February 27, 2004
SHOUTBOX
A new feature on KISS NEWS is the "Shoutbox", which is a mix between a message forum and a chat. You will find an English and a German "Shoutbox" on the left and right side downwards on this page. Both versions are installed on the German and English pages, so English speaking fans can easily communicate with the German speaking fans. You can even communicate via e-mail with the shoutbox, if you use the following code:

<!-- BEGIN Shoutbox.de CODE --> <!--webbot bot="HTMLMarkup" startspan --><IFRAME src="http://24530.shoutbox.de/" width="152" height="300" frameborder="1" align="right" allowTransparency="true"> <!--webbot bot="HTMLMarkup" endspan --><!--webbot bot="HTMLMarkup" startspan --></IFRAME><!--webbot bot="HTMLMarkup" endspan--> <!-- END Shoutbox.de CODE-->

February 27, 2004
KISS TOUR WITH GRINSPOONS DOWNUNDER
(from Linda Curran)
Tour dates have been posted on Grinspoons website, www.grinspoon.com.au, they will be support to KISS in Australia,check it out starting May 8 at Burswood Dome!!!

February 26, 2004
KISS EXPO SWEDEN 2004
(from Stefan Cedervall)
Kiss Army Sweden proudly presents, the biggest Kiss Expo in Sweden - ever! On April 10th, at Kolingsborg in Stockholm, Kiss Army Sweden will host Kiss Expo Sweden 2004, featuring special guests Bill Aucoin and Bruce Kulick, author and musician Gordon Gebert, Kiss dealers from all over the world, Scandinavia's biggest Kiss museum and a live appearance by Swedish tributeband KYSS, along with one or two surprises! For tickets and info, visit www.kissarmysweden.com.

February 26, 2004
KISS IN THE PRESS
Tommy Thayer made in on the front-cover again in the December 2003 issue of the local "Two Louies" magazine from Portland, Oregon. He has been on the cover of "Two Louies" already in August 2003.

February 26, 2004
NEW BOOK "KISS & RELATED RECORDINGS FOCUS"
(from Julian/ www.kissfaq.com )
The new KISSFAQ book "KISS & Related Recordings Focus: Music! The Songs, The Demos, The Lyrics, and Stories!" has been completed and will be published in the next few weeks (anticipated shipping 2nd week of March).

Covering over 1800 songs, demos, and lyrics, from KISS and its associated past and present members the "KISS & Related Recordings" focus digs deeper, where the "KISS Album Focus" wasn't able to go, into the recorded history of KISS. At 250 pages, the scope of this monstrous work digs into the obscure works of Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, Paul Stanley, Eric Carr, Vinnie Vincent, Mark St. John, Bruce Kulick, Eric Singer, and Tommy Thayer.

Research also uncovered a previously unknown Eric Carr pre-KISS recording. Tons of songs, including some radio/TV sessions, are detailled. You're just about guaranteed to learn something new!

Advance discounted pre-orders will be offered through www.kissfaq.com now.

February 25, 2004
IT'S OFFICIAL: ERIC SINGER BACK IN KISS!
Now it is official. The Japanese Promoter UDO has now announced the new Japanese tour with the new line-up on his website http://www.udo.co.jp/opening.htm. 
Tokyo Budokan: May 27, 28 & 29
Osaka Castle Hall: May 31
Nagoya: June 2
Tickets are rather cheap at 62 Euros.
It is expected, that the dates for the Australian tour will be announced soon as well.

February 24, 2004
GENE SIMMONS SOLO ALBUM DUE IN APRIL
(from www.billboard.com)
Kiss bassist/singer Gene Simmons will inaugurate his Simmons Records/Sanctuary Music Group label April 20 with the release of his second solo album, "***hole." The self-produced set's title track will be delivered a week earlier to U.S. rock radio outlets for airplay consideration.

The album is the follow-up to Simmons' 1978 self-titled solo debut, released in conjunction with albums by each of the original members of Kiss -- guitarist Ace Frehley, singer/guitarist Paul Stanley and drummer Peter Criss. Issued on the Casablanca label, "Gene Simmons" peaked at No. 22 on The Billboard 200.

