Eric Singer cover feature story in May 2010 Issue

Just Being Himself

by Billy Amendola

For eighteen years, Kiss's drummer has helped his world-famous band stay in our hearts and on the radio by doing what he does best-being himself. In this special online extra from his May 2010 MD cover story, we begin by asking Eric about...

The Band's Younger Fans

In 2004 we did the Rock The Nation Tour, and then we didn't do any kind of full-length touring until last year in Europe, and that's where we really noticed the resurgence. All those shows did extremely well for us, and we noticed the age demographic had completely changed. All of a sudden there were a lot of young kids, and when we'd ask, "Hey, how do you know about Kiss?"-thinking that maybe their parents were Kiss fans-a lot of them said, "We found you on the Internet through YouTube"...or through Guitar Hero...or Rock Band. So it's the kids themselves discovering Kiss. And next thing you know, they go out and buy the CDs or videos. And then next thing you know, they want to come see the band live!

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George Lopez chillin' before the show in the Gene's boot...photo from George's twitter.

Click here to view a great KISS backstage tour clip from the Austrian TV program "Backstage" from ORF 1.

Gene will appear on the TBS' LOPEZ TONIGHT show at 11 PM (ET).

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

Dear KISS,

I would like to let you know that my dance studio is performing to a mix of your amazing songs entitled 'Party Everyday.' We have five boys in our dance studio and thought this would be a great idea for our big production number. Since KISS only has four members, we took our youngest male dancer and made him 'mini' Gene Simmons. I am Ace Frehley, the space man.

We are competing in the nationals in July!

Sincerely,

Matthew Palumbo and all of us at Stella's Dancers' Studio.

Photo by Tony Schreiber

LETTERS

Check out this clip of KISS Tribute Band 'KIDS' performing "Modern Day Deliliah" at yesterday's Indianapolis KISS Fan Expo.

Thanks to James Wallace Jr for sending the clip to KISSonline. KISSonline will have a full report on Fan Expo tonight.

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

KISS,

I'm a Speech instructor at my local college. I often use KISS as an example in my lesson plans. My class has watched several KISS press conferences and parts of a concert to illustrate the public speaking skills of celebrities. KISS has been such an inspiration throughout my life, there's no way not to include them. Thanks for all the life lessons and for keeping the magic alive all these years.

Bill France Logan, WV

LETTERS

Check out the Gene Simmons Family Jewels marathon from 3:00 PM until 10:00 PM. today on A & E. The marathon includes the 9:00 pm Season 5 premiere!

Legendary rock god and multi-hyphenate Gene Simmons returns with his unconventional family for an all-new season of A&E's hit unscripted series Gene Simmons Family Jewels on March 21. The season begins with a terrifying moment for America's most traditional, non-traditional family. Shannon has a health scare that makes the family rally and Gene is caught between two worlds--being there for the mother of his two children and being on tour with KISS.

CELEBRITY CHEF LIST KISS AS A CULINARY INFLUENCE

by Greg Morabito

In the April issue of Guitar Aficionado, celebrity chef and bestselling author Rocco Dispirito reveals that he got into the restaurant business because he wanted money to build his record collection. Says Dispirito:

"As a child growing up in the Seventies, I was big time into Kiss. Their album 'Love Gun' came out when I was around 11 years old, and I had to have it. I asked my Mom for the money to buy it, and she said to me (in thick Italian accent) "You want the money? You go get a job." I didn't even know I could get a job at that age."

But get a job he did - one that taught him how to win over the public with the quick flash of a smile:

"I made 50 cents an hour and fell in love with the business. The idea that, just by cutting a slice of pizza, pouring a fountain soda, smiling a little, I could make someone's day a little better, totally hooked me."

Thanks to Ron Buckley for sending to KISSonline.

Here's a KISS SONIC BOOM OVER EUROPE TV commercial that's currently running across the UK.

They are in! And they are AWESOME!

Gotta love when a plan comes together!

Paul Stanley and KISS fans get a chance to own a true custom CRACKED MIRROR PS KISS Stage Guitar for THOUSANDS less than the USA Custom! A FRACTION of the price! And - the PS1900 Cracked Mirror guitars are unique and simply spec'd out like NOTHING ever done on the Paul Stanley/Washburn front!

This is a Boogie Street Exclusive my friends. The opportunity to get a TRUE Paul Stanley Custom guitar - for under 2000 USD!

BSG worked with Paul directly and the good folks at Washburn to bring a different version of Paul's PS series KISS stage guitar done up in Paul's famous Cracked Mirror design!

If you're at this weekend's Indianapolis KISS Fan Expo, stop by the KISSonline booth to help out a worthwhile cause and possibly win yourself a great KISS prize too!

We're holding a special raffle with 100% of the proceeds going to Christopher "Critter" Smith. You may remember Critter from several previous KISSonline stories...he's the 12-year-old KISS fan who continues to battle leukemia.

KISS Prizes being raffled off:

1) Grand Prize - Two Meet & Greets and concert tickets to an upcoming KISS concert
2) Gene Simmons Axe bass guitar
3) Limited Edition SONIC BOOM Print - hand signed by Paul, Gene, Eric, Tommy and Michael Doret

Thanks to Cort Guitars for donating the Gene Simmons Axe and Michael Doret for donating the SONIC BOOM Print.


Cincinnati Enquirer Story

By William Croyle

Christopher "Critter" Smith and the leukemia that invaded his body two-and-a-half years ago are still battling each other.

'Gene Simmons Family Jewels' shines as it nears a reality milestone

By Michael Starr

It's unrealistic -- if not downright impossible -- to watch everything that premieres on TV.

So I've only seen bits and pieces of "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" over the years and didn't have any preconceived opinions of the A&E series -- which premiered in 2006 and celebrates its 100th episode this season as TV's longest-running family reality show (overtaking MTV's "The Osbournes" for that niche honor).

What I did see, in watching tomorrow night's fifth-season premiere, is a show meshing the requisite reality elements -- including facing-the-camera "confessionals," underscored here with weirdly "Leave It to Beaver"-type music -- with some genuine emotion.
It's obvious that KISS frontman Gene Simmons, despite all his public bravado and bluster (overbearing at times), loves his longtime partner, former Playboy centerfold/actress Shannon Tweed, and their kids -- Nick, 21 and Sophie, 17. And it's obvious those feelings are mutual.

Watch Paul's recent interview on CBS 4 News:

Here are a few photos of Paul at the Paul & Young Ron Radio studio this morning in Florida.