Sunday, October 18, 2009
Copyright
Friday, October 16, 2009
Contest
A Sonic Boom is coming, and we don't just mean the new album from KISS... It's The Great KISS Guitar Giveaway - to help you rattle some walls on your own, KISSOnline.com is giving you a chance to win one of three WASHBURN GUITARS SIGNED BY ALL OF KISS!
How do you enter to win? It's simple:
1) Take a photo of just you, with your friends, family, whatever... but it must be with the new KISS album, Sonic Boom to qualify.
2) Once you have taken your photo, host it on a public album website - flickr, shutterfly, wherever - as long as we can view it, it doesn't matter where!
3) Finally, copy and paste the URL in the field to the right, along with the rest of your info. But make sure to double check the URL, because you can only enter once.
http://guitargiveaway.kissonline.com/
Three winners will be selected at random to receive a Washburn guitar autographed by KISS, but make it a good shot because we'll feature some of the best photos on KISSOnline.com. Pick up the new KISS album, grab your camera, and enter The Great KISS Guitar Giveaway today!
Shooting KISS!!
To be able to photograph KISS in concert was certainly a fantastic experience for me. In all my years of being a fan of the band, I never thought of seeking out the opportunity to get into the photo pit to capture a performance. Not being able to participate in the pre-show Meet & Greet; something I've always wanted to do; made me think outside the box. Landing this photo gig was the perfect solution. I've met the band at various events in the past; but never in make-up. I've always desired a photo with the band in make-up and finally thanks to fan John Desbois, I've got a stunning photo of me front stage centre at the concert. I was able to get some great shots, but really in all the excitment, I missed more then I got. Hopefully, KISS will return on a second leg of the tour and I'll be able to have another shot (pun intended)!
I DID IT! Stephanie attends First KISS Concert
At the young age of 6, I was first introduced to KISS; superheroes, a four-member band wearing costumes, makeup and high-heeled shoes, with a stage show that included pyrotechnics, fire breathing, blood-spitting, smoking guitars and confetti cannons.
After 35 plus years, not much has changed. KISS still performs for a sold-out audience. The crowds are a strange mixture of very young and very old, and more than a few wearing Kiss makeup and full regalia.
My daugther Stephaine, aged 13, has learned all about my KISStory and I was elated to be able to share this experience with her while attending the sold out Oshawa show on October 7th. Only two founding members of KISS remain: Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. Drummer Eric Singer got involved with the band in 1989, and guitarist Tommy Thayer took over from Ace in 2002. 35 years and over 80 million records later the newest incarnation of KISS sounded like a well-oiled machine.
Stephanie was treated to a theatrical concert unlike anything she had ever seen. Nearly identical to what I had witnessed in the numerous concerts I have seen since 1985; Gene Simmons spit blood, breathed fire, flew up to the top of the stage lights to play I Love It Loud. Paul Stanley broke a guitar, and rode on a cable to the middle of the arena to perform the song Love Gun.
Stephanie has a great time. I knew she would, since KISS delivers to thier audience. It's no different now as it was then,...except now Stephanie is wearing the rock concert tee and I am posing as an adult.
After 35 plus years, not much has changed. KISS still performs for a sold-out audience. The crowds are a strange mixture of very young and very old, and more than a few wearing Kiss makeup and full regalia.
My daugther Stephaine, aged 13, has learned all about my KISStory and I was elated to be able to share this experience with her while attending the sold out Oshawa show on October 7th. Only two founding members of KISS remain: Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. Drummer Eric Singer got involved with the band in 1989, and guitarist Tommy Thayer took over from Ace in 2002. 35 years and over 80 million records later the newest incarnation of KISS sounded like a well-oiled machine.
Stephanie was treated to a theatrical concert unlike anything she had ever seen. Nearly identical to what I had witnessed in the numerous concerts I have seen since 1985; Gene Simmons spit blood, breathed fire, flew up to the top of the stage lights to play I Love It Loud. Paul Stanley broke a guitar, and rode on a cable to the middle of the arena to perform the song Love Gun.
