Legendary Rock Group KISS 'Rocks the Ratings' on ABC'S Hit Show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

KISS gives to family in need while Extreme Makeover: Home Edition ratings spike.

On last Sunday night's episode of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, rock icons KISS (www.KISSonline.com) showed their good will to a family in need while at the same time helping Extreme Makeover: Home Edition viewership grow by 2 million viewers from the previous week's telecast. Ratings blossomed 32% in adults 18-49; the networks best young adult performance in that hour in six weeks. Also for the episode, Marvel Entertainment designed a Super Hero themed boy's room and created a custom comic book cover for the boy.

In this interview with the BBC, Paul and Gene reveal KISS' musical influences and heroes:

In this interview with Vintage Rock, Tommy discusses his Hughes & Kettner amps, and how having the right gear helps him get that signature KISS sound. He also talks Sonic Boom, the Alive 35 tour, and plans for 2010! Check it out:

Last night's KISS show in London was cut short because the Co2 canisters used to blast confetti during Rock and Roll All Nite made breathing nearly impossible. Both the band and fans upstairs and in front of the stage were having difficulty breathing from the concentration of Co2 in the air.

Paul reveals, "Once the confetti cannons went off, we barely made it off stage. None of us could breathe or catch our breath. Each of us thought we were the only one until we saw each other. Pretty scary and there was no way we could continue. We came out for the encores but couldn't get past one. Still, all in all, an amazing night that left many breathless!"

(Photo by ImageWire)

By Scott Colothan
Photo by Neil Lupin

KISS rolled out the rock classics at their ridiculously low-key London gig last night (March 2nd).

Bedecked in their trademark extravagant attire and make-up, the Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer took to the stage shortly after 9pm to a rapturous response from the 800 strong rammed-to-the-rafters crowd.

Clearly enjoying playing in such an intimate setting, the rock veterans rattled through a 12-song set packed with hits such as 'Rock and Roll All Nite', 'Calling Dr. Love', 'Love Gun' and the ultimate 'Detroit Rock City'.

Songs from their 2009 album 'Sonic Boom' also got an airing, including rip-roaring opener 'Modern Day Delilah' and 'Say Yeah'.

View more photos from the show here.

Islington o2 Academy, March 2 2010

Catching Paul and Gene in a club venue four decades after the band first set out to recruit the Kiss Army is a surreal experience.

Everything about the band for the past 30 years has been big. Big arenas, big anthems, big heels and big money. But here they were, back to their rock and roll roots and, quite emphatically, back to their best.

Paul Stanley's fixation with the Appleton sisters (yes, of All Saints fame) proved there's life in the old dog yet, and the Love Doctor was aimed almost entirely at his newest fans. They lapped it up.

And the most obvious blonde bombshells in a venue bursting with beautiful people, frenzied fans and The Mighty Boosh (!) weren't alone. This was a spectacular show from a rock beast you would imagine had nothing left to prove. On this evidence they clearly do.

Opening up with Sonic Boom's Modern Day Delilah might have been seen as a gamble by some, but the majority of those present knew every word. Throwing in Say Yeah for good measure, Kiss were keen to showcase their best album for 20-plus years, and why not? It's a quality record from a classy band.

Of course it does beg the question, why wait so long to roll out an album of original material? Maybe it's all about keeping the fans keen, and those inside Islington's Academy were certainly that.

Check out this great clip of "Love Gun" live from the O2 Academy in London last night! (And listen to that crowd!)

A dream come true... Tonight Kiss performed for an audience of 800 fans in the 02 Islington Academy in London. A club barely big enough for local bands now had the hottest band in the world KISS playing as if it was an arena.

Besides the confetti during Rock and Roll all Night, the band used no additional special effects. What you got was the bare naked truth: no blood, no fire, no explosives. And guess what, the band didn't need it at all. A show like this shows how good KISS currently is.

After opening with Modern Day Delilah, the band continued to play old and new classics in high tempo. No breaks, no individual solos. If only there would be a formula to do more of these gigs besides the big arena show...

What a very special evening! Out of the 50+ KISS shows I've, this was the most special. Almost better than a meet and greet.

Thanks KISS!

Rutger

Photos by WireImage. View more photos from the show at WireImage: Gallery 1 | Gallery 2

Here are a few photos of KISS leaving the Islington Hilton Hotel on their way across the street to the O2 Academy just minutes before they rocked the venue!

The band spent the afternoon at the Hilton doing over 20 TV and radio interviews for countries including Czech Republic, Spain, Hungary, Norway, Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland and the UK.

KISS blew the roof off the O2 academy tonight! The band was on fire, ripping through a ferocious set for the 800 lucky fans in attendance!

Words do not do enough justice to express how TINY this venue is, and the KISS Army packed it seemingly beyond capacity! It was wall-to-wall KISS fans, singing and screaming at the tops of their lungs. The guys clearly enjoyed themselves on stage tonight, and it was a rare treat to see KISS in such an intimate setting!

Stay tuned for more photos from tonight's show...

Here's a photo of the UK KISS Army lining up outside the 02 Academy for tonight's concert!

Thanks to Stig Karlsen for sending KISSonline the photo!

KISS continues to be a hot topic in the German press! Here are some newspaper articles from the past week.

KISS' "Wetten, Dass..?" appearance is still big news in Europe! Here's German talk show host Stefan Raab doing his best Gene Simmons impersonation on Germany's "TV Total!"

Here's KISS backstage at "Wetten, Dass..?" with the staff of Roadrunner Records! Pictured are Gene, Eric, Dirk Diebels (Senior Product Manager International, Roadrunner Records), Matthias Kringe and Daniela Leubner (Revolver Promotion, KISS TV Promo), Tommy, Henk Hakker (Managing Director, Roadrunner Records) and Paul.