I am in need of help with the site. Since 1996 except for about a brief three month break, KISSFreaks.com has been going stronger by the day. There are so many things going on in the KISS world and my personal life that is becoming increasingly difficult keeping up. I also have several ideas that I would like to put into motion that I just can't get together with all my other projects.

I am in need of someone to help update the site with all the new material I get in on almost a daily basis. If you have any experience with html, .asp and Photoshop; and would like to help send me an email to: sstierwalt@kissfreaks.com

There are some benefits to helping with the site that I can discuss with those qualified and interested.

I finally got to getting the photos off my camera from the 2004 New York KISS Expo. As always in New York it was a great time. Richie Ranno always does a fantastic job with every one of them. Definitely one of my favorites to go to every year. Anyway enjoy!
[Click here to view the photos]

Hello Kiss fREAKS - 2 of the 100 segments in VH1's upcoming Metal Moments Special deal with Ace Frehley. One deals with his on-stage electrocution 1976 and the other is about his UFO encounter in 2002. I had the honor of producing both 2-3 minute segments for VH1.

The UFO piece reports on Ace's UFO encounter with commentary from Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Sebastian Bach, Eddie Trunk and John Ostronomy. Ace originally told DJ Eddie Trunk about his encounter on
Eddie's radio show, "Eddie Trunk Rocks", in July 2002.

100 Most Metal Moments starts airing May 31st on VH1.

(And now let me plug a few friends - Ostronomy and Captain T) John Ostronomy is best know for his musical collaborations with Captain T. Their sound and lyrics are heavily influenced by KISS's theatrics as well as UFO and alien conspiracy theories. Their music has been featured on MTV and VH1 programming, and has also received extensive college radio airplay.

Ostonomy and Captain T are currently in the studio with engineer Karl Cochran (Ace Frehley Band) recording the song "2000 Man" for an upcoming CD which features covers of Kiss covers.

Check out www.captaint.com and www.ostronomy.com for more information.

Thanks,
Mark Strigl - Metal Expert and freelance television
producer for The Sci Fi Channel, VH1, Warner
Brothers and Universal Studios

Yes! The rumours are TRUE!

Melbourne, Australia is about to become the first city in the world to open its doors to a retail Mecca like no other, KISSWORLD!
Over 18 months in planning, KISSWORLD is a place for all KISS fans to find rare, limited and exclusive KISS products, check out museum pieces on display that will be regularly changed that have come direct from the band, watch never before seen KISS video in the theatrette, find the entire range of KISS merchandise and many other surprises, in-store activities and events.

KISSWORLD is 100% official and KISS are totally involved in the store from the stocked items to the colour of the walls.

KISSWORLD will be opening its doors in August, 2004 and this website will be constantly updated as new information comes to hand. Of course there is going to be one helluva party for a grand opening and we have plenty of exciting plans that will be revealed over time.
For now, we’d like to get your feedback on what you want YOUR KISSWORLD to be and you can sign up for updates so you can know first hand what is going on.

KISSWORLD wants to hear what you have to say and we can make the store even better with your feedback, so head on over to the survey page and register your details now!

We will be revealing photos of the building (which is currently under construction) and other plans as the opening draws closer on this site – so keep checking in!

Melbourne is no longer just another Rock City – it is soon to be KISSWORLD!

From: AussyAce

Thirty years of playing cat and mouse with the media has made Paul Stanley a master of the soundbyte. Ask him what the most valuable thing in his Beverly Hills mansion is, and he says, "Me".
Ask him his opinion of Limp Bizkit, who were originally supposed to tour Australia with them this month, and he shrugs. "With rare exceptions, any band playing with us is just a support band. You can't do what you do for 30 years and be compared with any seriousness to a new band.
We have proven time and time again there is one Kiss – in terms of attitude and dedication to giving the audience the best."