Stephanie has a great time. I knew she would, since KISS delivers to thier audience. It's no different now as it was then,...except now Stephanie is wearing the rock concert tee and I am posing as an adult.
Oshawa Review for The Peterborough Examiner
Oshawa wanted the best and got the best -- the hottest band in the land, KISS!
Gene, Paul, Tommy and Eric, weren't the only ones wearing makeup as hundreds more in the audience joined the face-painting ritual. The band looked great and sounded great. The Oshawa fans were ready to rock and roll all night, but it wasn't a perfect marriage -- and it never has been.
Right from the start with the misstep of Oshawa council publicly reacting to not being announced on the first posting of tour dates after winning the online contest, to a band set list that was enriched by classic material mostly taken from the band's recent alive35 tour with a newly released Sonic Boom tune. It was immediately obvious that this crowd, many seeing a rock concert for the first time, grew up in the '80s period of KISS, not the classic '70s.
It made for some very interesting observations -- observations I feel confident in expressing since, unlike most reviewers who are unfamiliar with the band, this was to be my next to 30th KISS concert.
The crowd was noticeably younger then at past year's concerts, obviously a sign of the success KISS is having in attracting a new fan base what with Gene's Family Jewels reality show, an appearance on American Idol and an exclusive agreement with Wal-Mart to release their new album.
The classics which are normally the backbone of the show: Deuce, Hotter Than Hell and Black Diamond, were generally unknown to this Oshawa audience. A menu of I Was Made For Lovin' You, Heaven's On Fire, Tears Are Falling, Crazy Nights, Forever and Psycho Circus (all absent from the concert) were the songs this crowd was waiting for.
Even Stanley addressed this while introducing 100,000 Years, asking if the crowd even knew it. They didn't.
The solos were huge hits with the audience as the old gimmicks were fresh and in full effect to this audience. Gene breathed fire, spat blood and flew to a platform some 50 feet atop the stage. Tommy had guitars that bazookaed rockets into surrounding speakers and Eric pounded his drums atop a rotating drum riser on a fog-spewing hydraulic lift.
The encore was impressive with Shout It Out Loud, Lick It Up, Love Gun (during which Stanley flew above the audience on a wire to the back of the arena) and Detroit Rock City concluding with canon booms, flame bursts and a tonne of fireworks.
Stanley hinted the band would revisit Oshawa after it travels across the border for the U. S. portion of the tour. And considering the record sell-out of this concert, that might be a solid bet.
That would impact the chance of Peterborough fans to have their own date as word at the concert was that the band wouldn't schedule tour locations in such close proximity to each other.
If the band does return, hopefully it will bet on its newer material and bring that KISS along to its newest sweetheart: Oshawa.
Text and Photos copyright 2009 by Darryl Andrews. This post may not be reproduced or redistributed, either in whole or part, by any means, without the express, written permission of the author.
Gene, Paul, Tommy and Eric, weren't the only ones wearing makeup as hundreds more in the audience joined the face-painting ritual. The band looked great and sounded great. The Oshawa fans were ready to rock and roll all night, but it wasn't a perfect marriage -- and it never has been.
Right from the start with the misstep of Oshawa council publicly reacting to not being announced on the first posting of tour dates after winning the online contest, to a band set list that was enriched by classic material mostly taken from the band's recent alive35 tour with a newly released Sonic Boom tune. It was immediately obvious that this crowd, many seeing a rock concert for the first time, grew up in the '80s period of KISS, not the classic '70s.
It made for some very interesting observations -- observations I feel confident in expressing since, unlike most reviewers who are unfamiliar with the band, this was to be my next to 30th KISS concert.
The crowd was noticeably younger then at past year's concerts, obviously a sign of the success KISS is having in attracting a new fan base what with Gene's Family Jewels reality show, an appearance on American Idol and an exclusive agreement with Wal-Mart to release their new album.
