Back in 1978, I was one of the lucky 8000 people to have won tickets to see KISS play at Magic Mountain. May 19, 1978!!! I was 14 and it was my first concert. From that night on, KISS was my favorite band!

John Luekemeyer

LETTERS

Here's the Nightline segment featuring Paul discussing his recent throat surgery.

Here's Gene Simmons on the cover of the latest issue of Metal Hammer (Spain). The issue also features an interview with Gene.

Thanks to Javier Rueda / KISS Army Spain for sending the image to KISSOnline!

In Celebration of Chinese New Year, "Cyndi G," Star of "Senses" Rocks Out in Famous KISS Boots

"Cyndi G", leading actress as the 'Asian Goddess of Love' in the new action-musical show from China, "Senses", decorated her themed outfit in the official KISS Boots that are currently touring Las Vegas in celebration of the upcoming opening of KISS by Monster Mini Golf

(Photo: © Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com).

On this day in KISStory - February 3, 1995, KISS stages the first Official Worldwide KISS Convention in Perth, Australia. The unique and revolutionary KISS Convention tour of 1995 features a traveling KISS Museum displaying vintage KISS stage outfits, instruments, and memorabilia. Performances by KISS tribute bands, KISS collectors/dealers buying, selling and trading KISS merchandise, precludes an evening appearance by KISS themselves, appearing live and in person, conducting a question and answer session, autograph signing, and a two-hour unplugged set comprised mostly of spontaneous fan requests.

The KISS Kruise II Pre-sale keeps rolling, and cabins are flying off the shelves! There are just fewer than 200 cabins left! Have you booked your space on this Halloween rock invasion at sea yet? It’s not too late to sign up for the pre-sale. Just go to www.thekisskruise.com to get started!

Also, great news if you are having trouble finding a cabinmate. Now available is an Independent Traveler Program exclusive to balcony cabins. Learn more here.

Don’t miss your opportunity to be a part of the KISS Navy!

Number one Dutch Popgroup 'Bløf' awards Photographer with a KISS

Thanks to Rutger De Groot for sending this story to KISSOnline!

Last Sunday, famous Dutch popgroup 'Bløf' handed out the Golden Master Camera Award to Stefan Schipper, rock photographer extraordinaire. Stefan is known for his photography for bands like Metallica, Slash and Biohazard. His picture of Gene Simmons at Arrow Classic Rock was selected as the Best Rock Cover Photo by Aardschok magazine.

Stefan worked on many album covers for Bløf, and when the band was invited to hand him the award, they insisted to go full circle and to present in KISS-theme. Not only is Stefan a huge KISS fan, Bløf also acknowledged that they used to dress up as KISS before becoming multi-platinum recording artists. Bløf invited well known KISS tribute band KISS on the Rocks to perform at the event and to hand out the award with them.

Peter Slager, founding member of Bløf, comments: "It was a treat hearing KISS on the Rocks open with 2 of my favorite songs, 'Detroit rock city' en 'Strutter'. Solid as a rock!'

Here's a sneak peek of the new KISS Army Denim Jackets being released by ASOS, the UK's largest independent online fashion and beauty retailer.

The jackets will be available in April on ASOS's Website.

The Wall Street Journal has released an amazing video interview with Paul Stanley! Reporter Lee Hawkins has an incredible, in-depth 22-minute conversation with Paul in which Paul discusses the origins of KISS, the band's longevity, his artwork and much more!

View the entire interview on Wall Street Journal Live:

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) - On Sunday, KISS® by Monster Mini Golf® held the "KISS® OFF" band finale with KISS' own, Tommy Thayer as the celebrity judge.

More than 200 bands worldwide submitted entries for the competition.

They were dwindled down to the final four groups based on talent, performance, appearance and showmanship.

The final four includes KISS Forever from Hungary, Mr. Speed from Ohio, Rock and Roll Over from Texas, and KISSTERIA from Australia.

They performed at Body English in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Mr. Speed is the KISS OFF contest overall winner.

That tribute band will make their grand debut at the opening of KISS® by Monster Mini Golf® on March 15.

KISS frontman Paul Stanley sat with WSJ's Lee Hawkins for an exclusive interview about his life and career. In this clip, Stanley shares the origin of the famous KISS makeup. To watch the full interview, tune in to YouTube.com/WSJ on Feb. 1st!

On this day in KISSTORY - January 31, 1999, KISS opened Super Bowl XXXIII with a bombastic version of "Rock And Roll All Nite!"

By John Katsilometes
Photo By Steve Marcus

At one side of the room, a guy dressed as Gene Simmons adjusted his studded codpiece. At another, a would-be Paul Stanley was plopped on a leather sofa, munching on a handful of tortilla chips.

Everywhere you turned there were guys dressed as members of Kiss, and it was no happy coincidence. A quartet of Kiss tribute bands, totaling 16 costumed musicians, competed in the first Kiss Off at Body English at the Hard Rock Hotel. The bands were the survivors of a worldwide search for the best Kiss tribute act to perform at the opening of Kiss By Monster Mini Golf, the attraction set to open March 15 on Harmon Avenue, just east of Rumor and across the street from the Hard Rock.

The bands each performed four songs at a piercingly high volume at an event co-emceed by Kiss By Monster Mini Golf spokesmodel Brian “Lowercase g” Thomas (dressed as a smallish version of Simmons), “Kats With the Dish” co-host Tricia McCrone and myself.

by: Chris M. Junior

Given the merchandising savvy of Kiss co-leaders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, it’s surprising a wall-mountable band collectible in the style of Mount Rushmore wasn’t already on the market.

Thanks to Kiss fan and artist Douglas Hildebrandt, that void has been filled in the form of his limited-edition Mount KISSMore sculpture, which begins shipping in February.

With the real Mount Rushmore in mind, Hildebrandt wanted his Kiss creation to have a carved-granite appearance. As for the look of the musicians’ makeup-enhanced mugs, he also emulated the same sculpting style as the national memorial in South Dakota.

“They are supposed to look like monolithic statues,” he says. “I think it is a fitting tribute and true testament to one of the greatest bands of our time.”

Hildebrandt originally made two of the sculptures and sent one to Simmons, who called to express his appreciation and to offer production tips. That led to Hildebrandt getting in touch with Factory Entertainment, which is authorized to produce Kiss items, and him making a commissioned master pattern for the limited-edition run of 2,000 pieces.

Each handcrafted Mount KISSMore sculpture (priced at $69.99) weighs five pounds and comes in a full-color box.

Here's KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer posing on stage with members of Mr. Speed, KISSteria, Rock and Roll Over and KISS Forever, just after Mr. Speed was declared the winner of the KISS OFF contest. Tommy was a judge at the competition that took place Sunday at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Photo by the Las Vegas Sun