January 29, 2002
KISS IN DER PRESSE
In Classic Rock (issue 1/2001, England) you will find a 3-page review about the Kiss Box Set. In Previews (issue 1/2002, USA) there is a full page advert for the upcoming McFarlane Kiss Busts.

January 28, 2002
KISS IN THE PRESS
(from Gerhard Wimmer/ www.kissfanshop.de)
German "Oldie-Markt" magazine (which is comparable to "Record Collector" or "Goldmine" magazine) had a 10-part Kiss Discography last year. For more infos check out the German part of the News at www.kissnews.de or simply click on the German flag on top of the page.

January 21, 2002
KISS IN THE PRESS
Kiss are on the cover of the February-issue of "Spin" magazine  (they have been voted under the best 50 bands of all time) and of the January-issue of the French "Hard Rock" magazine (interview). There is also a 1 page article on Kiss in the current German Metal Heart magazine (Februar 2002 issue).

January 17, 2002
BOX SET REVIEWS
Although the KISS Box Set has not been released officially in Germany, the two most importent Rock magazines, Metal Hammer and Rock Hard had major reviews in their latest Februar 2002 issues; almost a full page in the news in Rock Hard and half a page "Special Tip of the month" in Metal Hammer magazine...

January 17, 2002
MAILING LIST
You may notice, that there is no mailing list anymore on this site. It is great to see so many people are interested in Kiss News, but there are just way too many people joining our mailing list making it technically impossible to send out e-mails to all those thousends of people.

January 17, 2002
BRUCE KULICK DOWNUNDER
(from Nicola Ciccarone)
BRUCE KULICK LIVE IN CONCERT & KISS PARTY:
EX-KISS LEAD GUITARIST, BRUCE KULICK RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA FOR TWO CONCERTS IN FEBRUARY 2002.
MELBOURNE - The Corner Hotel, Friday 1 February, 2002
SYDNEY - Bar Broadway, Sunday 3 February, 2002

SOME OF THE MAIN KISS PARTY HAPPENINGS OF THE DAY ARE:
* ALL-DAY KISS VIDEOS
Shown on big screen with unreleased TV and Live footage
* PRIZES WILL BE GIVEN AWAY THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT WITH SOME KISS COMPETITIONS:
- THE KISS QUIZ SHOW !
...test your KISS knowledge with multimedia TRIVIA
and test your vocal chords with the KISS KARAOKE
- BEST MAKE-UP COMPETITION
- BEST KISS TATTOOS COMPETITION
PRIZES include various KISS merchandise from the KISS ARMY INTERNATIONAL shop
* THE KISS PARTY AUCTION
If you have an interesting item that you want to auction,
please get in touch with Nicola Ciccarone and ask him for details
(03-9383-2555 - nico@nicostrike.com)
* KISS & BRUCE KULICK MERCHANDISE
There will be lots of stands overloaded with KISS memorabilia from Europe and America, and there will be also lots of BRUCE KULICK merchandise
* at the end of the concert BRUCE KULICK will be SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS at his merchandise table
* BUT THE MAIN EVENT OF THE NIGHT WILL SURELY BE  THE BRUCE KULICK'S CONCERT!!!
With the release of his first solo album, Audiodog, Bruce Kulick is
returning to Australia for two concerts. Bruce will be performing with a
full band and will play songs from his solo album as well as celebrating his 12 years with KISS. Bruce is looking forward to meeting the fans and after each show, he will be signing autographs and selling copies of his solo album, Audiodog.

Melbourne - Friday 1 February, 2002
The Corner Hotel
57 Swan Street, Richmond, VIC 3121
Ph. 03-9427-7300 - Ticket bookings: 03-9427-9198
www.cornerhotel.com

Sydney - Sunday 3 February, 2002
Bar Broadway
Cnr Regent Street and Broadway, Sydney, NSW 2000
Ph. 02 9211 2321
www.barbroadway.com.au

Tickets on sale: Ticketmaster7 phone charge 136100 or at
www.ticketmaster7.com
ticket cost $30.00 + booking fee
Tickets will be on sale from the venues in advance.
THE EVENTS WILL START AT 6:30 PM UNTIL LATE
For more information, please write to:
Nicola Ciccarone - 2/49 Rose Street - Coburg, VIC 3058 - tel & fax
9383-2555 - nico@nicostrike.com

January 15, 2002
DELUXE EDITION FINALLY AVAILABLE
The Kiss Box Set Deluxe Edition has finally arrived in the Fan Shop and will be shipped this week. It has been imported from the US, it is STILL not available in the Stores in Europe!?

January 13, 2002
BATTLE OF THE SONGS
In the coming months we are going to find out what the most poular KISS song is. The opinion poll goes on with the classic 1976 album "Destroyer".  What is your favorite song from the Destroyer? Everybody is able to vote only once, othewise you will be punished by Britney Spears...
 

DESTROYER

Click here to Vote for your favorite song of other albums!

January 12, 2002
NEW ARRIVALS IN THE FAN SHOP
New arrivals in the Fan Shop include the DVD's Animalize Live & Konfidential/X-treme close-up.
 
