by Matthew Wilkening

The non-makeup version of KISS got their one and only shot at strutting their stuff on a live album with the release of 1993′s ‘Alive III.’

Of course, you can’t hear greasepaint on an audio recording. So the most important changes found on the long-awaited follow up to the band’s two iconic ’70s live albums were the replacement of founding members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss by guitarist Bruce Kulick and drummer Eric Singer.

Although the majority of ‘Alive III”s 17 tracks were chosen from albums released after 1977′s ‘Alive II,’ it did mark the first time KISS re-used songs that had been on other live albums. This gave listeners an opportunity to compare the changes all those years and lineup changes had brought to tracks like ‘Detroit Rock City’ and ‘Watchin’ You.’

Bassist Gene Simmons explained the differences well in the book ‘KISS: Behind the Mask‘ when he said, “It’s clear to me there’s better musicianship, we’re singing better and the songs have a better feel. But there’s no denying that rock n’ roll is this kind of primitive music that often is loved more for its primitiveness, not for how well the songs are played.”

Indeed, little touches like the use of double-kick drums, and a greater emphasis on technical ability tend to pull things a hair too far from rock and towards metal on ‘Alive III.’ As Singer, who’s been in the makeup-wearing version of the group nearly non-stop since 2001, explains in ‘Behind the Mask,’ “I tend to approach the songs differently now. I tend to play them now much more simplistic and more straightforward.”

Still, the record’s got good energy and spirit. Simmons and fellow founding frontman Paul Stanley are as charismatic as ever. Singer and Kulick are clearly more fluid and accomplished players than their predecessors. In particular, Kulick shines throughout — much as he did on the band’s 1992 studio album ‘Revenge‘ — maintaining a healthy respect for the original material while still putting his own distinct stamp on things, particularly on an absolutely smoking run through ‘Deuce.’

Unexpectedly, ‘Alive III’ turned out to be the last major harrah for this lineup of KISS. A few years later, Simmons and Stanley reunited with Criss and Frehley for a massively successful reunion tour. Kulick launched a solo career, and since 2000 has also been a member of Grand Funk Railroad. The original foursome split in half into their traditional camps again a few years later, with Singer returning to the fold and Tommy Thayer taking over for Frehley.

On this day in KISSTORY - May 18th, 1993, KISS featuring Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Bruce Kulick were inducted into Hollywood's famed RockWalk. At the ceremony in front of fans, friends and family, Paul, Gene and Bruce spoke to the crowd and then left impressions of their hand prints in a block of cement. After adding plates of the KISS logo and their signatures, the stone plaque was later added to RockWalk located at the site of the famed Oriental Theatre now Guitar Center Hollywood. Eric Carr was posthumously inducted into the Rock Walk in 1995 and added to the KISS plaque.

Visit RockWalk's website at http://www.rockwalk.com/ and look up KISS under inductees for some more photos of the induction as well as photos of some of RockWalk's KISS memorabilia including an Ace Frehley Les Paul guitar, Peter Criss' boots and Paul Stanley's Iceman guitar and boots.

Dedicated to honoring those individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to the music industry, Hollywood's RockWalk became a reality on November 13, 1985. At last, the Rock 'n Roll world could claim for itself an institution every bit as compelling as Mann's Chinese Theatre, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Hollywood's RockWalk has honored such creatively diverse and equally as accomplished individuals and groups such as KISS, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Johnny Cash, Dick Clark, Willie Dixon, The Doobie Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, Les Paul, John Lee Hooker, The Moody Blues, Phil Ramone and Smokey Robinson.

KISS Solos #3 (of 4): The Celestial

Chris Ryall (w) • Alan Robinson (a) • Angel Medina (c)

“Fractured Mirror”—the penultimate KISS SOLO issue turns the spotlight on the Celestial. This tale of galaxy-spanning high adventure sees the most spaced-out of the Four-Who-Are-One caught up in a battle against twisted alien pirates and… himself…? The odds are long and the stakes high in this standalone, spare-faring story!

Just wanted to share this painting I recently completed of Paul. It has a bit of a graphic feel to it, something a bit new I am trying out and just wanted to pass along to the rest of the KISS Army. I hope you enjoy this take on The Starchild!

Jamie Sapp

LETTERS

Professional Bull Riders' KISS Kam announcement on the Times Square board in New York.

