GENE ANNOUNCED AS GRAND MARSHALL

The original God of Thunder will be on hand at the upcoming Honda Indy Toronto.

Gene Simmons, bassist/vocalist for classic rock stalwarts KISS, has been named grand marshal for the July 12 race, organizers announced Monday.

Simmons, who co-founded Kiss more than 35 years ago, was involved in the global marketing of the IndyCar Series for several years through his partnership in Simmons Abramson Marketing.

'Gene Simmons is one of the most recognizable figures and groundbreaking businessmen in the world and we are pleased to have him be a big part of the 2009 Honda Indy Toronto,' Kevin Savoree, president of race promoter Andretti Green Toronto, said in a statement.

The Honda Indy Toronto takes place July 10-12 which coincides with the southern Ontario leg of an upcoming Kiss Canadian tour, including a two-night stand at Casino Rama Entertainment Centre on July 20-21.

FAN-MADE KISS HATS

By Dean Snowden

Milwaukee Summerfest: KISS meet n greet.

Checking in the Platinum Fans under threat of severe thunderstorms illustrated the KISS fans diligence to their band, everyone was on time and very excited.

We made our way with the help of security up 3 flights of stairs to the room where finally they would get to meet: KISS.

About 7:55 the band arrived to a hail of applause combined with flashes and cheers.

With temperatures rising the photos were done and it was time to for the band to meet their faithful fans.

It is so cool to see the reactions of these fans each and every night when meeting KISS in person.

Fans often make tributes to their Idols and tonight's gesture was from Jeffrey Kahlow, who made these amazing big head hats....KISS thanks you.

PAUL INSPIRES KEITH URBAN

By: Alison Bonaguro

When I interviewed Keith Urban last month, we talked a lot about guitars. Well, he talked. I listened. He had a lot to say about his whole arsenal. But the thrill in his voice seemed to go up a notch when we got around to his latest creation. It s a Fender, and senior master guitar builder and artist Yuriy Shishkov made this Telecaster just for Urban. Urban told me it was his love of KISS‘ Paul Stanley growing up and his Mirror Ball Iceman guitar that gave him the idea for his own decked-out guitar. 'I was always mesmerized by his guitar. So we reached out to the guy who d made one for Paul, so we could do a Telecaster with that same look. Like broken pieces of mirror all over it.'

When I asked him how heavy it was, he said very. 'I ve had a ‘56 Les Paul and a Start that were real back breakers, so I should be fine,' he said. And when I asked him how it would sound, he laughed and told me, 'You ll be blinded into thinking it sounds good.'

Urban didn t get to see KISS play live until about five years ago. But growing up, he d watched the band on television. 'I saw that guitar, and it just stayed with me. I always want to add something to the show. Although I may only play it on one or two songs, because it s pretty over the top.' Indeed, you can see the new guitar on his webisodes from his shows in the Carolinas. It is covered with hundreds of fragments of hand-cut mirrored glass.

But because he s Keith Urban — the man who s occasionally listed in liner notes as playing the cardboard box — he makes the guitar look downright lightweight, and he makes it sound like he s been playing it for years.

ONE LIVE KISS WINS TELLY AWARD!

The 30th Annual TELLY AWARDS have been announced and ONE LIVE KISS received the highest honor!

ONE LIVE KISS : Producers Paul Stanley & Louis Antonelli have received the Special CLASSIC GOLD TELLY AWARD, presented to Film & Video productions that are among the finest in the 30 year history of THE TELLY AWARDS.

Founded in 1978, The Telly is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional and cable TV programs, as well as the finest video and film productions. The 30th Annual TELLY AWARDS received over 14,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents.

Among past winners of The TELLY AWARDS are industry leaders such as: Harpo Studios - Oprah Winfrey, Dreamworks, Pixar, Disney, Lightstorm Entertainment, TCM, Clear Channel Entertainment, CNN, A&E, Comcast, VH1, Time Warner, MTV, and Universal Studios.

KISS STILL SHOUTS IT OUT LOUD!

By Bob Purvis of the Journal Sentinel

Photos by Rick Wood

When it comes to covering up your age, makeup goes a long way.

