Rockin' News for Week of Oct. 13, p.2
Paul Stanley Promises Kiss 35th Anniversary Tour,
Opens New Painting Exhibit
Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley banked millions of dollars last
year. Not from touring, but from his paintings. For the past
year, Stanley has been touring his original artwork and will
open a new exhibit this Saturday at a Washington, DC area
gallery. “It’s been terrifically successful,” Stanley tells
Rolling Stone. “And the great thing is I never expected it. I
paint for myself. If no one else likes it at least I do. I have
never approached things to please other people in both art
and music.”
No stranger to art, Stanley studied at New York’s High
School of Art and Music, the inspiration for the film Fame.
“My best subject must have been lunch,” he says. “I didn’t
get along with authority and it turned me off art.” Failing art
Opens New Painting Exhibit
Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley banked millions of dollars last
year. Not from touring, but from his paintings. For the past
year, Stanley has been touring his original artwork and will
open a new exhibit this Saturday at a Washington, DC area
gallery. “It’s been terrifically successful,” Stanley tells
Rolling Stone. “And the great thing is I never expected it. I
paint for myself. If no one else likes it at least I do. I have
never approached things to please other people in both art
and music.”
No stranger to art, Stanley studied at New York’s High
School of Art and Music, the inspiration for the film Fame.
“My best subject must have been lunch,” he says. “I didn’t
get along with authority and it turned me off art.” Failing art
Photo: Dowling/Getty
class, he dropped painting for music. Years later, while going through a painful divorce in 2000, Stanley found solace
in painting and picked up his brushes again. Now, he clearly takes pleasure in knowing his art reaches different
crowds — both Kiss fans and art collectors.
“I see people at the gallery who will never go to a Kiss show and people at a Kiss show that will never go to the
gallery. And then there are some people in between.” His pieces, mostly four-by-five foot acrylics done in bold colors
with intense strokes, brought in $2 million last year. His originals fetch as much as $70,000, with limited-edition
prints going for $1,000. Even Kiss co-founder Gene Simmons, known more for his shrewd business practices than for
his eye for art, bought one of Stanley’s works titled “Statue of Liberty.” “The monetary aspect validates it that
much more for him,” Stanley says.
Meanwhile, Kiss has been gigging consistently for its legions of fans known as the Kiss Army. Fresh off a 30-show
Kiss European tour, where the band sometimes played six shows a week, Stanley says the group is fit and finely
tuned these days. “The band has never been better, never looked better,” he says, adding that Kiss is planning a
35th anniversary tour this spring. (Courtesy of John Clarke Jr./rollingstone.com)
in painting and picked up his brushes again. Now, he clearly takes pleasure in knowing his art reaches different
crowds — both Kiss fans and art collectors.
“I see people at the gallery who will never go to a Kiss show and people at a Kiss show that will never go to the
gallery. And then there are some people in between.” His pieces, mostly four-by-five foot acrylics done in bold colors
with intense strokes, brought in $2 million last year. His originals fetch as much as $70,000, with limited-edition
prints going for $1,000. Even Kiss co-founder Gene Simmons, known more for his shrewd business practices than for
his eye for art, bought one of Stanley’s works titled “Statue of Liberty.” “The monetary aspect validates it that
much more for him,” Stanley says.
Meanwhile, Kiss has been gigging consistently for its legions of fans known as the Kiss Army. Fresh off a 30-show
Kiss European tour, where the band sometimes played six shows a week, Stanley says the group is fit and finely
tuned these days. “The band has never been better, never looked better,” he says, adding that Kiss is planning a
35th anniversary tour this spring. (Courtesy of John Clarke Jr./rollingstone.com)
| *** *** *** *** *** KISS going all... Menudo? Gene Simmons reports replacements in band's future |
Video footage has surfaced (see below) of KISS
bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons and the group's longtime
manager, Doc McGhee of McGhee Entertainment, confirming
what has been some fans' biggest fear for some years now —
that Simmons and KISS co-founder Paul Stanley are indeed
planning to keep KISS running and touring long after they
decide to take off the make-up for good.
During a familiar rant by Simmons about how KISS could go on
forever, Stig Karlsen of Norway's NRK asked jokingly if the
band would consider looking for replacements for Simmons
and Stanley in a TV show, similar to programs like "Rock Star"
and "American Idol".
"The answer is yes. The deal has just been signed," Simmons
replied. "It's coming soon."
bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons and the group's longtime
manager, Doc McGhee of McGhee Entertainment, confirming
what has been some fans' biggest fear for some years now —
that Simmons and KISS co-founder Paul Stanley are indeed
planning to keep KISS running and touring long after they
decide to take off the make-up for good.
During a familiar rant by Simmons about how KISS could go on
forever, Stig Karlsen of Norway's NRK asked jokingly if the
band would consider looking for replacements for Simmons
and Stanley in a TV show, similar to programs like "Rock Star"
and "American Idol".
"The answer is yes. The deal has just been signed," Simmons
replied. "It's coming soon."
In a separate interview, Stanley was apparently not very happy to hear about his bandmate's statement regarding
KISS' future.
"There is no signed deal," Stanley said. "Again, when we are both asked the same question sometimes, you get
different answers," Stanley added, "What will happen, we'll see as we go along. But is something going to happen
next week? Is something signed? No. But am I opposed to the idea of going out and trying to find new KISS
members through the television? Of course not."
In the one-and-a-half-minute clip, which is part of a one-hour-long KISS special which will air on NRK in September,
McGhee can be seen stating, "I believe that KISS can go on forever. I believe that there is a way — and we are
talking to people and we're pretty close to getting it done — about finding the four new members of KISS."
According to NRK, Stanley said that the members of VELVET REVOLVER were planning a similar stunt to find the
replacement for lead singer Scott Weiland, who was fired at the end of the band's European tour earlier this year.
However, in the end the band decided not to do it, according to Stanley, because of VELVET REVOLVER guitarist
Slash's wish to remain "cool" and credible to his fans.
"I don't have to be that cool," Stanley reportedly told NRK with a smile.
(Courtesy of blabbermouth.net)
KISS' future.
"There is no signed deal," Stanley said. "Again, when we are both asked the same question sometimes, you get
different answers," Stanley added, "What will happen, we'll see as we go along. But is something going to happen
next week? Is something signed? No. But am I opposed to the idea of going out and trying to find new KISS
members through the television? Of course not."
In the one-and-a-half-minute clip, which is part of a one-hour-long KISS special which will air on NRK in September,
McGhee can be seen stating, "I believe that KISS can go on forever. I believe that there is a way — and we are
talking to people and we're pretty close to getting it done — about finding the four new members of KISS."
According to NRK, Stanley said that the members of VELVET REVOLVER were planning a similar stunt to find the
replacement for lead singer Scott Weiland, who was fired at the end of the band's European tour earlier this year.
However, in the end the band decided not to do it, according to Stanley, because of VELVET REVOLVER guitarist
Slash's wish to remain "cool" and credible to his fans.
"I don't have to be that cool," Stanley reportedly told NRK with a smile.
(Courtesy of blabbermouth.net)
| Could the future of KISS be without KISS at all? |