News Archive / April 1-30, 1999
KISS NEWS IN APRIL 1999 MAY 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.
APRIL 26, 1999 Up Down
More from the Adam Mitchell interview
- From KISS Kollector, JvP -
After a week of absence, KISS Kollector Online is back with some more bits and pieces from our interview with Adam Mitchell, who co-wrote some of the best KISS songs ever recorded and has become a close friend of the band members. As said before, the entire interview will appear in the June issue of KISS Kollector Magazine.

Besides co-writing with KISS, did you also record demos with them and did you also end up playing or singing on the albums? "Yes, I did sing and play on a number of KISS songs. Because I sang on many of the demos also, I can't remember which songs I sang background on when we made it to the record. Almost certainly: Creatures Of The Night and Crazy Nights, but I can't remember which others. The only song I played guitar on was Creatures Of The Night in which I played the lick which comes halfway through and then at the end. It's something I came up with when Paul and I were writing and demoing the song at my studio in Los Angeles."

When writing new material, do you sit with the other composer and see who comes up with a part first, or do you prefer to work alone and then sent your contribution to the other guy? Do you come up with lyrics first, or music first? "When writing a new song, we always start together. Usually Paul would come in with an idea or title that he had, then we would flesh it out. Usually the title comes first or some kind of music feel, then we work out the rest of the lyrics. Almost always, we work on guitar. The ideas that are the beginnings of songs, just come to each member on his own, then he takes it in to his co-writer and they finish it."

Just like his Rockheads cartoons, Eric made a lot of funny drawings of the band members while they were recording in the studio. Did he ever make one of you? "As far as I know, Eric never made a drawing of me, I don't remember."
What happened after the April 25 UK gig at Wembley?
- By Paul Nicholls, exclusive for KISS Kollector -
I was lucky enough to obtain a pass for the show, thank you to my good friend Dave and a superb chap from a London record company. We were invited to the after show party, greeted by two "angels" (on stilts no less!), who caressed us both with an outsize feather as "chosen ones" (a bit cheesy we thought, but when you're invited, you don't complain!).

Once inside we were told that the food (KISS had first class chefs on call) and the alcohol was free. The food was superb, the alcohol free flowing and very welcome after the heat of the stadium. In the reception room, tumblers generally entertained, feats of balance, a little fire breathing (tips hat to Gene), at one point spinning a (female)guest about their heads.

After about an hour Gene arrived at the door, not having a great deal of success getting into the party due to the crowd at the door clamoring for autographs. Once inside Gene was totally swamped by people after his signature (amongst other things, I saw at least 4 breasts signed, very enjoyable!!). Some lucky ladies managed to get Gene to kiss them using the famous tongue. Paul arrived about 15 minutes later, looking very fresh, happy to sign and press palms, the man has a very firm handshake.

We actually had a little fun with Gene and Paul. We had asked Gene why they still played I Was Made For Lovin' You, Gene replied that he "Hates that fucking song". Well, we couldn't resist that one, when we spoke to Paul we mentioned this in our conversation, to which Paul denied Gene doesn't care for the song. This may seem a little trivial, unless you were at the gig and saw the way Gene attacked the bass line, and the disdain on his face, at first we thought it was due to the sound, which was pretty poor during the song.

All in all this was the best gig I've seen by KISS. I first saw them at Stafford all those years ago, it was just a shame that Ace and Peter went back to the hotel after the show and didn't come to the party, maybe next time? The pass is now framed and on the wall, another memory of the worlds greatest band!
Cover band KISS My Ass to play in Holland
- From KISS Kollector, JvP -
On Friday, May 28, Dutch KISS cover band KISS My Ass will play live at famous Dutch club 013 in Tilburg. Their set list includes Psycho Circus, Shout It Out Loud, Rip It Out, 2,000 Man, Tonight You Belong To Me, Black Diamond, Detroit Rock City and other KISS classics. That same night there will also be a Slayer cover band and probably also an Iron Maiden cover band performing live at 013.
APRIL 18, 1999 Up Down
KISS Kollector interviews KISS co-writer Adam Mitchell
- From KISS Kollector, JvP -
Adam Mitchell is known within the KISS community as the co-writer of several KISS songs. In fact, he co-wrote some of the best KISS songs ever recorded! Who doesn't remember songs like I'm A Legend Tonight, Partners In Crime, Creatures Of The Night or Crazy Crazy Nights? Back in the early eighties he hooked up with Gene through one of the band's producers, Michael James Jackson. Gene came over to Adam's place and they wrote a few songs that Paul liked so much that he came over next. Adam also was involved in the music for Eric Carr's Rockheads project.

