KISS Continues To Dominate Comics, This Time With ‘KISS Kids’!

Remember Muppet Babies? I loved that show. And being KISS fans, we’re thrilled with the announcement from IDW that they have ANOTHER new comic book about KISS coming out: KISS Kids.

Coming this Fall, KISS Kids will focus on the KISS Characters as children as they take on nemeses such as Principal Elder, and Wicked Lester. A preview of KISS Kids will on the back cover of all four issues of the upcoming Kiss Solo series, starting on April 10, when Kiss Solo #1: The Demon is released.

You can check out the one-page preview strip here below.

Here’s the statement direct from IDW, made on March 22, 2013:
Ah, the simple pleasures of just being a kid. Lemonade stands, little league games, advanced fort building, rocking the faces off of millions of screaming fans all over the world while thwarting the plans of your evil school Principal.

If a couple of those cherished childhood memories sound unfamiliar, that’s because they can only be found in KISS Kids, the new series starring the pint-sized rock gods! Join Starchild, Li’l Demon, Spacey, and Catkid as they get into trouble and kick out the jams in strips featuring familiar characters and settings from KISS lore. Helmed by KISS series writers Chris Ryall and Tom Waltz with fun, expressive art by Jose Holder (Mars Attacks The Real Ghostbusters), KISS Kids promises to be a treat for fans of all-ages!

So, Shannon, Nick and I are sitting at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York. And Ross Halfin, rock photographer impresario walks over to say hello, having just photographed us in Australia – and who is standing right beside him? Jimmy Page!!!

Nick just about had heart palpitations. I quickly grabbed my phone and took a photo. And Jimmy, as always, is the consummate gentleman.

Hail the RiffMaster of them all.

Gene

Announcement of the KISS Canadian MONSTER Tour spread like wildfire through the news media yesterday! Check out a sampling of the numerous press stories by clicking the links below.

KISS Announces Canadian MONSTER Tour

January 2013 marked four decades since the legendary rock band KISS was born. Forty years later, having racked up 28 U.S. gold albums along with 40 million U.S. and 100 million in world sales, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, with longtime members guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, return stronger than ever. - The Gauntlet

KISS coming to Regina, Saskatoon

KISS coming to Vancouver in July

KISS Announces Canadian Monster Tour

KISS to play Budweiser Gardens in London on July 27

KISS headed to Scotiabank on July 25

KISS set to rock Saddledome for Stampede

KISS returns to Edmonton

Classic rockers KISS confirmed for July 5 concert in Victoria

KISS to make summer Monster Tour stop in Kelowna

KISS to play in July

KISS rocking Brandon, Winnipeg on July 17, 18

A KISS Army Fan club members-only ticket pre-sale for 5 of the upcoming KISS Canadian shows will take place beginning this morning at 10am (local venue time). See details below.

PRESALES BEGIN TODAY - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3 AT 10AM:

July 10 - Enmax Centre (Lethbridge, AB)
July 13 - Scotiabank Saddledome (Calgary, AB)
July 16 - Evraz Place (Regina, SK)
July 17 - Keystone Centre (Brandon, MB)
July 23 - Sudbury Arena (Sudbury, ON)

If you are a Premium KISS ARMY Member: LOGIN at http://www.kissonline.com/service/login and visit the tour page to get information to access the presale.

If you are not a current Premium Member of the KISS ARMY and would like to participate in the Members-only Pre-sale: JOIN NOW!

Review: Epiphone Spaceman Tommy Thayer Signature Les Paul

by Guitar World Staff

If the Kiss Army were to appoint a general, it would have to be the band’s lead guitarist, Tommy “Spaceman” Thayer.

Long before he donned Ace Frehley’s iconic makeup and became the band’s official ax master in 2003, Thayer had already developed an impressive service record with the group, included writing and recording demos with Gene Simmons, managing the 1995 Kiss Worldwide Convention Tour and working as producer and editor on the Kiss films The Second Coming, Detroit Rock City and The Last Kiss.

Thayer’s signature Epiphone Spaceman continues his tradition of stellar contributions to the Kiss legacy. It’s a souped-up tour de force of tone and certainly one of the most thrilling and well-balanced Les Pauls created in recent years. In addition to featuring a pair of Gibson’s hotter 498T pickups, it has an ultra-cool retro-style silver-flake finish. Epiphone is making only 1,000 of the limited-edition Spaceman, and at a street price under $700, they’re sure to go fast.

