Translated for KISSonline by Jill Cataldo

San Juan, March 11 (EFE) - The legendary American rock band KISS continue their "Hottest Show On Earth" tour tomorrow, in Saturday, Puerto Rico that will feature the greatest hits of the band's over-35-year career.

The band, formed in New York in December 1972 and known for his outlandish makeup and dark, black costumes, will bring their show to the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José M. Agrelot in San Juan.

It will be the first time that KISS has played in Puerto Rico since 1998.

The group quickly became famous for its elaborate concert appearances, which incorporate bold stage elements such as impressive pyrotechnics, explosions and fire.

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons spoke with DJ JC Green of Alfa Rock 105.7 FM and Metal Messiah Radio's "Heavy Metal Thunder" program last night (Thursday, March 10) ahead of the band's March 12 concert at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in Hato Rey. Excerpts from the chat follow below.

On "Sonic Boom" and its planned follow-up:

"The best thing about 'Sonic Boom' is that we did it honestly without worrying about it — not worrying what kind of music is popular now; we just did what we did, which was to be in KISS.

"The new record, which we already started working on — we start recording in three weeks — is gonna be the next step to 'Sonic Boom'. Very similar — straight rock songs, no ballads, no keyboards, no nothing, just rock.

"We have brand new songs that we've been writing. We've been writing a lot. There's a lot of very good material and that's what we're gonna record. A lot of the songs [have been] written by the whole band together, so no outside writers, just the band doing what it did on the first three records — writing the songs ourselves.

KISS,

My girlfriend Katrina and I competed in a local Iron Chef competition in Redding California. “Country” attire was suggested but we decided to add a big dose of ROCK by dressing as Gene and Paul!

Don Burton, Director of Promotions
Redding Radio

LETTERS

KISS truly is everywhere! I went to see the new movie "Rango" with my 10 year old son last night, and there is a part where the main character (Rango) is describing the Spirit of the West. He is drawing wildly against the dark sky with a smoldering stick (you'd have to see the movie...), and when he is finished you see what he has made. I thought that it was SO COOL that there was a KISS logo in the drawing! Look for it to the left of the "carriage"!

Keep rockin' guys, and we can't wait to see you again here in Washington DC! Looking forward to the new album! I've been a loyal fan for over 30 years!!!

--Nick

LETTERS

On this day in KISStory - March 11, 2000, KISS opened the "Farewell Tour" in Phoenix, Arizona. The first three songs of the show were televised live on VH1. KISS performed 142 shows in the US, Canada, Japan and Australia on the tour.

Statement from KISS Farewell Tour press release:

The "Farewell Tour" will be the final opportunity to see the four original KISS members, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, together on stage.

Paul Stanley recently commented on the Farewell Tour during an appearance on CNN - "When we did the farewell tour I realized I didn't want to say farewell to KISS, I wanted to say farewell to two of the members."

Here's the cover of the latest issue of the Swedish KISS Fanzine DESTROYER.

DESTROYER issue #29 includes articles about the 1980 Australian Tour, Destroyer Magazine's 15th Anniversary, a Bruce Kulick interview, and much more.

Thanks to Niklas of KISS Army Sweden for sending us the cover!

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

A reveler, with his face painted as musical group KISS member Gene Simmons, sticks his tongue out during the 'Carmelitas' street carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, March 4, 2011.

(AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Rocker Gene Simmons is heading back to Israel for the first time in more than 50 years to explore his Jewish roots.

The KISS star, born Chaim Witz, emigrated to America with his mother Flora, a Holocaust survivor, at the age of eight after his parents divorced, and he has never returned.

But the 61-year-old is now planning a trip with his girlfriend, former Playboy model Shannon Tweed, as part of his reality TV show Gene Simmons Family Jewels, according to the New York Post.

The bass player will visit the hospital where he was born, in Haifa, and he hopes to be reunited with long-lost relatives, and meet the half-siblings and cousins he has never known.

He will also tour the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem during the trip.

Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images North America

Check out these West Virginia University fans in KISS makeup!

The photo ran with a story on America's best college sports towns on the MTV: Clutch website.

Photo: Getty Images

Thanks to Jeff Turner for sending the info to KISSOnline.

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

Hi KISS,

Got another KISS sighting from the kids show - Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! They featured a character as Gene! Also had them playing as Elvis and The Beatles.

Rock On!

LETTERS

Thanks to Kevin Waschuk for sending KISSOnline this photo of these KISS street posters he spotted last week in Puerto Rico.

KISS will rock Coliseo De Puerto Rico in San Juan this Saturday!

Visit Ticketpop to buy tickets now

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

KISS was featured on the TV game show Jeopardy! The theme was Valentine's Day and they had a category about KISS. Some of the answers were about their sponsor, Dr. Pepper, their original record label, Casablanca, and about their hit song "Beth".

I was watching the show guessing all of the answers and I got all of them right!

Eddie Schultz

LETTERS

Article & photo by Stephan Reed

The Omni crowd looked to rock and roll all night in Toledo, but they wrapped it up after the KISS tribute band Mr. Speed left the stage.

The Cleveland-based cover band played for an audience of more than 200 Friday. The band came with thousand-dollar costumes and a miniature replica of KISS' stage, said Omni promoter Troy Michaels.

"(The band) really, really goes all out," Michaels said. "They are entertainers, self-promoters and people come to see the show."

Mr. Speed formed in 1994 with the current lineup and had a passion for KISS.

"We started the band because we are all fans of [Kiss] and grew up listening to the band. They were a major influence on our lives, not only musically, but socially," said Rich Kosak, who portrays guitarist Paul Stanley. "It just seemed like a natural thing that we wanted to do."

The metal quartet strives to be like the original KISS, not just in presentation but in sound.

"We always want people to be able to close their eyes and it sound like the record," Kosak said. "When people open their eyes to remind you of a time when you saw KISS, whether you saw them on television or you saw them in concert."

According to the band, there are four on-stage members and four superstars. Each member has his share of the spotlight.

Mr. Speed performs songs from almost every KISS album and tries to have a variety of songs written by different members.

KISS has postponed their Japanese tour to include more concert dates this fall. Tickets will not go on sale on March 12th as previously announced. Once the new tour dates are confirmed, concert information will be posted on KISSOnline.com.

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

Check out these North Carolina Tar Heels fans wearing KISS makeup at Saturday's NCAA college basketball game against Duke in Chapel Hill, NC.

(AP Photo/Jim R. Bounds)