Archie Meets KISS Gets Rather Wonderful Variant Cover

by Rich Johnston

This is Francesco Francavilla’s variant cover (on the right) to Archie #628 with Archie Meets Kiss Part Two. I think it’s rather spectacular. I’m suddenly wondering what a Vertigo Archie comic would look like.

And here’s the standard cover (on the left) by Dan Parent. Which, you know, isn’t bad or anything…

www.bleedingcool.com

Enter for your chance to win a trip for two to Las Vegas and Rock and Roll All Nite!

Prizes include:

Airfare, two nights at the Hard Rock, a lifetime KISS Monster Mini Golf membership, guitar autographed by the band, and a life sized KISS Casket by Eternal Image.


ENTER THE CONTEST AT SPIRITHALLOWEEN.com NOW!

A very happy birthday to the God of Thunder, Gene Simmons! Gene, we hope you have a great day!

Check out Gene in all his glory in this clip from Germany 2010.

Recently, the Live Nation social community posted the following on their Facebook page:

You’re a hardcore fan and your tattoos say it loud and clear. “Like” this post if you have a band tattoo or show it off and upload a photo to our wall!

The winner (pictured) as voted by fans – has this most amazing KISS tattoo

Visit Live Nation's Facebook page - www.facebook.com/LiveNation

We've remember seeing this great KISS tattoo on the road, and we posted previously on KISSonline!

Keep those KISS tattoos coming to www,KISSOnline.com/letters. We LOVE seeing them!

We had the privilege of knowing Chad Miller over the last few years after meeting him at a KISS Make-A-Wish event. Sadly, he passed away earlier this year just before his 21st birthday. As you can see from his headstone, Chad was a huge KISS fan, and we are huge fans of his!

Here are the latest KISS merchandise items now available in KOL's KISS SHOP.

KISS ALL FOR THE GLORY KISS TEE - exclusive KISS tee features the 'All For The Glory' band photo artwork on front.

KISS BEARS TODDLER HOODIE - toddler zip up hooded sweatshirt features the band logo on front and has the KISS Bears artwork on back.

KISS BEARS BABY BIB - white with red baby bib features the KISS Bears artwork on front.

KISS BAND PHOTO ZIPPO - brushed chrome genuine Zippo features a KISS band photo artwork on front.

KISS 35TH ANNIVERSARY DESTROYER ZIPPO - brushed chrome genuine Zippo features the KISS 35th Anniversary Destroyer artwork on front.

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

Thanks to Steve Letourneau for sending KISSOnline this photo of the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl rocking out in his favorite KISS T-shirt!

Steve spotted the photo at allaxess.com

Yell! Magazine’s Holy Trinity Series – Three Ikonik KISS Albums

By By Evil Argento

http://www.yellmagazine.com

Christian doctrine teaches that God exists in three beings (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), creating a trinity otherwise known as “Godhead.” Basically, all are one and none exist without the other. This is somewhat the basis for Yell! Magazine’s Holy Trinity series. What we present here are three elements from a particular medium and/or genre within a particular medium (be it three albums from a band, a musical genre, a film director, a genre or sub-genre of film, video game franchise or developer/publisher, etc.) that must be owned, heard, viewed, or played in order for a “fan” to achieve completion. For example, if someone is a heavy metal fan, their album collection is incomplete without the eponymous Paranoid, from Black Sabbath. However, owning the latest Justin Bieber album trumps everything, making you a true fan of everything and the messiah.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, KISS’ influence and bombastic impact on heavy metal and hard rock is irrefutable. Who in the civilized world isn’t familiar with at least one of their songs (most likely “Rock And Roll All Nite”) or can’t name that band based solely on an image? And while, yes, the argument presented thus far is weak, we’ll appease any naysayers, though they already know it’s true, and state that:

KISS has sold more than 100 million albums world wide; while promoting their first album much bigger bands refused to let KISS open for them for fear of being upstaged by their live show; KISS was the first band to find success with a live album (Alive!), setting the bar and ushering in a new era of music consumption; KISS are marketing giants having achieved a level of branding many strive for but few reach; KISS beat the The Beatles at Budakan, selling and performing five sold out shows while The Beatles only managed four; between 1977 and 1979 alone, KISS merchandise sales reached an estimated $100 million (do you know how much money that was in the ‘70s? It’s about $300 million today.); KISS was the first band (and I can’t name any subsequent bands) to have all members release “solo” albums simultaneously on the same day; they’ve released 19 studio albums (12 of which were released in their first decade of existence); in total KISS has received 42 Gold and 16 Platinum Awards in the U.S. alone.

Here are the latest additions to the line of KISS licensed merchandise available from Costumes Galore. All items are available for purchase on www.KISSCostumes.com, www.HalloweenCostumes.com and many other local shops around the nation. In addition to these new items, Costumes Galore continues to offer a full line of licensed merchandise for KISS fans of all ages at affordable prices.