The classics which are normally the backbone of the show: Deuce, Hotter Than Hell and Black Diamond, were generally unknown to this Oshawa audience. A menu of I Was Made For Lovin' You, Heaven's On Fire, Tears Are Falling, Crazy Nights, Forever and Psycho Circus (all absent from the concert) were the songs this crowd was waiting for.
Even Stanley addressed this while introducing 100,000 Years, asking if the crowd even knew it. They didn't.
The solos were huge hits with the audience as the old gimmicks were fresh and in full effect to this audience. Gene breathed fire, spat blood and flew to a platform some 50 feet atop the stage. Tommy had guitars that bazookaed rockets into surrounding speakers and Eric pounded his drums atop a rotating drum riser on a fog-spewing hydraulic lift.
The encore was impressive with Shout It Out Loud, Lick It Up, Love Gun (during which Stanley flew above the audience on a wire to the back of the arena) and Detroit Rock City concluding with canon booms, flame bursts and a tonne of fireworks.
Stanley hinted the band would revisit Oshawa after it travels across the border for the U. S. portion of the tour. And considering the record sell-out of this concert, that might be a solid bet.
That would impact the chance of Peterborough fans to have their own date as word at the concert was that the band wouldn't schedule tour locations in such close proximity to each other.
If the band does return, hopefully it will bet on its newer material and bring that KISS along to its newest sweetheart: Oshawa.
Text and Photos copyright 2009 by Darryl Andrews. This post may not be reproduced or redistributed, either in whole or part, by any means, without the express, written permission of the author.
If somebody would've told me ten years ago that I'd.....
The KISS fan routed tour contest has been alot of fun. I've been able to get Peterborough excited about KISS playing here. When I contacted the paper back in April and had my story published on the front page; I immediately felt a responsibility to "bring the contest home". My staged publicity stunt gaining the Mayor's endorsement, visiting the radio station and finally appearing on Chex TV to do the weather [in full KISS costume and make-up] was both hard work and exciting. KISS has been a part of my life for 31 years and never have I expressed my fandom for the band in the way I expressed this past week. For someone who spends the lionshare of time being far too serious, I'm happy that KISS reminds me that I can still be silly. At contest end - it looks like Peterborough will finish sixth.
KISS Rally Falls Short
KISS concert goodbye
By ELIZABETH BOWER , EXAMINER STAFF WRITER
Front Page, Peterborough Examiner August 25, 2009
Legendary rock band KISS is kissing off Oshawa and Peterborough for its North American 2009 Tour. KISS held an online contest, starting in April, where fans could vote to get the band to play in their home city.
Oshawa won the contest in July, after beating out cities from across North America, while Peterborough came sixth. Yet the theatrically inclined band, featuring lead singer Gene Simmons, announced yesterday it won't be performing in Oshawa. The closest concert is to be in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre on Oct. 2.
"I'm beyond shocked," says Peterborough's self-proclaimed KISS superfan Darryl Andrews, who rallied for this city to win the contest by printing off Bring KISS to Peterborough cards.
Andrews, 38, who has been a fan since age seven, says he feels terrible that Oshawa didn't get a concert after so much work and hype.
The father of two says he thought Peterborough had a shot too, since this city came in sixth. But Andrews says he would have been satisfied with an Oshawa concert because he feels it would have been closer to regional cities including Kingston and Belleville, which spent so much time and energy competing.
Andrews says he has already seen KISS perform 27 times before, mostly in Toronto.
He was hoping for a smaller venue, through the contest, so that he could comfortably bring along his wife and two daughters, aged 13 and two.
The financial cost and travel time of going to the Toronto concert would be too much for his family, he says. Still, Andrews hasn't given up on his heroes. He's hoping KISS will include a second leg of the tour early next year, which he hopes will include Oshawa.
No matter what happens, KISS will always be his favourite band.
"That will never change," he says.
By ELIZABETH BOWER , EXAMINER STAFF WRITER
Front Page, Peterborough Examiner August 25, 2009
Legendary rock band KISS is kissing off Oshawa and Peterborough for its North American 2009 Tour. KISS held an online contest, starting in April, where fans could vote to get the band to play in their home city.