January 11, 2002
NEW FAN PAGE
Thierry Selva has joined our Fan Pages. Click here to check out his contribution.

January 10, 2002
KISS NEWS
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley presented an Award to Lenny Cravitz at yesterdays "American Music Awards". Gene is a common Guest on several talk shows also without make-up on US-TV. He is now selling clothes with his trademark money bag logo. In the meantime the Box Set went gold in the US while it has never been released in Germany. At the moment it seems, that Kiss won't go back on the road until the fall 2002...

January 9, 2002
INTERVIEW WITH STACEY WALKER
(from Jacques van Gool)

As she leans over a little bit, her smile disappears for a split second and her voice becomes serious; "this year is going to be my year, it’ll be full speed ahead". There you have it, Stacy Walker is full of determination, anticipation and motivation. But then again, I’m no longer talking the girl who once worked for the KISS management organization. No, I’m facing a nationally recognized model and action figure, which is slowly but surely making head waves.

J: You’re not only making head waves, you also make heads turn…..

S: Ha, well yeah, that’s part of me. I’m a model too you know, and skintight suits are my casual attire, what can I say?

J: Good point, as I’m trying to figure out what you are most, the girl who once worked for KISS, a sex symbol or a sci-fi action character.

S: All three, but I prefer to see myself as an action figure. I have this passion for action heroes, comics, sci-fi, KISS and modeling and if you combine all of that, you’ll get me, a classic female action figure, trapped in a Raquel Welch body.

J: Tell me a bit about yourself.

S: Born and raised in NY, lived there for a while and when I was old enough to spread my wings, I moved to Florida. Came back to NY in the mid 80’s and got one of my first jobs working for Glickmann/ Marks which back then managed KISS.

J: Where you a KISS fan at that time?

S: A big one! I’ll never forget seeing them for the first time by a fluke. Some friends and I went to see Ted Nugent. I can’t remember who was supposed to open but whoever it was, they got cancelled. KISS filled the open slot and they blew me –and everyone else in the crowd- away.

J: So how did you get to work for Glickmann/ Marks?

S: I was at a party and was introduced to Howard Marks. He talked about KISS and the Glickmann/ Marks Company. I stayed in touch with him and would go to the office once in a while. One time I walked in and overheard the receptionist mentioning that she was leaving in 2 weeks. I basically suggested Howard that he’d hire me for her position, which he did on the spot.

J: How long was your span at Glickmann/ Marks?

S: Actually not very long, Just over one year, between the end of ’85 and early ‘87. I came in at the end of the Asylum tour, worked through Crazy Nights and left before Glickmann/ Marks was fired by KISS as their management company. The relationship with KISS deteriorated fast and people were bailing out left and right. The atmosphere was pretty bad and Howard changed into this weird person.

J: Weird?

S: Well, he’d start to isolate himself, become suspicious, even schizophrenic. He wanted for instance certain desks to be either all white or all black. Mine was white and if he would see a black stapler, he’d freak out. Music was not allowed and he also started to collect sculptures of shrunken female heads in his office, really bizarre. I could actually see my head one day hanging on his wall, hahaha. He also started to come on to me and put me in a few very uncomfortable situations. With everything else going down, I felt I had to get out of there.

J: Sorry to hear that. Where you at least able to take some good KISS memories with you?

S: Definitely. I remember eating most of my lunches in our boardroom, which has this awesome LOVE GUN mural painting. I also got to open all the mail for KISS and to handle their shipping. I occasionally spoke to each of them by phone and periodically they would come in to the office, which were the best moments for me.

J: Any good stories there?
S: Well, let’s see. I remember opening a big box with all of Gene’s wigs one day, which was pretty surreal. I also remember the first time Paul walked in the office. He stopped at my desk, introduced himself politely and encouraged me to come out to see their shows. I was so psyched that I finally met one of my heroes that I wrote a long letter to him, but then decided against sending it to him. My best friend at the time however took it, mailed it out –unbeknownst to me- and later on, at a Long Island show (The Coliseum), Paul came up to me and mentioned "the letter"……….man, I felt I so stupid about it.

J: Did you see many of there shows?
S: As much as I could, yes. I’ve been to most of the ‘area’ shows in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. Paul did come on to me once backstage. I took some friends with me to see KISS play at the Palladium and when we walked backstage, Paul stood there with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waste. While it’s hard to deny his body, I felt actually somewhat embarrassed by the whole situation.

J: Have you stayed in touch with anyone?

S: Not really, or at least not on a daily basis. The one person who calls me from time to time is Gene, if and when he needs me that is. In the past half year there have been a number of public appearances where he asked me to ‘flank’ his side (new York, Chicago). He likes me in a rubber dress and stiletto heels, it makes him look cool and important.

J: It didn’t appear to me that you did mind it too much yourself, a few weeks back in New York!
S: Well, yes and no. It’s good publicity and a way to promote myself. Also, I always enjoy seeing Gene. But then again, I also want to more than a chick in a rubber dress.

J: Let’s talk a little bit about that. The KISS chapter has long gone, let’s look at today and tomorrow.

