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| News Archive / February 1-15, 1999 | ||
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KISS NEWS IN EARLY FEBRUARY 1999 | FEBRUARY 16, 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. | ||
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FEBRUARY 15, 1999 |  |
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Countdown to the Euro Tour with The Second Coming: 30 | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
The countdown brings us closer and closer to the European Psycho Circus Tour, today you can
see Paul during sound check on the still to the right. Our review of The Second Coming
continues. When the band saw the huge inflatable KISS dolls for the first time, they not only
found out how difficult it is to inflate them and what it takes to get them to stand properly.
Paul immediately noticed something about the inflatable that had to portray him: "There's
no dick! I look like Wonderwoman." Paul also criticized the way the face looked. After this
footage, we see the last day of production rehearsals ending with an explosive pyrotechnics
demonstration, which sets the ceiling on fire. While we hear Firehouse playing in the
background the fire trucks come in. The image of firemen then fades into footage of the June 14
sound check at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre. Once again it's Deuce that we see and hear
them perform (for a few seconds only).
The kick off of the tour comes closer and closer. The June 16 warm-up gig at KROQ's Weenie Roast festival is next, followed by the production rehearsal at Detroit's Cobo Hall on June 23. We hear Calling Dr. Love as well as band members explaining that Ace missed his flight to Detroit twice. Only a few days are left to the start of the tour. On June 27 the band does a production rehearsal at Tiger Stadium, where they had to play a sold out opening gig for 38,000 fans the next day. At this point, the video has been running for 45 minutes, during which we've seen the history of the band and all rehearsals and other preparations that went into their record breaking reunion tour. From tomorrow onwards we'll start talking about what happened during the KISS Alive/Worldwide '96-97 Tour, or at least the things that can be seen on the two hour home video. |
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FEBRUARY 14, 1999 | |
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KISS' Detroit Rock City bumped to August | |
| - From Wall of Sound - | ||
| Detroit may be Rock City in theory, but it won't be in practice until August, if KISS has anything to do with it. The release of the film Detroit Rock City, whose title derives from the KISS song of the same name, has been postponed until August, pushed from its original release date of April. A press release on KISS' official web site (KISSONLINE) states that the test screenings were so positive that New Line decided that it deserved one of its "coveted August release dates". The later date will give the studio more time to promote the flick, including running trailers before the forthcoming Star Wars prequel, Phantom Menace. KISS reportedly appears in one scene at the end of movie. | ||
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Countdown to the Euro Tour with The Second Coming: 29 | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
While we're starting the fifth week of our countdown to the European Psycho Circus Tour, you
can check out yet another still from The Second Coming. It is an old photo, which is
shown on the video. The picture was taken in the seventies, you can see the band members with
their parents, who were all still alive back then. In our review of the home video we've reached
the period where they started to actually build the stage. You can see the stage being set up
at Light & Sound Design Inc. at Newbury Park, California on May 26, 1996. Tour manager Tim
Rozner explains the stage set and a little later we're watching the production rehearsal at Van
Nuys, California on June 10.
The rehearsal footage shows the band members in their normal clothes, but wearing their platform boots, going through Deuce. Too bad that once again the segment is way too short and has been edited, with far from perfect cuts in the song. Maybe they should have included a few complete songs, instead of only bits and pieces of everything. Meanwhile we've come to June 12, 1996, the day of the first dress rehearsal. Next you can see the band members checking out the inflatables for the very first time. Tomorrow we'll reveal how the band reacted when they saw these huge dolls. |
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FEBRUARY 13, 1999 | |
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Gene's original 1979 axe still for sale | |
| - From KISS Kollector, RH - | ||
| A few days ago, Metallica web site Inter Sandman reported that Jason Newsted had bought Gene Simmons' original Axe bass guitar. Now this rumor turns out to be false, the site states: "We would just like to make a clarification of a previously published story on our site regarding the purchase of THE ORIGINAL GENE SIMMONS AXE BASS by Jason. Upon further investigation, the story turns out to have no truth to it, which we have confirmed by a highly reliable source. We apologize for any inconveniences." This means the guitar is still for sale at Guitar Den for $19,800... | ||
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Dutch Promoter circulates flyers for upcoming show | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
| After the huge black/white posters that were issued a little while ago, Dutch promoter Mojo Concerts is also circulating black/white A5-sized flyers to promote the upcoming KISS concert at the Prins van Oranjehal in Utrecht. The best place to look for these flyers are the bigger post offices, where tickets are being sold al well. Click here to view the actual flyer as sent to us by the promoter. | ||
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Psycho Circus home video up again on Music Videos chart | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
| On the Top Music Videos chart, as printed in Billboard's February 13 issue, KISS' Psycho Circus home video is making its way to the Top 10 again. It's up from No. 13 to No. 12 in its 14th week. Meanwhile, The Second Coming is still at No. 6 (just like the last few weeks), in its 10th week on the chart. | ||
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Countdown to the Euro Tour with The Second Coming: 28 | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
Check out the still on the right, which shows Peter putting on his make-up at Gene's house,
before we pick up our countdown where we left off yesterday. The photo shoot at the Green Jelly
Studios was led by photographer Barry Levine, who had already worked with the band in the '70s
and '80s. Once again this resulted in great photos, as we all know, and on The Second
Coming we can see how it all happened. There was a band session and also individual sessions
for all band members. Paul's session was easily the most popular of all... Barry Levine came up
with the idea of Paul being surrounded by naked girls! Other footage consists of Gene coming up
with ideas for Peter's session, Ace touching up Peter's make-up and Peter fooling around during
the band session.
After six minutes of photo session footage, we're treated to more rehearsal footage. This time, it's the band rehearsing at the S.I.R. Rehearsal Studio in Hollywood, California, on June 7, 1996. We hear God Of Thunder. Ace is working on his guitar solo and finds out Paul and Gene missed their cue when it was time to show up behind the microphone again, so Ace sings a little bit of the song. As things didn't go very smoothly yet back then, Ace, Paul and Peter start fooling around and playing cover tunes, which has Gene step out to take care of some business (signing lithographs). Check back here tomorrow for more on this great home video, that has only been released in the United States. |
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FEBRUARY 12, 1999 | |
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Will Paul be writing with Dutch rockers Jetland? | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
Holland's hottest rock 'n roll band Jetland might record some Paul Stanley compositions for
their new, third, album which is scheduled for an April release. The first single off Jetland's
forthcoming album (which will be called Cowboy Style) should be out in the same week
that KISS plays Holland. Jetland is therefore talking with KISS and their management (McGhee
Entertainment) to get the opening slot for the KISS show in Utrecht on March 13 (either with,
or in favor of confirmed support act Buck Cherry).
