Thursday, August 31, 2006

Reason to Live



Great video. We see Gene here at his most awkward. He's trying not to depend on his former Bat Lizard persona, but he's just not sure what to do with himself. So he settles on molesting his bass. And something about Bruce Kulick always makes me laugh. Don't get me wrong, love the guy, it's just that he's the penulitimate hired gun. In this video, he looks so humiliated having to play the keyboards. Can't say I blame him. But then he's really "feeling it!!!" when he plays the solo.

When I'm singing this song and no one's around, I'll admit that I use my patented fat gospel voice. The words come out something like this:

"Evvybody gotta reasin to leeh, BAY-BAY!
Evvybody gotta dreen, anna hungo in-sye-eye!
Evvybody gotta reasin to leeh -
BUDDY C'AIN BE YO-LO-HOH!!!!"

Which begs the question: Why Paul? Why can't love be your reason to live? This very question has kept me up in the wee hours of the morn...

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Paul Stanley - Live To Win

No visuals, but here it is! The long anticipated debut single. Upon first listen, all I can say is that it's much better than Gene's solo effort...

Monday, August 28, 2006

Paul talks about his favorite thing, Paul


The Beatles had Paul McCartney. Led Zeppelin had Robert Plant. KISS have PAUL STANLEY.

"I wanted the freedom to explore my own abilities and disregard any self set boundaries. The only limitations we have are the ones we choose to accept and this album was about ignoring anyone else’s ideas of what I would, could or shouldn’t do," Stanley says to summarize Live to Win. "This isn’t about forcing KISS fans someplace that they haven’t been, though everyone’s invited to come along. This is really about me doing an album for me, and first and foremost I had to please myself. I’d like to think that if I can please myself, I’m going to please some other people, but this is a personal work – If I had ever knuckled under to people telling me what was impossible and what I was capable of and incapable of, we wouldn’t be having this conversation, there wouldn’t be a KISS, and there wouldn’t be a ‘Live to Win.’ To that end, by recording this album, I’ve already succeeded…

"The album is called Live to Win, and I’ve already won."

Friday, August 25, 2006

Runaway Trailer

This trailer pretty much gives away the whole movie. My dream in life is to own one of those robot spiders.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Domino Video

My favorite part of this video is how Gene casually sips his soda.

Revenge ***



Join us now in 1992. There was a scary and uncertain future for KISS after a string of shall we say, patchy 80's albums (Animalize, Asylum, Crazy Nights, Hot in the Shade). How was KISS to remain relevant and not look foolish in the same plain as Nine Inch Nails and Nirvana? A surprise hit like Forever wasn't in the cards, as power ballads were officially "out". So the boys had to look tough. Everyone saw the writing on the wall: the pink tassles, tight pink trousers, lipstick and eyeshadow had to go. Even more important was the music. No more half-assed, mid tempo throwaway songs allowed. No more "Bang Bang You". (God, I hate that stupid song.)

With the help of Vinnie Vincent's songwriting and new veteran (but blonde) drummer Eric Singer, KISS crafted what many would agree is their last great album. The most notable change when comparing Revenge to it's predecessors is the fact that Gene Simmons had his head back in the game. For the first time in many years, the Gene songs bested the Paul ones. Unholy, Spit, and Domino are easily Gene's best work since Creatures of the Night. Paul also has some gems here - Take it Off and Tough Love stand tall. And the token ballad "Every Time I Look at You" may not have been heard by many ears but... if you're into those ballads... it's pretty solid. Revenge isn't all sweet, the latter half runs out of steam with the bland Heart of Chrome and Thou Shalt Not (which shalt not have been included). But overall, it's an album worth revisiting from time to time. Now seems to be a good time to me.






These pictures really set the mood. Eric is saying "Yeah that's right, a blonde guy in KISS. What are YOU gonna do about it?" Gene looks nothing short of a super villain. He probably was.Bruce appears both sad and angry. He probably was. Paul's a badass but still knows something you don't. And the flowers stay dammit.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Lyrical Analysis: Getaway




"I know I have to go,
Got no dough,
Should I stay or should I go?"