Professional Bull Riders and KISS have teamed up to create the 8-Second KISS Kam, an innovative twist on the long-standing tradition in many sports venues where couples in the audience are highlighted on the large, in-venue video screens and encouraged to engage in a public display of affection. In typical PBR and KISS fashion, the innovative KISS Kam has a twist. Just like a successful bull ride, our participants are timed with a digital clock and must kiss for 8 seconds or face the ridicule of tens of thousands of PBR fans.

Band members Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer, Eric Singer and Gene Simmons cheer fans on and provide constructive criticism via video during the promotion. Videos from the 8-second kissing couples will be recorded and posted online at www.pbr.com/KISS where visitors can vote for the best (or worst) kiss and register to win valuable PBR and KISS prizes.

KISS Meet & Greet packages are now on sale for the following KISS European Tour dates:

June 1, 2013 Friends Arena - Stockholm, Sweden
June 3, 2013 Hartwall Arena - Helsinki, Finland
June 11, 2013 Forum - Copenhagen, Denmark
June 12, 2013 Waldbuhne - Berlin, Germany
June 14, 2013 O2 Arena - Prague. Czech Republic
June 17, 2013 Villa Manin - Udine, Italy
June 18, 2013 Mediolanum Forum - Milan, Italy
June 20, 2013 Hallenstadion - Zurich, Switzerland

Meet & Greet Packages include:

- Exclusive Meet & Greet with KISS
- Exclusive access to KISS's intimate acoustic set
- Autograph session with KISS
- Personal photograph with KISS in full makeup and costume
- Specially designed KISS t-shirt
- Specially designed KISS tote bag
- Set of official KISS guitar picks
- Official Ultimate Meet & Greet laminate
- Commemorative VIP ticket

CLICK HERE to vist the KISSONLINE Tour Page for Ticket and Meet & Greet links.

On this day in KISSTORY - April 16th, 1975, KISS headlined Detroit's Cobo Hall for the first time. The show before a sellout crowd of 12,000 plus, was part of the seventy-two date Dressed To Kill tour. It was also the first of five shows that KISS recorded for their classic album, KISS ALIVE! The famous photo on the back cover of ALIVE!, featuring KISS fans Bruce Redoute and Lee Neaves holding their hand drawn KISS sign, was taken at this concert.

Paul Stanley comments on the Cobo show and Detroit:

"This concert and the release of "Alive!" marked a pivotal giant step towards achieving domination in the 70's. "Detroit Rock City" was written as a salute to the people who championed us as a headliner when others still saw us as an opening act. We can never forget them. We decided, that was the only place we would start the Reunion Tour."

Check out the frame-flip video of KISS at their historic Cobo Hall concert on May 16, 1975, which was recorded for KISS Alive! The audio in the video is from Parasite from this exact show.

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

I spotted this on the IRB Sevens World Series Facebook page.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Jamie Roberts of Wales and the British & Irish Lions with rugby fans in fancy dress during day one of the Marriott London Sevens, the final round of the HSBC Sevens World Series at Twickenham Stadium on May 11, 2013 in London, England.

Matt Kane from Nottingham, England

LETTERS

Check out this wonderful letter from Pamela Gaskins-Brock, the winner of Gene Simmons Axe Bass and the KISS Kruise at last weekend's INDY KISS Fan Expo. KISSONLINE spoke with Pam last night and she is still in shock that she's going on the Kruise!

In the photo: Pam with Eric Singer and Kevin Valentine, after winning a cabin on KISS Kruise III.


Hi Keith,

Thanks for a Wonderful weekend, I'm still in shock. I still could kick myself for not being able to talk or think after winning the guitar. I wanted to say Thank you to Gene and to You.

My friend Sandy and I did the Platinum Ticket at Riverbend Music Ctr, Cincinnati, Ohio 2004. I didn't have the money, but was over at my mom and dad’s house one evening talking about how Sandy had asked me to do the Platinum ticket with her and I turned her down. Anyway, as I was leaving their house that night, they stopped me and handed me a check that would cover the ticket price. They told me at 5 years old in 1975 you started to listen to KISS records and they have always been your favorite Group, Hobby etc… We are not going to let you miss this opportunity to meet them. They won the award for Best Parents…. I went to the concert had a great time, didn't have anything for KISS to sign, so I had them sign me…. Lol… Paul put his hands out over my chest area, lol and Gene took my hand and licked my pinky finger. Concert was great front row… WOW… I floated home. The next morning when I got up…. I ran over to mom and dad house, I told them very excitedly about the concert … and they both started laughing, looked at each other and said “we’re very glad that we paid for you to get um molested by KISS” and we all laughed until we had tears running down our faces. Cause it was where I had Paul and Gene sign me and what I actually did with Paul’s hands when they were over my chest area.. Grinning ear to ear…. It was one of the Best present mom and dad gave me.