During a two week break in KISS' Psycho Circus Tour, Jetland's lead vocalist and guitarist Jan Koster was supposed to hook up with Paul in New York. Jan used to be the drummer for the now disbanded Dutch rock band Sleeze Beez, who worked on a tune with Gene Simmons back in the Summer of 1991, when KISS was working on the album that became Revenge. A while ago Jetland's front man worked on new material in New York with Bobby Held, a friend of Paul's (with whom he, for instance, co-wrote a track that ended up on the Garbo Talks album, that was released in November of last year). Bobby suggested they'd bring in Paul, but at the very last moment Paul decided to spend his full two weeks off in Los Angeles, in stead of spending one week in New York. 
However, within a month Jetland will return to the States and Jan hopes to work with Paul
then. Meanwhile, Paul suggested he would send some tapes to the band in Holland that they
can work on. So who knows, some old or new Paul material might end up on Jetland's new album.
We will keep you posted. For now, here's a little more info on Jetland: In 1997 they released
their debut album Flowers For Wendy (mixed by Chris Sheldon, known for his work with
Foo Fighters and Therapy?). In 1998 their single And The Crowd Goes... turned into
a hit on the alternative charts, while later that year, their second album (Punkaholic,
mixed by Thomas Skogsberg, known for his work with Backyard Babies and Hellacopters) saw the
light of day.
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Late Dodgers Stadium review in Musikexpress | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
| The February issue of German magazine Musikexpress included a negative review of KISS' Dodger Stadium show from October 31, 1998. Better late than never, they must have thought. The photo caption is pretty funny, however, as it translates into something like this: "After they had devoured the others, a heavy fight ignited between the two monsters with the stringed instruments to decide who would get the last remaining microphone on the stage." Click here to see the article. | ||
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Psycho Circus game from Nintendo | |
| - From Nintendo - | ||
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Rockstar Games announces plans to publish KISS: Psycho Circus for Game Boy Color. Rockstar
Games is a newly-formed publishing arm of Take Two Interactive, and they're living up to their
name by premiering on Game Boy Color with a game starring the biggest exhibitionists in rock
'n' roll. Rockstar Games is not willing to leak any details about this title, but if you saw
the KISS performance during the Super Bowl XXXI pre game show then you should know what to expect.
KISS was formed in 1972, and it wasn't long before their devilish face paint and glamorous stage show made them the idols of every teenager and the scapegoat of every parent in the nation. Things died down for KISS by the early 90s, but Spawn creator Todd McFarlane helped to jump-start their careers by creating a line of nostalgic action figures and a comic book series titled KISS: Psycho Circus. Since then KISS has released an album under the same name, and they've put a lot of lame cover bands out of business by giving fans the real thing. Nintendo Power Source is excited about this unusual title, and we'll keep you posted with breaking news as Rockstar Games makes it available. |
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Countdown to the Euro Tour with The Second Coming: 27 | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
Today's still shows the band during rehearsal, meanwhile we pick up our review of The Second
Coming where we left off yesterday. The footage of all four band members trying on the make
up and new costumes and platform boots at Gene's place really is one of a kind. You can see
them putting on the make-up (Gene of course can be seen making faces and sticking out his famous
tongue), fitting the costumes and walking around outside Gene's house to get used to the new
boots. It's really great to see how the guys interact, when there's pretty much nobody else
around. Then it's Grammy time. You can see the band driving to the venue where the 1996 Grammys
were presented. When they enter through the backstage area, it's great to see the looks on the
faces of the security and Tupac Shakur, who along with KISS presented an award to Hootie And
The Blowfish.
Next up is the very first rehearsal, on March 10, 1996 at Cole Rehearsal Studio in Hollywood, California. Footage from different days has been edited together, but not chronological as you can see them wearing different clothes, caps, bandanas and haircuts. First you see Ace with a ponytail, then without one, and again with his hair in a ponytail, etc. The song you can see and hear them practising throughout the entire rehearsal footage is Deuce. Meanwhile we're 25 minutes into the video and we have reached the by now legendary day of April the 16th, 1996: the press conference at the USS. Intrepid, hosted by Conan O'Brien. There's backstage footage as well as footage of the actual press conference. Two minutes later we're treated with the reunited original line-up's first photo shoot together, at the Green Jelly Studios on April 22. |
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Detroit Rock City movie postponed until August | |
| - From Metal Edge Online - | ||
| The release of Detroit Rock City has been postponed until mid-August, which was, ironically, the month the KISS movie was originally intended to come out, before it was fast-tracked into production to get it out in April. But as it turned out, there simply wasn't enough time to get the film marketed properly and its soundtrack put together in time. The extra time "will give us more time to promote it," says Detroit Rock City associate producer Tim Sullivan. "We had a strong test screening Monday night and New Line is very pleased with the film," he says, noting that the four extra months will benefit the soundtrack and enable them to get a trailer into theaters during the busy May-July movie season. | ||
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Full NATPE Report | |
| - From KISSONLINE - | ||
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The National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) recently held its annual
convention in New Orleans on January 26-28. The NATPE convention is where all the major T.T .
producers and studios actually sell their shows to various affiliates and stations worldwide.
The convention packed the entire New Orleans Convention Center with hundreds of booths featuring
elaborate promotional displays of today's hottest t.v. shows. Most of the big-name exhibitors
brought in celebrities from the shows which they were hyping, to help stir up excitement among
the potential buyers. The celebrity list included everyone from Pamela Anderson, Howard Stern,
Lucy Lawless, Jerry Springer, and Dick Clark to cult heroes such as Roger Moore and William
Shatner.