Oshawa won the contest in July, after beating out cities from across North America, while Peterborough came sixth. Yet the theatrically inclined band, featuring lead singer Gene Simmons, announced yesterday it won't be performing in Oshawa. The closest concert is to be in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre on Oct. 2.
"I'm beyond shocked," says Peterborough's self-proclaimed KISS superfan Darryl Andrews, who rallied for this city to win the contest by printing off Bring KISS to Peterborough cards.
Andrews, 38, who has been a fan since age seven, says he feels terrible that Oshawa didn't get a concert after so much work and hype.
The father of two says he thought Peterborough had a shot too, since this city came in sixth. But Andrews says he would have been satisfied with an Oshawa concert because he feels it would have been closer to regional cities including Kingston and Belleville, which spent so much time and energy competing.
Andrews says he has already seen KISS perform 27 times before, mostly in Toronto.
He was hoping for a smaller venue, through the contest, so that he could comfortably bring along his wife and two daughters, aged 13 and two.
The financial cost and travel time of going to the Toronto concert would be too much for his family, he says. Still, Andrews hasn't given up on his heroes. He's hoping KISS will include a second leg of the tour early next year, which he hopes will include Oshawa.
No matter what happens, KISS will always be his favourite band.
"That will never change," he says.
KISS Rally
Mayor votes for KISS concert
KISS and makeup
Posted By ANDREA HOUSTON/Examiner Staff Writer
Mayor Paul Ayotte is shouting out loud that he supports Peterborough’s bid for the KISS concert. “I think this concert will bring a lot of people to the city,” Ayotte said outside city hall yesterday. “I’m sure there are KISS fans from all over the region who will travel to Peterborough for the concert.”
Superfan Darryl Andrews, 38, who has been a loyal KISS fan since he was seven, printed off “bring KISS to Peterborough” cards to collect people’s email addresses.
“If they don’t want to vote online I’ll do it for them,” said
Andrews, who was dressed in a full Paul Stanley costume, complete with a black star painted over his right eye.
“You don’t have to be a KISS fan to bring them to Peterborough.”
The online petition can be found on KISS's website. The deadline for the contest is Tuesday at 2 p.m. Peterborough currently sits in sixth position, right behind Calgary. Oshawa, Winnipeg and Sault Ste Marie hold the top three spots.
There’s nothing wrong with a little healthy competition with Oshawa, Ayotte said.
“I think we always compete with Oshawa,” he said. “So it would be nice to beat them to the KISS concert.”
If Peterborough is selected as one of the winning cities, KISS will bring their make-up and arena rock show spectacular for a one-night-only concert at some point in the fall.
Although Ayotte isn’t a KISS fan, he said if the concert came to the city he would most likely attend. The mayor prefers country music, he said.
“I might just take in the concert to see what KISS is all about,” he said with a laugh.
The vote is being done on a per-capita basis, so one vote from Peterborough is worth hundreds from a larger city, Andrews said.
“We’re beating Toronto, we’re beating New York. We have a real good chance,” he said. Andrews said the tour is set to begin in September. Buckcherry will be the opening act, he said.
Darryl on The WOLF 101.5 FM
After being appointed "Leader of the KISS Army" in Peterborough, I took to the airwaves and delivered the message, "Bring KISS to Peterborough!"
Call to arms for the KISS Army
DEMAND KISS: Peterborough now running seventh in rock band's online poll to pick 40 cities for tour
By SARAH DEETH , Peterborough Examiner STAFF WRITER
Published April 21, 2009
Darryl Andrews is calling on members of the KISS Army to unite, lead the charge and vote for Peterborough in an online contest that could bring the rock band to the city. The KISS Army is the name of the group's fan club and a general term describing KISS fans.
Andrews, the 38-year-old co-owner of Hair's the Thing on Dublin Street, has loved KISS for most of his life, describing the band as the perfect blend of rock stars and super heroes. "KISS has been part of my life since I was six years old," he said. Andrews has seen KISS in concert 24 times, attended fan conventions and watched the band through its different phases.
