KISS has been nominated in seven categories (more than anyone else, by our count) in the 2012 Ultimate Classic Rock Awards:

They're up for Best Album, Song, Tour, Reissue, Photo, Commercial and Artist of the Year.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR KISS NOW

Just wanted to share my MONSTER Haul with The KISS Army. Had to have the Limited Edition~ Vinyl, Picture Disc, 'ZinePak, 3D CD and of course, the iPod Digital Download! lol Big thanks to Paul, Gene, Eric and Tommy for keeping my favorite band ALIVE!!

Sincere, Eric Fintel (KISS Fan and Collector since 1977)


LETTERS

To celebrate Kiss’ upcoming 40th anniversary, the band has decided to pay tribute to their early years by releasing the 29 singles that were recorded for Casablanca Records from 1974-1982. The box sets will come in two limited edition configurations – a box set of 29 CDs or 7-inch vinyl.

“Even I haven’t heard some of this stuff, but this is all part of our master plan to celebrate Kiss at this milestone in our careers,” says Gene Simmons. “This box set represents us at the very beginning of our career, and documents the band’s early success and subsequent growth.”

One lucky winner will receive: One (1) Kiss: The Casablanca Singles prize pack, which includes the limited edition vinyl version and CD version. The vinyl set is housed in a die-cut shadow box and includes 29 remastered singles on 7-inch 45 rpm and singles from all four solo albums on colored vinyl with a mask for each band member. The CD version is housed in a die-cut shadow box and includes 29 remastered singles on CD and singles from all four solo albums with a mask for each band member. Both sets include 26 collectable picture sleeves from original single releases around the world and a booklet describing the development of each single represented in the package.

CLICK HERE to enter & win the KISS Casablanca Singles Box Set.

Here are some of the many great fan photos sent to KISSOnline recently!

Keep them coming, KISS Army...we love seeing them!

My journey with KISS started on Wednesday, November 14th at Porto Alegre. After a 500 miles long trip, I arrived there at 8:00 in the morning, on the very same day which would open the return of the band to Brazil. We received information that the plane would land at 14:30 pm of that Wednesday. Based on that, we went to the airport to receive them and despite the fact we couldn't get close to the "boys" because of restriction, we were the first four people to see KISS in Brazil!

After that unique moment, the Porto Alegre chapter closed with us on the first row of the front grid, right ahead and a few meters from Tommy Thayer with 15.000 people. After three years from my last and most special concert (Sao Paulo 2009) I was there listening to songs like Psycho Circus and War Machine for the first time, which made me cry, and I'm very proud to say that out loud. When I realized I was witnessing all that, KISS was already playing the last riffs from Rock And Roll All Nite, ending the night with mastery. The Porto Alegre concert was the one that touched me the most, and I'll keep this for the rest of my life.

The second chapter, but not any less special, started on Thursday, November 15th at 8 PM, when I got to Sao Paulo after a 600 miles long travel. From the airport we went straight to the waiting line for the concert, where we stayed until Saturday, day of the concert. After three days there, facing sun, rain, hunger, thirst and many other things, the second chapter ended with us again in the first row close to the stage, at 21:30 pm of Saturday with more than 30.000 people behind us. This time, we were in front of Gene Simmons, a place that a couple of songs later, gave me my most valuable item from the entire journey.

Before his bass solo, Gene Simmons took the blood cup as usual, but this time I felt that something different was about to happen. He took the blood in front of the stage, instead of the backstage as he always does. When Gene did that, he threw the cup in my direction, and I got the chance to take it. When I had it in my hand, it seemed the concert didn't have any more sense to go on. They could stop playing at that very moment and I wouldn't have noticed it. Like that wasn't enough, a couple of minutes later, he spotted me with the cup and pointed to his tongue and gestured for me to drink it. In the end of this huge presentation my warms and hand were covered with blood!

I just wanted to share this moment with all my friends, and when I did it, it was the most exciting and emotive moment of the entire journey in Sao Paulo. That week ended, but everything we went through will remain for the eternity.

Thank you friends and thank you KISS, for making all of this to happen.

Guilherme

LETTERS

Earlier this week, we announced KISS Kruise III! In celebration of the announcement, we are looking back at two of the many fun activities aboard KISS Kruise II.

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Paul, Gene, Tommy and Eric all hosted activities on the ship. Tommy hosted a costume contest, and Eric hosted the ship's Casino Night. On the last full day of the Kruise, Paul hosted the annual KISS Kruise Belly Flop contest! Paul picked two beautiful girls from the audience to co-judge with him, and the three of them sat on bar stools poolside while fans jumped in and tried to make the biggest splash. Each judge had a series of cards to hold up numbered 1 through 11 to rate the floppers. Paul was a tough judge to impress! He noted he was looking for "red bellies," "water displacement" and dangerous-looking moves in the air. He even awarded higher scores if he got wet from the splash! After the fun event, Paul remained on the pool deck for awhile, shaking hands and talking with fans.



Gene hosted a guitar pick-throwing contest! After a tryout round, the fan finalists joined Gene on stage to pitch picks at a series of metal buckets placed throughout the theater in the audience's seats. The further away the target, the more points the target was worth. Gene kicked things off with a bit of instruction for the participants, demonstrating his favorite overhand and underhand pick flicks. For the final round, Gene was up against a very skilled fan, who often matched the Demon toss for toss. When just 100 points separated the two, and each man had two picks left to throw, Gene gave one of his picks to the fan, wagering it all on his last pick. In the end, the fan narrowly beat Gene, and Gene posed for photos with all of the finalists.