Ask him why Kiss have thundered down to Australia twice before, claiming to play their final tour – the last was only 14 months ago – and he sighs as an irritated school teacher would. "Why is that a problem for you, if fans keep demanding that we provide them with two Christmasses?" As the sharp and articulate Stanley explains, some Kiss members weren't firing, and they genuinely thought it'd be the long Kiss goodnight. "This Kiss lineup (with Eric Singer on drums and Tommy Thayer on guitar) is one of the best ever. We've just come off a spectacular tour with Aerosmith, we did 75 dates doing an average of 18,000 to 22,000 a night. The crowds just went wild, at seeing rock and roll history by two of the longest lasting legendary American bands together. It vindicated that Kiss must still be out there, because it proves you're doing something right. Doing a tour that grosses $75 million speaks volumes."

On this Australian tour, Kiss are doing arena and theatre shows, supported by a 12-piece string section, from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, whom Kiss played with in Melbourne last time. Stanley says that their set will be revamped. There are songs, he says, like Creatures Of The Night and God Gave Rock And Roll To You which they haven't played live and might get aired.

If this is one of the best Kiss lineups yet, and it's firing after the Aerosmith tour, doesn't it make sense to go straight into the studio? "I have mixed feelings about doing a new Kiss album. The songs everyone loves are markers in peoples' lives. When they hear that song, they remember what they were doing. No new music can compete with that. Even if it's a brilliant record. I'm not sure I want to compete with those. You just can't win."

Although in recording terms, Stanley is currently working on a solo album. “It'll be me singing great songs and pushing the envelope beyond what I'd do with Kiss. It'd be too easy to do a one-man Kiss album. What's the appeal for me? The idea is to retain the emotion and power I bring to Kiss and make it in a slightly different environment."

Will it reflect his interest in Broadway (Stanley performed in the Toronto run of Phantom Of The Opera)? "Broadway's greatness is the drama of good musicals and plays. The drama of Phantom Of The Opera accentuates what could be brought to music. I'm not a rock singer, I'm a singer who sings rock."

Did he take acting lessons before Phantom of the Opera? "I'd taken acting lessons for years. But the idea has been to do what I want and when I want. I don't need to get my name out there. I choose carefully.

To do eight shows a week and get standing ovations was something. Especially since many in the audience thought I'd be a liability! Me in a show like that had them scratching their heads. That soon stopped and they started tapping their feet!"

Does he hang out with rock and roll types away from the band? "I don't know rock and roll types. Most of them have no outside interests, they lead sheltered lives and they're boring or ignorant. They don't take advantage of their fame or success to better themselves beyond having a nice house."

So, on the Aerosmith/Kiss tour, did the two bands hang out? "Oh yeah, backstage, and occasionally Steven and Joe would hop on our private plane or vice versa."

And at the other end of the scale, what was his highlight of the show with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra?
"It was glorious to break new ground and it was unique even for Kiss. Many thought it was a disaster waiting to happen. I'm sure many in the orchestra wanted to be part of an event but had no faith in the music. But after the first rehearsal, everyone was all smiles. Anyone who was there, or experienced the DVD, would say it was spectacular and very emotional. The marriage of black tie and black leather – quite incredible."

Stanley does a lot of work with the association About Face. Is this because, when he was a kid, he got hassled a lot because he was deaf in one ear? "It wasn't because I was deaf. I had a malformed ear, and every time a child has a difference, it is dreadful for that child because they're made well aware of that difference. Adults and children can be cruel. The more you educate people they're then less prone to be hurtful."

Speaking of things that can lead small-minded folk to be cruel, is it true Stanley wears a wig? "No. But it's interesting when I hear things like that. It goes back to a superficial sense of what makes rock credible. That's why the Kurt Cobains and Keith Richards are so appealing to a critic. They think they're the real thing. You lie vicariously through them until they kill themselves. So if someone is bald and wears a wig, they can't be the real thing. Or you can't play great rock if you're rich. These are creeds started by frustrated journalists!"

Kiss play two shows at Rod Laver Arena, with special guests Grinspoon, Machine Gun Fellatio and 12 members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for the special 30-minute encore performance, The dates are May 13 and 14. And just announced is a third and final show, a one-off theatre show at The Palais, with no interval or support, on Saturday May 15. Tickets on sale thru Ticketmaster7.

