TIME TO PAY TRIBUTE

As Americans we need to remember that the day we see as a holiday is actually a time to pay tribute and remember all the brave members of the Armed Forces fighting on our behalf, facing the ultimate sacrifice daily.

KISS remembers and honors all our brave soldiers lost in all wars and prays for the safe return of all those fighting now.

KISS performed "Beth" tonight in Hamburg. Eric Singer on lead vocals, Paul and Tommy on acoustic guitars & Gene on bass. The crowd went crazy and sang the entire song.

Here's a fan-filmed clip of "Beth" from tonight in Hamburg.

Here's a Hungarian news report on KISS' arrival in Hungary and the band's show in Budapest.

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

Here's KISS on the cover of the June issue of the Spanish Popular 1 magazine.

Thanks to Javier Rueda for the image.

Check out the Slovakian KISS Girls rockin' out with their KISS Alive banner in Bratislava Saturday night!

Photo by Spiro Papadatos for KISSonline.

Rock On Tommy

Sure, some KISS fans will always think that Ace Frehley is the band's real lead guitarist. But, Matt Lamy asks, could current Spaceman Tommy Thayer be better than the real thing?

Becoming the new lead guitarist in a band that has been together for 35 years is never the easiest job. Much less so when that band is KISS, with its larger-than-life characters and hordes of obsessive fans. But Tommy Thayer doesn't look like a bundle of worries when we catch up with him, relaxing over a coffee at Gibson's UK headquarters.

Thayer isn't the typical hired gun. His relationship with KISS spans back to 1985, when his previous band Black 'N Blue supported KISS on tour. Since then Thayer has gradually become an increasingly important part of the KISS company. In fact, pick up any of KISS' albums, DVDs or box sets from the last 15 years and you will find his name among the credits, whether it's for being Gene Simmons' assistant or executive producer. So when Simmons and Stanley asked Thayer to take over the "Space Man" lead guitar role when Ace Frehley left Planet KISS in 2002, it was like the final stage of a 20-year apprenticeship.

"If Gene and Paul bring a new person into this band, not only do they have to fit in terms of being able to play with the right style and feel, but the most important thing is probably personality," says Thayer. "Finding somebody that you can live with, travel with, be with all the time can be tough.

"I first met these guys 25 years ago, so there was a comfortable rapport already established before I started playing in the band. It wasn't like Gene and Paul had to audition somebody and see what he was like and if he would change -- would he turn out to be a drug addict, etcetera. None of that was in question."

Hi KISS!

Look at this amazing photo of my ex-classmates from Lingva High School - Ostrava. They had already finished their exams and came to say goodbye to our school in KISS makeup!

Thanks,
Ondrej G

LETTERS

FREE LIMITED EDITION KISS PRINT WITH FAN CLUB MEMBERSHIP OR RENEWAL

The KISS Army Fan Club Membership! Annual subscription includes:

* Official KISS Army Fan Club Membership Kit!
* For a limited time only, your choice of one of four limited edition prints! Or pick up the full set at a special, fan club only price!
* $10 coupon to the Official KISS Online Shop
* 10% ongoing discount and members only merchandise from the Official KISS Online Shop
* Pre-sale access to KISS concert tickets and VIP packages before public on-sale dates


Renewing member description:
KISS Army Fan Club Renewal Membership! Annual subscription includes:

* EXCLUSIVE, All New KISS Army Fan Club Tee!
* For a limited time only, your choice of one of four limited edition tour prints! Or pick up the full set at a special, fan club only price!
* $10 coupon to the Official KISS Online Shop
* 10% ongoing discount and members only merchandise from the Official KISS Online Shop
* Presale access to KISS concert tickets and VIP packages before the public on-sale

Join the KISS ARMY now

On June 1, KISS will answer YOUR questions as they host a half-hour live Internet chat on the official KISS Facebook page! Tune in at 1:45pm EST, and you'll have the opportunity to speak directly with the band via Ustream, as they chat live backstage from Koenig Pilsner Arena in Oberhausen, Germany! Watch and interact with KISS by visiting http://www.facebook.com/KISS.

You won't want to miss this, as a special, unique concert ticket pre-sale code will be revealed exclusively to fans during the chat!

Chat begins at 10:45am in Los Angeles; 1:45pm in New York City; 6:45pm in London, and 3:45am in Tokyo.

The following ALL NEW packages will be available for the 2010 Hottest Show On Earth Tour!

