Latest UK News

Kiss frontman Gene Simmons surprises daughter Sophie by joining her onstage at an open mic session at Blacks Pub in Whistler, Canada! The legendary bassist stunned the crowd when he hopped up onto the stage to accompany his 18-year-old daughter after she had entertained them with a couple of songs.

After the event, a stunned Sophie Tweeted, "Open Mic w/surprise apperance (sic) from my Dad! Best gift ever! We rocked it." Proud mom Shannon Tweed was spotted taking photos in the audience. The Simmons own a property in the Whistler ski resort and are visiting for the holidays.

Full story & photo here

Wishes 4 Kids is a charity based in Leicestershire, England which was created to grant a wishes terminally ill or disadvantaged children. Tonight in Hinckley a very special concert took place in conjunction with The Junior Academy Of Music to raise awareness of the charity and to help raise some money. As part of the concert a very cool KISS tribute took the stage and sang their own rendition of Crazy Crazy Nights.

One of the members of the band was a very special 10 year old called Luke. Luke suffers from cerebral palsy and yet with help from the Academy has learnt to hold a drumstick and keep a beat. As can be seen from the photos Luke had a blast playing Crazy Crazy Nights, even though he made it clear this isn't his favourite song (which happens to be Modern Day Delilah!). He comes from a family of KISS fans with both himself and his brother Matthew being "introduced" to them by their Dad (sounds familiar!).

This is where KISS come into it, with help from KISS Online, Eric Singer was informed about Luke and provided him with several signed photos and some signed drum sticks. I am always amazed at how KISS treat their fans and this was no exception. The presentation took place after the song and Luke was a very very happy 10 year old, I asked him if he knew who Eric was and straight away he answered "er yeah, he's the KISS drummer". Luke was then presented with a special custom air-brushed shirt from Nick Smith, his eyes again lit up when he saw the shirt, somehow I think he'll be very attached to his early KISSmas presents!

Huge thanks to Keith Leroux, Eric Singer & Nick Smith for helping make this little boys night. And of course to Rachel and Dave from the Junior Academy, Russell from Wishes 4 Kids, all the kids & teenagers who took part in the KISS tribute and especially to Luke, it was a pleasure to meet you.

The band performing Crazy Crazy Nights

Watch out Eric, Luke is here!

Top row: Rachel, Paul Finn, Dave
Bottom row: Russell, Luke, Matthew

Huge thank you to Eric Singer for sending the parcel I've just received containing some very nice signed items. Can't go into too much detail yet but look out for a full report of a special charity event that is happening on Sunday. Sadly I can't keep any of the items in the parcel...

Greg Prato, the author of such books as "Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History Of Seattle Rock Music", "Touched By Magic: The Tommy Bolin Story" and "A Devil On One Shoulder And An Angel On The Other: The Story Of Shannon Hoon And Blind Melon", has a new title that is now available for purchase.

"The Eric Carr Story" is the first-ever book to tell the life story of KISS drummer Eric Carr. Comprised of all-new interviews, the book also doubles as a study of 1980s-era KISS. You'll find insight into all of KISS' albums that featured Carr (from producers Bob Ezrin, Michael James Jackson, and Ron Nevison), as well as those closest to him (sister Loretta Caravello, girlfriend Carrie Stevens, KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick), and music-related friends (Eddie Trunk, DREAM THEATER's Mike Portnoy, ANTHRAX's Charlie Benante). Also included is one of the last-ever interviews conducted with KISS' original manager, Bill Aucoin, and for the first time ever, KISS fans will be able to learn what the real story line to KISS' controversial release "(Music From) The Elder" was all about (thanks to an explanation from Ezrin).

With the 20-year anniversary of Eric Carr's passing (November 24, 1991) approaching in 2011, what better way to celebrate the subjects than with all-new book? The book is set up in an "oral history" format (in other words, you're getting the story straight from the source) and is chock-full of rarely seen (or, in many cases, never-before-seen) photographs.

