by Eric Harabadian

They say "where there's smoke there's fire" and on Sept. 25 there was plenty of that, along with enough explosions and fireworks to set off the Fourth of July! You see, this was the opener of the "Kiss Alive 35" North American 40-plus city tour, and the classic quartet returned to the place where it all started for them back in 1975.

The seminal Kiss Alive! album catapulted the then-fledgling group from marginal success to multi-platinum status. The original album cover was taken at Michigan Palace, but the back cover, where the majority of the live album was recorded, displayed an anticipatory crowd at the sold-out Cobo Arena.

One might say that it was the mid-'70s all over again. There was a nostalgic glint in people's eyes and a palpable buzz and energy in the air. And the seemingly ageless and unstoppable rock n' roll machine known as Kiss delivered a timeless two-hour-plus extravaganza that seemed destined for the history books.

KISS will be featured on ABC's Good Morning America this Sunday morning, 10/18. The piece features footage shot at KISS's Nassau Coliseum show!

Here's Sonic Boom at the top of the Billboard Rock Albums chart for the current week! Sonic Boom is also the #1 album on Billboard's Hard Rock and Independent charts!

Yahoo Music's "Guitar Hero 5 Fridays" is currently featuring LIVE video clips of KISS from the Alive 35 tour, as well as an EXCLUSIVE interview!

Click to check them out!

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The phenomenon that is KISS has never not been in the news since their start more than three decades ago ago--but 2009 appears to be taking the famous quartet to entirely new levels.

Just last week, the band nearly topped the charts with Sonic Boom-their first album in 11 years, featuring 2 CDs and a bonus live DVD, and now available exclusively at Walmart for a mere $12. To use famous KISS terminology, sales have been hotter than hell!

Even more significant than those sales, however, is the simple fact that the legendary band has spent the past few months celebrating a stunning 35 years in the music business!

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by Kevin Eck

They say you never forget your first Kiss. I vividly remember mine.

The date was Dec. 20, 1977, and I was 10. That was the night I saw the self-professed hottest band in the land for the very first time, at the old Capital Centre in Landover.

What I experienced that night was much deeper than a school-boy infatuation. It was the start of a lifelong relationship, and even though there have been peaks and valleys over the past 32 years, the passion is still there ...

Guitar Hero 5 will launch a new KISS downloadable 3-song track pack on 11/19/09! While you wait, you can also rock out to KISS right now in GH5 which features "Shout It Out Loud." For more information, visit www.guitarhero.com.

Buy all Live Recordings of the North American Tour and get the Ultimate LIMITED EDITION KISS ALIVE 35 KOLLECTOR'S BOX FOR FREE.

Contains ALL 2-CD SETS of each and every recorded North American live show!*

WITH ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPHS BY ALL MEMBERS OF KISS AND CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY

INCLUDES 4 EXCLUSIVE KISS USB LEATHER WRISTBANDS

LIMITED Edition, so order now to secure your Kollector's Box.

SPECIAL OFFER PRICE: $1195

Your KOLLECTOR'S BOX will be shipped in time for X-mas 2009!

ORDER NOW

* Please note that the box contains all recorded shows, not all shows. A minimum of 40 shows will be recorded.

By MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER

Critics who have dismissed modern-day Kiss as nothing but a cartoonish merchandising machine take note: the band has proven that there is some rock and roll left in the tank, and this week celebrates the highest charting release in its history as "Sonic Boom" landed in the No. 2 slot on the Billboard charts.

Rock Music Menu caught up with drummer Eric Singer after the grease-painted foursome played an explosive, career spanning set at the Wachovia Center Monday night and talked about what it is that makes the new album so appealing.

"Everyone knew what the task at hand was," Singer said. "We all got on board in the same vehicle heading down the same road and we knew what are destination was."