Most importantly though, for a little more than 1 hour on Tuesday, Jan. 26, television's biggest executives and stars stepped aside as the Hottest Band in the World invaded — KISS. KISS appeared at the New Line Television booth to promote the New Line Cinema release of Detroit Rock City and to create an interest among the T.V. 'buyers'. A New Line representative said that Detroit Rock City is expected to be one of their hottest new movies and will likely be part of a future package of New Line's 'all-star hits', which will be offered to television stations worldwide. But first, the movie will be released in theaters across the US and Canada on April 16 (ed. note: now a August release). |
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A loving look at Detroit Rock City test screening | |
| - From Ain't It Cool News - | ||
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Ya know folks, every now and again there's a film that just makes me wanna smile. You see,
Detroit Rock City is that movie right now. When I was just a wee lad, I dressed up as
the 'Thing That Survived Three Mile Island', which consisted of a glow in the dark reptilian
mask and a 'no nukes' t-shirt and won the Eeyore's Birthday Costume COntest here in Austin.
The Prize? All four of them LPs (an ancient circular disc made of asphalt like substance with
grooves which, when scratched with a needle attached to an amplifier gave off noise sounding
like hi-fi music) of the KISS Solo Albums... the ones where each album had a different member
of the band's bad ass faces on it! Ever since I've heard of this movie, I've been awaiting it.
And, I've been hoping that it would be a part of SXSW Music and Film fest here in Austin. Why?
Well, so I could see it earlier than it's targeted release date, which now pushes it into the
summer from it's earlier April release date.. sigh... So who knows.. perhaps...
I had the opportunity to see a MarketCast test screening of Detroit Rock City on Monday, and am finally getting around to sharing my thoughts with you. Please feel free to share this with your readers. First off, let me just start with the obligatory bashing of market research companies... Prior to this, I'd only attended two other test screening, both by the famed NRG. Hah, and I thought they were bad! This MarketCast group was incredibly disorganized and unprepared for the number of people that showed up. But my real beef was the demographics represented... The 'invitation' called for ages 18-34 only, yet a good 1/3 of the audience were under 18. I'd guess *very* few over 25. Even the 'select' group of viewers who were paid for a more in depth opinion fell in the 16-25 area. Considering this is a movie about KISS and KISS fans in 1978, I would have though an older age group much more representative. Although the humour of the movie seemed targeted towards the younger end of the spectrum. Not sure if that was intentional or wise. Ah yes, the movie. For those who haven't heard the synopsis already, Detroit Rock City, starring Edward Furlong, is about 4 high school KISS fans in 1972 who after losing their tickets, would do anything to get into the show. Despite the sometimes canned humour of the movie, they managed to reel me in pretty well. Wasn't long before I was feeling the agony right along with our four unlucky friends, wincing at every blow, furious with every person who got in their way. I found myself wanting to go to the concert as badly as they did (and I'm a pretty far cry from a fan of KISS). And felt utterly depressed every time it seemed less and less likely to happen. I keep mentioning the tone of the humour, so perhaps I should describe that. I don't mean to come down hard on it, sure enough it kept me laughing through most of the movie. But it all had a somewhat adolescent flavour to it. Bathroom gags, drugs, and lots of just simple jokes that anyone would be sure to pick up. Some of it was a little more thoughtful, like the running rock 'n' roll versus disco gag. Our four rock 'n' roll beings just can't seem to get away from the Stellas and Guidos of the world. All that said, when the lights came on, myself, my friend, and the rest of the audience still had huge grins on our faces (well, until the MarketCast drones started handing out surveys). Everyone seemed to enjoy it, and I'd highly recommend the movie to all my friends when it is released. Best (of the genre, that is) I've seen since Something About Mary. Not to mention, an awesome soundtrack. |
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FEBRUARY 11, 1999 | |
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Excerpt from Playboy article 'The Girls Of KISS' | |
| - From Playboy Online - | ||
It is just another night at the office for KISS. The band is in the middle of its latest tour:
Lasers cut through smoky air while giant screens project Gene Simmons' enormous tongue in gory
3-D glory. The true test of any band is on stage and KISS knows it. They churn through Love
Gun, Detroit Rock City and Rock and Roll All Nite. The band whose albums
Alive! and Destroyer were emblematic of the Seventies is blowing the roof off the
Nineties.
In 1995 the four original members gathered on stage for the first time in more than a decade to do a few songs on MTV's Unplugged. Response was so great they went on an arena-packing tour. In late 1998 they again went on tour and released a new album, Psycho Circus, which promptly went gold. Now comes the band's new movie, Detroit Rock City, out this April, which will add another dimension to the KISS carnival. Unlike 20 years ago, today's leading artists gladly acknowledge the influence of KISS' thunder rock. Yes, the thought of 8-inch heels and helmet-sized codpieces still seems comical. It should be noted, however, that on the night KISS packed Madison Square Garden, Marilyn Manson, glam's latest avatar, was across the street playing the much smaller venue, the Hammerstein Ballroom. |
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50-minute KISS special on TV in Holland | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
| Dutch TV and radio station Veronica, who have aired quite a few KISS specials in the past, will air a 50-minute version of The Second Coming on February 25. Especially for those fans that are unable to view the NTSC home video The Second Coming (the only format currently available), this will be interesting. The 2-hour home video was released in the USA on November 24. The international release (in PAL format for example) has been put on hold, due to the take-over of KISS' record company Polygram by Seagram. Now all fans in Holland get a chance to see quite a bit of this wonderful footage. | ||
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Officially licensed Eric Carr t-shirt still available | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
The memorial Eric Carr t-shirt, as authorized by Eric's family, is available for $19.95 plus
$4.50 (shipping and handling) within the USA, and $28.95 plus $12.50 for foreign orders
(International Money Order only). The tribute t-shirt in Eric's memory is made of 100% cotton.
The black t-shirt has a black and white full face drawing of Eric within a red front on the
front and the text 'Eric Carr 1950-1991' printed underneath. On the back are the words 'You
will always be remembered'.
To order send an (International) Money Order or check, payable to Caravello, to: P.O. Box 287, Summitville, N.Y. 12781, USA Until then, check out the Rockheads web site. |
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Some other members of Eric Carr's Rockheads gang | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
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Today we show you the remaining three characters that are part of the Rockheads gang. Click
here to meet
Bibi, Roxy and Crystal. On this page
you can have a look at Eric's business card, as promised yesterday. Another picture shows a card
from Eric's family that says: "We wish to express our gratitude for your kindness and
support. Eric will always be remembered for his musical talents, but far more, for the genuine
love and concern he gave to others. He will be deeply missed. Through your memories he will
live. Through the music he left behind he will be felt."
