Latest Update: More Guests added INDY Expo - by Keith Leroux

Former Motley Crue lead singer, John Corabi will appear on Sunday March 6th at the INDY KISS Expo. John will also join UNION bandmate Bruce Kulick for an accoustic set. In addition we have added Tom Shannon, author of Goldmine's KISS Collectibles Book, (Tom has a new KISS book coming out soon) and KISS Magazine creator Warren Lapine. Make sure to stop by and talk with them as well as Mike Brandvold, webmaster for KISSonline.com and Bill Starkey, founder of the KISS ARMY. (Additional lineup below).

Please note expo hours have been extended 1 additional additional hour per day.

2005 INDY KISS Expo with be held March 5th & March 6th!

The Expos will take place at the Holiday Inn Indianapolis East, 6990 East 21st St. For hotel rooms - call 317-359-5341 and ask for the special KISS Expo rate. Both days will feature a KISS Costume contest and KISS trivia!! KISS merchandise and collectibles will be on sale both days.

Saturday March 5th from 1-9 PM Special guest KISS drummer Eric Singer will perform live in concert with Eric Dover (Alice Cooper) and Stefan Adika (Dee Dee Ramone). Eric will also do a Q&A as well as sign autographs and pose for photos. KISS Tribute band MR. SPEED will perform a set of classic KISS not usually performed live by KISS!!

Saturday March 5th Ticket options:

1) Regular ticket with admission at 1PM. Advance orders include free sticker set.

2) Special Laminate with admission at 12 PM. Includes KISS Expo VIP Laminate and free KISS Pop Art T-shirt (available in L or XL).

Sunday March 6th from 12-7 PM Special guest Bruce Kulick will perform several songs live with KISS tribute band MR. SPEED. Bruce will also do a Q&A as well as sign autographs and pose for photos. In addition to their performance with Bruce, MR. SPEED will play a different set then day 1.

Sunday March 6th Ticket options:

1) Regular ticket with admission at 12 PM. Advance orders include free sticker set.

2) Special Laminate with admission at 11 AM. Includes KISS Expo VIP Laminate and free KISS Logo Stars T-shirt (available in L or XL).

Two Day Option:

Special 2 day pass - regular admission at 1PM Saturday and 12 noon Sunday. Advance orders include free sticker set.

Initial Details: 2005 INDY KISS Expo has been confirmed. Get ready for a great KISS Weekend!! The INDY Expo is back with 2 days this year, March 5th & March 6th!

The Expos will take place at the Holiday Inn Indianapolis East, 6990 East 21st St. For hotel rooms - call 317-359-5341 and ask for the special KISS Expo rate.

Both days will feature a KISS Costume contest and KISS trivia!! KISS merchandise and collectibles will be on sale both days.

Saturday March 5th from (Note New Hours Updated Above) 1-8 PM Special guest KISS drummer Eric Singer will perform live in concert with Eric Dover (Alice Cooper) and Stefan Adika (Dee Dee Ramone). Eric will also do a Q&A as well as sign autographs and pose for photos. KISS Tribute band MR. SPEED will perform a set of classic KISS not usually performed live by KISS!!

Saturday March 5th Ticket options:

1) Regular ticket with admission at 1PM. Advance orders include free sticker set.

2) Special Laminate with admission at 12 PM. Includes KISS Expo VIP Laminate and free KISS Pop Art Tshirt (available in L or XL).

Sunday March 6th from (Note New Hours Updated Above) 12-6 PM Special guest Bruce Kulick will perform several songs live with KISS tribute band MR. SPEED. Bruce will also do a Q&A as well as sign autographs and pose for photos. In addition to their performance with Bruce, MR. SPEED will play a different set than day 1.

Both days will feature a KISS Costume contest and KISS trivia!! KISS merchandise and collectibles will be on sale both days.

Saturday March 6th Ticket options:

1) Regular ticket with admission at 12 PM. Advance orders include free sticker set.

2) Special Laminate with admission at 11 AM. Includes KISS Expo VIP Laminate and free KISS Logo Stars Tshirt (available in L or XL).

Two Day Option:

Special 2 day pass - regular admission at 1PM Saturday and 12 noon Sunday. Advance orders include free sticker set.