OK, doesn't the first line answer the question posed in the third line? Great tune though...

So there I was, minding my own business...



...at Niagara Falls, when wouldn't you know it, Chopper came at me and dangled my legs over the edge. I told him there was no smoking and he replied "I'll smoke you!" Damn hooligan.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

More information than you would ever want about Paul's new album


PAUL STANLEY Live To Win Album Details
From: KISSOnline
PAUL STANLEY LIVE TO WIN

1. LIVE TO WIN 3:07
2. LIFT 4:01
3. WAKE UP SCREAMING 3:00
4. EVERYTIME I SEE YOU AROUND 3:28
5. BULLETPROOF 3:01
6. ALL ABOUT YOU 3:16
7. SECOND TO NONE 3:35
8. IT’S NOT ME 3:19
9. LOVING YOU WITHOUT YOU NOW 3:16
10.WHERE ANGELS DARE 3:22

Produced by PAUL STANLEY
Engineered and recorded by Alex Gibson
Assisted by Tom Syrowski, Matt Serrecchio, Glenn Pittman, Jon Berkowitz and Kevin Mills
Additional Engineers – Mark Valentine, assisted by Keith Gretlein. Kevin Mills, assisted by Phil Martin
Additional Recording – Greg Collins
Mixed by Greg Collins
Recorded and mixed at Hensen Recording Studios
Mastered by Steve Marcussen/Marcussen Mastering

PAUL STANLEY- Lead vocals, background vocals, guitar, percussion
The Team:
Guitars – Corky James, Brad Fernquist, John 5, Tommy Denander, Andreas Carlsson
Bass – Corky James, Sean Hurley, BRUCE KULICK
Drums – Victor Indrizzo
Piano – Greg Kurstin, Zac Rae
Keyboards and programming – Harry Somerdahl
Additional keyboards and programming – Russ Irwin

Background Vocals – Andreas Carlsson, CC White…and a little John Shanks!

Strings on "Every Time I See You Around," "Second To None" and "Loving You Without You Now" – Arranged by PAUL STANLEY and David Campbell.
Orchestrated and conducted by David Campbell.

Art Direction & Design: Tom Jermann/t42design
Photography: Neil Zlozower

1. LIVE TO WIN 3:07
PAUL STANLEY/Desmond Child/Andreas Carlsson

Corky James – Guitars, Bass
Brad Fernquist – Solo
Harry Sommerdahl – Keyboards, Programming
Victor Indrizzo – Drums

2. LIFT 4:01
PAUL STANLEY/Desmond Child/Marti Frederiksen

Corky James – Guitars
Sean Hurley – Bass
Harry Sommerdahl – Keyboards, Programming
Victor Indrizzo – Drums

3. WAKE UP SCREAMING 3:00
PAUL STANLEY/Desmond Child/Andreas Carlsson

Corky James – Guitars, Bass
Tommy Denander – Guitars
Brad Fernquist – Solo
Harry Sommerdahl – Keyboards, Programming
Victor Indrizzo – Drums

4. EVERY TIME I SEE YOU AROUND 3:28
PAUL STANLEY / Pete Masitti

Corky James – Guitars
Brad Fernquist – Solo
BRUCE KULICK – Bass
Russ Irwin – Piano, Keyboards
Victor Indrizzo – Drums

5. BULLETPROOF 3:01
PAUL STANLEY/Andreas Carlsson

Corky James – Guitars
Andrea Carlsson – Guitars
John 5 – Solo
Sean Hurley – Bass
Zac Rae – Piano
Harry Sommerdahl – Keyboards, Programming
Victor Indrizzo – Drums
C.C. White and Andreas Carlsson – Additional Background Vocals

6. ALL ABOUT YOU 3:16
PAUL STANLEY/Andreas Carlsson/Desmond Child

Corky James – Guitars, Bass
Brad Fernquist – Guitars, Solo
Harry Sommerdahl – Keyboards, Programming
Victor Indrizzo – Drums

7. SECOND TO NONE 3:35
PAUL STANLEY/Andreas Carlsson

Corky James – Guitars
Brad Fernquist – Solo
BRUCE KULICK – Bass
Harry Sommerdahl – Keyboards, Programming
Greg Kurstin – Piano
Victor Indrizzo – Drums