Celebrating more than 35 years of painting their faces and blowing stuff up, Kiss, the undisputed monsters of arena rock, proved Saturday night at the Marcus Amphitheater that they've got plenty more rock left in their lycra-and-leather tanks.

With a new album on the horizon, the rockers opted instead to dig deep into their catalog, tearing through a blistering set of tunes mostly plucked from their first three albums.

Descending to the stage amid a series of fiery blasts on a metal platform spewing smoke - and with an image of bassist-turned-reality-TV-star Gene Simmons' serpentine tongue flicker splashed across towering video screens behind them - the band ripped right into the thunderous hit 'Deuce' off their eponymous 1974 debut.

With founding members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley absent from the tour, Simmons and guitarist-singer Paul Stanley soaked up most of the spotlight, strutting across the stage and interacting with fans throughout the set.

A brief downpour and a few lightning strikes did little to dampen the spirits of the fans in the lawn seats who seemed more awed by the pyrotechnic mayhem onstage than Mother Nature's humble display.

Dressed in a sparkling, rhinestone-encrusted spandex jumpsuit and wearing his trademark star-over-the-eye makeup, Stanley promised the crowd 'something you will not forget' shortly before the band kicked into 'Hotter Than Hell'- another early hit - as fiery explosions sent blasts of hot air over the crowd and Gene Simmons paced demonically across the stage.

'Hey, Milwaukee - do you mind if we blow (expletive) up tonight?' Stanley asked, to the deafening applause of the crowd, many of whom themselves donned face paint.

Simmons, who has experienced renewed celebrity thanks to his life-at-home reality show 'Family Jewels,' was never too far from the spotlight, whether he was blowing fire, stabbing a burning sword into the stage or wagging his oversized tongue like a demonic dog.

The band stacked its set with songs from that 1974 debut album, including 'Strutter,' 'Cold Gin,' '100,000 Years' and 'Nothin' to Lose,' with Stanley telling the crowd the tour was about 'celebrating how it all started.'

The rest of the show proved a dizzying spectacle, with countless fireworks, a drum riser nearly 50 feet above the stage and epic solos nearly as long as Simmons' tongue.

KISS LAUNCHED REUNION TOUR

The KISS Alive Worldwide Reunion tour kicked off at Tiger Stadium, Detroit, MI, before a sellout crowd of over 43,000 on June 28th, 1996. The mammoth 13-month tour included 200 shows in 26 countries, playing to over two million people and set a record for the top-grossing tour of the year.

The Tour was the first tour of all four original members, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, since the Dynasty Tour in 1979.

Set List for the Tour:

Deuce / King Of The Night Time World / Do You Love Me / Calling Dr Love / Cold Gin / Christine Sixteen / Love Gun / Shout It Out Loud / Watchin' You / Firehouse / 2,000 Man / Strutter / Shock Me / Rock Bottom / God Of Thunder / New York Groove / Let Me Go, Rock And Roll / Rock And Roll All Nite / Beth / Detroit Rock City / Black Diamond

KISS also performed the following songs at various shows on the Tour:

100,000 Years/ C'mon And Love Me / I Stole Your Love / Take Me / I Was Made For Lovin' You / Shandi / Watchin' You

KISS SHOW TONIGHT

KISS will rock the Milwaukee Summerfest tonight! The show will take place at the Marcus Amphitheater.

Pavilion seats are SOLD OUT....only uncovered bleacher and lawn seats remain.

Ticket for the general public are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com .

Meet & Greet Packages are now SOLD OUT.

For more info on the 2009 Summerfest visit http://www.summerfest.com/.

KISS ARMY MEMBERS-ONLY SPECIAL TICKET PRICE

KISS ARMY fan club members receive a special discount price on the 3 day pass for VOODOO EXPERIENCE!

The special Price is avaialable from Friday @ 10AM – Monday @ 5PM (local venue time.

If you are a Premium KISS ARMY Member: LOGIN NOW.

If your membership to the KISS ARMY has expired: RENEW NOW. If you are not a premium member of the KISS ARMY and would like to get the discount: JOIN NOW.

KISS AT VOODOO EXPERIENCE 2009

KISS, one of the most influential and successful rock and roll bands of all-time, will anchor this year's VOODOO EXPERIENCE!