The Eric Carr book is 256 pages long and priced at $19.99 (ISBN # 978-0-578-07424-5).

For ordering information and to view samples from the book before purchasing, go to this location.

KISS legend Gene Simmons has told The X Factor judges he’s more skilled than any of them. The rocker said Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh know zilch about music. 

Gene declared: “I think I could be the sole judge on The X Factor, I’m more qualified than anybody on the show. Nobody on the show has written songs, then been on stage, or had record companies and managed Liza Min­nelli. Nobody can shine my shoes. Maybe Simon should talk to me, although he is the only one on television that tells the truth.
Everybody is nice, but that’s not how life is. Life is: ‘You suck, get off the stage.’ Realistic is good. Part of the reason we like watching these shows is because there are people up there and you’re like: ‘Are you on crack? Do you actually believe that you belong on stage?’”

Gene, 61, gave his only British interview to my reporter Halina Watts at Canada’s M For Montreal festival.

He added: “The biggest superstars of all time would have never made it on The X Factor. Imagine if Jimi Hendrix or Mick Jagger or Robert Plant came out. I wouldn’t make it, and neither would they. We’re peculiar and that’s what makes stars interesting, not the fact that you can sing well. Broadway and pop is the place where people really sing correctly.”

Full Daily Star article here

Today marks 19 years since the passing of Eric Carr, without doubt one of the nicest guys ever to be a member of KISS. Eric has been and always will be missed by all KISS fans worldwide, our thoughts are all with his family.

Next year for the 20th anniversary we will be looking to update ericcarr.co.uk which was originally set up for the 10th anniversary, we are looking for any suggestions you may have as to what we can do with that site.

Asda have some new kids t-shirts in stock available in store or online, perfect time to get your kids sorted out for KISSmas. Thanks to Andy Blake for pointing it out.

Click here to order one!

On this day in KISStory, November 21, 1975, the KISS Army was born in Terre Haute, Indiana! Thirty-five years and millions of fans later, KISS Army members can be found around the world!

Terre Haute native Bill Starkey and his friend Jay Evans founded the internationally known KISS Army in 1975 after a local radio station, WVTS refused to play KISS music.
News 10 caught up with Starkey at his home in Speedway, Indiana to talk about the legendary fan group and why November 21, 1975 is a date he'll never forget.

Click here to watch WTHI's KISS Army Special Report

A facebook group has been set up to try and get God Gave to the number 1 spot this xmas. It's been set up by a group calling themselves 'KISS Army UK' and you can join up by clicking here.

And so it goes. Come the 4th December, I will extrapolate myself from my Peter Criss wig one last time, scrape the white, black, green, silver & red from my fizzog and prepare to hand over the DRESSED TO KILL drumstool to another poor undeserving sap.

Do I want to leave DTK? No, absolutely NOT! Since I joined in 2005, I have played my favourite songs from my favourite band to some of my favourite people – the UK KISS Army…and beyond! However, sometimes in life you have to stop doing things you love no matter how much you want to continue.

To be fair, I’ve done rather well to have lasted half a decade delicately balancing both a career and a band that demand your presence on a Saturday. If the band just played Fridays, then I’d still be clinging onto that drum stool for dear life, but the Fri/Sat gig routine is what the band needs to do in order to keep costs from getting way out of hand, and my work needs me more and more on Saturdays, so the decision has been made for me in effect.

The last 5 years have given me the best times I have ever spent in any band, whether it’s a covers/tribute act or originals. I’ve played as far afield as Spain, Norway & the Orkneys, and drummed my way through countless KISS Klassics – the band is THAT talented that adding obscurities to the set list has never ever been a problem…like adding ‘I’ve Had Enough’ to the set at the Diamond recently after one stellar run through at sound-check.

And that’s just some of the good stuff. The people I’ve met through being in DTK have been some of the friendliest and loyal folk I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing – not just the band members, of course, but also the crew members we have along for the ride, and the audiences that always always come to see us and have such a great time.