The other day, KISS Kollector Online interviewed Adam Mitchell for KISS Kollector Magazine. The first part of the interview will appear in the June issue, but especially for all you web surfers we'll also have a few bits 'n' pieces from the interview here at KISS Kollector Online. Remember, you'll only get to see short pieces from *some* of the topics we discussed, for the full length interview (and it's a pretty long), you'll have to wait until the next issue of KISS Kollector Magazine comes out. In the late seventies Adam moved from Canada to Los Angeles, California, and currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee. The list of bands/artists who have recorded his songs is very long and includes Chicago, Olivia Newton-John, John Waite, Cher, Bette Midler, Cheap Trick, Paul Anka and Wendy O. Williams.

Going through the list of KISS songs co-written by you that ended up on KISS albums, I noticed that you wrote much more with Paul than with Gene. Was that just the way it happened, or did you guys plan it like that? You originally started out writing with Gene and then later on Paul began writing with you also. "Yes, Gene and I started out writing together for KISS but for no particular reason it was always the songs that Paul and I wrote that ended up on the record. Gene and I have written for many other projects, including EZO, a great Japanese band that Gene was producing, Black 'N' Blue, and others."

Adam then goes on mentioning the titles of a couple of songs he co-wrote for KISS, that didn't end up on an album, one of which will be on the full length Eric Carr album that's scheduled for a Summer release. Was Eric Carr involved at all in the writing process for the songs on Creatures Of The Night? How come the songs for Creatures came out so much heavier than the previous few KISS albums? "What I remember about Eric recording all the songs on the record was that he had a blast. The record is very heavy in the drum department and that was great for Eric. Creatures came out more heavy than the previous records because it definitely was planned that way. I still have a clear picture in my mind of Eric playing in the studio and how much he enjoyed it."

A few more highlights from our Adam Mitchell interview will be online here soon. Make sure you come back to check them out.
Religious TV station thinks KISS is satanic death metal
- From KISS Kollector, JvP -
Last Tuesday Holland's most religious, nationwide, TV station EO aired a documentary on - as the EO called it - occultism, Satan and death metal. This week's issue of their TV guide runs an article a the documentary called Duistere Machten (Dark Forces), which surprisingly is accompanied by a photo of.. KISS! The article says that the episode of Duistere Machten, entitled 'Death Metal', deals with occult experiences and death metal. It goes on to say that on the documentary a guy talks about his experiences with death metal, and how he heard voices in his head. Since this is a religious station, towards the end of the program the guy will see the light.

Turns out that in the documentary KISS is only mentioned once, by the above mentioned guy when he lists a couple of bands (including AC/DC and Iron Maiden) that he listened to before he was turned on to death metal. The guy claims that KISS stands for "Knights In Satan's Service". Yeah, right! Throughout the rest of the documentary there is — and quite rightly so — no sign whatsoever of KISS at all (although a lot of EO viewers will undoubtedly mistake the death metal band in make-up that appears for KISS...). As we all know, KISS has nothing to do with Satan or the occult. 'Thanks' to the EO and their TV guide for having a lot of Christians think that KISS is a bunch of Satan worshippers.
APRIL 14, 1999 Up Down
Psycho Circus comics available in Dutch and French
- From KISS Kollector, JvP -
The KISS: Psycho Circus comics from McFarlane/Image Comics have been officially published in some European countries as well now. A little while ago Juniorpress in Holland published the first three issues put together in a paperback publication as part of their Image Specials, and translated into Dutch.

