Kiss and Sell

Kiss and Sell PDF

Author: C. K. Lendt

Publisher: Watson-Guptill Publications

Published: 1997

Total Pages: 358

ISBN-13:

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A behind-the-scenes look at the mix of hard rock and business, this insider's tell-all shows how images are built, money is made, and profits are spent.

The Kiss Interviews

The Kiss Interviews PDF

Author: Warren Lapine

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2013-06-28

Total Pages: 94

ISBN-13: 1627931694

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Collected here for the first time are sixteen interviews and articles with and about the hottest band in the world: KISS. Warren Lapine is an experienced interviewer and a long time KISS fan. This book is just what the doctor ordered for the hard core KISS fan. These interviews are insightful and intelligent, Lapine asks Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons the questions that KISS fans want to have answered.

Conversations with Phantoms

Conversations with Phantoms PDF

Author: Ron Albanese

Publisher: Independently Published

Published: 2024-02-26

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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All Wrongs Will Be Righted With This Book!Or maybe, some people will still not like its subject matter! In the late 1970s, the makeup and costumes wearing rock group Kiss conquered American album charts and stormed the nation's arenas, putting on hundreds of their explosive concerts for their fans, the "Kiss Army." True rock 'n' roll superheroes, they also began making inroads in merchandising, such as having their own comic book. The next step was to do some kind of film. Since its first airing in October of 1978, the resulting NBC TV movie Kiss Meets The Phantom of The Park has been overwhelmingly perceived as a hokey misstep in the band's history. While lamenting what it is not, detractors have forgotten what it is: fun, super '70s, and vintage Kiss. Conversations With Phantoms is author and lifelong Kiss fan Ron Albanese's deep dive behind the scenes of Kiss Meets The Phantom of The Park. Thirteen never-before-published interviews plus "Phantom Findings" comprise an informative and entertaining read, not only for the band's followers, but for anyone into 1970s pop culture. About the AuthorRon Albanese first heard of Kiss in 1976, when a fellow first grader sang "I Want You" to him. He would hear them directly for the first time in the summer of 1977, when his mother included the band's Rock and Roll Over album in one of those "choose 10 8-tracks for a penny" deals. He would request she play it whenever they were driving around in her Cadillac. Like so many Kiss fans, his eyes were glued to the TV at 8 p.m. on October 28, 1978, to watch their TV movie Kiss Meets The Phantom of The Park. Turning up the 19-inch Magnavox console as loud as it would go, Ron was mesmerized. At its conclusion, he spontaneously made a giant Kiss logo with his hands in his family's recreation room shag carpet, and went to bed a now-permanent member of the Kiss Army.Years later, after becoming a professional writer, and wanting to create a book related to "the hottest band in the world," Kiss Meets ... immediately came to mind. Ron did research, conducted interviews, and then took an extended break as other things in his life started happening, such as starting a family and a children's entertainment business. Years later, he came across the interview tapes, and decided to put them "out there" --- the result is in your hands!

Face the Music

Face the Music PDF

Author: Paul Stanley

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: 2014-04-08

Total Pages: 360

ISBN-13: 0062114069

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NEW YORK TIMES and INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER In Face the Music, Paul Stanley—the co-founder and famous “Starchild” frontman of KISS—reveals for the first time the incredible highs and equally incredible lows in his life both inside and outside the band. Face the Music is the shocking, funny, smart, inspirational story of one of rock’s most enduring icons and the group he helped create, define, and immortalize. Stanley mixes compelling personal revelations and gripping, gritty war stories that will surprise even the most steadfast member of the KISS Army. He takes us back to his childhood in the 1950s and ’60s, a traumatic time made more painful thanks to a physical deformity. Born with a condition called microtia, he grew up partially deaf, with only one ear. But this instilled in him an inner drive to succeed in the most unlikely of pursuits: music. With never-before-seen photos and images throughout, Stanley’s memoir is a fully realized and unflinching portrait of a rock star, a chronicle of the stories behind the famous anthems, the many brawls and betrayals, and all the drama and pyrotechnics on and off the stage. Raw and confessional, Stanley offers candid insights into his personal relationships, and the turbulent dynamics with his bandmates over the past four decades. And no one comes out unscathed—including Stanley himself. “People say I was brave to write such a revealing book, but I wrote it because I needed to personally reflect on my own life. I know everyone will see themselves somewhere in this book, and where my story might take them is why I’m sharing it.” —Paul Stanley