8. IT’S NOT ME 3:19
PAUL STANLEY/Holly Knight/Charlie Midnight

Corky James – Guitars, Bass
Brad Fernquist – Guitars, Solo
Russ Irwin – Keyboards
Victor Indrizzo – Drums

9. LOVING YOU WITHOUT YOU NOW 3:16
PAUL STANLEY

Corky James – Guitars
Brad Fernquist – Solo
BRUCE KULICK – Bass
Greg Kurstin – Piano
Brian Steckler – Keyboards
Victor Indrizzo – Drums

10. WHERE ANGELS DARE 3:22
PAUL STANLEY/Desmond Child/John 5

Corky James – Guitars, Bass
John 5 – Guitars, Solo
Sean Hurley – Bass
Harry Sommerdahl – Keyboards, Programming
C.C. White and John Shanks – Additional Background Vocals

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Enough talk, let's hear the damn thing already


New Door Records/Universal Musical Enterprises are proud to announce the October 24, 2006 release of Live to Win, the solo release from iconic KISS frontman PAUL STANLEY. The voice and songwriting force behind such KISS classics as "Detroit Rock City," "Black Diamond," Hard Luck Woman" and "Tears Are Fallin'," Stanley's career with KISS spans more than three decades and in excess of 100 million records sold worldwide.

Stripping all the legendary bombast away, what becomes starkly clear is that besides rocking relentlessly, the power of human emotion and conviction on Live to Win can rattle not only the walls, but also touch the heart and soul of the listener. "What I wanted to do on this album was sing about my life because my life is not that different than anybody else's," he continues. "The truth is, what we all deal with in life is pretty similar. You change the names and the story's the same."

"This album is purely a labor of love," says Stanley. "It is a labor of passion, and something where I was concerned with turning out the album I heard in my head, without regard for having glitz and star power from other sources. It was purely about making the album I wanted to make." While the heartfelt "Loving You Without You Now" was written without any outside collaboration, the remainder of the album reunites him with former KISS songwriting partners Desmond Child [Aerosmith, LeeAnn Rimes] and Holly Knight [Tina Turner, Pat Benatar], and introduces new collaborators including Andreas Carlsson [Bon Jovi, Britney Spears], John 5 [Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson] and Marti Frederiksen [Aerosmith, Faith Hill]. Seven of the ten tracks were co-written with Child and/or Carlsson, with Stanley and Child joined by John 5 on "Where Angels Dare" and Frederiksen on "Lift," and Knight teaming with the frontman on "It's Not Me."

Live to Win is self-produced by Stanley, who provides lead vocals, guitar and percussion alongside a studio core of guitarist Corky James [Avril Lavigne, The Matrix], drummer Victor Indrizzo [Beck, Macy Gray] and keyboardist Harry Sommerdahl [Carrie Underwood, Lindsay Lohan]. Also performing on the album are former KISS bandmate BRUCE KULICK and guitarist John 5.

"I've always believed that when you give somebody an album, it should be like a fresh newspaper, where you get ink on your fingers and it's today's news," says Stanley, who wrote and co-wrote the ten tracks on Live to Win specifically for the new release. "For me, this album is where I'm at now — This is where things are in my life, and my perspective on my music.

Stanley is planning a North American club tour to coincide with the release of the album.

Monday, August 07, 2006

KISS fans protest Rock and Roll Hall of Fame


CLEVELAND (AP) — About 200 Kiss fans protested Saturday in front of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to demand that the band be inducted into the hall.
Fans, some from as far away as California, carried signs and had painted their faces in black-and-white to resemble Kiss band members.

Those participating in the half-hour demonstration were upset that the band, formed more than 30 years ago, has not been admitted, even though it has been eligible since the late 1990s.

Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record, according to the museum's website.

"Criteria include the influence and significance of the artist's contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll," the site says.

A museum spokesman said it was the first demonstration by fans seeking to have a group inducted.

The foundation that selects inductees is based in New York City, not at the museum.