Destroyer Line Additions:

Costumes for Adults and Children: available now

Adult Demon, Child and Toddler
Adult Starchild, Child and Toddler
Adult Catman, Child and Toddler
Adult Spaceman, Child and Toddler

Boots for Adults:

Demon Destroyer Boots (Available now)
Starchild Destroyer Boots (Available 10/1/2011)
Catman Destroyer Boots (Available 10/1/2011)
Spaceman Destroyer Boots (Available 10/1/2011)

Sexy KISS Line:

Sexy KISS Demon (Available 9/8/2011)
Sexy KISS Starchild (Available 9/8/2011)
Sexy KISS Catman (Available 9/8/2011)
Sexy KISS Spaceman (Available 9/8/2011)

Douglas McArthur / Globe and Mail Update

Passengers can rock ’n’ roll all night on a KISS Kruise scheduled for Carnival Cruise Lines’ Destiny from Oct. 13 to 17. The legendary and flamboyant rock band KISS will perform one outdoor show – without their trademark makeup – plus one indoor show on the sailing from Miami to two ports in the Bahamas. Other activities include a question and answer session with the band, a photo opportunity and a Halloween party. The organizer is Sixthman, a company specializing in music cruises. Details: www.thekisskruise.com

For KISS lead singer and guitarist Paul Stanley, the arrival of his second daughter Emily Grace seemed a fitting moment.

“I always say I’ve learned that girls are God’s revenge,” he jokes to PEOPLE. “It’s payback for my past.”

Born on Aug. 9, Emily joins big siblings Sarah Brianna, 2½, and Colin Michael, 4½ – Stanley’s two children with wife Erin, an attorney – and 17-year-old Evan Shane, the rocker’s son from a previous relationship.

“Honestly, it’s just the greatest gift,” he says of adding another little girl to the family.

“There’s a relationship and a bond between dads and daughters that only a dad can understand. It’s very unique. To have my last two children be girls is pretty spectacular.”

Emily’s birth has also served to bring the family closer together than ever before.

“My house is really what most people would wish for and dream of,” Stanley, 59, says. “I have the greatest kids, an amazing wife. My 4-year-old was holding Emily like a 40-year-old would. Before we went to the hospital, he dressed up in his best clothes on his own and went there and had her in his lap. It’s really something very profound because you get to see that children really are a reflection of their parents. If you spend the time and the effort, you get something great for it.”

When it comes to the couple’s classic naming style, Stanley jokes, “I guess we’re not cool enough for names like Peach or Astro Girl.”

“We were a little more traditional and stick with names our children hopefully won’t regret when they grow up,” he explains. “Your kids aren’t objects for amusement, so why would you give them a name that would subject them to possible ridicule at school? Kids can be pretty tough on each other, and who wants to put a child named Spaghetti through school?”

Having just wrapped the North American leg of KISS‘s most recent tour, Stanley is looking forward to spending time at home, though he emphasizes that family has always taken precedence over career commitments.

“There’s really no struggle,” he says. “Last year, everybody toured Europe with me. There’s nothing like coming off stage to 100,000 people and having your little ones in pajamas say good night to you. It can be done.”

But for the time being, he is happily basking in the glow of being a new dad.

“I couldn’t write a better story if I tried,” Stanley says. “This has all turned out better than I could have anticipated. My life is blessed but I’ve worked hard for those blessings.”

-– Kiran Hefa

CLICK HERE to visit www.RockScenester.com, a complete and completely free online archive of Rock Scene magazine (1973-1982.) Many of the Rock Scene issues featured KISS, including numerous cover appearances. Once on the site, just click on a cover, and you can then turn page by page of the issue. Check out some of the great KISS stories and photos!

RockScenester is an extreme labor of love created by Ryan Richardson of Austin, Texas.

KISS ARMY member Tara Reilly shares a photo of her KISS-themed cake from her bridal shower this weekend. She writes, "I didn't want to cut it!"

Thanks for sharing the photo with KISSonline.

Thanks to Ross Halfin, rock photographer extraordinaire, for sharing this cool cover art of a bootleg LP he recently spotted in London.

KISS' follow-up to the critically acclaimed "Sonic Boom" album will be called "Monster." The band is currently working on the album in Los Angeles for a 2012 release. Paul is producing again. All songs, as last time, are written by the band. There are no ballads.

"We were all blown away by the unanimous raves from critics and fans for Sonic Boom. Anyone who thought that album was a lucky fluke is in for a brutal surprise. This album kills." - Paul Stanley

KISS is planning a massive 2012-2013 "Monster" world tour which will take the band around the globe.

STAY TUNED to KISSOnline for continuing updates... this is going to be fun!



_{Photo by Frank Zauritz}