KISS will bring their MONSTER World Tour to Canada this summer!

KISS 2013 CANADIAN TOUR DATE:

July 5 - Save On Foods Memorial Center (Victoria, BC)
July 6 - Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena (Vancouver, BC)
July 8 - Prospera Place (Kelowna, BC)
July 10 - Enmax Centre (Lethbridge, AB)
July 12 - Rexall Place (Edmonton, AB)
July 13 - Scotiabank Saddledome (Calgary, AB)
July 14 - Credit Union Centre (Saskatoon, SK)
July 16 - Evraz Place (Regina, SK)
July 17 - Keystone Centre (Brandon, MB)
July 18 - MTS Centre (Winnipeg, MB)
July 23 - Sudbury Arena (Sudbury, ON)
July 25 - Scotiabank Place (Ottawa, ON)
July 26 - Molson Canadian Amphitheatre (Toronto, ON)
July 27 - Budweiser Gardens (London, ON)
July 29 - Bell Centre (Montreal, QC)
July 31 - Harbour Station (Saint John, NB)
Aug 1 - Metro Centre (Halifax, NS)
Aug 3 - Mile One Stadium (St. John's, NFLD)
Aug 4 - Mile One Stadium (St. John's, NFLD)

Visit the KISS TOUR PAGE for ticket and Meet & Greet info.

A KISS Army Fan club members-only ticket pre-sale for 14 of the upcoming KISS Canadian shows will take place beginning this morning at either 9am or 10am (local venue time). See details below.

PRESALES BEGIN TODAY, APRIL 2 AT 9AM (local venue time):

July 5 - Save On Foods Memorial Center (Victoria, BC)
July 6 - Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena (Vancouver, BC)
July 8 - Prospera Place (Kelowna, BC)
July 12 - Rexall Place (Edmonton, AB)
July 14 - Credit Union Centre (Saskatoon, SK)
July 18 - MTS Centre (Winnipeg, MB)
July 29 - Bell Centre (Montreal, QC)
July 31 - Harbour Station (Saint John, NB)
Aug 1 - Metro Centre (Halifax, NS)
Aug 3 - Mile One Stadium (St. John's, NFLD)
Aug 4 - Mile One Stadium (St. John's, NFLD)

PRESALES BEGIN TODAY, APRIL 2 AT 10AM (local venue time):

July 25 - Scotiabank Place (Ottawa, ON)
July 26 - Molson Canadian Amphitheatre (Toronto, ON)
July 27 - Budweiser Gardens (London, ON)

If you are a Premium KISS ARMY Member: LOGIN at http://www.kissonline.com/service/login and visit the tour page to get information to access the presale.

If you are not a current Premium Member of the KISS ARMY and would like to participate in the Members-only Pre-sale: JOIN NOW!

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

This week we visited the Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford, Illinois, where Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen has a large exhibit of his favorite music memorabilia called "Rick's Picks: A Lifelong Affair With Guitars and Music." The quantity of items on display is astounding -- it's a truly a love letter to rock and roll. And, as we spent hours looking through all of the guitars, photos, picks, tour posters and more, I realized how much of my favorite bands' histories are intertwined together.

There's plenty for KISS fans to enjoy in this exhibit. As you walk in, a timeline on the wall notes important dates in Cheap Trick's history, including their tour with KISS in 1977. We saw Rick's RIAA platinum album award for performing on Gene's solo album, a myriad of KISS backstage passes, buttons, picks and photos -- even a Kramer Axe guitar that Gene commissioned and gave to Rick.

Here are some photos that I took of some of the KISS-related items on display at the museum. Enjoy!

Jill Cataldo

On this day in KISStory - April 1, 2005, KISS closed the Rockin' The Corps concert held at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in San Diego. The free concert was organized as a thank you for the Marines who have served in Iraq and their families stationed at the base. The event was attended by approximately 55,000 active duty military personnel and their families and broadcast by the Armed Forces Radio and Television Network to servicemen, servicewomen and civilians at bases world-wide.

Here's KISS Rockin' The Corps!

On this day in KISStory - April 1 , 2012, KISS caused quite a stir at the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The band arrived in a monster truck in full makeup, stealing the spotlight from the nominees, presenters and performers walking the red carpet. During the awards, KISS presented Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum the Vocal Group of the Year Award.

