The second Kiss Kruise was settled to depart Miami, Fla. on October 31 — Halloween — and head to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas. The scheduled return to the port was on November 4’TH. Thanks to hurricane Sandy the plans had to be changed on last minute and instead of Bahamas, the cruisers were visiting in beautiful Cozumel Island in Mexico. Packages for the cruise begin at $750 per person and it included just about everything what a KISS fan can hope for. The KISS shows, electric and acoustic, Q&A session with the band, a cabin photo with the band in makeup, signed posters and each member of the band leading their own activities like Gene Simmons pick throwing contest, Paul Stanley judged belly flop contest, Eric Singer hosted Blackjack –tournament and Tommy Thayer’s costume contest etc. There were several other acts performing shows on the cruise as well. Of these the best known name was definitely Skid Row. The other names included former Guns’n Roses drummer Steven Adler’s new outfit Adler, Leogun and Radiolucent. The price included all of the above, as well as meals and access to many Norwegian Pearl activities including the pools, massive spa, hot tubs, rock climbing wall, tennis court, and fitness center. It is no wonder that the cruise was again sold out a long time ago. It now brought together KISS fanatics from over 30 countries so there’s more to come for sure!
Legendary rock icons KISS are back with their new album MONSTER. The album, the 20th studio release in their long lasting career, is set for release in the middle of October through Universal Music. The follow up for the 2009 release SONIC BOOM includes 12 straight-ahead rock ’n’ roll tracks and it features collaborations of all four band members: Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer. The band landed in Europe in early July for a brief promotional tour which included live shows in Oslo and London. We met a very cheerful Stanley in London prior to the bands sold out performance at the HMV Forum and discussed about MONSTER, Kiss Kruise, future plans, as well as many other interesting topics… Read on!
THIS INTERVIEW IS RELEASED BY THE COURTESY OF THIS IS ROCK -MAGAZINE
Bob Kulick is an American guitarist and Grammy Award-winning record producer. If there was a “fifth member of KISS” award to be handed out, Bob would probably be the front-running recipient. Not only was he in the running to become the original lead guitarist for the band, but he has played as a session musician on ALIVE 2 and KISS KILLERS albums and Paul Stanley’s self-titled solo album. In the late 80’s he was a part of Stanley’s solo band. During the years, Kulick has appeared on several releases by Meat Loaf, as well as session work for Mark Farner, Diana Ross, Lou Reed and W.A.S.P. among others and has produced/played on countless heavy metal tribute albums. We had a pleasure to sit down with the man himself in November 2011 when he appeared as a special guest for his brother Bruce Kulick and John Corabi who did an acoustic performance at the KISS EXPO in Helsinki. The chat lasted almost two hours, so there’s plenty of material to read, and for that reason this interview has been split in two pieces. Read On!
Bob Kulick is an American guitarist and Grammy Award-winning record producer. If there was a “fifth member of KISS award to be handed out, Kulick would probably be the front-running recipient. Not only was he in the running to become the original lead guitarist for the band, but he has played as a session musician on ALIVE 2 and KISS KILLERS albums and Paul Stanley’s self-titled solo album. In the late 80’s he was a part of Stanley’s solo band.During the years, Kulick has appeared on several releases by Meat Loaf, as well as session work for Mark Farner, Diana Ross, Lou Reed and W.A.S.P. among others and has produced/played on countless heavy metal tribute albums. We had a pleasure to sit down with the man himself on last November when he appeared as a special guest for his brother Bruce Kulick and John Corabi who did an acoustic performance on KISS EXPO in Helsinki. The chat did last almost two hours, so there’s a plenty of material to read, and for that reason this interview has been split in two pieces. Read On!
Tennessee born Gary Corbett is a Grammy Award winning American keyboardist, composer and producer most famous for playing with such bands as KISS, Lou Gramm, Joe Lynn Turner, Paul Stanley’s solo band and Cinderella. Corbett is one of America’s most prolific keyboardists of recent times and he’s been contributing in various capacities to over 27 albums including working with all of Bob Marley’s sons – with which he won his two Grammy’s. Corbett is nowadays living in Nashville and remains active in many different bands and projects. He’s currently touring with Cinderella and when the bands 25TH Anniversary –tour finally reached Finland on last June then we had time to sit down with Gary and discuss about various subjects .. read on!