From: KISS Online
From: Alan Dunne
I got to the show just before the support band "Grinspoon" were about to start. We were one band away from KISS so then we went to to the licensed area and started downing some beer. Grinspoon were Grinspoon really. If you have seen them before, then u didnt miss anything last nite.

After they finished the KISS roadies started setting up. We were getting really excited (this was my first KISS show btw) and the tension was building. The crew let the curtain down and the crowd made lots noise about that. We were waiting about another 15 minutes or so till the music died and on came the noise of the bass. The lights went dark and the crowd could see four figures walk in the dark from the side of the stage. Then came the now infamous "You wanted the best!" line. Creatures of the night started on drums, the curtain came down and the night exploded into action.

Creatures of the Night
Dr. Love
Pledge Allegiance to R N R
I Love it Loud
Christine Sixteen
Tears are Falling
War Machine (Gene breathes fire)
Lick it Up
I Want You
Deuce
100,000 Years
Unholy (blood, bass solo)
Shandi (just Paul)
Detroit Rock City
Shout it Out Loud
Love Gun
I Was Made For Lovin' You (Paul flies)

God Gave Rock and Roll To You II
Rock and Roll all Night

This was the setlist and i was really pleased to hear the new songs. "War Machine" was great with Gene breathing fire at the end of it. "Tears Are Falling" was great to hear. They all were sounding really tight. There were a couple of minor mistakes but as paul said later in the show "We have made a few mistakes tonite, we're not perfect. But we try"

Paul started singing "Shandi" just before "Lick It Up" but the crowd wasnt getting too much into it so he just moved on to the next song and sang "Shandi" later on.

When Gene was blood spitting it looked really awsome. From wat i could see it looked like the wires Gene was going to fly up on didn't work for some reason and he just sang "Unholy" on the stage with the band. It was really great to see "Unholy" being played with the make up on. It gave the song new life.

I could see the wires for Paul and was excited that he was going to fly. "Love Gun" came on and he was still on the stage. I was confused but realised that he must be using it for another song.

"I Was Made For Loving You" made the crowd go mental. And by mental i mean screaming, and just being insane. Paul got on his wires and flew out over the crowd. In the paradise standing area, the crowd pushed down the barrier and ran to where Paul was singing. This song totally went off and my lost voice is very much crontributed to this song. (I was screaming the others too) Eric's drum riser went up at the end of this song and they finished with a bang.

KISS walked out for their encore and bowed to the crowd. Eric and Gene were messing around with each other and Eric was kicking Gene's cod piece and running around him.

"God Gave Rock And Roll To You" was another song that sent the crowd wild. KISS played the song a lot like they did on the "Revenge" tour, but they put a stop in the song just after the solo and then slammed straight back into the chorus.

What can I say about "Rock And Roll All Nite" that everbody duzn't already know. The lights, the confetti, the guitar smashing. It was all amazing and really really fun but i think everybody knows what happens in this song by now.

KISS finished with fireworks and everybody that was there was on their feet. KISS had shown Perth that they can still kick more arse than anybody else out there. I was glad that i have finally seen KISS live and wasn't dissapointed in a single song at all (except i would have liked to see "Black Diamond") 10 out of 10 for me.

Paul sounds and looks great. He was running around the stage all night and really showed he loved the stage. He also cracked some funny jokes too.

Gene. What a champ. His singing was spot on. Although i think he forgot a verse in "Unholy" and just sang one of the other ones.

Tommy was didn't show a single fault. His guitar playing was amazing and his solo's, spot on. He really played the Bruce and Vinnie solos as good as anybody without a floyd rose tremello system on their guitar.

Eric Singer gave a real great feeling to the band. His drumming was heavy and spot on. It seemed to make the band feel better and of course perform better.

KISS are looking great and I seriously recommend that you go see them on this tour. It will only get better once they are used to playing together, although last nite it looked and sounded like they have been playing with eachother for years.

Wat a show. Wat a band. Wat a night.

These photos were signed by Gene Simmons at the National Sports Show in Atlantic City last year. Only a limited number were signed that day, so don't miss out on this rare signed photo. We have a limited supply of these so order quick!

