Join Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons tonight, Wednesday, May 8th for the Grand Opening of Rock & Brews Pacific Coast Highway.

Visit www.torranceeducationfoundation.org to buy tickets for tonight's opening.

The new Rock & Brews is located on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Torrance, Calif., and is the newest in the Los Angeles area and the third to open in just over a year, demonstrating Rock & Brews plans for a worldwide rapid expansion of the brand. Rock & Brews PCH joins the brand’s growing roster that includes its flagship location in El Segundo, Calif., which opened in April of 2012, and the first international location in Los Cabos, Mexico, which opened in March 2013.

“We continue to expand Rock & Brews worldwide with a commitment to building a family-friendly atmosphere that serves exceptional food along with a broad selection of craft beers,” said Stanley. “We offer incredible value in a fun, energized rock-themed environment.”

Four additional Rock & Brews restaurants are currently in development: Rock & Brews LAX (CA) will open this summer (in the Delta Airlines Terminal); Rock & Brews Maui (HI) will open this fall; Rock & Brews Agoura (CA) will also open this fall; and, Rock & Brews Kansas City (MO) is slated to open early next year.

"Rock & Brews is on fire around the globe,” said Simmons. “People love bringing their families all day long and through dinner, and enjoy the rockin’ social scene later in the evening.”

The new Rock & Brews PCH welcomes local partner Jon Mesko, who will own and operate the Torrance location. The restaurant will feature the brand’s signature casual American cuisine, a full bar including a broad selection of premium wines and craft beers, and there will be a 21-and-over lounge area with private tables, offering self-service beer taps, monitored through new iPad software that tracks consumption and also provides detailed information about other draft and bottled beers available at the restaurant.

By Paul Rogers

Kiss co-founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are partners in a restaurant called Rock & Brews, which on Wednesday will open its third location, on PCH in Torrance.

"Often this idea of themed restaurants means that it's an excuse for crap food," self-described "foodie" Stanley tells us on-site, as power tools fizz and pound around him in the airy building jutting into a busy intersection. "The idea here is not crap food. It's craft beer; it's artisan pizzas; it's food, arguably, that you couldn't serve at home, but wish you could."

In partnership with concert industry veterans Dave and Dell Furano, and restaurateur Michael Zislis, Stanley and Simmons opened their first Rock & Brews restaurant in El Segundo in April 2012, and another in Los Cabos, Mexico, in March. Rock & Brews LAX is set to open in that airport's Delta Airlines Terminal this summer, followed by an Agoura location in the fall. Locations in Maui, Hawaii and Kansas City, Missouri are also scheduled.

In its unfinished state, the 5,400-square-foot Rock & Brews PCH recalls a Hard Rock Café or similar rock 'n' roll-themed eatery. Bold prints of music icons (including Tom Petty, AC/DC, Bob Marley and, yes, Kiss) enliven dining room and patio walls, while a trio of guitar necks, presumably intended for display, lay stacked on a table.

"It's like being backstage at a rock concert and it's also like being in your living room," says Stanley, who is 61. "Never kid yourself -- everybody wants to be a rock star!"

In the restaurant's main dining area, rectangular, 8- or 10-person wooden tables with attached are were organized in rows, cafeteria-like, beneath an exposed, warehouse-y roof. As well as an 81-tap bar (including local beers Eagle Rock, Monkish and Strand), private tables in the 21-and-over lounge area will include self-service taps monitored though new iPad software.

Gene Simmons on expanding “Rock and Brews” worldwide.

Professional Bull Riders announce unique social media partnership with legendary rock band

GIVE US YOUR BEST KISS! That is what legendary rock band KISS and the fast-growing PBR will be asking millions of fans at Professional Bull Riders events across the country beginning this weekend at the nationally televised Last Cowboy Standing event from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Today, PBR and KISS announce a partnership that brings together two powerful and iconic brands in a fan-focused alliance that will delight and entertain.

PBR 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.

Is there a MONSTER in the house? In support of KISS’s new MONSTER album and other great albums from the past 40 years, there are half-a-dozen new MONSTERs in PBR arenas nationwide. PBR and KISS have teamed up to name six world-class bucking bulls after KISS albums; KISS Monster, KISS Destroyer, KISS Animalize, KISS Revenge, KISS Love Gun and KISS Psycho Circus.

These top-ranked animal athletes will face off against the Top 35 bull riders in the world at prestigious Built Ford Tough Series events for years to come. The PBR’s Built Ford Tough Series features 26 events across the country from Madison Square Garden to Cowboys Stadium to Anaheim and points in-between. All Built Ford Tough Series events are televised nationally on CBS and CBS Sports Network.

The collaboration between PBR and KISS will officially launch Friday, May 10, when both the KISS Kam and bulls from the KISS team will be unveiled at the prestigious PBR Last Cowboy Standing event held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center May 10 and 11. The event is nationally televised on CBS on Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

“Some see this as an unlikely pairing,” said Stanley, KISS front man. “But it’s quite the opposite. PBR fans have a passion that we relate to and want to be a part of. They span cultures, stereotypes and countries. They are our kind of people. The 8-Second KISS Kam is a great way for fans to show their passion for both.”

“And that’s no BULL….” Added Gene Simmons.

You’ve seen kiss cams before, but not like this. You wanted the best. You got the best. It’s the :08 Second KISS! Only the PBR and KISS could bring you something this outrageous. Each week, fans at PBR BFTS events will be selected to see if they can go the distance. Just like a bull ride, the arena clock will start and the couple must kiss for a full :08. Then it’s up to you to vote for the best (or worst) kiss. Use the map to select videos from past events. Give us your email address and register to win PBR and KISS prizes!