Current solo artist and Grand Funk Railroad guitarist Bruce Kulick is best known about his stunt with U.S. music icons KISS. However, there’s plenty more that he’s been involved with during his long career which originally started in the mid-70’s. Bruce did his first major tour in 1978 with Meat Loaf, together with his older brother Bob, and later on he worked with such famous names as Michael Bolton, Billy Squier and Good Rats before he was asked to join KISS and replace Mark St. John in 1984. During the next eleven years Bruce recorded altogether five studio albums with KISS including ASYLUM, CRAZY NIGHTS and REVENGE before band decided to make a reunion with the original Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss lineup in 1996. After KISS, Bruce started a brand new band called Union together with onetime Motley Crue singer John Corabi, drummer Brent Fitz and bassist Jamie Hunting. Band released two highly acclaimed albums UNION (1998) and BLUE ROOM (2000) before they slowly disbanded out from the picture. In 2001 Kulick released his first solo album AUDIODOG and he also joined classic U.S rock band Grand Funk Railroad with whom he’s been playing since then. Now, ten years later, Bruce is as busy man as ever. The third solo album BK3 got released in 2010 and he’s been a part of numerous different projects including guest appearances on albums of such artists as Lordi, Shameless, Sebastian Gava, Tim Owens and his former KISS colleagues Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons solo releases. What did bring Bruce in Finland in year 2011 is another project called ESP (Eric Singer Project). The band, which consist of current KISS drummer and Bruce’s former colleague Eric Singer, bassist Chuck Garrick (Alice Cooper) and another Bruce’s old mate John Corabi is a kind of “just for fun” type of band which keeps on doing small tours around the world every then and now when its members have free from their other commitments. ESP was originally formed in 1998 and they have released all covers album in late 90’s plus some live releases including DVD called LIVE AT THE MARQUEE (2005). ESP visited first time in Finland back in 2008 and they now returned to play again in the front of fanatic KISS ARMY FINLAND in Nosturi in Helsinki. Bruce was kind enough to give some time for us and tell all the latest news but also lot of interesting stories from the past including his early career, the state of Union and, of course, lots of interesting KISS stories and much more. Read on!
MSN / ROCK METAL TV conducted an interview with KISS members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons
MSN /ROCK METAL TV is the new rock television in Spain directed by Mario Ruiz from Krea Films and veteran Spanish journalist Rafa Basa from www.RafaBasa.com.
Tommy Thayer has been playing with KISS for years but for many he’s still “the new member” in the band. Thayer replaced original guitarist Ace Frehley in 2002 and since then he’s been playing the “Spaceman” character in the band. Thayer has been a member of KISS for over eight years now but he’s actually been working with KISS or some its members in many different occasions starting already in the late 80’s. Thayer’s old band Black’n Blue was working with Gene Simmons as their producer and since the band eventually broke up in 1989 Thayer’s been very close to KISS camp. Although the original KISS have been gone for years, Eric Singer has replaced Peter Criss and plays the “Catman” character, the band is still going on strong and they keep on doing successful tours and performing in front of massive crowds around the globe. The current lineup released its first studio album titled SONIC BOOM on last year it has become another success story in their long history. Two years ago KISS did one of its most successful tours in history titled “Alive 35” and now they finally came back for more with their brand new “Sonic Boom over Europe” tour. The circus arrived in Malmo in early June and then I had a chance to sit down with Tommy and get some recent info from the “Spaceman” himself.
It’s been two years since KISS finished their highly successful Alive 35 -tour in Europe. Last year the band released a brand new studio album SONIC BOOM, their first in eleven years, and now the band brings their rock’n roll circus back here under the banner SONIC BOOM OVER EUROPE : FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE BOOM. The new tour started just under a week ago from Sheffield and now it was time to check out how the”Hottest Band In The World” rocked in Liverpool.
KISS returns to Europe in the spring with their massive SONIC BOOM OVER EUROPE tour after two years on the road with their mega successful ALIVE 35 tour. The new tour is a part of the band’s world tour to support their latest studio disc SONIC BOOM which was released last August. In Early February the band did a series of press conferences in Europe. They first spent a couple of days in Germany and then later on two days in the U.K to promote their forthcoming tour. In London we had an amazing chance to interview Kiss’lead vocalist/guitarist and founding member Paul Stanley. Topics covered included the upcoming tour and the latest album but some other interesting information as well… read on.
KISS treated their fans and VIP/media –people with very special one off club show in London Islinghton’s O2 Academy. This was a historical show in many ways, or should we say “Kisstorical”, because this was their smallest gig in 22 years. It was back in 1988 when KISS last time played such a club show in Marquee Club in London in front of just few hundred people. The purpose of this show was to help promote bands upcoming SONIC BOOM OVER EUROPE –tour.