Click here to order!

KISS LOVE GUN FIGURE BOXED SET PHOTOGRAPHY
McFarlane Sculptors Re-Create Classic Cover In 3D
April 30, 2004

KISS Army, unite. In addition to the 12-inch version of the Demon that's currently on store shelves, McFarlane Toys has got another incredible KISS product heading to the toy aisles: a KISS Love Gun deluxe boxed set.

We announced this piece some time back, but now have photography to share and, boy, is it spectacular. This boxed set features all four members of the band and a beautifully crafted stage base. Together, the set virtually re-creates the classic Love Gun album in three-dimensional detail. The band members' poses, their facial expressions and positions on the stage, the, uh, extra eye candy on the base itself, it's all here.

This latest KISS set will be available in August. Until that time, put Love Gun on your turntable and rock out while you enjoy the photography.

From: AussyAce
KISS' Gene Simmons is always up for a tongue-wag...and the Demon talks while Blood dribbles over that Large Lower Lip of his...
You're an hour late for this interview. What have you been doing?

I'm editing the Speaking in Tongues DVD, which is a lecture tour I did in Australia.

Do you enjoy watching yourself?

It's always peculiar when I watch myself. I'm hyper-critical. On the one hand I enjoy the sound of my own voice and on the other hand, I know the real me - the little boy who came to another country and found the American dream - isn't just a story but a real, living, breathing thing. I can come from another country and become one of the members of a group with more American gold records than any American Born group in recorded history. Even though all that's true, most of the time I watch myself or read about myself and go, "Oh my God, what a strange trip it's been." Half the time I can't believe it.

KISS are on their way back to Australia . . .

Yes, yet again. We did 60 shows with Aerosmith in America, which should have continued, but they had a record coming out and we had some personnel changes yet again. Our dysfunctional family is no different from yours. We've got Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer in the band and, with Absolutely NO disrespect to other line-ups, this feels like the strongest line-up so far. We can do songs live we've never been able to do before.

What do you say to people who question why you're coming back for the second tour after your "Farewell" tour of Australia?

Anyone can say anything they like. You can be Scrooge and not like Christmas; you're allowed. The Farewell Tour was done for ACE FREHLEY the Original Spaceman from the Planet Jendell. It was done to maintain the self-respect of the band. We didn't want to get up on stage when there was inner turmoil in the band. Inner turmoil in rock 'n' roll means chemicals. It seems to be rampant in rock 'n' roll and I don't know why that is. The Farewell Tour was to get off the stage with our tails between our legs while we still had some self-respect left. And it became very clear the fans didn't want us to go. Like on any football team, if one of the guys isn't carrying the load, you get yourself another replacement, a guy who's proud to wear the uniform. And by the way, if anyone has any compunctions about going to see a band that kicks everybody's ass, don't go. If you want to get the best show of your life, come see us. If you have any doubts at all, don't buy a ticket.

What happened with Peter Criss? He said he thought he'd be on this tour and only found out that his involvement wasn't the case once he himself saw the tour dates once they were released for sale worldwide and exclusively within Australia for the upcoming AUSSY Tour ???

That's entirely false. We love Peter and wish him the best, but the real truth was we didn't want to issue a press release that said exactly what Peter said to us during the last tour. And that was: "I've had enough of this, I'm sick of touring, I can't do it physically." We love Peter, as far as we know there were no drugs involved. But he just physically couldn't hack it. His elbows had to be soaked in ice, he kept having B12 shots. To be blunt, he kept telling us: "That's it, I don't want to tour any more." We hear and we obey. We wish him the best. PETER CRISS and ACE FREHLEY both helped make our dreams come true.

On this Australian tour, for $1362, you can meet the band and get a photo, as well as a concert ticket. Is that really what a picture is truly worth with Kiss ?

Well, we tried that in America and the response was so phenomenal we're staying after the show to do it. It's a separate company doing it. There's insurance involved and all sorts of nonsense we don't want to be involved with. But we're happy to do that. Additionally, and more importantly, we're changing the set. We're putting in songs like
Creatures of the Night, Parasite and I Pledge Allegiance to the State of Rock & Roll, God Gave Rock & Roll to You . . . all kinds of songs that in some instances we've never even done on stage before.