So here I was getting ready to meet Gene again and just kept thinking about that present mom and dad gave me and how it would be great to joke with them about that concert and that I was going to get to meet Gene again, but I lost my mom, to Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 9/13/07 and my dad 1/16/12 to skin cancer …. Ok, back to Saturday and I’m getting closer and closer to Gene at the meet and greet and I start thinking about mom and dad, I grin to myself, thinking it would be great to tell Gene that story, but he doesn’t have time for a story like that. Anyway, throughout the day Saturday little things just kept making me think of my mom and dad and right before Gene read the winning # for the Guitar, I got a scent of moms perfume. Mother's Day is usually a really hard day for me, but Not this year……!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now if I could just get Gene to talk to my 16 year old son David, who is a junior at Campbell County High School……It’s get ready for College time and my son's priorities are a little messed up…. Girls, need I say more…. Lol.

OK…..KISS Kruise, OMG!!!! I can’t believe it.

OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Thank you THANK YOU

Pamela Gaskins-Brock

Justin Snow-Moss meeting Gene Simmons at the INDY KISS Fan Expo last Saturday.

On this day in KISSTORY - May 14, 1992, KISS released their critically acclaimed REVENGE album. With producer Bob Ezrin at the helm, a ferocious KISS delivered one of their heaviest and best albums ever! All the band members shined on this release! Ever reliable Paul Stanley was on top of his game here, delivering impassioned vocals through out the album. Even the Demon returned and proved what a committed and focused Gene Simmons is capable of! New drummer Eric Singer' power and intensity added to the KISS assault and Bruce Kulick recorded what many consider his finest KISS guitar work. REVENGE debuted at #6 on Billboard and remained on the charts for twenty three weeks. The album was certified Gold on 07/20/92.

REVENGE, which was dedicated to Eric Carr, also featured 'Carr Jam 1981,' an instrumental track written by Carr that Ezrin discovered from The Elder recordings. The song featured a thunderous Carr drum solo as the centerpiece and was a fitting tribute to the beloved drummer.

KISS released four music videos for REVENGE: 'Unholy', 'I Just Wanna', 'Domino' and 'Everytime I Look At You'. A video for 'God Gave Rock And Roll to You' was released in November 1991 to support the Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey movie soundtrack.

REVENGE Track Listing:

Unholy / Take It Off / Tough Love / Spit / God Gave Rock & Roll to You II / Domino / Heart of Chrome / Thou Shalt Not / Every Time I Look At You / Paralyzed / I Just Wanna / Carr Jam 1981

Here's the "I Just Wanna" video:

Check out even more great photos from this weekend's 15th annual Indianapolis KISS Expo! On Sunday, KISS drummer Eric Singer signed autographs and took photos with fans throughout the day. He also did a Q&A with Kevin Valentine, and the two of them shared many KISS stories! Bruce and Bob Kulick also appeared on Sunday as well as director Louis Antonelli, who set up a beautiful Paul Stanley "One Live KISS" display. Fans enjoyed a fantastic weekend of fun, camaraderie and KISS memories together.


Photos by Steve Christensen and Keith Leroux for KISSONLINE.

Gene talks about new stage and lots more during his Q&A at the Indianapolis KISS Fan Expo last weekend.

Here are some photos from Saturday's Indianapolis KISS Fan Expo. Gene Simmons kicked things off in a big way with an entertaining Q & A that was funny, emotional and inspiring.

Later that evening, local Indy band DST entertained the crowd with a mix of original tunes and KISS classics. Bruce Kulick and Bob Kulick joined them for several rockin' versions of KISS songs, including "All American Man," "Larger Than Life," and "Rock And Roll All Nite!"

Thanks to Steve Christensen for taking these photos for KISSONLINE.

Here's Paul receiving an award from the firemen of Los Angeles Fire Station 99 for years of contributing to the firemen and their station.