Now he's watching the band's resurgence of popularity, he said.
But he's always had to travel to other cities to see them, and the contest creates the possibility of taking his two daughters to the show. "And here's a chance to have them come play in your neck of the woods," he said. "When you see a KISS show, it's a whole other experience," he said. "They're larger than life."
When he heard about the contest he immediately linked to the voting web-site from his Facebook account, Andrews said. That's gotten his friends and family voting, he said, but he wants to see a strong effort from everyone.
Even those who don't like KISS should vote, he said, because the band's fame will shed positive light on concert venues such as the Memorial Centre.
"We need to get more acts in there. We need to get more bands," he said.
A KISS concert would also bring additional money and fun into the city, he said.
And if Peterborough wins, Andrews promises his hair salon will step up and help fans prepare for the show.
"We'll be having a big hair thing if KISS comes to town," Andrews said.
By SARAH DEETH , Peterborough Examiner STAFF WRITER
Published April 21, 2009
Darryl Andrews is calling on members of the KISS Army to unite, lead the charge and vote for Peterborough in an online contest that could bring the rock band to the city. The KISS Army is the name of the group's fan club and a general term describing KISS fans.
Andrews, the 38-year-old co-owner of Hair's the Thing on Dublin Street, has loved KISS for most of his life, describing the band as the perfect blend of rock stars and super heroes. "KISS has been part of my life since I was six years old," he said. Andrews has seen KISS in concert 24 times, attended fan conventions and watched the band through its different phases.
Now he's watching the band's resurgence of popularity, he said.
But he's always had to travel to other cities to see them, and the contest creates the possibility of taking his two daughters to the show. "And here's a chance to have them come play in your neck of the woods," he said. "When you see a KISS show, it's a whole other experience," he said. "They're larger than life."
When he heard about the contest he immediately linked to the voting web-site from his Facebook account, Andrews said. That's gotten his friends and family voting, he said, but he wants to see a strong effort from everyone.
Even those who don't like KISS should vote, he said, because the band's fame will shed positive light on concert venues such as the Memorial Centre.
"We need to get more acts in there. We need to get more bands," he said.
A KISS concert would also bring additional money and fun into the city, he said.
And if Peterborough wins, Andrews promises his hair salon will step up and help fans prepare for the show.
"We'll be having a big hair thing if KISS comes to town," Andrews said.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Detroit Rock City Filming
History sealed with a KISS
Fans don sequins and makeup for a once-in-a-lifetime movie date
By KIERAN GRANT/Canadian Press
HAMILTON -- They usually leave performing to the band, but KISS's faithful fans got a chance to act out at Copps Coliseum yesterday.
About 3,000 devotees and curious onlookers joined the veteran schtick-rockers in a climax concert scene for the upcoming, KISS-inspired movie Detroit Rock City. The film, which stars Terminator 2 and American History X's Edward Furlong and is produced by tongue 'n' bass wielding KISS leader Gene Simmons, has been shooting around the Toronto area for the past two months.
Yesterday's shoot recreated a 1978 KISS show, with Copps standing in for Detroit's Cobo Hall. True to "KISS Army" regulations, many extras came bedecked in KISS's trademark kabuki makeup, sequin-spangled capes and platform boots. The stands were filled with reasonable facsimiles of Simmons, singer-guitarist Paul Stanley, lead guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss, while the real group performed half-a-dozen takes on stage, lip-syncing to their 1976 hit Detroit Rock City with full lighting and pyro effects.
Other extras wore retro-style clothing and hairstyles to help create a late '70s concert look. Vintage, felt KISS pennants and banners added a nice touch.
Detroit Rock City is a comedy about four teenaged buddies who go through a hellish obstacle course of disapproving parents, lost tickets and muggers to see their favourite band in concert.
Darryl Andrews, 28, could identify. He made the trip with three pals from Newmarket in full KISS regalia. "We came here in the spirit of what the film is about," said Andrews, who added that he's been to 17 KISS concerts. "This is the music we loved as kids. It's always been with us."