On Power

On Power PDF

Author: Gene Simmons

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 2017-11-14

Total Pages: 137

ISBN-13: 0062694715

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YOU DESERVE TO HAVE POWER. IT IS YOURS FOR THE TAKING. GENE SIMMONS IS HERE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS TO THE TEMPLE. Gene Simmons, KISS front-man, multi-hyphenate entrepreneur, and master of self-invention, shares his philosophy on power—how to attain it, how to keep it, and how to harness it as a driving force in business and in life. As co-founder of KISS, America's #1 gold record-award-winning group of all time, Simmons knows the thrill and seduction of power firsthand. But gold records alone don’t equal power. The decisions you make once you attain a certain level of success are what separate the pretenders from the pantheon. Inspired by Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince, Simmons offers his unique take on the dynamics of power in every realm of life, from the bedroom to the boardroom, to the world of rock, celebrity, and social media, to politics. With one-of-a-kind anecdotes from his life and career, as well as stories from historical and contemporary masters of power, including Winston Churchill, Napoleon Bonaparte, Warren Buffett, Michael Jordon, Oprah, and Elon Musk, Simmons crafts a persuasive and provocative theory on how the pursuit of power drives civilization and defines our lives. The rules of power are changing in today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected world in a way that Machiavelli never could have imagined, and we all need to learn to adapt. Simmons tells readers: Ignore the negatives. Be unrelenting. Rise above the rest. You are the architect of your success.

Kiss & Tell

Kiss & Tell PDF

Author: Gordon G. G. Gebert

Publisher: Pitbull Publishing

Published: 1997

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780965879408

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The NEW SPECIAL EDITION KISS & Tell MORE STORIES, MORE UNRELEASED PHOTOS, plus much, much more! What's it like to be best friends with a Rock and Roll legend? Bob McAdams and Gordon G.G. Gebert have been asked that question more times than they care to remember, each having the dubious distinction of being members of the KISS inner circle. People never seem to get enough of all their outrageous stories and finally after re-telling these tales about Ace Frehley and KISS for the umpteen thousandth time - Bob and Gordon decided to tell their stories one last time in KISS and Tell! This book exposes the hidden reality of some of Rock and Roll's most excessive characters: * Gene Simmons * Paul Stanley * Ace Frehley * Peter Criss * Bob McAdams became Paul Frehley's closest childhood friend around 1963 and remained friends to adulthood where each served as Best Man at each other's weddings. Gordon G.G. Gebert became Bob's successor as best friend and cohort with Ace in 1985.

And Party Every Day

And Party Every Day PDF

Author: Larry Harris

Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation

Published: 2009-09-01

Total Pages: 225

ISBN-13: 1617133833

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(Book). Now it can be told! The true, behind-the-scenes story of Casablanca Records, from an eyewitness to the excess and insanity. Casablanca was not a product of the 1970s, it was the 1970s. From 1974 to 1980, the landscape of American culture was a banquet of hedonism and self-indulgence, and no person or company in that era was more emblematic of the times than Casablanca Records and its magnetic founder, Neil Bogart. From his daring first signing of KISS, through the discovery and superstardom of Donna Summer, the Village People, and funk master George Clinton and his circus of freaks, Parliament Funkadelic, to the descent into the manic world of disco, this book charts Bogart's meteoric success and eventual collapse under the weight of uncontrolled ego and hype. It is a compelling tale of ambition, greed, excess, and some of the era's biggest music acts.

