I’m showing my age here, but having been a KISS fan since 1975… it is astounding to realize that I have been following this band for most of my entire existence! Although, I don’t consider myself a die-hard these days, I do have an interest in the classic KISS line-up from their glory years. And that is exactly what the KISSOLOGY DVD features… KISS from 1974 to 1977 when they truly were the hottest band in the world!
Watching some of these early moments in the band’s history is quite a marvelous revelation. The determination, ferocity and out-right hunger that drove the band to stellar heights - is all evident throughout the KISSOLOGY DVD. There is a breathtaking performance at Detroit’s Cobo Hall from January 1976. The band blitz through a killer set of their classic early material and watching Peter Criss pound his drums with ferocity and poise is a sensational treat. He was an amazing innovative and creative drummer in the early days but became a shadow of his former self in his later years where his playing is, well, pretty horrid. Also novel to see Simmons’ hair catch fire in his ‘Firehouse’ stunt as well as him forgetting the lyrics to ‘Let Me Go Rock ‘N’ Roll’ as he starts to sing ‘Rock and Roll All Night’ instead!
Continue reading ‘Kissology: Volume One 1974-1977′
Following the tremendous success of what was MTV’s The Osbournes, KISS mainman Gene Simmons is set to star in his own ‘reality TV’ show entitled ‘Gene Simmons Family Jewels’ which is set to feature on the A&E network in August. Undoubtebly, Simmons lacks the charm and personality of Ozzy & co. so it remains to be seen how successful the show will be. The magic of the Osbournes was just how much of a train-wreck Ozzy and his cohorts were.
Synopsis: Dad is Gene Simmons - the legendary, tongue wagging demon of KISS. Mom is Shannon Tweed — former Playmate Of The Year, actress and model. And their kids, Nick and Sophie, are, well…surprisingly charming, well-behaved teenagers dealing with the trials and tribulations of adolescence, even though Mom and Dad are like no one else?s parents.
Gene and Shannon have been happily UNmarried for 22 years and have no plans of getting married any time soon. Gene is a rock star, and a multi-media magnate. He is also the kind of dad who brings Gatorade to his daughter’s soccer games and stands in the front row of his son’s rock band when they play gigs.
It all sounds so contrived but that seems to be the Simmons forte these days. Still, I for one will be checking it out, even for old times sake of once being a KISS diehard.
More info on the show here.
I used to be a huge fan of KISS back in the day and all the way up until their massively successful Reunion Tour of 1996-1997. Although, I wouldn’t consider myself a fan these days as the band has become an absolute joke and completely ruined by greed and ridiculous merchandise opportunities that are nothing short of farcical. We won’t even begin to mention the KISS Store they were set to launch here in Melbourne, Australia. Doomed from the outset, the supposed store never even launched. The band these days is nothing but a glorified tribute/nostalgia act - I mean, dressing up your road manager in Ace Frehley make-up and costume is downright ludicrous. These schmucks think they can pull that one off but the fans are leaving them in droves.
But from the quagmire that is modern day KISS, I must admit getting a little bit excited about these new collector figures that are about to be released. The KISS band members have been meticulously recreated by Sideshow’s artistic team. Sculptor Pablo Viggiano, working with clothing fabricators Greg Mowry and Gidget Earle, has created the definitive 1:4 scale reproduction of each band member. Sideshow’s Premium Format sculptures stand approximately 18 inches tall, and utilize a variety of components, including polystone, metal, and fabrics to achieve an astonishing likeness.
Sideshow’s Creative Director, Tom Gilliland, anticipates limited editions for each Premium Format KISS figure, with an MSRP of $249.99. The KISS line will begin shipping with ‘The Spaceman’ figure in fourth quarter, 2006. A new figure will be shipped every other month thereafter, until all four band members have regrouped in your collection. Sideshow is the premier source for highly collectible figures, statues, busts, framed art, prop replicas and figure-study maquettes. Sideshow products are available online at: www.sideshowcollectibles.com, as well as through specialty shops, comic book stores, and via collectible web sites worldwide.
Head on over to 3Demonic for some of the most amazing models sculptured by some of today’s best 3D modelling talent. Sculpture above is based on a 1976 era Gene Simmons of KISS bust by Sandy Collora. Two words can only describe these models… *fuckn amazing*. Do check ‘em out!
