It's funny but Kiss as always struck me as band that put it image first. Their music seemed like a medium to sell their theatrical gimmicks.

I like a lot of classic rock but Kiss' music never really appealed to me. But, I do like their costumes and would buy some of their non-musical merchandise: toys, comics, and watch their movies. But, I would not buy any of their t-shirts.

While I'm at it. I thought the band went a little to far with the condoms and coffins. I mean really.

Vinnie Vincent. What a maroon.

I'm surprised he thought he had a case, because he was a musician-for-hire during his time with KISS.

I notice he sued them in 1997, after he made a series of apperances at KISS conventions in his "wizard" makeup. They threatened to sue him, so I guess that's where he got his inspiration to litigate.

What the fuck? Why is it $40-70 at the Indy state fair while you guys get in for $10? No justice.

KISS Concert.

It was only a one day deal and my friend Craig hopped on it and got us 5 tickets. It wasn't just KISS either. Other names were Counting Crows, John Mayer, Yes/Peter Frampton, and many more just not all in our area.
The music industry has finally destroyed it's last moneymaker due to pure greed-the touring industry!

Dang! I need to find a deal like that near me.

Live Nation sent him the email-I'd check their website daily-they're desperate!

Seems so! Why doesn't KISS just lower their ticket prices?

Kiss? Lower prices?

You're new to this, aren't you?

When i mentioned I was considering seeing KISS at the state fair, my co-worker went "Wooo! Ace Frehley!"

I didn't have the heart to tell her.

I hope "tongue lubricated" doesn't mean... well... er... let's just say that the use of that specific phrase, in connection with the accompanying picture on the package, conjures up a rather.. hmm, how can I put this... unpleasant... visual...

Gene tested, mother approved...

Kiss Online reports that KISS will perform live on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' on Monday, July 19.

TMD unearths the holy grail for KISS fans. “Smoke” is a NEVER BEFORE RELEASED OR CIRCULATED demo by the legendary rock act circa the 1970′s, believed to be cut in and around the same time as Rock and Roll Over – which itself was released in November 11, 1976, and recorded in September ’76. The listener is in for a real treat. The song is the Stones “Jumpin Jack Flash” meets “Mr.Speed”. It’s unmistakably KISS, but upon first listen, you can easily understand why they could never release this track without being sued by the Stones, for it has completely lifted the riff and vocal line of ‘JJF’. What makes it even more unique, however, is that Stanley and Simmons also sing it in total Stones fashion. It truly is a special moment in rock history and has to be heard to be believed.

Listen to the extremely rare track below!

http://www.kissonline.com/

That is pretty amusing...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQae-vopRRY[/youtube]

Today is the late Eric Carr's birthday. He would have turned 60 years old.

To a certain degree, I think Kiss died with him. No, he wasn't part of the classic lineup, and a lot of the material from his era is maligned (and some with good reason), but I think they lost a large bit of the connection with the fans when he died, both with his loss and the way Gene and Paul treated him. As good as Eric Singer is, I think Eric Carr fit Kiss better, and he certainly delivered a kick in the ass when the band needed it.

Alan said it better than I could.

You also forgot to say what a good person he was. He was gold as a human being. That Gene and Paul thing is a bit played out though-they were crushed when Eric Carr died.

Yes, I did forget to say that - there's a reason why so many of the fans still rank him among their favorite members. Through it all, he seems to be the one Kiss member about whom no one has a bad thing to say.

As far as the Gene and Paul thing, I was thinking more about how they tried to cut off his insurance and such at the end. I don't have a problem with them wanting to tour, even with Singer as a replacement, but if the stories are accurate that they wanted to fire Carr to get out from under the insurance and proceed with the tour, that takes away from whatever they've said since then. And I find it odd that, when talking on-camera about what a nice guy Eric was, Gene comes up with a story where he banged a girl Eric was waiting to meet - not that it says much about the girl, but, geez, there had to be a better story than that.

Alan, with all due respect, the issue of Gene and Paul trying to fire Eric Carr has never been spoken about by either them or the Caravello family. Could it have happened? Possibly. But I have a feeling unless someone from the Caravello family speaks up, it will always be an internet legened.

I'm not saying Gene and Paul are angels, but I can't personally see them doing that to Eric Carr. Yes, it has been acknowledged that Eric cut off all contact with them, supposedly because he felt abandoned by them for going ahead with the Revenge album while he recuperated from his cancer treatment. Do I know what really happened? Nope. But I hope we find out someday.

Technically speaking, I would have to say that Eric Singer is the best KISS drummer. When I heard him on Revenge, I remember going "This guy's good!" Nothing against Carr, just a musical preference.

With all due respect??? How dare you imply I'm due respect!!!

You're right, of course, that Carr cut off contact w/Simmons and Stanley, but according to Gary Corbett, who was their touring keyboard player, it wasn't because they were going ahead without him, but because they wanted to fire him to avoid the insurance hit. According to Corbett (and the story in "Kiss Alive Forever" - Corbett may not be the source for the entire story), Carr's girlfriend was throwing a party to celebrate him being cancer-free, and Carr got wind that Simmons and Stanley wanted to fire him. He called Corbett and said they were going to can him. But then he got sick again, and that's when all contact was cut off, because Carr and/or his family were under the belief that unless he signed certain papers, they couldn't fire Carr unless he was physically incapacitated (which the story says he was). Again, not directly from the family (although it seems like I've read that his sister (Loretta?) essentially verified the story - I'd have to dig around to see if I'm imagining that.

Alan