[Visit KISSshop.com to purchase tickets]

From KISSFaq.com

KISS surpised the living daylights out of 10-year-old cancer survivor DAVID DINGMAN-GROVER on the Ellen Degeneres Show today.. David was told he would live to see age 10, but he proved doctors wrong, and KISS, his favorite band, were there to make the occasion extra special. Check your TV listings for broadcast times in your area (4pm with Comcast in the Bay Area). The broadcast was filmed at NBC Studios in Burbank, CA on Monday, Feb. 28, 2005. First image: (AP Photo/Chris Polk, Warner Bros.)

KISSFAQ SAYS: In a time when many older KISS fans have become cynical or totally disenchanted with the band it's nice to see the real magic which many once experienced. The pictures of joy, shock, and surprise are worth a thousand words...

From KISSFanClub.de

On 30.April. 2005 there will be the only Live Gig in Germany of the ESP Project with (Bruce Kulick, Eric Singer; John Corabi und Chuck Garrick)! The Show is in Babenhausen (near to Frankfurt) in the "Stadthalle"! Tickets are 27 Euro in advance or 30 Euro at the door!

[Find Out More]

From Senior Editor of the Music Magazine, Blender, Clark Collis

We're running a feature next month about rock band merchandise and we really want to feature the Kiss Kasket. I was hoping you might know someone in the New York area we might be able to borrow/rent one from.

[Contact Us]

From Cameron

When you think of a group like Kiss you think of Blood, fire, massive stage & lighting shows, pyro projecting from guitars, A powerful hard rock group that has influenced more of today’s bands than any other artists, A band that has rocked the globe for more than thirty years now and are still as strong now as they were the day they started. I caught up with lead guitarist Tommy Thayer this week briefly to ask him some questions about his time in eighties hard rock band Black ‘N Blue, working behind the scenes for Kiss, to becoming a full-time member of one of the greatest rock bands of all-time. Tommy also spoke about the possibility of a new Kiss album & the soon to be released “Rocks the Nation” 2 disc DVD set.

Being a Kiss fan for 25 years it was a total pleasure to have the opportunity to speak with Tommy. I hope you all enjoy the interview.

INSIDE_OUT666: I’d like to start by talking a bit about “Black ‘N Blue”, Can you tell us how the band formed?

TOMMY THAYER: B ‘N B formed in Portland, OR in 1981. Myself, Jaime St James and the other guys wanted to form a new heavy metal type band because at the time the New Wave of British Heavy Metal was starting to hit state-side as well as Motley Crue in LA, it was an exciting time.

INSIDE_OUT666: Do you remember anything from the first performance you guys did?

TOMMY THAYER: Jaime was originally the drummer of a band we had previous to B ‘N B. One night at a Portland nightclub he jumped up front and starting fronting the band and the rest is history.

INSIDE_OUT666: After almost ten years apart you guys got back together for one night in your hometown of Portland, OR to record the live album “One night only live” Did you guys ever consider doing a whole tour or did you know that this would only be a one off event?

TOMMY THAYER: We knew it was clearly a one-off.

INSIDE_OUT666: Being a huge kiss fan yourself it must have been surreal to have Gene Simmons produce two of Black ‘N Blue’s albums “Nasty Nasty” & “In Heat”?

TOMMY THAYER: It was great because we were fans.

INSIDE_OUT666: What comes to mind when you look back on those early experiences with Gene?

TOMMY THAYER: He was very diligent and dedicated to doing a great job. He put a lot of time into the production and we appreciated working with someone like that.

INSIDE_OUT666: Can we expect to see a DVD release of old Black ‘N Blue footage anytime soon?

TOMMY THAYER: I don’t think so.

INSIDE_OUT666: When it comes to song writing particularly looking back in the early days with Black ‘N Blue, Do you sit around listening to your influences or do you shy away from them?

TOMMY THAYER: Neither. You just try to write something that sounds great and rocks.

INSIDE_OUT666: You first met Gene & Paul in 1984. What do you recall from the encounter?

TOMMY THAYER: Yes, it was at a KISS show in late 1984 in Long Beach, CA. They came in for a meet/greet prior to the show and were very gracious.

INSIDE_OUT666: As early as the late 80’s you have been working behind the scenes with Kiss. Co-writing on Betrayed & my personal favourite song on “Hot in the shade” “The Street Giveth & The Street Taketh Away”. You have also worked on the Kisstory books, Detroit rock city & The second coming dvd’s just to name a few. Of all the behind the scenes duties you have performed what have you enjoyed doing most?

TOMMY THAYER: I was fortunate to have a job doing something that I really enjoyed doing, so any project I was involved in was gratifying.

