This year I have have been getting back into Arena gigs, but only if it’s something I think will be special or good fun. I have seen most bands I want to see live and although I never been a massive Kiss fan, but being a fan of rock, they seem to be one I should really make the effort to see.
Only having really heard the big hitters, as a band Kiss have never really done much for me, but have a couple of friends that are big fans and with Newport’s finest Skindred supporting, being the Rock/Metal fan I am I thought I should make the effort before it’s too late, and seeing as this is their final, final, final Tour I should grasp my (supposed) last opportunity and judge them where it matters; live in the flesh.
I got Into the Arena just as Skindred were entering the vast stage and they jump straight into new track ‘Set Fazers’, taken from their forthcoming album ‘SMILE’. From that it was into the classic track ‘Rat Race’. They then play tracks from all parts of their back catalogue, With my particular favourite being ‘Kill The Power’.. Their final track in the forty five minutes set was the brilliant ‘Warning’ and a chance for that Newport helicopter to get going in the O2… Skindred really did get the audience pumped and ready for Kiss and left everyone with a SMILE on their face. In Benji they really do have one of the best frontman in the UK and someone who can win anyone over no matter whos crowd it is.
Now I won’t pretend I know too much about the Kiss catalogue and will put aside the social media rumours of miming and backing tracks and give an honest untarnished opinion. What can I say? From the moment the announcement came of the iconic opening and then into ‘Detroit Rock City’, ‘Shout it Out’ into ‘Deuce’…Hang on, I know all these songs after all and with the stage show and flash pots n fire – this is amazing… They played ‘Psycho Circus’, which for some strange reason I do know and love that song but never thought I’d see it live…. Guitar solos, bass solo, Drum solo, these were all boxes ticked and done exceptionally well.
Everyone was up from the off and even being in seated area no one was sat down through the whole show. It really was a spectacle and smiles all around it was a show where it was hit after hit after hit and Finishing with ‘God Gave Rock and Roll to You’ the whole show was a full on blur of Rock, Pyro, confetti, rehearsed posing, blood and tongue waggling. All the clichés were there and some.
There’s a reason bands like Kiss are where they are and this is it, fun, fun, and fun. I have seen the likes of Rammstein at the same arena and this Kiss stage show blew them out of the water. A night of pure joy from the opening song of ‘Set Fazers’ from Skindred right through to the closing of ‘God Gave Rock and Roll to You’ that was entertainment of the highest standard.
Limited to 1000 copies and released in May ‘Turbonegro Must Be Destroyed’ is a wholly independent release for one of the finest underground Punk Rock Garage bands ever to grace the earth. Not many other punk rock band, that never was part of the mainstream, left such a footmark like Turbonegro did. Bars in Mexico and Spain are named after the band. The Turbojugend, the fan club of the band, is only comparable with the fan clubs of old rock giants such as Motorhead or Kiss with as many hipsters wanting the levi denim with their name on it as genuine lovers of the band and boy are the Turbojugend a loyal lot.
There have been many tribute records made so why not another one from a bunch of bands many of us are familiar with and some new ones no doubt? In the very best DIY manner, this album is not released by a label and will be distributed by the bands only. The drawings of Hank and Tony on the sleeve have been made by Warren Mancini, a tattoo artist from the USA. The layout has been created by Javier Villalpando. Javier already created the TUR30NEGRO lettering for the band’s 30th anniversary in 2019. So who and what’s on it?
Familiar to regular readers will be the likes of Christmas, The Dwarves, Stacy Crowne & Scumbag Millionaire. Opening up the album is a truly brutal “knocked out of the motherfuckin’ park” take of ‘I Gotta Knife’ from the zero fucks given combo that is Christmas. A band that got what Turbonegro was all about and carried the very same DNA coursing through their veins. That’s how to open a tribute album and make the listener sit up and pay attention. Bosh! job done.
How to follow that up? Ah, I know Scumbag Millionaire. Yup, ‘Just Flesh’ is a clap of thunder that scorches your speakers. Taking the spirit of the song and turbocharging it to the max. This is sounding like a top tribute already and we’re only two songs deep. I reach for the volume this deserves to be turned up louder as a sleazy ‘Du Mongo’ makes my skin crawl for all the right reasons as its creepy crawl through my speakers. Hang on it’s The motherfuckin’ Dwarves putting their sleazy slap on ‘Blow Me (Like The Wind)’ like only the Dwarves know-how. Dripping in sex appeal and slithering through the broken glass floorboards of some damp dark dungeon this is a blast and exactly how a tribute album should roll.