Kiss and Make-Up

Kiss and Make-Up PDF

Author: Gene Simmons

Publisher: Crown Archetype

Published: 2001-12-11

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 1400045231

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You wanted the truth, you got the truth—the hottest book in the world! Fueled by an explosive mix of makeup, costumes, and attitude, KISS burst onto the music scene thirty years ago and has become a rock institution. The band has sold more than eighty million records, has broken every concert attendance record set by Elvis Presley and the Beatles, stands behind the Beatles alone in number of gold records from any group in history, and has spawned more than 2,500 licenses. There would have been no KISS without Gene Simmons, the outrageous star whose superlong tongue, legendary sexual exploits, and demonic makeup have made him a rock icon. KISS and Make-Up is the wild, shocking, unbelievable story, from the man himself, about how an immigrant boy from Israel studied to be a rabbi, was saved by rock and roll, and became one of the most notorious rock stars the world has ever seen. Before Gene Simmons there was Chaim Witz, a boy from Haifa, Israel, who had no inkling of the life that lay ahead of him. In vivid detail Gene recounts his childhood growing up in Haifa under the watchful eye of his beloved, strong-willed mother, a concentration camp survivor; his adolescent years attending a Jewish theological center for rabbinical studies in Brooklyn; his love of all things American, including comic books, superheroes, and cowboys; and his early fascination with girls and sex, which prompted him to start a rock band in school after he saw the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show. KISS and Make-Up is not just the classic story of achieving the American dream through the eyes of an immigrant boy making good, but a juicy, rollicking rock and roll read that takes you along for the ride of your life with KISS, from the 1970s, when they were the biggest band in the world, through the ’80s, when they took off their world-famous war paint, and into the ’90s, when they came back bigger and badder than ever to become the number one touring band in the world. In his own irreverent, unapologetic voice, Gene talks about the girls (4,600 of them and counting); his tight bond with KISS cofounder Paul Stanley; the struggles he and Paul had with Ace Frehley and Peter Criss and their departures from the group; the new band members and Eric Carr’s untimely death; the enormous love and affection he has for the people who put him there in the first place—the KISS Army and the ever-loyal KISS fans around the world; his love life, including stories about his relationships with Cher and Diana Ross and with Shannon Tweed, Playmate of the Year, mother of his son and daughter, and his companion of eighteen years; and much more. Full of dozens of photographs, many never-before-seen pictures from Gene’s private collection, KISS and Make-Up is a surprising, intimate look at the man behind the mask. For the first time Gene reveals all the facets of his complex personality—son, rock star, actor, record producer, businessman, ladies’ man, devoted father, and now author.

Backstage Pass

Backstage Pass PDF

Author: Paul Stanley

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 2019-04-30

Total Pages: 182

ISBN-13: 006282029X

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NATIONAL BESTSELLER The New York Times bestselling author and front man and rhythm guitarist of KISS grants fans an all-access backstage pass to his personal life and shows them how to pursue a rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle of their own, offering hard-won advice from a music legend. In this follow-up to his popular bestseller Face the Music, the Starchild takes us behind the scenes, revealing what he’s learned from a lifetime as the driving force of KISS, and how he brings his unique sensibility not only to his music career but to every area of his life—from business to parenting to health and happiness. Backstage Pass takes you beyond the makeup as Paul shares fascinating details about his life—his fitness routine, philosophy, business principles, how he maintains his inspiration, passion, and joy after nearly 50 years of mega success including selling out tours, 100 million albums sold and an art career that has amassed over 10 million dollars in sales. Divulging more true stories of the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s relationships, hardships, and pivotal moments, it also contains intimate four-color, never-before-seen photos from Paul’s personal collection, and offers surprising lessons on the discipline and hard work that have made him one of the healthiest and most successful rock ‘n’ roll icons in history. This is the book for fans who love living large, but also want to take control and move ahead in everyday life. Paul shows you how you can rock ‘n’ roll all night and party every day—without missing a beat.

