By Anthony Morgan

A member of American hard rock outfit Kiss since March 2002, lead guitarist ‘Spaceman’ Tommy Thayer has favoured the use of Les Paul Standards for the most part, the majority of which have been reissues crafted by the Gibson Custom Shop. A 2006 decision would plant the seeds for the January 2013-released Tommy Thayer ‘Spaceman’ Les Paul Standard Outfit, an Epiphone creation limited to a 1,000 replicas.

“In 2006 I decided I wanted to mix it up and have them try something else with a different aesthetic, a different top on it rather than a Sunburst,” Tommy remembers. “I thought doing a silver sparkle top would be great for a Les Paul, and would be great onstage with Kiss obviously. I thought it would look great with the outfits and the stage show we do and everything, and the lighting (laughs). I asked them to make one in the actual Gibson Custom Shop.

“We were doing a show in Las Vegas (Nevada) called VH1 Rock Honors (May 25th), which was a special commemoration to Kiss. I was excited to get the guitar, because I thought ‘Oh great. I’m gonna play this guitar onstage, and debut it on this VH1 Rock Honors show.’ This was in 2006. The silver top guitar from Gibson showed up at the hotel. I was excited to see it because I wanted to play it that night, but I opened it up and said ‘Well, that’s odd. This thing looks really weird, actually.’ I wasn’t happy because they made it with the silver sparkle top, but the sides and the back of the guitar were just mahogany wood like a gold top. It was strange, so I immediately called them up and said ‘You know what we should do? We should make the sides and the back of the neck black. With the silver sparkle top, that would look fantastic.’ I sent it back. They took a couple of weeks, redid it, I got the guitar back, and that was it. It was really what I wanted then.

This awesome Paul Stanley tattoo belongs to Roger Utsola of Norway.

There's only five days left before KISS invades Australia again! The band opens their MONSTER Tour on Thursday in Perth!

KISS MONSTER AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2013:

Feb 28th – Perth - Perth Arena
March 3rd – Adelaide - Clipsal 500 V8 Supercar
March 5th – Melbourne - Etihad Stadium
March 6th – Melbourne - Etihad Stadium
March 9th – Sydney - All Phones Arena
March 10th - Sydney - All Phones Arena
March 12th – Brisbane - Brisbane Entertainment Centre
March 16th – Mackay- Virgin Australia Stadium

For additional information on KISS' Australian MONSTER Tour, visit www.themonstertour.com.

MONSTER TOUR OPENS THURSDAY

It's the news Australian rock fans have been waiting for.

KISS and Mötley Crüe. On the same stage. On the same night.

After 45 shows in the United States, it's now Australia's turn to experience the rock and roll heavyweights – and Thin Lizzy is also along for the ride.

Not only has it been five years since KISS last toured Australia, but 2013 marks their 40th anniversary and what better way to celebrate than to don the makeup and the flamethrowers at Perth Arena.
Advertisement

Not only will KISS perform their favourite tracks from their treasure-trove of hits, they will also rock audiences with material from their just-released 20th studio album Monster, which debuted at No. 7 on the ARIA chart.

With combined album sales of almost 200 million, KISS and Mötley Crüe have remained true icons of rock and continue their success with attracting a whole new generation of fans.

Tickets to this explosive night of chart-topping rock hits are available from www.themonstertour.com.

KISS: Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 - In stores February 27th

Pull out the cream makeup, ready the powder and lay the eyeliner on thick… because “Psycho Circus” continues in Volume 3 of KISS: The Greatest Hits! Rediscover classics like "Bottle Full Of Wishes," "Forever," "Four Sides To Every Story," and the four-part "Destroyer."

Collects issues #7–13

My teacher, Mr. Magnotti, is a KISS fanatic! Eyewitness news came in and filmed us in Brooklyn, N.Y. (yes, KISS' hometown), and they saw his whole classroom covered in KISS pictures, toys, plush animals, boots and a Paul Stanley flag that we stand and salute everyday while he plays the trumpet fanfare! He is crazy but teaches us every grammar rule by using KISS and Sesame Street. These are his heroes.

We have learned about more than just the 150 KISS concerts he attended. We try to be the best in his class because he will give KISS toys and tickets to the ones who do well. He has given KISS potato head figures, bobble heads of Paul, Eric, Gene and Tommy, singing dolls, KISS ARMY dog tags, glasses, hats, shirts, pez dispensers, CDs, xmas ornaments, drumsticks and comic books.

He showed us the picture he cherishes of the art painting he bought from Paul. He dragged the math teacher to 4 concerts in one week in September, even though we had school, he came in so excited! He shares his love of ENGLISH through KISS. If it were not for you guys, I would be dumb.

Please look at the channel 7 eyewitness news link of his classroom, you will see why we love him. He is a hot drummer for his cover band, all because of Eric, whom he idolizes. The guy is KISS crazy, you may know him from the M cap he wears at all of your concerts.

Enjoy the link! (You can see KISS all over the walls!) http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=8998758

Best,
AG

Check out this clip of KISS rocking over 60,000 fans in Buenos Aires, Argentina!

"100,000 Years" featuring Eric Singer's Drum Solo - Buenos Aires, Argentina - 2009

Here are some of the many great KISS tattoos found on the KISS Army Tattoo Club Facebook page.

KISS Army Tattoo Club

Look who invaded my local servo to get a KISS ice cream. Hope you like it! It's ME! Hope Paul see's it!

Jack Shaw
Australia

LETTERS

KISS IS EVERYWHERE

From the very famous Mexican tv show "El Chavo" here it is - Quico painted as the Catman! Santiago and Sofia (my kids) discovered this in one episode, they really surprised me, they are always aware of KISS stuff!!!!!

Rodrigo Acuña

LETTERS

On this day in KISSTORY - February 20, 1976, KISS plants their platform boots into wet cement outside Hollywood’s Grauman’s Chinese Theatre!

Tommy recently hosted a private dinner party raising $150,000 for the Arnold Palmer Tradition Scholarship Fund. The event was held on February 5th in La Quinta, California.

Tommy and musician friends Robby Krieger, Danny Seraphine, Patrick Lamb and Will Champlin performed a private concert to the exclusive party capped at 100 attendees.

Pictured: Tommy and "The King," golf legend Arnold Palmer.

Check out these KISS clips from 2007 and 2008!


Backstage footage from Sault Ste. Marie - 2007




"DEUCE" - Albert Park -Melbourne, Australia - 2008

Here's KISS featured in a double-page spread of Perth, Australia's Sunday Times! Thanks to Karen Dobbs for sharing the photo with KISSonline!

KISS will headline the massive 'Rock Fest' in Cadott, Wisconsin on July 20th, 2013! The band previously performed at the Festival in 2007 before a crowd of over 35,000.

Visit www.rock-fest.com for tickets and Festival information.