'We take our influences from different things’: Eric Singer explains impact of the Beatles, Journey on Kiss’ Monster

by Something Else! Reviews



Your average rock fan might put on Kiss’ new album Monster, and specifically the track “Outta This World, and fail to hear how the Beatles and Journey impacted the band.

But drummer Eric Singer, in a new talk with Rock Music Star, says the tune was influenced first by George Harrison’s drone-rock tune “It’s All Too Much,” issued by the Beatles on 1969′s Yellow Submarine, and then by a subsequent cover version by Journey.

The second take, included on Journey’s 1976 sophomore release Look into the Future, pre-dates Steve Perry’s arrival. Gregg Rolie handles the vocals in a lineup that included current Journey stalwarts Neal Schon and Ross Valory, as well as Aynsley Dunbar on drums.

Thanks to KISS News for this review and all photos.

Here's a detailed review from the actual product: The new "Casablanca Singles 1974 - 1982" Box Set.

It is available on vinyl and on CD and contains 29 singles (26 of them with a picture sleeve). The Vinyl Box is actually the one with the higher collectible value, but it is nice to have a CD version as well, although those singles have never been released on the CD format back then.

First of all: those Box Sets look awesome. They are very well done. This isn't just a cheap re-release like most other "Greatest Hits" albums these days. This is a high quality product.

They come in a very strong box with a 3-D effect cover. They come sealed and they are pretty heavy. The front has a cut out KISS Logo with flames in the background. Below the logo there is an engraved metal plate saying "The Casablanca Singles 1974 - 1982 Limited Edition". Unfortunately they are not numbered, however only 2.500 copies worldwide have been made of each format.

The Box can be opened on the side. The covers are not exactly identical to the original artwork. A new copyright info has been added on each vinyl single cover, and the paper is very thick, almost like a cardboard sleeve. The label itself is done in its original style, but not absolutely identical. It has a new 2012 dated copyright info on it and the time stated might differ slightly to the time stated on the original label. However, it is the same version. The singles come on heavy vinyl, the CDs are black on the back and the front looks like a label.

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

Hi Guys!

KISS truly is everywhere. Here's Paul Stanley on the cover of the latest Italian edition of Metal Hammer magazine. I think KISS is on more magazine covers now then in the 70's. They are bigger than ever!

Best,
Fabio

LETTERS

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

Check out the The Alex Skolnick Trio playing "Detroit Rock City" at The Ritz in Ybor City Tampa.

ATTENTION KISS NAVY, CLEAR YOUR CALENDARS!

You have travel plans with KISS: October 28-November 1, 2013 on the KISS Kruise III!

Register online for the KISS Kruise III Presale!

My Canadian cover version of the KISS Monster Book (#0012) finally arrived on December 3rd. After a substantial investment and patiently waiting 5 months all I can say is that it's an absolute "masterpiece"! I know that it is promoted as a coffee table book, however, mine is being displayed on the dinning table. The size, weight and sheer quality of this art book is second to none. A proud addition to my high end "KISS Kollection" for sure!

Sincerely,
Thomas Anderson

LETTERS


CLICK HERE for more info on the KISS MONSTER Book

Thanks to KISS News for these clips of Eric's drum tech - Paul Bassett, being interviewed on stage in Sao Paulo by Brazilian drummer Rafael Dolinski. The top clip is Paul doing a quick sound check of Eric's kit.

Hi KISS Army!!

Here's a news clip on the KISS show in Porto Alegre, Brazil last month. The clip is in Portuguese, but there's some great concert scenery, too!

Keep rocking!

Rich Gannon

KISS RELEASE THE CASABLANCA SINGLES 1974-1982 MAGNIFICENT LIMITED EDITION BOX SETS OF BAND’S 29 SINGLES ON LEGENDARY CASABLANCA LABEL

CLICK HERE to order the 29 seven-inch vinyl Box Set

CLICK HERE to order the 29 CDs Box Set version at Amazon.

Rock legends KISS were the first signing to the late Neil Bogart’s newly formed Casablanca label after he saw and recognized their talent and showmanship at their spectacular performance at a showcase concert at New York City’s Le Tang’s Ballet Studio in 1973, offering them a contract on the spot. Now, KISS celebrates their 40th anniversary in 2013 having broken box office records set by The Beatles and Elvis, more than 28 U.S. gold albums, the most gold records for any American rock band, 40 million sales in the U.S. and a total exceeding 100 million worldwide.

In their early years, KISS released a total of 29 singles on seven-inch 45 RPM records for the Casablanca label. These were available for sale to the public, used for commercial radio airplay and to promote album sales. Many of these singles had entirely different mixes, edits and material that didn’t appear on their vinyl albums. Now for the first time, these musical snapshots of KISS’ formative years, which have never been available in a commemorative singles edition, entitled The Casablanca Singles 1974-1982, on Mercury/Casablanca/UMe, is available now in two box set configurations:

29 Seven-Inch Vinyl (Limited Edition available direct to consumer via http://www.universalmusicenterprises.com/select/product)

29 CDs (available http://amzn.to/SttekH )

In typical KISS fashion, these are no ordinary boxes. The sets are housed in a beautiful die cut shadow box with a limited edition etched silver metal plate and ribbon pull magnetic closure custom KISS 45s box with 26 collectible picture sleeves from original single releases around the world, including Japan, Germany, Holland, Spain and Britain. The vinyl collection also features singles from all four solo albums in purple, blue, red and green vinyl with a mask picture sleeve representing each individual member as originally released in the U.K. Both sets include a booklet which tracks the genesis and chart history of each single represented in the package.