Image Special 14, which has the same cover as part 3 of the US edition of KISS: Psycho Circus, costs 10 Dutch guilder and 95 cents, or for the Belgian market: 229 Belgian franks. According to the editorial, Image Special 15 will feature more KISS: Psycho Circus if everything goes well. In France, Semic published the first three episodes of the comics as one 72 page comic, in a French translation.
Gene interview in Famous Monsters Of Filmland
- From KISS Kollector, JvP, special thanks to John Gerritsen -
Issue 26 of Famous Monsters Of Filmland includes an interview with Gene, in which he shares his take on classic horror as he talks about growing up during the sixties' monster craze. The issue is kind of a special KISS collector's issue as it comes with four attached covers, each featuring either Gene, Paul, Peter or Ace. One of the other features in the magazine is a pictorial tribute to one of Gene's biggest heros: Lon Chaney, also known as "The man of a thousand faces". Chaney, by the way, was one of the first to star as The Phantom Of The Opera, a role which will be portrayed by Paul later this year in the musical of the same name.
Detroit Rock City sound track being finalized
- From Metal Edge Online -
The Detroit Rock City sound track is coming together: aside from the four KISS tracks — Dr. Love, Shout it Out Loud, the new version of Detroit Rock City, and new ballad Nothing Can Keep Me From You — Marilyn Manson will cover AC/DC's Highway to Hell, and The Donnas will record a new version of KISS' Strutter or School Days by The Runaways. Plans are to shoot videos for all three and release them as singles, possibly simultaneously. The other songs on the sound track will be classic '70s tunes by the original artists. The movie will be released August 13, but the release date for the sound track hasn't yet been set.
Chip Rock's photo book on KISS available soon
- From KISS Kollector, JvP -
Outtakes, the photo flood on KISS by photographer Chip 'Rock' Dayton, is being printed right now. It will be available soon. In the meantime check out the book's cover.
KISS inspired band in Code Quantum on Swiss television
- From KISS Kollector, JvP, special thanks to Tristan Glassey -
On April 10, a Swiss television station aired an episode of Code Quantum (probably the American series called Quantum Leap) in which a band seemingly inspired by KISS appeared. The band could be seen wearing make-up and costumes. As if that wasn't remarkable enough, one of the band members had a special weakness for girls while another member loved alcohol. Now where did we see that before..?
APRIL 13, 1999 Up Down
KISS' record company Universal starts online store
- From KISS Kollector, JvP -
Recently Universal Music Group and BMG Music joined forces in order to sell their releases through the Internet via their newly formed site getmusic.com. BMG already runs an online store named getmusic.com, but the two companies combined take up 40% of all music sold in the USA Don't expect any MP3 files ready for downloading on Getmusic however. Universal's president of e-commerce, Larry Kenswil, stated: "They can look, but if they find any they'll be illegal ones."
Having fun on stage with Stanley
- From KISS Kollector, JvP -
The vinyl bootleg single Having Fun On Stage With Stanley — A Talking Album Only is now out in Holland too. Or actually, it can be ordered by your local record store, as it's only available on import. It contains edited segments of several mid-eighties stage raps by Paul, in varying sound quality. The white labelled, 2-sided single has a running time of only 10 minutes and costs approximately 20 Dutch guilder (about 9 US dollars).
New KISS collectors guide available in Europe
- From KISS Kollector, JvP, special thanks to Florian Hedwig -
During the recent KISS Expo tour in Europe, a new book was being sold: The KISS Collectors Guide — The Ultimate Guide For All Fans And Collectors. The book (with over 200 pages) has now officially been published in Germany. It includes more than 1,600 titles and over 600 pictures of official and non-official releases on vinyl and CD, plus label info, country of origin and value. The introduction pages are written in English and German, the short descriptions of the items are in English.
Got Milk? advertisements expected in May
- From Metal Edge Online -
KISS in milk moustaches? Believe it or not, the costumed rockers will soon be sporting moo juice residue in forthcoming advertisements for the Got Milk? campaign. "It's hilarious," says Gene Simmons. Look for the ads next month.
APRIL 10, 1999 Up Down
"I find this very erotic, the blood running down his body"
- From KISS Kollector, RH -
Today KISS kicks off their 5-show tour of South America in Argentina, a country they avoided in early 1980's because of terrorist threads against Americans. It has become tour of five shows, after the cancellation of the concert in Chile, apparently due to poor ticket sales. On a positive note, We Are One has become a huge hit in Brazil. The tour ends in Mexico on April 24, with show 61 (not counting the Super Bowl performance). After this short tour, the band takes an extended break until August. As reported before, Paul will be starring in Toronto's Phantom Of The Opera during this period.