Eric Carr was a very funny guy, never shy of pulling pranks on his band mates (especially Gene). It seemed to be his second nature. Even when he was asked serious questions he would often give funny answers, or come up with great one-liners. Below are some of the many funny quotes that appeared in magazines and fanzines all around the world, during Eric's long and successful career in KISS: Are you right or left-handed? "Left-handed, but I play drums, bass and guitar right-handed. I sing left-handed." What is the best way for a fan to approach you? "From the front. Not with an attitude of sarcasm or of too much excitement. I'm easy to talk to." What do you think the next album will be? "It will be round with a hole in the middle!" Do you get a lot of mail? "No, but I get a lot of fe-male!" What's it like to play in Australia? "I love playing Down Under. How do the girls keep their dresses from going up over their heads?" |
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Countdown to the Euro Tour with The Second Coming: 26 | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
Check out the still of Paul sitting in a rehearsal room, while we continue our review of
The Second Coming. After the short introduction, narrator Matt Pinfield quickly runs
through the long and illustrious history of KISS. 'In the Beginning' starts in the early 1960s,
displaying old photos of Gene and Paul as youngsters, who by 1968 had formed a band called
Wicked Lester. Also shown is the by now famous black and white live footage from Winterland,
rare photos of very early KISS and even some never before seen pictures. There's also short
clips of old live footage, as seen on some older KISS home videos and available in full length
on bootleg videos. While these old live images are shown, the band members can be heard talking
about the band's history, taking turns with the narrator. There's live footage, television
footage and photos.
After 13 only minutes we have reached the non make-up years, which are being discussed very briefly. This part of the home video includes very, very short but awesome live footage from the 1992 UK Tour. Only a few seconds later the story concentrates on the 1995 official KISS conventions in the USA Peter joins the band in L.A. and on August 5, 1995, both Peter and Ace join the band at the S.I.R. Studios in New York to rehearse for the MTV Unplugged session. Ace admits: "I was slightly apprehensive because it was the first time the four of us had gotten together as a foursome in well over 20 years and I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know what kind of vibes there were gonna be. I figured: I just walk into the room and wing it." There's great footage of Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter rehearsing, after which we're treated on some MTV Unplugged images (including Peter and Ace hugging backstage before they hit the stage). KISS' current manager Doc McGhee can be heard saying: "When it came time, and Gene and I talked and he said: 'We're gonna put on the make-up', I said: 'I'll be right over' because I knew that this would be what it ended up to be, and what is going to be the biggest rock band of all time." After 19 minutes of video madness that The Second Coming is, we see Gene, Paul, Peter and Ace at Gene's Beverly Hills house, practicing putting on the make-up for the first time in many years. |
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FEBRUARY 10, 1999 | |
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Gene's original Axe bought by Jason Newsted of Metallica | |
| - From KISS Kollector, RH - | ||
Metallica web site Inter Sandman
reports the following: "Jason has apparently made a rather expensive purchase,
adding THE ORIGINAL GENE SIMMONS AXE BASS to his collection. The guitar was priced
at $19,800 and it included a presentation 'coffin' case. The guitar was put on sale by
Guitar Den, who owns the exclusive
rights to it."
On the Guitar Den web site some more
information can be found: "What we have here is the original, the prototype, the first
one, the *real* axe bass used by Gene Simmons of KISS. It was used in concert as well as for
promotional photography. This is the real deal owned by the luthier who made the first three
of Simmons axe basses. The Guitar Den has the exclusive rights to this one, which was the
first, used by Simmons until retired and the second one was created to take its place. The
second one is the bass that appeared in the Guitar Player Magazine."
The story continues: "This bass is also commonly referred to by KISS fans as the Gothic Bass or the Viewmaster Bass because of the circular viewmaster photos circulated and now collected. It was designed by Gene Simmons and built by Steve Carr. It was built as a prototype and eventually used in the spring of 1979 and immediately put into service for promotional photography. There are photos and documents assuring authenticity. The backyard photo is dated 1979 on the back by Kodak." |
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Meet some of the other Rockheads characters | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
Yesterday we introduced you to the leading characters of Eric Carr's cartoon project
The Rockheads. Today you'll meet some of their very special friends and assorted
weirdos. Friends or weirdos such as Sandee, Gabby Maxwell, Bibi, Roxy and Crystal. Click
here to view one of
the actual promo sheets that Eric had made, to give television stations an idea of what his
Rockheads were all about. Tomorrow we'll show another promo sheet with some of these
characters. Eric produced The Rockheads through his own company called Streetgang
Productions. Tomorrow we will also show you Eric's business card, that he had made especially
for Streetgang Productions.
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Countdown to the Euro Tour with The Second Coming: 25 | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
Today's still shows Gene and Peter having fun on stage, just before the encores. After having
displayed so many stills from the video, it's about time we start talking details of what's
on the two video package that The Second Coming is. The video starts with the morphing
KISS faces, while a voice-over (Matt Pinfield) says: "After 23 years and 75 million albums,
the rock phenomenon KISS returns for a sold out world tour." Then George Bernard Shaw's
quot that has been used in a KISS home video before, hits the screen: "The secret of
success is to offend the greatest number of people." While we hear the voice-over, live
footage from the 1996-1997 tour can be seen and some sound bites from Paul and Gene can be heard
as well.
Then the KISS logo appears with the title of the video underneath. More live footage can be seen, while the voice over asks questions that will be answered throughout the video: "Who are these masked men and where did they come from? What drives them to push the extremes of rock spectacle? How did they overcome their past differences and finally reunite? What did it take to reclaim the title as "The Hottest Band In The World"?" "Come witness the rebirth of rock's most incredible band. The story of how Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter reunited and wrote a new chapter in the history of rock 'n' roll." The answers to these questions can be read here in the weeks to come... |
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FEBRUARY 9, 1999 | |
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Meet Eric Carr's animation project: The Rockheads | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
Eric Carr's Rockheads ideas go back all the way to his schooldays, when he attended
the Highschool of Art and Design in New York City during the mid-60's. This was a project that
Eric one day would have wanted all the fans to enjoy, Eric had designed it to be for Saturday
morning television. Unfortunately it never made it onto TV, at least not as of yet. But Eric's
family, with the help of others, have brought the Rockheads to life for everyone to
enjoy. You can check out some of Eric's artwork here. As we reported yesterday, soon the
soundtrack to his cartoon project will be available. Eric's music will be released on CD in
Europe his month. Without a doubt, the album will be available at the KISS Expos taking place
during the European leg of Psycho Circus Tour.