KISS - Meet & Greet Package

Package includes:

* One premium, reserved ticket located within the first 5 rows of the stage
* Exclusive Meet & Greet with the members of KISS
* Personal photograph with KISS
* Autographed 8X10 photo
* Exclusive, Limited Edition KISS Flip Video Camera
* Specially Designed KISS Concert Shirt
* Collectible KISS Tour Poster (limited edition, numbered)
* Official Meet and Greet Laminate
* Set of KISS guitar picks
* $25 voucher to the KISS on-line merchandise store

Gene Simmons and Company Have a Crazy, Crazy Night in Sheffield

By George Garner
Photos by Alyson Blanchard
KKKKK

There can be few moments in rock 'n' roll quite as exciting as the one that occurs at 8:45pm this evening when Sheffield Arena is plunged into darkness and the towering curtain bearing the legendary KISS logo drops to the floor. Enormous flames erupt onstage, barbecuing the front row as KISS -- in all of their eight-inch heeled, face-painted glory -- appear on a superbly OTT, steaming platform. As they burst into Modern Day Delilah, the announcement introducing KISS as "The hottest band in the world!" is clearly not an exaggeration.

Then the aforementioned curtain drops and KISS start a classic show that lets each band member shine. Guitarist Paul Stanley's moment of glory comes when he flies over everyone's heads to a revolving stage, where, with his sparkling guitar, he looks like a human disco ball. Equally impressive is legendary man-demon Gene Simmons (tongue constantly out) who stuns everyone as he breathes fire, spits blood, and, with his cape spread behind him, flies up to a special stage above the lighting rig to play I Love it Loud. On top of that, guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer have a spectacular firework-enhanced guitar/drum solo competition that climaxes with Eric shooting a firework into the rafters from a bazooka.

Another great week of KISS shows... another week of great fan reviews!

Dear KISS! Just a note to say a massive thanks for two amazing shows in London and Dublin this year, you guys were incredible!!!! Can't wait to see ye back in Europe in 2011/12!
Robert O'Connor

In Zurich my dream came true. I met the big boys. Thanks Paul, Gene, Eric and Tommy for rocking my life... The KISS Principality of Liechtenstein Army !!! Small but Strong !!!
Andy Buechel

What an awesome night in Berlin!!! It was our first Kiss' concert and you really rock on stage! We hope more crazy nights like this. Many greetings!!!!
Rodrigo and Cris

I just would like to thank you. The concert with you was my first rock concert ever! And it became fantastic. Thank you Kiss!!! Your music is the best music on earth. When I am driving car I often hear Kiss and open the car window :-) Thank you for the great concert. I will remember it my whole life.
Ruediger Lange

Thank You for a great evening in Berlin yesterday. The show was a awesome experience and thy pyros was a great Sonic BOOM. I hope we could see the band in near future again.
Thorsten Heidenreich & Petra

KISS Announces North America Tour

By Jay Smith
Photo by Jason Squires

The headline says it all as the legendary rock band hits the road for an amphitheatre / arena run beginning July 23 in Wyoming.

Of course, you could talk about the band's record sales -- 80 million albums and counting. Or you could talk about how KISS has proven time and time again that it is one of the premier bands to ever appear on stage. But in these cases, merely mentioning "KISS tour" is enough to get fans salivating.

Called "The Hottest Show On Earth" tour and with most dates presented by Live Nation, it all begins at Wyoming's Cheyenne Frontier Days July 23, followed by the North Dakota State Fair July 24. Other stops include Burgettstown, Pa. (Pittsburgh), at First Niagara Pavilion July 29; Philadelphia at Susquehanna Bank Center Aug. 6; Mansfield, Mass., at Comcast Center Aug. 7; Uncasville, Conn., at Mohegan Sun Arena Aug. 19; Milwaukee at Marcus Amphitheatre Sept. 2 and Dallas at Pizza Hut Park Sept. 18 before wrapping in Phoenix at Cricket Wireless Pavilion Sept. 24.

A Citi Card presale begins June 2 and a general onsale for select markets begins June 4. For more information, click here.

KISS has hooked up with Guitar Center to offer "Guitar Center Onstage," an unsigned band competition which gives emerging groups a chance to open for the band at 22 tour stops. Click here for details (registration begins June 1.)

KISS will also host a live chat on Facebook via Ustream June 1. Click here for the band's Facebook page.

KISS IS EVERYWHERE IN SLOVAKIA!

Check out this great ad for Slovakian station Aligator Rock Radio 97.2!

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

The new 2011 Guinness World Record holder for having the most tattoos in the world is Julia Gnuse, who has 95% of her body inked. And, of course, among her many tattoos? The faces of KISS!

Thanks to Fabio Mainardi for sending KISSonline the images.