Gene Simmons, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer will each make appearances at the 2010 NAMM show in Anaheim on Saturday, January, 17.

Gene Simmons will be at the CORT USA/Westheimer booth #4458 at noon. Gene will take photos but will not be signing autographs.

Tommy Thayer will be at the Hughes & Kettner booth #6555 for an exclusive poster signing session at 2pm.

Eric Singer will be signing autographs at the Zildjian Cymbals booth at 2 PM.

Attendance at the NAMM trade show is restricted to companies who make, buy, and/or sell musical instruments and products.

Hi KISS Army!

This is for any KISS Army members that play video games... I have created a Paul Stanley mask to use in the game "Army Of Two." I love KISS, and it is cool to integrate them into other hobbies and enjoyments.

Anyone interested can check out the design and load it into their game here by CLICKING HERE.

You can even create your own design.

Best,
James

By Sarah Tully

Gene Simmons swung his Axe Bass over his shoulder for a few moments. He then switched to the other side. Later, he dropped the bass down, holding a stance.

With each pose, the musician pursed his lips, mugging for the many cameras that bunched around him.

Simmons, the co-founder of Kiss, was the first celebrity to make an official appearance to the NAMM Show, a major music products convention that is expecting to draw more than 85,000 people to the Anaheim Convention Center. Simmons came to the media preview event to show off his Axe Bass guitar. The four-day show starts Thursday.

The bass guitarist appeared without his signature star-eyed makeup, but he still was there for show in his sunglasses, leather jacket and beige boots.

GENE SIMMONS TO AGGRESSIVELY DEFEND AGAINST FALSE ALLEGATIONS

Barry E. Mallen, an attorney at the law firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, is representing Gene Simmons against a complaint filed on December 24, 2009 by Nathaniel Marlowe and Cynthia Manzo arising out of an alleged assault Marlowe and Manzo contend took place the afternoon of December 19, 2009 at the Grove shopping complex in Los Angeles. Mallen described the Complaint filed by Marlowe and Manzo as "opportunistic" and "riddled with distortions and false accusations." The complaint stems from events which occurred after Gene Simmons, Shannon Tweed, his partner of 26 years, and their seventeen year old daughter, Sophie, exited the movie theater at the Grove complex and were accosted by the thin, tall, tattooed Marlowe, who jumped at them and started yelling in their faces. While Simmons and his family attempted to walk away from their pursuer, Marlowe repeatedly converged upon them, while screaming and aiming a small electronic device at them.

Simmons asked the aggressor to keep his distance, but undeterred, the agitated Marlowe continued to approach Simmons while moving closer to Simmons' minor daughter. When Marlowe approached Simmons' daughter for the second time, Simmons, fearing for Sophie's safety, placed himself between his daughter and Marlowe, grabbed the device out of Marlowe's hand and moved Marlowe aside so his family could reach their car. Marlowe's companion, Cynthia Manzo, joined him in the traumatic incident that ruined the Simmons' family outing.

Simmons is appalled that people who attacked his family are suing him, claiming personal injuries, loss of consortium, and citing "emotional distress," when none of those charges are true. According to Mallen, "we look forward to meeting these charges in the court room and proving them false."

Hi KISS!

I'm a long time fan. Bought my first Kiss record in 1976, and are still hanging in there. How's that grab ya?

Came across this picture on the front page of the Danish Hi-Fi magazine, and immediately thought that even a hardworking rockstar needs to take some time off, once in a while...

Enjoy!

Kim Erik Woidemann
Denmark, Scandinavia

LETTERS

KISSONLINE SNEAK PEEK

Check out the KISS SONIC BOOM framed gold award from KISS licensee Photo File. The award should be available at retail outlets in early February.

After selling out the June 22 show at the Sports Palace of Madrid more than six months in advance, KISS is proud to announce an additional date in Spain. The show takes place on June 24 at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona. Tickets will go on sale next Tuesday, January 19th.

With numerous dates throughout Europe, KISS' "Sonic Boom Over Europe: From The Beginning To The Boom" tour is set to become THE rock event of 2010, built around the incredible success of "Sonic Boom," the first new KISS studio album in eleven years.

In addition to Madrid, Barcelona and Vitoria-Gasteiz, "Sonic Boom Over Europe: From The Beginning To The Boom" includes performances in Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, France, Belgium, England and, for the first time, Slovakia.

By Matt Silk

SONIC BOOMS

Gene and Paul's memories of some classic Kiss albums:

KISS (1974) - Gene: I no longer had to work for a living. I went on salary, I became the richest person in the world. Not only was I in a band, doing everything I wanted - I was getting $75 a week! Favourite track: Deuce.

HOTTER THAN HELL (1974)- Paul: Difficult second album? No, we were all piss and vinegar - "If you didn't like the first album, here's another!" We were releasing them every eight months. Favourite track: Hotter Than Hell.