KISS is alive and 35 at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville

BY DAN ARMONAITIS, Spartanburg Herald-Journal

A strange thing has happened with the release of "Sonic Boom," the new album by rock legends KISS.
In the week-and-a-half since it hit the shelves as a Wal-Mart exclusive, "Sonic Boom" has earned KISS something it has lacked throughout much of its 35-year career --critical respect.

While dedicated fans have always shown absolute adoration for the band, music industry insiders have not been so kind, often ridiculing KISS as little more than a novelty act. Despite its huge influence on the contemporary music scene, KISS still remains a non-Rock and Hall of Fame member even though it has been eligible for an entire decade.

But even the harshest KISS critics have toned down the negativity in their reviews of "Sonic Boom," with many hailing it as the best album the band has produced in more than 30 years.

Check out the Guitar World Ultimate KISS Giveaway!

Grand Prize includes two Meet & Greet Packages, including two tickets to a show on the 2009 North American Alive 35 Tour!

Five runners-ups will receive a KISS Merch Pack including KISS Earrings, KISS T-shirts, a KISS Keychain, an official KISS Football and more!

ENTER GUITAR WORLD'S ULTIMATE KISS MEET & GREET GIVEAWAY NOW!

Los Premios MTV to honor Latin pop and rock in LA

MTV will roll its raucous red carpet across continents with its eighth annual Los Premios MTV honoring the best of the year's pop, rock and reggaeton from across Latin America.
The multi-city awards show culminates Thursday evening in Los Angeles after kicking off in September with six of 27 awards presented at regional events in Buenos Aires, Mexico City and Bogota.

Winners will receive a "lenguas," the pink tongue-shaped statue inspired by Kiss' Gene Simmons.

NOTE FROM GENE:

The MTV LATIN AWARD (is actually) my tongue.

When I went down to Mexico with our tv show, I actually saw a 5 1/2 foot tall Tongue Statue that people posed next to ...on the red carpet....and when an artist received an MTV Latin Award, they got...my tongue!!!

DEFENDING my 7 Year Old Son going to a KISS CONCERT....(Here's my Reply to a Facebook post that questioned exposing my kids to KISS):

"I'm a good dad.....please don't judge my parenting skills and judgement unless you know me Really well. I grew up as a KISS fan and I think I turned out pretty well. I've seen them 14 times in 20+ years so I know what to expect from them. I wouldn't expose my kids to anything dangerous...KISS does not preach about Drugs...In fact Gene Simmons has never been Drunk nor has he ever done drugs (True!!)....the same can be said for me.....Also, the worst word of the night that was only mentioned once was "A$$"..... Rock and Roll is just Rock and Roll...You either like it or you don't....if you take it any more serious than the toe-tapping/fist pumping musical enjoyment that it is, than you are over thinking the simplicity of it....God gave music to the world to enjoy...so enjoy it."

Don McGee - Haymarket, Virginia

LETTERS

Check out the cover of the upcoming RockHard magazine Germany!

The magazines features the Interview you did with one of the writers called Jan Jaedicke.

The magazine will be available on newsstands Wednesday, Oct 21st.

kind regards,

your loyal fan & friend,

Marcel Mueller

To All,

We want to thank all of you for giving us our highest US charting album ever! WOW!

We also got all the messages about problems finding Sonic Boom or stores not having stock. All fixed and worth the trip back to Walmart!

You Wanted The Best, You GOT The Best!

Paul, Tommy, Eric and Gene

Gene,

My husband and I took our boys to your concert in DC and they just loved it. They are six years old twins and this was their first concert. I want to Thank You, Paul, Tommy and Eric for putting on such a fantastic show and making it a memorable one for my family. I'm sending you some pictures to share because you and KISS - RULE!!! Just a note: My son Michael is going as the one and only you "Gene Simmons" for Halloween and I have the Demon outfit for him and platforms also.

Could you please share this with Doc also since he agreed for the picture. The boys were so excited. It was truly an honor to meet him.

Our Best to you and your Beautiful Family. We enjoy the Family Jewels show also and Thank You for sharing.

God Bless!

Charles and Pamela Pfeifer

LETTERS