CLICK HERE to Register to Win valuable Prize Packages!

A KISS Army Fan club members-only ticket pre-sale for two of the upcoming KISS US shows begins today at 10AM EST. See details below.

PRESALES BEGIN TODAY, May 7 AT 10AM EST:

August 10 - Mohegan Sun - Uncasville, CT
August 12 - nTelos Wireless Pavilion - Portsmouth, VA

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!

A feature on Paul and Gene's Rock & Brews Restaurant is the cover story in the latest Los Angeles Business Journal!


Visit http://rockandbrews.com/ for more info on the restaurant chain.

He might spend the morning putting on his makeup, but that doesn't mean the KISS guitarist doesn't have time to call TG

I got my first real six-string

"I come from a real musical family. My mom was a concert violinist, a very astute musician and vocalist also, so we grew up with a lot of classical music around the house, and show tunes. I got all the best of the classics and of popular music being drummed into my ears from the get-go. We had a guitar sitting around - it was a cheap, small-scale Stella acoustic guitar. I started learning the basic chords when I was about 12 or 13 years old. My mom saw that I was into it, and she helped me purchase my first electric guitar. We ended up buying a Fender Mustang."

Dream On

"I just dreamed of owning a Les Paul some day, because I had seen pictures of bands, and all my favorite guitar players played Les Pauls. We're talkin' about Ronnie Montrose, Peter Frampton, Davey Johnstone from Elton John's band, Steve Marriott. And even KISS actually: from the beginning, Ace was playing Les Pauls. I had that Fender Mustang and I was stoked, but it didn't sound that great. About a year later, I got a Les Paul. In the used ads in the newspaper, I found a '72/'73 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop. I think I bought that for about $400."

I was made for lovin' you baby, you were made for lovin' me

"I was thinking I would like to do a signature guitar - a limited edition Les Paul - and I thought it would be cool to go to Epiphone to do it. The reason was so I could make a really high-quality guitar that was also affordable to everyone. I sent Jim Rosenberg (president of Epiphone) all the specs for my Gibson Silver Sparkle Top, and the point he made was great, he said: 'Tommy we need to make this guitar exactly like your other one, right down to the tuners, to the exact pickups.' We took all the best parts, good-quality Gibson 498 pickups, which I've used forever. Even the bridge pickup cover was removed - if it's good enough for Jimmy Page, it's good enough for me!"

KISS will bring their 2013 MONSTER World Tour to the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut on August 10th, and the nTelos Wireless Pavilion in Portsmouth, Virginia on August 12th.

August 10 - Mohegan Sun - Uncasville, CT
August 12 - nTelos Wireless Pavilion - Portsmouth, VA

A KISS Army members-only presale for both shows will take place tomorrow, May 7th at 10 AM.

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!

General public tickets go on sale Friday, May 10 at 10 AM.

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

Here's a cool KISS influenced magazine cover from Richmond,Virginia. 'Style Weekly' released their annual music issue a couple of weeks ago & I thought KISS fans would enjoy & approve...KISS is everywhere!

Ron Whitmore

LETTERS

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

Here's the cover of the Mexican sports newspaper 'Estadio', with fans of the soccer team 'Tigres UANL' in KISS makeup!

KISS is truly everywhere!

Hope to see you guys in México soon!

Felipe Jacques

LETTERS

by Alice Maggiore

With an added stop in Central New York on its 2013 Monster Tour, legendary rock band KISS is marking two milestones: the band's 40th anniversary, and the venue's 20th anniversary.

KISS is bringing its arena rock sound, make-up, and pyrotechnics to the Turning Stone Resort & Casino stage Friday, August 9th, as part of Turning Stone's 20th anniversary celebration.

Original band members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley will join longtime guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer to promote "Monster," the band's 20th studio album.

Tickets are on sale now at the Turning Stone Box Office and Ticketmaster. Seats start at $91.

The band last performed at Turning Stone in July, 2011.

'Rock & Brews 2.0' opening in Torrance -- deal sealed with KISS

For tickets and information, visit www.rockandbrews.com.

By Nick Green

Solidly middle-class Torrance isn't exactly a rock star sort of town.

And that's just fine with KISS icon Gene Simmons, who along with band co-founder Paul Stanley owns the rock 'n' roll-themed restaurant Rock & Brews opening on Thursday.

"It's less about the celebrity and more about the experience," Simmons said of the burgeoning chain of craft beer-centric restaurants that got its start in El Segundo.

"It's not about us," he added. "It's about you. We just work here. We want you to be a rock star. You may not be a rock star, but we'll make you feel like one. "

Torrance becomes the third location for Rock & Brews, which first opened in 2010 in downtown El Segundo as a modest outdoor beer garden to test the concept before a revamped, refined version reopened in early 2012. The 5,400-square-foot Torrance restaurant sits in a sliver of the city adjacent to Redondo Beach's Riviera Village at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Palos Verdes Boulevard. The building once housed a Tony Roma's and, most recently, Oliver's Cafe.

A second Rock & Brews was unveiled in March in Los Cabos, Mexico. Another opens this summer in the renovated Delta Air Lines terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, while one in Agoura Hills is slated for a fall opening. The ambitious goal is to open as many as 100 Rock & Brews in the next five years.

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.

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

Hi Everybody! 　

I found the greatest bus in Bangkok, Thailand!! You Wanted The Best!! You Got The Best!! The Hottest “BUS” In The World!! KISS!! KISS really Is Everywhere!!

Hiroyuki "UNO" Kohno from Japan

LETTERS