Back to the meet and greet. Prince did a similar thing in Australia - charging $1000 for a meet and greet - but he gave the money to charity . . .

(Interrupts) The last time I checked KISS was not a charity. If I decide to give money to charity, I'm not holding a press conference to let everybody know.

Are you opening a KISSWORLD merchandise store in Australia?

Yes. It's starting in Melbourne. I'm not sure exactly when (Ed: August) but I believe it's about the time we're touring.

You've just recorded a solo album, Asshole , for which you wrote a song with Bob Dylan and covered the Prodigy's Firestarter .

(Interrupts) I promised everybody I would be talking about KISS in these interviews. I'm doing separate press for the solo records. Everybody's life in KISS is wonderful, that involves Ace's and Peter's and every person that's been in KISS because KISS opens new doors. You always get a good table in a restaurant. Women want to have your children, guys want to be your friends - it's perfect.

But you have used a few unreleased KISS songs on your solo album, such as Carnival of Souls .

See, that's into my solo territory. I can't talk about it.

But they are KISS songs . . .

Still can't talk about it. I can tell you we're taking a quarter of the Melbourne Symphony on tour for this new KISS tour of Australia. Playing with the MSO was the thrill of a lifetime, but you had to realise you're playing with musicians who depend on you being perfectly in time, and rock 'n' roll is meant to be greasy. The MSO is more about good taste than what tastes good. So we're bringing out a 20-piece section which is more manageable for us - we can rock out a bit more and be more loose.

You toured with Aerosmith, who have a pretty strict no drugs/no alcohol policy. What was it like backstage?

From what I saw they're completely drug free, there's not an ounce of alcohol backstage and maybe that's why the band are back to being the glorious band they are. Somebody someplace was allowed to spread this vile information that drugs and alcohol are cool. I wish I knew who that was so I could corner them and bitchslap them a few times. It's ruined a generation of people.

1. Asshole
2. Carnival of Souls
3. If I Had A Gun
4. Weapons
5. Waiting For The Morning Light
6. Whatever Turns You On
7. Sweet & Dirty Love
8. Beautiful
9. Dog
10. Now That You're Gone
11. Black Tongue
12. I Dream A Thousand Dreams
13. Firestarter

Drawing together over three decades of record making, ASSHOLE is a grand, and swaggering portrait of SIMMONS in the 21st Century, a brave musical statement from a man unafraid of pushing the envelope and exploring new boundaries.

Click here to listen to the cd now

Click here to order the cd

Hey you KISS Freaks, from now until June 1st you can get any of the Ace Frehley Farewell City Picks for only $6.99 each! Sure to be a major collectible in the coming years, due to Ace Frehley not coming back to the band! It seems as though that was definitely the Space Man's Farewell!

You've tried to get one at the show, now you can get one of them to remember that special night on the Farewell tour. These are THE collectible pick of the Farewell Tour. Each pick features Ace's signature surrounded with original artwork of stars and a planet on one side. The other side has Ace's name with Farewell Tour 2000 or 2001, then below that each night of the tour the city name and date change to memorialize that specific show. Also included is an outline of the state in the background! A true work of art entirely designed by Ace Frehley.

These picks are different from the more common Ace tour picks. Unlike the others, Ace kept these in a pouch sewn into his costume on his right side. If you kept a close eye you would have seen him periodically reach into this pouch tossing 44 of them nightly into the crowd along with the many other common ones. Collect one from every show you attended on the final tour. Also makes a great gift for friends and family that go to the show as well. Get yours here without having to fight for them! Pick color and picks vary by city, click below on city name and date to order. These picks are in stock and are limited to less than 300 per city! We have very limited supplies of each city so order today! So you can see we will only be able to accommodate a handful of the 10,000+ people that attended most shows. Get yours today, before your show is no longer available. Shipping $1 per pick inside and outside the USA!

Go to KISS Freaks Store to order your favorite cities!