Funko have announced that they will be releasing new Pop! Rocks vinyl figures of KISS. There is no release date yet, but the company said they are “coming soon.” KISS previously got their own Pop! Rocks figures in 2011, but those have been discontinued.
KISS appeared on yesterday’s (February 4) episode of “The Price Is Right” and presented a special prize package related to their farewell tour. You can see footage of that below:
The recent KISS drama seems to have taken an odd turn. As previously reported, Ace Frehley blasted Gene Simmons and accused him of groping his wife after Simmons said the band would never be able to depend on Frehley and Peter Criss to play a full set on their farewell tour. Now, Frehley’s significant other, Rachael Gordon is claiming that KISS actually “tried to have Ace killed in the 70’s.” She said the following in the comment section on Facebook:
“Let me tell you. They tried to have Ace killed in the 70’s. Tried sending him to a so called ‘private party’ in the Bahamas. Ace is VERY sober now and knows what’s happening. He sees things clearly now. He doesn’t need a chain of low brow restaurants; he plays the guitar. That’s what he does. FUCK THEM.”
It’s worth noting that even though Frehley refers to Gordon as his “wife,” the guitarist is still legally married to his first wife Jeanette Trerotola.
[via Loudwire]
During a recent interview with Guitar World, Gene Simmons said Ace Frehley and Peter Criss would be welcomed to play a song or two with KISS during their farewell tour, but added that the band could never depend on them to do a full set. Frehley has since responded to these comments saying Simmons is an “asshole and a sex addict,” who groped his wife.
Here’s what Simmons told Guitar World:
“Ace and Peter have gotten three chances. They were in and out of the band—fired—three times. For drugs, alcohol, bad behavior, being unprofessional … they weren’t carrying their load. … So the short answer to your question is we’d love to have Ace and Peter join us here and there. And if they don’t, it’s not going to be because of us. But they’re never going to be in KISS again.”
“Three times is the charm; ‘I promise I’ll pull out’ doesn’t work. It’s the boy who cried wolf: ‘Oh, I’ve been straight for a million years.’ Terrific! Have a good life! … Would we welcome Ace or Peter to jump up onstage for a song or two? Of course. Could we depend on either Ace or Peter to do a full set night after night? Not on your fucking life.”
Here’s Frehley’s response:
“My Reaction to Gene’s Post Today
…Gene, your memory is really incorrect!…I was NEVER FIRED from KISS, I quit twice (not 3-times) of my own free will, because you and Paul are control freaks, untrustworthy and were too difficult to work with!
…Your slanderous remarks about my bad habits over the years has cost me millions of dollars and now that I’m over 12-years sober you’re still saying I can’t be trusted to play a whole nights show! Well that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for the last 12-years with different configurations of “The Ace Frehley Band” to you and Paul’s dismay!
…I’m also the most successful solo artist to come out of the original KISS lineup , and proud of it!…You and Paul have tried to derail my solo career multiple times over the years unsuccessfully.
…I’ve tried to be nice and friendly by inviting you and Paul to perform on my past albums for eOne Music, give each of you guys one of my prized Gibson Les Paul 59’ models, but today’s comments have made me realize you’re just an asshole and a sex addict who’s being sued by multiple Women, and you’re just trying to sweep it all under the carpet!
…The icing on the cake was when you groped my wife and propositioned her in Los Angeles at the Capitol Records building behind my back, when I was trying to help you out at one of your “Vault Experiences” which I only found out about several weeks later…she was planning on pursuing a suit against you, but I told her to call it off!!!
…Well now the gloves are off after your terrible comments today and I’m thinking that this really may be “The End Of The Road Tour” for you guys!!!
….Without a complete and heartfelt apology, an offer to give me my old job back, and removing Tommy from the Throne that I created… THE SHIT WILL HIT THE FAN AND THEY’LL BE NO STOPPING IT-IT’S ON!!!”
[via Guitar World]
Dynamite Entertainment have announced that they will be releasing a new comic book series called “KISS: The End.” The series will tie into KISS’ “End Of The Road” tour and a description for it can be found below:
“A young man finds himself possibly dead and wrangling with some of life’s most eternal questions. It’s a good thing he runs into Death, who sets him on a path to track down their own demon offspring. His prophetic guides in this quest are none other than the otherworldly KISS — The Starchild, The Demon, The Spaceman and The Catman. Their help will be needed, with plenty of peril along the way.”
Writer Amy Chu (“Red Sonja”, “Poison Ivy”) is working on the series with artist Edu Menna (“Twilight Zone”, “ZNation”) and letterer Troy Peteri (“Amazing Spider-Man”, “Witchblade”). There will also be multiple covers done by Stuart Sayger (“Vampirella vs. Reanimator”), Jorge Fornés (“Batman”, “Magnus”), and Denis Medri (“Red Hood/Arsenal”). A fourth cover with KISS photos from the group’s library will be available as well.
Chu said the following:
“I’m totally stoked to be back on KISS, especially for the final tour. And to be working with Edu Menna who drew my friend Craig Engler’s ‘ZNation’, it’s pretty awesome. I’ll be incorporating parts of the actual tour and KISS history into the storyline, and expect lots of Easter eggs, just like in the previous ‘Elder’ run!”
Menna added:
“I’ve listened to KISS since my teenage years and their ‘Unplugged’ album is a favorite. I’ve followed Amy’s work and have had ‘envy’ of artists who partnered with her…finally my turn arrived! I always try to bring something new for each project. In this work I want to use my style combined with the elegance of the European masters. I hope fans enjoy what we’re putting together.”
Editor Kevin Ketner also commented:
“A lot of books have rock and a lot of books have roll, but none of them are going to combine the two like we are with this one. This is the first comic that is going to make your ears ring. So go hydrate, do some stretches, and get your LCS to pre-order your copy.”
“Kiss: The End” #1 will be solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors’ February 2019 Previews catalog and it’s expected to be released in April 2019.
[via Blabbermouth]
KISS will be playing their first club show in over 20 years at the Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles, CA on February 11. The concert is an invitation-only event for SiriusXM subscribers and it will air on “KISS Army Radio” on February 12 at 5 p.m. ET. It will then broadcast on Howard Stern’s “Howard 101” on February 15 at 9 p.m. ET. The concert will also launch SiriusXM’s new “The Party Continues” concert series, which features bands performing in intimate venues after the Grammy Awards. SiriusXM subscribers that receive an e-mail invitation will be able to attend. They can also enter for a chance to win tickets HERE. This news comes as KISS are preparing to head out on their final tour.
KISS will be releasing their “Kissworld – The Best Of Kiss” collection in North America on January 25. It will be available on CD and digitally. Vinyl editions will be released on March 29.
“Kissworld – The Best Of Kiss” Track Listing:
01. “Crazy Crazy Nights”
02. “Rock And Roll All Nite”
03. “I Was Made For Lovin’ You”
04. “God Gave Rock ‘N’ Roll To You II”
05. “Detroit Rock City”
06. “Beth”
07. “Lick It Up”
08. “Heaven’s On Fire”
09. “Tears Are Falling”
10. “Unholy”
11. “Hard Luck Woman”
12. “Psycho Circus”
13. “Shout It Out Loud”
14. “Calling Dr. Love”
15. “Christine Sixteen”
16. “Love Gun”
17. “Shandi”
18. “I’m A Legend Tonight”
19. “Modern Day Delilah”
20. “Hell Or Hallelujah”