"Doing a solo record is important because I write so many different kinds of songs," Simmons says. "I literally have hundreds of songs that are demoed up that aren't right for Kiss, and some songs that weren't used on Kiss records I still like. In assembling the album, I went and reviewed over a hundred songs that I had lying around, and then it was by process of elimination I determined what would go on the record. But at the end of the day, above and beyond style, I had to like the songs."

Like his last solo album, "***hole" is said to be a versatile affair, featuring everything from hard rock and blues to power ballads. "I'm a child of the Beatles," Simmons explains. "They created this sort of hybrid white version of American music. They could do it all -- Little Richard, country, pop, soul, psychedelia. They had no rules. That had a major effect on me and that influence comes through on the record."

As exclusively revealed here last summer, Simmons co-wrote the track "Waiting for the Morning Light" with Bob Dylan, while the Frank Zappa is listed as co-writer of "Black Tongue." The recording of the latter includes the late artist's vocals and guitar, as well as contributions from Zappa's wife Gail, and his children Dweezil, Ahmet and Moon.

Other guests on "***hole" include Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, one-time Kiss members Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer and Simmons Records artist Bag, as well as Simmons' longtime girlfriend Shannon Tweed, and the couple's children Sophie and Nicholas.

Kiss spent much of 2003 on the road on a co-headlining tour with Aerosmith, pulling in just under $50 million in 43 shows reported to Billboard. As previously reported, Stanley is also planning his second solo release.

A week after Simmons' solo album is released, Koch will release an 11-track Kiss tribute album, "Spin the Bottle."

Here is the "***hole" track list:

"***hole"
"Carnival of Souls"
"If I Had a Gun"
"Weapons"
"Waiting for the Morning Light"
"Whatever Turns You On"
"Sweet & Dirty Love"
"Beautiful"
"Dog"
"Now That You're Gone"
"Black Tongue"
"I Dream a Thousand Dreams"
"Firestarter"

February 22, 2004
ERIC SINGER BACK IN KISS?
(from Teruhiko Sano)
I'm from Japan and just wanted to let you know the line-up that Kiss will play in Japan. The line-up is : PAUL & GENE of course, AND....TOMMY THAYER & ERIC SINGER on the drums this time. It's not official yet but confirmed by radio programme.  And the pre-order ticket of 3 Budokan shows will be available next Saturday on the programme.

February 22, 2004
KISS IN JAPAN
Latest information from Japan is, that the Kiss shows are confirmed now as follows:
Tokyo Budokan: May 27, 28 & 29th
Osaka Castle Hall: May 31st
Possible concert in Nagoya announced soon
Tickets go on sale on March 6, 2004.
It is unknown in which line-up Kiss will play in Japan.

February 22, 2004
INTERVIEW WITH ERIC SINGER
You can check out a recent interview with Eric Singer at:
http://www.music-rock.com/_wsn/page8.html

February 22, 2004
KISS NIGHT IN MELBOURNE
(from Nicola Ciccarone)
KISSTROYER  &  KISS STRIKE join forces for a great KISS night....

KISS STRIKE WILL BE INVOLVED IN SHOWING VIDEOS ON BIG SCREEN, SELLING TONS OF KISS MERCHANDISE AND OFFERING DOOR PRIZES...

CHECK OUT THE FLYER OF THE EVENT BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK:
www.geocities.com/nicola_ciccarone/kai_photos/kisstroyer_2004-03-07.jpg

Help welcome KISStroyer back to their hometown of Melbourne after their Alive 2003 East Coast Tour. Rock n Roll and Race fans alike, buckle up for a hard rock onslaught at Melbourne’s Spectacular HIFI Bar Grand Prix Night on Labour Day Long Weekend.

The SPEARMINT RHINO will present the GRAND PRIX AFTER PARTY featuring those crazy guys from KISSTROYER (who have been busy touring all over the country), teaming up with IN HALEN Melbourne’s very own tribute to early Van Halen and Warning Sign, a fantastic hard rock original band doing a special 1 off all 80s hair metal cover show (covering everything from Motley Crue to Iron Maiden to WASP)

KISSTROYER come loaded with a full arsenal; a wall full of Marshalls (supplied by Dane Centre ph: 9387 7044), that huge 2 metre 1977 KISS light up logo, 12 classic KISS guitars, stunning dancers from the Spearmint Rhino, enough pyro to light up the night sky, 2 hours of classic KISS tunes and all the bloodspitting, firebreathing, guitar smashing mayhem which has brought fame to the KISS name over 30years!