DRESSED TO KILL (1975) - Gene: It was produced by Neil Bogart, our record company president, who couldn't produce. We started attracting lots of groupies. Mostly, I remember lots of girls. Favourite track: Two Timer.

ALIVE! (1975) - Paul: A sonic souvenir of the live show. Was it enhanced? You bet! Who wants to hear a guitar string break every time they put on a song? One week it was gold, the next platinum. Our rollercoaster ride had begun.

KOL SNEAK PEEK

Here are the latest concept designs of KISS kids costumes from licensee Costumes Galore. These costumes are a screen printed version of earlier released costumes, and will carry lower retail price.

Visit KISSCOSTUMES.com for the only officially licensed KISS costumes and accessories.

By Matt Silk

THIS week SFTW goes to Minneapolis to meet rock legends Kiss. We hang out with God Of Thunder Gene Simmons and experience their Alive 35 tour, celebrating the three and a half decades since they first emerged - an explosive taster of what the UK can expect this spring.

"Go ahead, touch it - I won't tell anyone..." I'm in a Minneapolis hotel room with a true rock legend, the fire-breathing, bloodspitting demon bassist of Kiss - Gene Simmons. And the man they call the God Of Thunder, who claims to have slept with more than 5,000 women, is inviting me to squeeze his thigh.

I'm pretty sure I'm not the first to have heard that line.

No cause for concern though. Iron-thighed Gene, 60, is proudly demonstrating the condition he needs to be in for the gruelling extravaganza which is the Kiss live experience.

The Alive 35 tour celebrates three-and-a-half decades since this incredible outfit first emerged from New York city.

"We're gladiators in the arena. There's a physicality to what we do that nobody does," says Gene.

"When you hit that stage, the adrenalin hits your veins, you physically become bigger and thicker. I become stronger and less susceptible to pain. But I come off-stage and I'm black and blue from the armour I wear banging in to me."

The 16,000-odd fans who packed out the city's Target Arena the previous night -- many of them in their teens and early twenties and a fair few sporting make-up while tottering on 7-inch stack heels -- wouldn't be surprised by Gene's battle scars. They're probably still recovering themselves.

HI KISS!

You rocked Dallas on December 6th, 2009! I have been a fan since 5th grade but had never seen them in concert before. I felt time-warped back to the 70s! You guys haven't changed a bit from where I was sitting...which was center, floor, about 10 rows back! Thanks so much for a fabulous show! And, keep on ROCKIN'!!! :D

Love always, Tammy

LETTERS

TourBusLive.com Road Diary, Volume 16 :: San Diego Sports Arena November 27, 2009, San Diego, California

Writing & Photography TourBusLive.com

On a chilly October day in 1977, my paltry savings in hand, I walked into the store on the Air Force base in Montana where my dad was stationed and bought my first KISS album. From the moment I gently put the needle in the first groove of that vinyl disc, my life was never the same again. On that day, I became a KISS fan.

For those who never understood what the big deal is with KISS, let me try to explain: It's widely accepted that KISS music isn't exactly the most intricate (although I've heard that performing their songs is a little more difficult than we novices are often led to believe), and KISS lyrics aren't necessarily the most complicated (who can forget the 7th grade dance staple "Beth"), but KISS music means everything to their fans. KISS music makes us rock. KISS music makes us happy. And, to their devotees, known as the KISS Army, KISS music takes us to a world where we believe we can be or do anything.

Marketing geniuses well ahead of their time, these four super-heroes (yes, a 1977 Marvel comic book featured KISS, even using authenticated blood from each KISS member in the vat of red ink used to print the issue) permeated our lives, our lunch boxes, our bed sheets, and even our underwear. KISS became our fantasy: Every guy wanted to be them; every girl wanted to be with them. Their image became an escape from our mundane lives. At a time when there was little choice other than disco on our radios, KISS became something this fan (and fans like me all over the world) could sink our rebellious teeth into. KISS was (and still is) rock and roll.

Here are a few photos from backstage during KISS' US ALIVE 35 Tour.

Hello KISS!

Well, I have been a fan for 32 years. Last January I was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer and been given 18 months. When I heard Kiss was coming to town I knew it was my last chance to meet them. Because of them I have been a musician for 29 years and I do not do drugs and rarely drink.

Getting back stage was the greatest moment of my life. There were times I was literally holding back tears. It was quite funny when Gene asked me not to kill Superman. I didn't know what he meant until Eric said it was an ongoing joke that all bald guys are Lex Luther - LOL. It was my 11th Kiss show and a night I will never forget. A dream come true:)

Thanks,
Tim
LETTERS

Here's a photo of KISS with ABC's Nightline host John Berman.

In case you missed John's KISS feature on Nightline, we've added the clip to KISSonline's video section on the left hand side of the front page.