Nothin' to Lose

Nothin' to Lose PDF

Author: Ken Sharp

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: 2013-09-10

Total Pages: 709

ISBN-13: 0062131745

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“Nothin’ to Lose brought back great memories of our days touring with KISS in the ‘70s. The book is an incredible ride through KISS’s early days and a must read for any KISS fan!” — Don Powell, Slade “Like taking a time machine back to the ‘70s, Nothin’ to Lose is a wild and no holds barred look at the rise of KISS.” — Eric Carmen, Raspberries “In Nothin’ to Lose you witness first-hand the extraordinary transformation of four struggling musicians from New York City overcoming almost insurmountable odds to become worldwide superstars. This is the definitive account of KISS’s early years.” — Kevin Cann, author of David Bowie: Any Day Now “The KISS boys will go down in history for their indefatigable work ethic, spirit, and insatiable appetite for all things honest-to-God outrageous rock ‘n’ roll. KISS is the real deal and this book is the real story of the American rock ‘n’ roll dream.” — Ted Nugent “Nothin’ to Lose is an electrifying look at a band that changed the course of rock and roll history by sticking to their guns and blazing their own trail of heavy metal thunder. I couldn’t put it down. Two thumbs up!” — Joe Perry, Aerosmith “Rises above the standard cookie-cutter anecdotes... [for] a unique look at the origins of one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Anyone who wants to know what it was like to make it in rock ‘n’ roll in the seventies will need to pick this up.” — Dale Sherman, author of Black Diamond: The Unauthorized Biography of KISS “Told with complete accuracy and attention to detail... Mandatory reading for every new artist. This is a masterpiece!” — Kenny Kerner, Co-producer of KISS and Hotter Than Hell “A joyous and mesmerizing exploration of the early history of the ‘Hottest Band in the World’... This book is addictive. You won’t be able to put it down!” — Julian Gill, author of the Kiss Album Focus series “From KISS’s earliest days playing crummy bars in front of 50 people to headlining arenas, Nothin’ to Lose is a gripping look at the underbelly of rock ‘n’ roll. And as one of the members of KISS’s original road crew, I should know, I was there.” — Peter "Moose" Oreckinto, KISS roadie (1973-1976) “The ultimate KISS book. . . Nothin’ to Lose gives the insider’s perspective any KISS fan must have — Charles R. Cross, author of Heavier than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain “Even casual fans will be enthralled.” — Robert Rodriguez, author of Revolver: How The Beatles Reimagined Rock 'N' Roll “Revel in the roar of the greasepaint and the smell of the crowd as they share it all, blow-by-blow, first hand.” — Paul Myers, author of A Wizard A True Star: Todd Rundgren In The Studio “A fascinating read about one of rock’s most outrageous bands.” — Simon Kirke, Bad Company/Free “I found the story of KISS’s fanatical determination, shockingly rare matter-of-fact common sense, raw luck, exquisite timing-not to mention the sheer brinksmanship of the whole lunatic enterprise-exhilarating and inspiring.” — Binky Philips, My Life in the Ghost of Planets: The Story of a CBGB Almost-Was “A vivid oral history of the early days of one of rock’s most outrageous and enduring bands, Nothin’ to Lose makes every reader an eyewitness to the dawn of Kiss. Here’s a book that screams out: C’mon and read me.” — David Browne, author of Goodbye 20th Century: A Biography of Sonic Youth “An incredibly vivid and gripping oral history that illustrates how Kiss went through a slow and steady transformation from a loft party band to the hottest concert attraction capable of blowing anybody and everybody off the stage.” — Daniel Siwek, House of Blues “If you thought you knew everything there was to know about KISS . . . well, you’d be wrong. . . Buy this book or just KISS off!” — Alice Cooper “A fascinating chronicle of the construction of a multimedia phenomenon.” — Publishers Weekly A rollicking oral history. — Kirkus Reviews Does the world really need another KISS book? Perhaps not, but the world really needs Sharp’s . . . KISS book. . . Full of extraordinary primary-source material that will keep KISS fans up at night, Sharp’s excellent work should serve as a blueprint for future rock oral histories.” — Library Journal (starred review)