All the artwork, stories and ideas for Eric Carr's Rockheads were created, written and drawn by Eric himself. Click here to see some of the original artwork, made by Eric. He created the idea of a four piece rock band, consisting of Scruffy, Slider, Clive and Punky. Some background info on the band members: Scruffy (lead vocals/rhythm guitar) has got his own definite idea of how a Rock Star should look and act, and he loves chocolate (just like Eric himself — Eric even ate chocolate for breakfast!). Slider (lead guitar/vocals) is a real L.A. guitar hero and famous for his knee slides on stage. Clive (bass guitar/vocals) is proper, pompous, and a bit snooty. Punky (drums/vocals) is the drummer's drummer with the talent, looks, energy and attitude that make him special enough to be a Rockhead. The Rockheads sell millions of albums and play to sellout crowds. They are loved by everyone. They're very talented, very cute and very lovable. Each of the members is slightly strange in his own special way. Together they create a chemistry and sense of fun that is beyond compare. Along with some very special friends and assorted weirdos (such as Bibi, Roxy and Crystal), they populate a world very much like our own, play music very much like our own and drive each other crazy, of course having lots of fun doing so. But the Rockheads are just odd enough for you to say to yourself: 'This can't be real... or could it?' |
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Countdown to the Euro Tour with The Second Coming: 24 | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
The only remaining pages in the 36-page booklet that comes with The Second Coming are
pages featuring adverts for official merchandise, the 1996-97 tour dates, credits and adverts
like the one on page 26.
It's an advert for Ace's signature Gibson Les Paul. The booklet also features an advert for
Paul's signature Washburn PS2000B guitar (on page 24), and one for Gene's Axe Bass which retails
for no less than $3,000 (on page 25).
The still on the right is far more interesting though. It shows the band during their very first dress rehearsal, back in June of 1996, for the KISS Alive/Worldwide '96-97 Tour. As said before, this double video set — more than any other home video KISS has ever released — reveals what goes on behind doors that usually remain closed for the fans. There's so much unique and exclusive material — not just from behind the scenes but also never before released material from live shows and such — on The Second Coming, that it should be considered a 'crime' that this home video isn't being released outside the United States. Luckily, we are able to show much more of these unique shots in the days to come. Soon, we'll start reviewing the video as well. |
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FEBRUARY 8, 1999 | |
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At last: Eric Carr's Rockheads tunes released on CD | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
Yesterday, Loretta Caravello, sister of late KISS drummer Eric Carr, e-mailed us some great
news. The songs that Eric wrote and recorded for his cartoon project Rockheads — with
the help of fellow KISS member Bruce Kulick — will be released on CD in Europe this month!
So at long last, some material of Eric's Rockheads animation project will be available to the
fans. Unfortunately Eric didn't have enough time to really shop for a contract with a TV
station to have his Rockheads actually appear on TV. Ever since Eric passed away in 1991, his
family has tried very hard to get his music released to the fans.
The CD will be released as a limited collectors edition of 5,000 copies. Eric sings all lead vocals and also plays drums and guitar. Bruce Kulick can be heard as the lead guitarist. Says Eric's sister Loretta: "These are complete never before released remastered songs, from the original 12-tracks, written by Eric for his Rockheads animation between 1986 and 1989. They are awesome. You will be amazed how much more talented Eric was. The ballad called Tiera will bring tears to your eyes, it is beautiful. The other songs are great too: Too Cool For School, Nasty Boys, Can You Feel It ...great!" For more info on the Rockheads, please check out issue 27 of KISS Kollector magazine which features info on Eric's project and on all the lead characters that appear in the cartoon. |
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All dates for the European KISS Expos | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
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We reported about the Expo in Holland earlier, now finally here's a listing of all KISS
Expos that will take place in Europe during the Psycho Circus Tour: February 28: Rockefeller, Oslo, Norway March 3: Globe Hotel (Arenaslingan 7), Stockholm, Sweden March 5: Karen (Gotabergsgatan 17), Gothenburg, Sweden March 7: Quality Hotel (Landsbergerallee 203), Berlin, Germany March 8: Kantine (Kempenerstrasse 135), Koln-Nippes, Germany March 9: Hafenbahn (Hafen 2a), Offenbach, Germany March 12: Konsul Hackfeld Haus (Birkenstrasse 34), Bremen, Germany March 13: Tivoli (Oude Gracht 245), Utrecht, Holland |
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Interview with Eric Carr's family is on | |
| - From KISS Kollector, RH - | ||
| Unfortunately, we mentioned the wrong e-mail address in our February 5 article on the Carr family interview. The mistake has since been corrected, but just be sure we would like to point out once more that you can e-mail LNoella3@aol.com aka Angela with any questions you'd like her to ask to Eric Carr's family. This Carr family has agreed, so the interview is a go! Let's have those questions... | ||
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Countdown to the Euro Tour with The Second Coming: 23 | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
As said yesterday, today we reach the only remaining page of the 36-page booklet that's
really interesting. With this page we also wrap up the 'history' as told on the two video
tapes that are part of the great The Second Coming package. We'll start paying more
attention to what's actually on the video from now on, with many more stills taken from
the screen. As for today's still, check out this unique picture of Gene, in full war paint
and costume, with his son Nicholas on his knee and his mother Florence sitting next to him.
Page 22 reads as follows:
"It had been 200 shows, two million people in one year. Gene, Peter, Ace and Paul had reason to feel good. After all the hard work, they had accomplished what they had set out to do and much more. The tour broke records and was bigger than anyone had ever imagined. And most important of all — the fans loved it. But as true now as ever, KISS is always looking forward to the future — What's next? 1998 and beyond... The future for KISS is exactly what it's always been. It's the idea that you can believe in your dreams, believe in yourself, and do exactly what you want to do in life. That's the pure essence of rock and roll, and that's what KISS is all about." |
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New shipping date for Chip Rock's KISS photo book | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
| Outages, Volume 1, Chip Rock's photo book on KISS that we reported about earlier, unfortunately experienced several production delays. Originally the book was scheduled for a release late last year. However, these instances have led to a better-looking product and more text and pictures. The book is now expected to be out on March 30. | ||
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FEBRUARY 7, 1999 | |
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Countdown to the Euro Tour with The Second Coming: 22 | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
At the start of the fourth week of our countdown, we're coming to the end of the interesting
pages in the booklet. After today, only one noteworthy page is left really, the rest of the
pages contain credits and KISS adverts (KISSTORY II, signature guitars from Paul, Gene
and Ace, merchandise). The booklet ends with a two page spread of the 1996-1997 tour dates.