Ace Frehley is best known as an original member and lead guitarist for KISS. In the early days of KISS, Ace created his Spaceman persona including the famous Spaceman makeup. Ace also designed the original KISS logo and later on he created his unique stage theatrics like the smoking guitar and another guitar with a rocket launcher that shoots rockets. Ace started his musical career in the late 60’s and played with such bands as Four Roses, The Exterminators and Milemo before joining KISS in 1973. Kiss became one of the most successful bands in the 70’s. Albums like: ALIVE! , DESTROYER. ROCK AND ROLL OVER and LOVE GUN sold millions of copies worldwide and became instant classics.
Ace departed with KISS in 1982 and soon after he formed his new band called Frehley’s Comet. This band released its self titled debut in 1987 followed by LIVE + 1 EP and SECOND SIGHTNING in 1988. Ace decided to drop the Frehley’s Comet moniker and issued 1989′s TROUBLE WALKIN’ under his own name. The KISS reunion took place in 1996. The original lineup: Ace, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss announced The Alive/Worldwide tour which became one of the most successful tours ever in rock history. The reunited KISS issued its new studio album PSYCHO CIRCUS in 1998 followed by another world tour. In year 2000 band announced its “Farewell” tour and Ace did his last KISS performance in the closing ceremony of the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. Ace returned to the limelight with his new solo band in 2007. The new band: Ace, Anthony Esposito (ex–Lynch Mob), Scott Googan (Ex-Brides of Destruction) and Derrek Hawkins started touring in late 2007. The new Ace Frehley album ANOMALY was released in September of 2009 and Ace announced another world tour to support his latest release. Ace and his band arrived in Finland in early December 2009 to play a sold out show in Helsinki and then I had a chance to sit down with the Spaceman himself and discuss ANOMALY and various other subjects. Hope you like it!
Bruce Kulick will always be best known for his long career as lead guitarist for rock icons KISS. Bruce replaced his short lived predecessor Mark. St John in 1984 and during the next twelve years he did several tours with them and recorded six studio albums including: ASYLUM, CRAZY NIGHTS, HOT IN THE SHADE, REVENGE and CARNIVAL OF SOULS. When KISS surprisingly decided to re-unite the original line up in 1996 it meant that Bruce’s (and Eric Singer’s) days were then over with KISS. Bruce then formed a brand new band called UNION with former Mötley Crue/Scream vocalist John Corabi. The band released two highly acclaimed studio albums UNION in 1998 and then BLUE ROOM in 2000 before they slowly disbanded. Bruce created another project in 1999 with John, bassist Karl Kochran and his former KISS colleague Eric Singer. The project was simply called ESP (Eric Singer Project) and that line up released the covers only album called LOST AND SPACED later the same year. In 2001 Bruce decided to join legendary American band Grand Funk Railroad and has been touring with them since then. Bruce’s first solo album AUDIODOG was also released in 2001 and it included Brent Fitz (UNION) playing drums on the whole album. The second solo album TRANSFORMER was released in 2003 and it included again Brent Fitz and John Corabi doing some vocals. At the moment Bruce is working hard on his third solo album which will be titled BK3. He’s also involved with a new project called Monster Circus. Grand Funk Railroad is doing another tour in the summer and in addition to all that Bruce is appearing at a great number of KISS EXPO’s and guitar clinics all around the world. Bruce was kind enough to give some time to us after returning home from the highly successful ESP European tour.
After a long last Gene "Demon" Simmons and Paul "StarChild" Stanley, the two remaining pillars of the institution that KISS has become, have finally been lured away from their extra-curricular activities (ranging from "reality" television to art galleries and musicals). Along with Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, stand-ins for the legendary "Space" Ace Frehley and "Catman" Peter Criss respectively, they’re now ready to rock the nations once more. With the first leg of the KISS ALIVE 35 -tour in the South Pacific now behind them, next in turn will be the old world, Europe. Paul Stanley was kind enough to shine some light on matters still laying ahead for Kiss and some that, for many, should perhaps remain buried in the past. Even with 35 years worth of history, when it comes to kicking ass live, KISS still have their sights set on the future. Rock on.
A large proportion of about 100 000 F1 Grand Prix fans stayed to the see American rock legends in full costumes in action. It was hard to pinpoint exact numbers but it was later announced that more than 10 000 people upgraded their standard F1 tickets for “KISS pole position” passes which gave closer access to the stage. The Melbourne show was the first stop on the bands 35th anniversary ALIVE 35 -world tour and it was definitely a good place to start. Australians have always been big KISS fans and the band still has a huge following there. What also made this show very special is the fact that this was the bands first outdoor concert in Australia since their very first tour there in 1980.