S: For that I would need to quote from the very first time I met Gene out our office. He asked me who I was and what I was doing. The conversation led to my passion for comics and the dream of being an action figure. Gene’s simple reply was; "Do it! I do it, and I’m a grown man!" That’s actually what gave me the push to pursue my dreams and to build my career, independent and the way I wanted it. I started to get my first ‘claim to fame’ through the cover features (6) on HEAVY METAL, probably the most recognized sci-fi comic magazine. I’ve done a tremendous amount of self-promotion since and have become somewhat of an icon for HEAVY metal, but also within other comic circles.

J: You were also one of the 5 fans featured in the VH-1 KISS special last year.

S: And that was great, although they cut out the fact that I have my own website and all. But still, it was an extra support and increased my loyal fan base.

J: So, now we’re in 2002, what can we expect?

S: A lot, this has got to be and will be MY year. There will be increased features in HEAVY METAL, there’s a good change on an article in STUFF magazine, I am looking at publishing deals, video games, animation, you name it. I am talking to Sci-Fi channel, talking with marvel about a remake of the BLACK WIDOW comic, I am working to get my own products out and love to do some more KISS and comic conventions this year. Whatever it is and will be, I am more determined than ever that the day has come that more people will know and remember who Stacy Walker is.

J: With that said, let me thank you on behalf of our readers for your kindness to do this interview and allow me to wish you nothing but the best of luck, success and well deserved stardom. Everyone should visit Stacy on her website: www.stacywalker.com or write her at: Stacy E. Walker Fan Club, 1360 Clifton Avenue, Suite 329, Clifton, NJ 07012, USA.

January 6, 2002
"WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE" ON DVD IN GREECE
The movie "Wanted Dead or Alive" (starring Gene Simmons, USA 1986) has been released on VHS and DVD video in Greece recently.

January 4, 2002
KISS IN THE PRESS
(from Jacques van Gool)
Gene Simmons is on the cover of Music Biz (USA January/February 2002)

January 3, 2002
NEW KISS CARS
There have been 4 new KISS cars released recently in the USA:
Sterling Marlin Coors Light KISS 1:24 Scale Elite Car (27.108 produced)
Sterling Marlin Coors Light KISS 1:24 Club Car Bank (504 produced)
Sterling Marlin Coors Light KISS 1:64 Scale Die-cast (24.672 produced)
Tony Pedregon Castrol Syntec/Kiss 2001 Ford Mustang Funny car
Good luck in finding one of the 504 produced Club Car Bank editions...

January 3, 2002
KISS NEWS
(from Jacques van Gool)
Here's some stuff for your website;

1) Static X in KISS make-up (Static X is one of the most popular Nu-Metal bands in the US at the moment)....see scan!

2) Some scans of Gene at the Nude Contest in Ponderosa, Il (September, 2001)

3) McFarlane is working at an Eric Carr doll which was supposed to be
released in January. However -and according to Loretta Caravello- the
release has been pushed back, with no set release date as of yet.

4) McFarlane Toys is also working at a set of 4 "Jack-In-The-Box" toys. Each box will have one of the 4 original bandmembers 'pop-up' while playing a KISS tune.

5) Ace has bought 7 acres in Connecticut and is building a new home with (yet another) recording studio...sounds pretty familiar huh?? Anyway, Ace told me this last weekend in NY at Lydia Criss' house.

6) Speaking of Lydia Criss, for 5 years now she has been working with Robin from Studio Chikara in NY to release a 'photo album' in the style of Chip Rock and Barry Levine. However, continued "style" and business disagreements have so far caused the release to be postponed indefinitely.

And for those who started reading Gene's book....it's getting fairly poor
reviews in the US. Reason; it's very "flat", doesn't really grab the
readers' attention and hold it to the end. For my part -having read about
half of it- I fully agree: it's very "jumpy", meaning that he touches upon a
million and one issues but never really going into an acceptable amount of depth or detail to make it even remotely interesting. By and far the most disappointing element are the MANY, MANY mistakes......there are simple typo's, there a photo of Gene where the negative has been reversed and the worst of all...it has a lot of "detailed" errors, such as;

* mentioning that Bon Jovi was the opener in 1980.......Hey Gene, how 'bout 1984?? Iron Maiden opened on the Unmasked tour in 1980
* talking about the Mike Douglas TV show in 1974 and referring to the
KISSING contest where the winning couple could win a fully paid trip to
MIAMI......Miami??? Try Acapulco.......(the ironic part is that Gene himself is doing the interview and can't remember his own words....)

My impression....the book has been put together in a rush without much bother for detail, lay-out and style.....I've also already seen it "for
sale" ($19.95 in stead of the $25.95 and I'm sure in 3 month it'll be
half....).

January 1, 2002
KISS IN THE PRESS
New magazines featuring Kiss:
Metal Hammer 12/2001 (England): 1 page about a Kiss fan
Details 11/2001 (USA): 2 pages Gene interview
Revolver 1/2002 (USA): 1 page Box Set ad
Guitar World 1/2002 (USA): 4 page article + Collectors Corner page
Playboy 1/2002 (USA): 8 page article