Check out page 21 for
yourself or read the transcription of the text in the next paragraph. Today's still, on the
right, gives an exclusive look behind closed doors: Paul and Peter, at Gene's house —
where they have just put on the make-up and costumes for the first time in a many years —
checking out a video camera. Meanwhile, Gene relaxes sitting at his table.
"On an off-day in Berlin, the band visited a recording studio to record their voices for a new Nickelodeon animated short, 'Action League Now', starring the KISS action figures. With the end of the tour near, KISS returned to London by invitation for a press conference at London's Rock Circus Museum, where the band's hand prints were cast in plaster to commemorate their historic career of almost three decades. KISSmania was the only way to describe what happened in Sweden. A record-breaking of 2-night-stand at Stockholm's Olympic Stadium was the largest single event there since the 1912 Olympics. After Scandinavia, the band flew south to the bullrings and stadiums of Madrid, Zaragoza and Barcelona, Spain. The tour ended in London at Finsbury Park on July 5th. It had been a long road..." |
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FEBRUARY 6, 1999 | |
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Commercial for Utrecht show on TV in Holland | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
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Early this week a promo for the KISS concert in Utrecht on March 13 started airing on TV in
Holland. Several Dutch stations aired the 20-second commercial. It kicks off with two seconds
from the Shout It Out Loud video, while the KISS logo (with the four faces in it) appears
on the screen accompanied by the line 'Het concert van de eeuw!' ('The concert of the century!').
The remainder of the short commercial contains live footage of the previous tour (including Paul
smashing guitars and Gene on a cherry picker). There's also a quick shot of Peter in 1979. The
rest of the text displayed reads: 'World's first 3-D concert — 13 maart Prins van Oranjehal,
Utrecht — KISS live in 3-D!'.
The songs that can be heard throughout the video are Deuce, Psycho Circus and Rock And Roll All Nite. For those of you that can read Dutch, the transcription of the text from the 'voice-over' is a follows: "Het concert van de eeuw! Eenmalig in Nederland: KISS live, op 13 maart in de Prins van Oranjehal in Utrecht. Met alle grote hits en spectaculaire 3-D effecten. KISS live! Kaarten verkrijgbaar bij de 150 grotere Postkantoren of bel Ticket Service: 0900-3001250." As reported earlier, some 10,000 tickets have currently been sold for the Utrecht show, which leaves about 6,000. |
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Countdown to the Euro Tour with The Second Coming: 21 | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
After three weeks of counting down to the European Psycho Circus Tour, we're at
page 20
of the 36-page booklet that comes with the great home video The Second Coming:
"March 1997. Momentum was building as KISS landed in Mexico City for three packed nights the Palacio De Los Deportes, followed by huge stadium shows in Santiago, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina. By Spring of 1997, the band decided to return to the States and play cities that they may have missed on the first time around. It was back to America for round two. This second go-around was dubbed the 'Lost-Cities Tour'. From Ace's birthday on stage, to being presented the key to the city of St. Paul MN, to flood relief in Fargo, the lost cities leg took many twists and turns. In Evansville IN, fans would be truly surprised to see what really goes on in KISS' dressing room. May 1997. It was on to huge outdoor stadiums in Germany, to the Eastern European cities of Prague, Belgrade and Budapest, KISS returned to Europe for a final 2-month siege of jam-packed shows." |
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FEBRUARY 5, 1999 | |
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Would you like to ask Eric Carr's family a question? | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
LNoella3@aol.com aka Angela is trying to set up an
interview with Eric's family for her Eric Carr home page and she's inviting everyone to
send in questions. If there anything you'd like to ask the Caravello's, please
e-mail your questions
to Angela. Once the interview has taken place, it will also be available here at KISS
Kollector Online. Angela is also running mailing lists on all KISS drummers, past and
present. Whether your favorite is Peter Criss, Eric Carr or Eric Singer, doesn't matter:
there's always a place to meet fellow fans. To subscribe to one of the lists, check out
the appropriate web page:www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/petercriss www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/ericcarr www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/ericsinger |
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Countdown to the Euro Tour with The Second Coming: 20 | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
As said before during this countdown, the band is having lots of fun on tour. Today's still
shows Peter fooling around in the dressing room, causing for hysterical laughter around him.
There's lots of this kind of exclusive footage on the two tape video set, and also in the
booklet. Our countdown brings us to page 19,
where you can read the following:
"It was hard to believe that not since 1978, had Paul, Gene, Ace and Peter toured the land of the rising sun. Reunited with some of their dearest and most devoted fans, KISS rocked the massive Tokyo Dome and set new attendance records throughout Japan. With a Happy Birthday song to Paul from 16,000 fans in Nagoya, to filming a bizarre Japanese TV commercial in a pie shop in Tokyo, Japan '97 would be something no one would ever forget. From Japan, the band jetted to Australia for a one-of-a-kind pres conference in Sydney. The hugely successful Australia/New Zealand leg of the tour ensued with a run of sold out shows, capped off with multiple night stands in Sydney and Melbourne." |
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FEBRUARY 4, 1999 | |
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Playboy issue with KISS available | |
| - From KISS Kollector, RH - | ||
The March 1999 US edition of Playboy Magazine is being sent out to subscribers in the
US this week. On Tuesday February 9 the 'Sex & Music Issue' will hit the newsstands in
North America. As reported earlier, this issue contains some great photos of KISS with 'The
Girls of KISS', also known as the KISSettes. You can have a look at the cover right now, click
on the picture for a larger image. More pictures here, as soon as we get them. At this point
it is unknown if some of the international editions of Playboy will carry the photos.