There will be door giveaways on the night, KISS & KISSTROYER merchandise for sale and the raffling of a Gene Simmon AXE BASS as well as a celebrity watch alert, these events have been known attract some of our countries more notable sports stars in that upstairs VIP lounge in the past. Get in early, the last Melbourne event was a lock out!

If you want to ensure your entry to this event reserve your place by writing to this email!  info@kisstroyer.com

For more info check out:
www.kisstroyer.com 
www.thehifi.com.au
www.warning-sign.com 
www.inhalen.com

Festivities kick off at 7.30pm HIFI BAR 125 Swanston Street, Melbourne SUNDAY MARCH 7, 2004 LABOUR DAY LONG WEEKEND.

And for the good people in and around the BALLARAT region, be sure to catch KISSTROYER live at THE GEORGE HOTEL, Friday March 5. Doors are at 9.30pm

keep rockin guys!

February 18, 2004
KISS TO PLAY JAPAN
Hot news, Kiss returns to Japan, 3 nights at Budokan 27,28, 29 May. Not official yet, but confirmed. 

February 16, 2004
NEW KISS DVD
Universal will be releasing a new KISS DVD called "20th Century Masters: The Best of KISS/The DVD Collection" on February 24th, 2004. This DVD is available as an US-import by pre-order only. It will be shipped around March 2004. More infos here.

February 14, 2004
BATTLE OF THE SONGS
After a long break the opinion poll is back and we are going to find out what the most poular KISS song is. The opinion poll continues with "Dynasty".  What is your favorite song from this album? Everybody is able to vote only once, othewise you will be punished by Britney Spears...

DYNASTY

Click here to Vote for your favorite song of other albums!

February 12, 2004
DEE SNIDER AND LEMMY CONTRIBUTE TO KISS TRIBUTE
(from www.eddietrunk.com via J. Schulze)
MOTÖRHEAD's Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister, TWISTED SISTER's Dee Snider, FOZZY's Chris Jericho and former HELMET leader Page Hamilton are among the hard rock musicians that have recorded KISS covers for the upcoming tribute album "Spin the Bottle", according to Billboard.com. Due April 27 via Koch, the 11-track set was executive produced by longtime KISS associate Bob Kulick and features appearances by one-time KISS members Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer.

The first pressing of the album will include a 40-minute DVD featuring behind-the-scenes footage, performances and interviews with many of the album's participants.

"Spin the Bottle" track listing:

01. DEE SNIDER - "Detroit Rock City"
02. TOMMY SHAW - "Love Gun"
03. MARK SLAUGHTER - "Cold Gin"
04. CHRIS JERICHO - "King of the Night Time World"
05. KIP WINGER - "I Want You"
06. BUZZ OSBORNE - "God of Thunder"
07. PAGE HAMILTON - "Calling Doctor Love"
08. LEMMY KILMISTER - "Shout It Out Loud"
09. DOUG PINNICK - "Parasite"
10. PHIL LEWIS - "Strutter"
11. ROBIN MCAULEY - "I Stole Your Love"

February 10, 2004
GOTTSCHALK VISITS SIMMONS
According to Gene Simmons' official website, Thomas Gottschalk visited Gene Simmons at home to interview him about his upcoming solo album. The interview will be shown on ZDF in late March on Gottschalks TV-show (possibly "Gottschalk America").

As some of you might know, Thomas Gottschalk first interviewed Kiss for his first TV show "Szene '76" in Munich at Circus Krone. Some photos from him with Kiss backstage at Circus Krone in Munich 1976 can be seen in the famous Didi Zill book. Meanwhile Thomas Gottschalk became Germanys biggest entertainer and moved to California. His TV show on ZDF can be seen all over Europe via cable or satelitte. More infos later when it becomes available.

February 6, 2004
KISS IN THE PRESS
Paul Stanley is on the cover of the March-issue of "Burrn!" magazine in Japan. It also includes a 6-page article about Kiss.