Nine-year-old Vance Michaud wasn't there the first time around but has managed to see KISS three times since. He came dressed from head to foot as Ace Frehley, whom he got to meet when he was pulled on stage between shots. "It felt good, I almost cried," Michaud said. "I was in the front row, and one of the security guards asked me if I wanted a guitar pick. I said, 'No, I want to meet them.' "
KISS cover band Hotter Than Hell acted as stand-ins earlier in the day. Once the real KISS emerged, they served as ideal cheerleaders, whipping up the crowd and staying "in character" between shots. With a keen eye for detail, Simmons saw to it that out-of-date costumes -- ie a 1997 Simmons Halloween mask, 1979 body armour -- were removed.
Guitarist Stanley was particularly "on," even managing at one point to convince a svelt extra to remove her KISS top. A harried production assistant intervened before she could remove her bra. For his efforts, the assistant received a solid round of booing from the crowd -- and Stanley.
Later, it was Stanley who got booed when he got his geography confused. The same assistant was on hand to remind the singer he was in Hamilton, not Toronto.
"We were going to film this in L.A.," Stanley told the audience. "But audiences up here in Toronto are so awesome. You're the real thing, Hamilton."
I bet he says that to all the cities.
Fans don sequins and makeup for a once-in-a-lifetime movie date
By KIERAN GRANT/Canadian Press
HAMILTON -- They usually leave performing to the band, but KISS's faithful fans got a chance to act out at Copps Coliseum yesterday.
About 3,000 devotees and curious onlookers joined the veteran schtick-rockers in a climax concert scene for the upcoming, KISS-inspired movie Detroit Rock City. The film, which stars Terminator 2 and American History X's Edward Furlong and is produced by tongue 'n' bass wielding KISS leader Gene Simmons, has been shooting around the Toronto area for the past two months.
Yesterday's shoot recreated a 1978 KISS show, with Copps standing in for Detroit's Cobo Hall. True to "KISS Army" regulations, many extras came bedecked in KISS's trademark kabuki makeup, sequin-spangled capes and platform boots. The stands were filled with reasonable facsimiles of Simmons, singer-guitarist Paul Stanley, lead guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss, while the real group performed half-a-dozen takes on stage, lip-syncing to their 1976 hit Detroit Rock City with full lighting and pyro effects.
Other extras wore retro-style clothing and hairstyles to help create a late '70s concert look. Vintage, felt KISS pennants and banners added a nice touch.
Detroit Rock City is a comedy about four teenaged buddies who go through a hellish obstacle course of disapproving parents, lost tickets and muggers to see their favourite band in concert.
Darryl Andrews, 28, could identify. He made the trip with three pals from Newmarket in full KISS regalia. "We came here in the spirit of what the film is about," said Andrews, who added that he's been to 17 KISS concerts. "This is the music we loved as kids. It's always been with us."
Nine-year-old Vance Michaud wasn't there the first time around but has managed to see KISS three times since. He came dressed from head to foot as Ace Frehley, whom he got to meet when he was pulled on stage between shots. "It felt good, I almost cried," Michaud said. "I was in the front row, and one of the security guards asked me if I wanted a guitar pick. I said, 'No, I want to meet them.' "
KISS cover band Hotter Than Hell acted as stand-ins earlier in the day. Once the real KISS emerged, they served as ideal cheerleaders, whipping up the crowd and staying "in character" between shots. With a keen eye for detail, Simmons saw to it that out-of-date costumes -- ie a 1997 Simmons Halloween mask, 1979 body armour -- were removed.
Guitarist Stanley was particularly "on," even managing at one point to convince a svelt extra to remove her KISS top. A harried production assistant intervened before she could remove her bra. For his efforts, the assistant received a solid round of booing from the crowd -- and Stanley.
Later, it was Stanley who got booed when he got his geography confused. The same assistant was on hand to remind the singer he was in Hamilton, not Toronto.
"We were going to film this in L.A.," Stanley told the audience. "But audiences up here in Toronto are so awesome. You're the real thing, Hamilton."
I bet he says that to all the cities.
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