More than 150 artists are confirmed for this year s VOODOO EXPERIENCE, Friday, October 30, Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1. The 11th annual VOODOO EXPERIENCE--and the third to coincide exactly with Halloween--will once again celebrate music, as well as New Orleans bohemian culture, arts and cuisine.

KISS will rock New Orleans with the one-of-a-kind stage show for which they're known. Along with the screaming guitars, lights and pyrotechnics that have made KISS 'The Greatest Rock n Roll Show On Earth,' the band will play songs from their vast repertoire of classic hits. Having sold 90 million records worldwide, KISS has become the soundtrack of a generation.

For a limited time, three-day weekend tickets are $169, ALL IN with no additional fees; LOA Lounge VIP pass are $475, ALL IN with no additional fees and are available via Ticketmaster and thevoodooexperiance.com..

More information about this year s VOODOO EXPERIENCE can also be found at www.thevoodooexperience.com.

KISS COFFEEHOUSE SHOT GLASSES

Here's an artist rendering of the just approved KISS Coffeehouse Boot Shot Glasses. They should be available at the Coffeehouse this summer.

http://www.KISSCOFFEEHOUSE.com

SON'S KISS BIRTHDAY PARTY

KISS!

My son Adam wanted to share these pictures with you!

He is one of your biggest fan. He just turned 7 years old and for his birthday he wanted to have a KISS party and put on a show for his friends and family.

We are hoping KISS comes to LA or Orange County so he can see you guys perform.

In the picture he is the Spaceman. How he decided who was going to play Gene was they all had to stick out their tongue to see who s was the longest.

Thank you if you actually take time to read and view these pictures and hope to see you in California…..

Thanks, Tony -Adam s Dad and Adam

LETTERS click here

KISS MR. POTATO HEADS

As we previously reported, the KISS Mr. Potato Heads are scheduled for an early August release.

Spuds all dressed up with somewhere to go – KISS fans rejoice! Promotional Partners company will release a series of KISS Mr. Potato Head toys, complete with interchangeable parts. This collectors set includes all 4 members of KISS; The Demon, The Spaceman, The Catman and Paul Stanley The Starchild. A variety of KISS costumes, instruments, hairstyles, footwear and faces are included to mix and match.

'ROCK AND ROLL OVER' ARTIST WORKS WITH KISS AGAIN

In a recent interview with LetterCult, artist Michael Doret discusses his iconic KISS 'Rock And Roll Over' album cover and mentions he's working with KISS on their new album cover!

Here's the KISS part of the interview:

(Question) You said you drew your inspiration (for the KISS cover) from a job for a (Japanese) magazine cover, IDEA. Where did you get your inspiration for that cover?

(Answer) The magazine was doing a feature on my work and they asked me to come up with a cover for that issue. I did the cover image to look like a shooting gallery. So the inspiration probably goes all the way back to Coney Island—but the direct inspiration was also vintage tin toys and tin litho target games. Anyway I did the IDEA cover first and the whole KISS / Rock and Roll Over thing came afterward. I loved the way the IDEA cover came out, the way I had them print it in Pantone colors—it almost felt like a silkscreen. I really wanted to go that route again. As the members of KISS were wearing Kabuki-style makeup, the Japanese-y approach I did on the IDEA cover seemed a perfect match. So I came up with that graphic and used a similar color scheme and look. We even did it in five flat colors—not in 4 color process.

(Question) (The KISS cover) was like a shooting gallery then?

(Answer) Not at all. It turned out to be more like a mandala, more Asian-influenced. I was just going for the look I had come up with on that other cover. The visual theme I chose came out of the album s name, the 'Rollover' thing. There was no 'right side up' to that cover…An interesting side-note is that after all these years since I did that work for KISS, they ve come back to me and asked me to design their next CD cover. It s a big project, and at the moment, I m totally immersed in it.

http://www.lettercult.com/archives/529

NEW KISS T-SHIRTS

Here are the latest approved KISS T-shirts - KISS Phantom of the Park and KISS First Album (Youth Size). Both shirts will be available this summer.

KISS AT CONFEDERATION CUP

Hi KISS,

Check out this fan from yesterday's Confederation Cup Soccer Match between Italy and Brazil!!

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!!!

Best, Pierangelo