INSIDE_OUT666: Working behind the scenes for so long did the thought ever cross your mind that you would one day end up becoming a member of one of the world’s most influential bands?

TOMMY THAYER: Not at all. The ironic thing is that it wasn’t something I was looking for.

INSIDE_OUT666: As a long-time kiss fan myself I couldn’t express the emotions I would have working for them let alone becoming a member of the band. How did you react to the proposal to join Kiss & who was the first person you told?

TOMMY THAYER: Doc McGhee just said to be there and get into makeup, you’re going on!

INSIDE_OUT666: During the rehearsals for the 1996 reunion tour you spent a lot of time with Ace showing him various guitar riffs he played during the seventies. That must have been an awesome experience. Was he an easy guy to work with?

TOMMY THAYER: Yes, we’ve always had an amiable relationship. We had a lot of fun trading licks, it was a pleasure.

INSIDE_OUT666: Every Kiss fan around the world is dying to know if there will be a new studio album recorded anytime soon. Can you tell us if there is any writing in the works suggestions for an album name being thrown around etc?

TOMMY THAYER: Just wait and see!

INSIDE_OUT666: You are currently working on the “Rock the nation” 2 disc DVD set. Can you tell us what to expect & if there has been a release date set yet?

TOMMY THAYER: The shows were shot in Hi-Def and the DVD will include many KISS songs that haven't seen the light of day in years. We had cameras rolling behind-the-scenes every day on tour so that we can show you what goes on beyond the stage door and travelling on the road. There also will be a multi-angle interactive feature called Select-A KISS, so that you can watch any one band member for an entire song or switch around to different cameras as you please.

INSIDE_OUT666: In the past you have worked on various kiss projects like “Kiss symphony”, Vh1’s special “Beyond the make-up” etc. I don’t know one kiss fan who wouldn’t want to see the vintage shows remastered & released on DVD. Can we expect to see more of the older footage released on DVD anytime soon?

TOMMY THAYER: It’s possible, but the KISS Rock The Nation Live! DVD will be slamming video stores doors down by late spring or early summer, it will be something to see!

INSIDE_OUT666: What was the 1st guitar you ever owned?

TOMMY THAYER: A Fender Mustang.

INSIDE_OUT666: Over the last few years hard rock and heavy metal music has changed quiet a bit. What do you think of the direction the music has taken?

TOMMY THAYER: Always good, new is good.

INSIDE_OUT666: Are you currently listening to any of the newer bands if so who?

TOMMY THAYER: Jet, The Used, Adema, Pacifier, The Darkness, Puddle of Mud and Evanescence

INSIDE_OUT666: Tommy thanks so much for taking the time out of your very busy schedule to answer these questions for all our readers. Is there anything else you would like to say?

TOMMY THAYER: Thanks everybody!

[Dedicated to 40 years of Hard rock & Heavy Metal music]

From David Bayless of GraphicsPlus

From PeterCriss.net

Q - So, What have you been up to lately?
Peter - I have been building my studio and working on my CD.

Q - When can the fans expect new music from you?
Peter - I don't know myself but, I am working on it and it will be out.

Q - Do you plan on playing out to support your new CD?
Peter - First things first, let's get the CD done and out there.

Q - Are you still planning on doing "Peter Criss Days"?
Peter - Yes, but I can't you a date as of yet.

Q - What can your fans expect from them (Peter Criss Days)?
Peter - I'm really looking forward to doing them...but, I don't want to let the cat out of the bag just yet... Stay tuned to PeterCriss.net...

Q - How is your book coming along?
Peter - I have put the book on hold for now. To work on the CD but, have no doubt the book will come out.

Q - Who are you working with on your new CD?
Peter - I'm working with Tom Perkens with Nutmeg studios, also Charles Kipps who wrote some music for Aretha Franklin and now works with Bill Cosby and Charles just won an Emmy for his work on "Little Bill" and he also wrote the hit film "Fat Albert". He is co-producing. Also some friends of mine Mark (Tallman) Montague on bass and Mike (Angel) McLaughlin on lead guitar...and some other surprise guests.

Q - What kind of music will it be like?
Peter - It's a love song/ballad album. Autobiographical, meaning songs dedicated to my Mom, down to the fans. All new originals and maybe a couple of cover songs as well.

Q - Finally, what would you like to say to your fans?
Peter - Every time I go on my site, You guys just blow me away. I love all of you to death.
Thank you all for your undying support.
God Bless, Peter Criss