo of Ace having a drink at some bar and never before published material from Eric Carr's private collection are included. You will also find some press releases and personal messages from the band in this new issue of KISS Kollector Magazine. |
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| Extra show in Germany on upcoming European Tour | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
| Already, an extra date has been added to the European Tour. On March 20 KISS is scheduled to play the Schleyerhalle in Stuttgart. Check out our Psycho Tour section for a listing of all dates. | ||
| DECEMBER 19, 1998 |
| KISS' record company to cut jobs... and bands! | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
|
Now that Seagram has taken over PolyGram from Philips (on December 10 instead of December 4,
as KISS Kollector Online reported on November 20) the staff has begun to lay off employees.
All in order to create cost savings, of course. Executives also have been or will be asked
to focus on a smaller roster of acts.
Rumor has it KISS might be one of the acts to be dropped from the Mercury Records label now that PolyGram has turned into Universal Music Group. This could also be a reason why it's unlikely there will be a release, outside the USA, of the newest home video The Second Coming. Mercury Records and Island Records will be merged and led by Jim Caparro as chairman and John Reid as president. Island CEO Davitt Sigerson and Mercury Group CEO Danny Goldberg will exit. According to chairman and CEO Doug Morris, "The new Universal Music Group will have more repertoire, less costs, more profits and better margins." |
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| Non-drinker Gene to recommand German beer? | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
In an advert for a heavy metal club, printed in German newspaper Neue Braunschweiger am
Sonntag from December 13, Gene's trademark solo album face is used to promote Wolters beer.
As you can see on the picture, it says: "Gene Simmons recommands Wolters Beer". If this doesn't
call for a lawsuit, what does..? Click on the picture for a larger image.
|
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| KISS at the American Music Awards | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, RH - | ||
| KISSONLINE, the official KISS web site, reports that KISS will be presenters at the American Music Awards on January 11th, 1999. It is not announced which award they will be presenting. In other news, KISSONLINE reports that Carolines Spine will be the opening act for the remainder of the first U.S. leg of the Psycho Circus World Tour. Carolines Spine replaces Econoline Crush starting December 27, when KISS plays in Madison, Wisconsin. | ||
| DECEMBER 18, 1998 |
| Press release for KISS concert in Holland | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
| Click here to view the actual press release concerning the March 13, 1999 concert in Utrecht, Holland, as faxed to KISS Kollector by promoter Mojo Concerts the other day. Amongst other things, the press release says: "For the first time in almost two decades the group performs in the original line up. Apart from all the KISS classics, such as I Was Made For Lovin' You, Sure Know Something and Shandi, the Psycho Circus Tour (...) also includes a spectaculair show with 3-dimensional effects." | ||
| Obtain original Psycho Circus artwork | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
| The artist who was hired to create the painting that was used to produce the Psycho Circus commerative collectors plate, is now offering the original artwork for sale. This painting was personally approved by Gene. You can e-mail your bid (minimum bid: $5000) to: artamecia@aol.com. The artwork can be viewed on this web page. The actual size of the oil painting is: 16" round on a 20" x 20" canvas. | ||
| DECEMBER 17, 1998 |
| It's official: KISS plays in Holland on March 13, 1999 | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
Today, advertisements in all major Dutch newspapers officially announced the Psycho Circus
World Tour is going to hit Holland in 1999. On Saturday March 13 KISS will play at the Prins
van Oranjehal in Utrecht. Tickets go on sale this Saturday. Ticket price: 67,50 Dutch guilders
(approx. $35) plus handling. Click on the picture to see some full size newspaper ads.
Mojo Concerts presents KISS in 3-D + support Saturday March 13, 1999 20.00 hours Prins van Oranjehal Utrecht Psycho Circus First Ever 3-D Tour |
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| Order tickets for KISS in Holland through KISS Kollector | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
|
Now that the KISS concert in Utrecht, Holland on March 13, 1999 has been confirmed
by Holland's biggest promoter Mojo Concerts, and tickets go on sale through the
regular pre sale addresses/ticket outlets on Saturday December 19, KISS Kollector
Online is happy to announce that we can offer tickets for this show as of now,
prior to the start of the regular on sale date.
Only a few days ago we reported that Mojo Concerts informed us that they were not involved in a KISS show in Holland and that some other promoter, Principle Artists Agents, was trying to book the band at the huge soccer stadium Gelredome in Arnhem. Once Mojo did book KISS for a concert at the Prins van Oranjehal in Utrecht, they tried to e-mail the news to KISS Kollector Online last Monday. However, their e-mail system malfunctioned and nobody received e-mail from them for almost four days in a row! So, apologies if anybody got confused by the news about a possible show in Arnhem, while we could have already had the news about the show in Utrecht up on the site... Anyway, just like on the last tour, KISS Kollector Fanclub (which includes KISS Kollector Online) is able to offer tickets for sale. Unlike last time however, this is a very limited-time-only offer. So if you'd like to order your tickets comfortably from behind your computer screen instead of having to stand in line at the ticket outlet, please e-mail us right away and you'll receive all the details. The ticket price is 71 Dutch guilders including handling, but excluding mailing costs. Reserve your tickets now. To order, e-mail kiss@animalize.com with your full name, postal address and e-mail address in the body of the message. Don't forget to mention the number of tickets you want. |
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| Will KISS play Denmark as well? | ||
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP, special thanks to Jesper Brogaard - | ||
| According to a Swedish newspaper, KISS will play at the Forum in Copenhagen, Denmark on March 1, 1999 as part of the European Psycho Circus Tour. This could very well be an extra date on the tour, since it fits the schedule. But it may also just be a rumour, as there seems to be no confirmation at this point. | ||
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