Although we thought we had posted our last reviews of the European tour a few days ago, here are some more reviews that we received recently. You can check out new reviews of the shows in Milan, Munich and Brussels. Follow the links below to read the new reviews (at the bottom of both pages). The Brussels review is the first we received from a female fan. Not that it matters much of course, but our reviewer takes a special interest in Gene's sexy way of spitting blood and Paul's 'wiggling'. Check it out for yourself!
APRIL 8, 1999 Up Down
Peter Criss interview in Belgium's Humo magazine
- From KISS Kollector, JvP -
Due to the Easter Holidays it took a little while longer, but as promised last week, here's most of the Peter Criss interview that appeared in the Belgian magazine Humo recently:

Were there any KISS songs that, when you had to re-learn them after all those years, you thought of: not bad at all? "The thing I noticed most was that I used to work really hard to impress people. I love jazz and in the old days I tried as subtle as possible to add all kinds of little details. Luckily the other guys never noticed, for our motto is: 'keep it simple'. And now they're up there with their simple chords and I'm having a hard time studying my own drum parts. I hated myself. I even had to watch old videos to find out what I was playing." What was it like to be on stage again after all those years? "I actually never stopped playing. Even during the — how long was it? — sixteen years I wasn't in KISS, I played in a group and toured. But if you're not hot, not on the charts and not on MTV, people just think you're home lying on the couch masturbating all day. Well, that happens sometimes [grins], but not all the time."

What was it like to make yourself up like a cat for the first time in sixteen years as a fifty year old? "I noticed that on the one hand nothing had changed — we were still KISS, basically played the same songs and put on the make up the same way. But on the other hand a lot had changed: we sold out most venues in less than fifteen minutes. KISS had become even more popular during my absence. It was overwhelming. At first I thought it would only be like that during our first show, but it kept going like that and still goes like that. More things have changed. May 3rd I got married, and I know that's why I'm gonna be very happy soon with the three month break. Now I know there's a girl waiting for me at home. In the old days they were there on the road." There used to be only rock 'n' roll, now there's life after rock 'n' roll? "Absolutely, at least for me. From my previous marriage I have an eighteen year old daughter. I try to see her as often as possible. I never thought family would matter that much to me. It turns out to particularly be important for my mental health. I have a beautiful house, a great boat, and if I get bored I start painting. I've got a whole life in front of me. One day I want to record a jazz album and I'd like to record sound tracks. Once there was only KISS, now I've got other dreams and plans."

Did you ever consider to fully concentrate on one of those other dreams? "Five years after I left KISS I didn't play music. I was busy raising my child and lived a save and sound life. I travelled a lot... it was nice. But suddenly I began to miss to sticks in my hands and I thought: damn, I've been drumming for all my life. I am a drummer, nobody ever forced me to play the drums. I just love doing it. So, I wanted to play the drums again, but I didn't know what kind of music. Did I still want to play heavy metal? Did I still want bombs to explode next to me on stage? Did I still want to levitate with my drum set? I didn't know yet, and I thought about it when I played small clubs with my own group. I tried anything during that period. Things I couldn't do in KISS, because the band motto is: don't add extra salt and pepper to the sauce that everybody instantly loves. And that has been frustrating me for a long time, because I want to be creative. I want to be a musician and musicians have to be creative." There's no musicians in KISS? "We started out as musicians, but it quickly turned into much more than that. And after some time the other things became much more important."

Why did you go back then? To me the other things still seem much more important than the music. "That's true. But I missed the fans. Fans are an addiction, especially the KISS fans. Their loyalty has no boundaries. Sometimes I feel so bad but when I go on stage and see the fans I know they love me. I can't do without the fans. And the fans can't live without us." Did you miss the other band members too? "No fucking way [laughs]. Bunch of assholes." I think you're serious. "Sure, and that's quite normal. KISS is an unnatural marriage. After a while you don't want to talk to one another anymore. There were times that I could really kill Gene. But there's a kind of magic, the magic KISS... When I put on the make up, I'm the Cat and Peter Criss disappears. And apparently that goes for the other guys too. No matter how angry we were with each other, the moment we were made up in the dressing room we forgot all problems." Does a very religious cat have nine lives too? "Yes! I've got four or five credits left. I'd have to check it exactly, because it could be over before you know it, and I want to have at least one life remaining for the after party."
Our trip to see Paul in The Phantom Of The Opera
- From KISS Kollector, JvP -
A little while ago we mentioned our one week trip to Toronto, Canada, to see Paul star as The Phantom Of The Opera. Meanwhile we have received quite a few requests for more info, but due to e-mail problems at the travel agency, some of those requests got lost. If you have e-mailed KISS Kollector Online for more info, please send your message once again to kiss@animalize.com, just to be sure we've got your name and address. We will try to get back to you as soon as possible. (And to the Italian fans who keep sending e-mail written in Italian, please (re)send your messages in English!)
APRIL 7, 1999 Up Down
KISS Kollector returns after Easter Holidays
- From KISS Kollector, RH -
It's been a week since this web site was last updated. We took a little break during the Easter Holidays. We didn't just sit back and relax though, we have been busy preparing some additions to the site you will see later this month. Right now, you may already have noticed our pages are loading faster, we have worked hard to improve this.

Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter got a little Easter break too, thanks to the cancellation of the Russian tour (the ticket for the April 1 show in Moscow is pictured here), which was due to the situation in Kosovo. Maybe it's better the band returned to the US quickly... Gene seems to think we fight wars all over Europe nowadays and no arena is safe for bombs (check out our News Archive for March 31, if you don't what we are referring too). Well, maybe he was thinking of KISS shows! Seriously, a lot of European fans responded somewhat disturbed to his 'stupid' remarks in Humo magazine. Gene is an intelligent man however and was probably misquoted, or just trying to make a point, with little subtlety. We 'know' Gene of course... ;-)

It's only three days before the South American leg of the Psycho Circus World Tour kicks off at River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina (check out our Psycho Tour section for a listing of the tour dates). KISS will probably fly over there today or tomorrow. Although a little overdue, we'd like to wrap up the European tour, by bringing you the last four reviews: Fans from Holland and Belgium may also want to check out this review from Flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad. And speaking of Belgium... tomorrow we will bring you Peter Criss' Humo-interview (which we accidentally already promised you last week). Make sure you check it out: it makes more sense than Gene's... :-)
Reminder: Gene's 50th birthday happening
- From KISS Kollector, JvP -
On March 18 we revealed our plans on how to surprise Gene on August 25, when he turns 50. We asked for a photo of yourself (preferably without make-up!) sticking out your tongue, plus a few lines in which you describe how Gene influenced your life. In the meantime we received quite a few photos, but not everybody included a few lines describing the way Gene influenced your life. So if you didn't, please feel free to e-mail us again. Of course we also hope to get many, many more pictures from KISS fans all around the world. Get down to it and do it!

With only 140 days to go, here is everything you need to know: KISS Kollector Fanclub is planning a surprise for Gene on his 50th birthday. When The Demon turns 50 on August 25 of this year we'd like to present him with a very special gift that you can be part of. We want you to send us a photo of yourself sticking out your tongue in Gene 'The Demon' Simmons style (without make-up if possible), along with a few lines in which you explain how Gene has influenced your life.

Please e-mail your contribution to kiss@animalize.com (attach your picture as a JPEG/JPG file), or write it down and send it through regular mail, along with your photo, to: KISS Kollector Fanclub, P.O. Box 1159, 1200 BD Hilversum, Holland. Make sure you state your name, age, profession and the country you live in as well. Any other personal info is welcome, but make sure you don't include anything that you don't want to see published. When the magical day comes, the complete collection will be presented to Gene.
Cheap Trick on KISS' Detroit Rock City sound track
- From KISS Kollector, JvP -
Cheap Trick, who will have a new live album, Music For Hangovers, out soon and used to open for KISS in the seventies, takes the MP3 plunge by having their 1999 re-mixed version of the band's classic song Surrender on the getsigned.com web site for free download (for a short time only).

Surrender '99 will also be included on the upcoming sound track for the new KISS movie Detroit Rock City, expected to be out in August. Surrender, originally from the 1978 album Heaven Tonight, has a well-known KISS reference of course. The lyrics include the lines: "When I woke up, Mom and Dad are rolling on the couch. Rolling numbers, rock and rolling, got my KISS records out."
I Was Made For Lovin' You in Dutch Top 100 Of All Time
- From KISS Kollector, JvP -
KISS' biggest worldwide hit, I Was Made For Lovin' You, moved up one spot in the Dutch Top 100 Of All Time this year, to No. 45. The Top 100 Of All Time was aired last Friday, during the Easter Holiday, by nationwide radio station Veronica FM. As usual — but unlike what's usually being played on the radio in Holland — most songs in the Top 100 were tracks by rock bands. Nine out of ten songs in the Top 10 were tunes (mostly ballads) by rock bands such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Queen, this time.

Still on the subject of I Was Made For Lovin' You, girl band Close II You (Holland's answer to the Spice Girls) will soon release a cover version of the legendary KISS song as their new single. More details will follow, once we get them.
Go back to the main News Archive page