Happy Easter to everyone! We hope you have a wonderful day with your family and friends. Enjoy!

Thanks to the KISS Army for sharing these great KISS Easter eggs and artwork with us and the fans!

KISS frontman Gene Simmons says music can save a child’s life, get them off the streets

By Associated Press

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Kiss frontman Gene Simmons made a surprise appearance at a Sioux Falls benefit concert Saturday, where he spoke of music’s power to positively shape children’s lives.

Simmons’s appearance came on the final day of a week of concerts to benefit the music academy for Sioux Falls Boys & Girls Clubs members.

“This is about kids. We’ve had our chance. We’ve got to give them a chance. Anything that gets them off the street is a good thing,” Simmons said.

Music, Simmons said, is self-empowering.

“It doesn’t matter if you become a star. If you don’t believe in yourself and get up on stage, everybody is watching. You can feel the power ... and it helps you get through life, especially when you’re impressionable.”

He said getting involved in music — whether it’s learning to play an instrument or sing karaoke — improves social skills, too.

On this day in KISSTORY - March 30, 2012, KISS rocked over 35,000 fans at Woldenberg Park during the AT&T NCAA Final Four Block Party!





Here's KISS performing "Rock and Roll All Nite" like you've never seen it before... from a rooftop! And, in true KISS fashion, the band blew up the city's skyline at the end of the show.

Check out this KISS billboard for their upcoming appearance at the ArenaBowl in Orlando, Florida. The band will perform in concert on Friday, August 16th as part of the ArenaBowl festivities. A KISS ARMY members-only pre sale will take place next week for this show.

Thanks to George Navarro for sending KOL the image!



KISS TO HEADLINE ARENABOWL XXVI WEEKEND

Legendary Rockers 40th Anniversary Celebrates with Champions of AFL

CBS Sports Network and the CBS Network partner in success

BIG NEWS with BIG PARTNERS. AFL, CBS and KISS Unite for major Entertainment Weekend

Legendary rock band KISS will perform during ArenaBowl XXVI weekend this August 16th in Orlando, Florida, as this unprecedented partnership with The Arena Football League and CBS Sports was proudly announced on Tuesday.

KISS, known for their elaborate and explosive stage shows, iconic black and white face paint, and never ending love of helping their KISS Army Fans to remember to “Rock and Roll All Night and Party Every Day” are returning to Orlando for the first time since 2006. KISS, lead by the original founding partners of Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide over the last four decades and notched eight Top 10 albums, highlighted by hit songs such as “Rock And Roll All Nite” and “Calling Dr. Love”. The recently released Number 1 MONSTER Album from KISS has been hailed by critics as the bands greatest studio album in years. Go to KISSONLINE.com for more.

ArenaBowl XXVI is set to be played at the Amway Center in Orlando on Saturday, August 17. The game will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network at 1 p.m. as part of the 3 day weekend celebration.

Here's Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer getting ready to rock the Brennan Academy with Joey Allen, Chuck Garric, Robby Krieger of The Doors, Alice Cooper and Sebastian Bach last night in South Dakota.


Excerpts from a story by By DIRK LAMMERS, Associated Press

The $1,000-a-ticket concert is a fundraiser for the center, which is the brainchild of Sioux Falls native Chuck Brennan. Brennan, the founder of short-term lender Dollar Loan Center, based his idea on Cooper's Solid Rock Foundation in Phoenix.

Cooper said about 100 kids a night are flocking to his Solid Rock center, which opened about two years ago.

"If you take one kid out of a gang and get him involved in rock 'n' roll or get him involved in a guitar or bass or drums, you don't just change that kid, you change the neighborhood," he said.

The Sioux Falls academy has had the feel of an exclusive, intimate venue this week, but starting in April it will become the afternoon home for young people looking to learn or improve their skills in guitar, bass, drums, keyboards or vocals.

Lessons will be given in nine soundproof rehearsal rooms, five of which are wired to a professional mixing and recording studio. The four upstairs rehearsal rooms will honor KISS, with each decorated as an homage to the band members' characters: The Demon, Starchild, Catman and Spaceman.

KISS' Thayer, who grew up playing saxophone in a school music program before he ever touched a guitar, said the facility will spark kids' creative side.

"I'm blown away with this whole facility," Thayer said. "I think it's a great thing."