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Countdown to the Euro Tour with The Second Coming: 19 | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
Check out Ace in the rehearsal room on the still to the right, while we're at
page 18 of The Second
Coming's booklet: "By the beginning of November 1996, KISS had thoroughly destroyed
North America. Their next target: Europe and the rest of the world. By the time they reached
Frankfurt, Germany, the band had reached an important milestone. There was a backstage
celebration to mark the 100th show of the tour. As 1996 came to a close, the band celebrated
New Year's Eve with 18,000 fanatics at the Continental Arena in East Rutherford, NJ. As
longtime KISS supporter, Dick Clark counted down the final seconds of 1996 from Times Square
the band reflected on what was their biggest year ever. From finally reuniting, to the planning
and preparation of the tour, to the acclamation of KISS fans worldwide, 1996 would be a year
no one would ever forget. On to 1997.. and Japan."
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FEBRUARY 3, 1999 | |
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Super Bowl Sunday: KISS steals the show | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
Last Sunday the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons clashed with each other (34-16) for
the 1999 Super Bowl at Pro Player Stadium on Oceandrive, South Beach Miami. The Super Bowl is
America's biggest sports event, attended by 75,000 spectators and watched by 800 million TV
viewers worldwide. But who cares about the game, when KISS is the highlight of the pre game
festivities? The band stole the show with their performance of Rock And Roll All Nite
and loads of fireworks lighting up the Miami sky.
In Holland, or in fact Europe, the Super Bowl isn't very big. Newspapers only reported on it in small doses, or not at all. In Holland, some of the national newspapers dedicated half a page to Super Bowl mania, sometimes mentioning KISS' appearance, but most of the time only mentioning some of the other performing artists. However, a local newspaper called Gooi- & Eemlander printed a great photo of KISS performing at Pro Player Stadium. Click on the small picture to see the photo and its caption. |
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Countdown to the Euro Tour with The Second Coming: 18 | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
Never before did KISS release any footage revealing so much of what goes on behind the scenes,
as on the double video set The Second Coming. In the last two weeks you've been able
to check out here, in our daily series counting down to the start of the European Psycho Circus
Tour, some of the great footage that can be seen on the video and in its 36-page booklet. We
already displayed several pictures and stills of what goes on in the dressing rooms, rehearsal
rooms, and so on. Yesterday you could see Gene at home trying on the make-up again. Today the
still from the video shows Paul at Gene's place putting on his make-up for the first time in
years. And let's not forget about the commemorative booklet,
page 17 reads:
"Rockin' in the USA for two more solid months took the band from one end of the country to the other. The band took time off from the year's hottest tour on September 4th, to literally blow up the Brooklyn Bridge with a pyro-induced grand finale on the MTV Video Music Awards show. There's something about America... Everything was going well until Friday, September 13th, when KISS was scheduled to play in Tupelo, Mississippi, the birthplace of Elvis Presley. A group of fanatic Christian ministers and concerned citizens unsuccessfully attempted to stop KISS from performing there because of their alleged dangerous agenda. Gene wondered if they treated Elvis the same way." |
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FEBRUARY 2, 1999 | |
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France seems to be going into a KISS frenzy | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP, special thanks to Philippe Briec - | ||
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The next two months promise to be very good for KISS and their French fans. The live EP,
packaged with the Psycho Circus album, will be released in France on February 22.
On the very same day many of the KISS CD's will be released as Remasters, at mid-price.
A lot of the French music magazines will run adverts to promote these releases. Street
marketing is to take place in all the cool rock places in Paris by distributing promo flyers.
A lot of TV coverage for the March 22 concert at Bercy in Paris is planned as well. French TV station M6 will have promo spots starting on February 20. Expected is that M6 will broadcast a KISS concert (perhaps the Rock Am Ring '97 show) on a Friday night. Interviews and reports on KISS are planned as well, on several stations. As for radio, RTL 2 has a total of 220 promo spots to air and plays Psycho Circus very often. KISS will also appear in most of the French rock press, while the national newspapers are to feature adverts for the show and run reviews. The rock magazines are expected to have KISS on the cover, and one mag is even trying to have four different covers, just like American magazines Spin and go figure! did. |
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KISS Psycho Circus comic issue 18 in Previews | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
Last month's issue of Previews, 'The Comic Shop's Catalog' included a full page
preview of issue 18 of the KISS Psycho Circus comic, which should be out next month. The
accompanying text reads: "An aging, burned-out rock star sits alone in an empty house,
contemplating how terribly wrong his life has gone. Once, he had it all: fame, fortune,
women, talent, but he squandered it all away in a blur of alcohol and drugs, paranoia and
arrogance. Now, at the end of his rope and considering suicide, he looks back over his
colorful but painful life. He thinks back to a time when he was young and carefree to one
fateful day and a strange bargain he made at a mysterious Circus. A deal that has haunted
him ever since. Don't miss 'Sunburst Finish' — a macabre tale of excess and regret
this month in KISS: Psycho Circus."
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Countdown to the Euro Tour with The Second Coming: 17 | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
When the outside world didn't have a clue yet and the KISS Army was speculating, the band
secretly came together at Gene's Beverly Hills house to try on the make-up, costumes and
boots. Today's still reveals how Gene put on his make-up for the first time in years. One
day later KISS surprised the world by appearing on the 1996 Grammys in front of a TV
audience of 80 million people. As for our countdown, we're at
page 16 of
The Second Coming's 36-page booklet:
"Literally spanning the generations, it's like a rite of passage to have new fans show up and be a part of a KISS show that may have turned their parents' lives around twenty years prior. There's something magical about KISS that affects everybody. By Mid-August 1996, and America exploding with KISSteria, band and crew flew to England to headline the massive Castle Donnington festival. This one-off concert in England was an amazing outdoor show where 60,000 people got out in the rain and mud and stopped at nothing. As an important setup to the upcoming European leg later in the year, they knew they had to knock everyone out. August 23rd, 24th, 25th, 1996. KISS returned to Los Angeles for three packed nights at the fabulous Forum. These shows were not to be forgotten because of the amazing women, backstage charades with Jay Leno and of course; Gene's birthday!" |
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KISS bowls 'em over | |
| - From Jam! - | ||
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An American classic. No, no, no — I'm not talking about yesterday's Super Bowl game,
which turned out to be another highly hyped yawner. I'm talking about KISS, the reunited
'70s super group responsible for more fireworks (literally) during its short pre game
performance than the Denver-Atlanta clash ignited over four quarters.
Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss are masters at whipping audiences into a frenzy — and they did exactly that with a rendition of their classic, fist-pumping party anthem Rock and Roll All Nite. Paul (with KISS, it's first name, please) worked the crowd, Gene flicked his tongue, cheerleaders in KISS make-up gyrated around the stage, and Ace shot sparks from the neck of his guitar. The song's finale ended with a fireworks display that would put the Fourth of July to shame. How theatrical! How over-the-top! How garish! How KISS! However, one wonders if Super Bowl entertainment organizers realized Simmons had once dated Cher, the woman chosen to sing the national anthem. Who knows — maybe there were some fireworks backstage, too. Admittedly, I watched the anthem with some trepidation. Last month, I watched a male vocal group give the Star Spangled Banner a hip-hop treatment at the NHL Skills Competition in Tampa, Fla. So I wondered: What did Cher mean exactly when she said last week that her version of the anthem will quot;rock"? Would she dare sing the lyrics to the melody of her current hit, Believe? (quot;Do you believe in Star Spangled Banner? / Do you believe in rockets' red glare?quot;) Whew, Cher was ultimately very respectful, both in her attire (blue jeans and a sequined top) and her singing. Essentially, she turned the Star Spangled Banner into a Celine Dion power ballad. The half time show had a carnival ambience and featured energetic performances from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Gloria Estefan and Stevie Wonder. Estefan and Wonder's duet on the latter's song Another Star ended half time with a blast. |
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FEBRUARY 1, 1999 | |
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Hot off the fax... South American tour dates! | |
| - From KISSONLINE - | ||
| From April 10th to April 24th, KISS have six shows scheduled in the following cities: Buenos Aires (Argentina), Santiago (Chile), Montevideo (Uruguay), Sao Paulo (Brazil), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Mexico City (Mexico). (Check KISS Kollector Online's Psycho Tour section for a complete listing of all known dates.) | ||
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KISS rocks the Super Bowl | |
| - From KISS Kollector, RH - | ||
Last night KISS rocked the Super Bowl. They performed Rock And Roll All Night in a loaded
Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida, just before the start of the game. Because of the tight
TV schedule they weren't allowed to perform live, but instead lip synched to a version that
was recorded live at the sound check for the last Meadowlands show. The performance, that was
broadcast all around the world, went down really well. The following two reports pretty much
sum it up. Click on the picture for a larger image.
KISSONLINE, the official web site, sums it up like this: "Was KISS any more perfect for the Super Bowl! Simple, they kicked ass! A very sparse stage with a logo behind Peter, but plenty of fire, and fireworks more then made up. Ace used his spinning pyro effect, and it appeared that Paul even smashed a mirrored guitar. The song ended with both Gene and Ace going up in lifts like they did for the Halloween show. Let's not forget about the field being filled with beautiful women in KISS make-up! Finally, as FOX was fading out for a commercial you could hear Shout It Out Loud playing over the PA." This is one of the dozens of fan reactions that appeared in KISS news groups and on KISS mailing lists on the Internet, right after the pre game show: "I just wanted to say one thing about the Super Bowl appearance. Oh my God! This had to be one of the best performances I have ever seen. They made it. They did it. What they did in five minutes topped the half time show. The crowd was into it and the boys just rocked. The production was much better than the Halloween special that FOX did. I've always liked the song but not this. It brought back some good feelings. I even shed a tear for the boys because I realized again that this was the Super Bowl. Way to go guys. What's left for them to do... They have done it all. Oh they can always go to Disney World... :)" |
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The changes at KISS' record company in Holland | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
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We have reported a few times about the take over of PolyGram by Universal parent Seagram
and the changes caused by the deal, but these reports mainly dealt with Universal Music Group
in the United States. So let's see what's happening at the record company in Holland. Late
January Theo Roos, chairman/CEO of Universal Music Group (and former PolyGram chairman/CEO)
in Holland announced the new plans. In the new structure, created by the merger of PolyGram
and Universal, there will not be three pop labels but only two: Polydor and KISS' label
Mercury. Managing Director of Mercury will be ex-Managing Director Universal Music
Benelux Kees van Weijen, who'll be responsible for the labels Mercury, Island, Universal,
London, Motown, Def Jam and MCA.
The A & R departments of Mercury, Polydor and Universal will be combined into one division, as is the case with the Sales departments which will be renamed Commercial Affairs. PolyGram Publishing and MCA Publishing will also turn into a single publishing division. And negotiations are under way to sell PolyGram's world-famous Wisseloord Studios, because these studios aren't the core business of Universal Music Group. The Wisseloord Studios, where such artists as Mick Jagger, Def Leppard, Elton John, Scorpions, David Bowie and Status Quo have been working, might be sold by way of a management buy out. |
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Countdown to the Euro Tour with The Second Coming: 16 | |
| - From KISS Kollector, JvP - | ||
Before the band could go out on tour, or in fact even before the band could do a dress
rehearsal, they had to make sure certain things were taken care of. Not only did they have
to get used to applying the make-up again, they had to get costumes that would fit them
and also get their famous platform boots. Just like in the seventies old Italian boot maker
Pasquale di Fabrizio was the man responsible for KISS' huge platform boots. As you can see
on the still, Peter, who's family is from Italian origin, and Di Fabrizio, talking in full
speed and with an unmistakable Italian accent, get along great. When there seems to be
a problem, Peter sighs: "Why can't the whole band be Italian?" We display
page 15 from the
booklet today:
"With the success of the first 18 shows, the tour was off to a bombastic start. With each sold out show building momentum, the band returned to their homeland for a amazing 4-night stand at New York's Madison Square Garden. The four Garden shows brought the band a sense of accomplishment and reward, but for Peter a melancholy experience. "A very holy place for me, It was a great, wonderful time, but very hard on my heart because my mother and my father weren't there. All the other guy's parents are living, God bless them, and I sent all the moms roses from me that night. My mother loved blue roses, so I had blue roses to hand out to the audience during Beth. And I would sing it to her." — Peter Criss. The key to KISS' success is their fans — what they call the KISS Army. Originated by Bill Starkey in Terre Haute, IN in 1975, the KISS Army is millions strong. Described as the most devoted fans on planet earth, the bond between KISS and its fans can be described as nothing short of magical." |
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