Notable bands I’ve not heard before would be CatEater taking on ‘Hurry Up And Die’
Stacy Crowne gets the tone spot on for their romp through ‘Humiliation Street’ getting the thin line between Street Punk and big glorious Glam Rock. I am quietly glad the bands stayed away from a lot of the big-ticket turbo tunes and went for deeper cuts. I know there are a lot of top trumps with cult bands seeing who can pick the most obscure to cover but I don’t think that’s the case here the songs are treated with the right amount of respect and bands have taken ownership in their styles which is fantastic.
‘Selfdestructo Bust’ from Alarmstufe Rot is a riot whilst Deviltrain walks on the sleazy wild side with ‘Rendezvous With Anus’. Syff takes a buckin’ bronco ride on the frantic smasher that is ‘Prince Of The Rodeo’ delivered with an air of “have some of that” and in keeping with the rest of this album is a top turn. Hell even Christmas main man Max delivers a sleazy ‘Everybody Loves A Chubby Dude’ Feed Me Feed Me, Feed me more of this more like, inject this sleazy punk rock right into my bloodstream.
The Dogs dish up a romping ‘Armed And Fairly Well Equipped’ with parping keys added to the thuggish riff for good measure. Finally signing off this monumental tribute is a Schreng Schreng & La La with a Haunting ‘Sailor Man’ in the style of Johnny Cash and his American recordings style twisting your Mellon in true Turbo style.
Listen, I know there will be detractors of tribute albums but Turbonegro was way out there with the greats of the underground and the original lineup with Hank was a very special band to many many people the flame will be kept burning as long as bands like these keep rolling out records as good as this one. Get it, listen to it, investigate the bands that deliver the goods and then bow down to Turbonegro and all who sailed in her for they were an exceptional band and they spawned many fine bands who followed in their footsteps and continue to do so. Buy It! Then check out the bands who make this such a great record they deserve your support.
Kiss head honcho Gene Would put the Kiss logo on anything if he thought he could turn a fast buck knocking it out to his hordes of fans around the globe. sometimes he is wide of the mark and sometimes he’s right on the money. Who would have thought way back in time when the band wrote ‘Cold Gin’ that all these years later he’d have the opportunity to actually deliver a Navy Strength actual Cold Gin?
So if you like the hard stuff or at this time of year are at a loss of what to buy the Rocker in your life then this is the ideal gift. Clocking in a minimum of 57% alc/vol it certainly packs a punch and having the band’s endorsement gives it the edge over the bazillion flavours of Gin out there on the market.
Naming it Navy Strength dates back to the 18th century when the British Navy stored their spirits next to gunpowder. Should the gin barrels split, spilling their liquid into the gunpowder, the higher strength content, a minimum of 57% alc/vol, ensured the gunpowder would still explode.
This ‘Cold Gin’ is made up of lemon peel, and a selection of fine spices. There are no artificial flavours or added sweeteners. The additional flavours of juniper and lemon are macerated and blended with the distillate, achieving a full balance of the botanical experience. This is superior quality and what truly sets it aside as the ideal season gift is its looks, Kool! your friends will be impressed with the stylish bottle, with its eye-catching silver and gold details, with all four band members metallically integrated on each side of the Brooklyn Bridge. The main label features a gold disc and the iconic landmarks of the bands home town, including the Manhattan Skyline. The Kiss Kool art deco pattern behind the disc is based on the scales of The Demon’s boots so a lot of work has gone into this and really does set it up as one of the better Kiss Kollectables.
It’s not a cheap bottle of Gin but then quality costs and once you get your hands on a bottle you’ll appreciate it and be warned, it comes with a kick!
Buy it and enjoy it because it “Cold Gin time again”.
Following the massive success of the 2021 launch of KISS Cold Gin, Brands For Fans, KISS, and their licensing agent, Epic Rights, have responded to the overwhelming demand for another high-quality product with navy strength gin. As KISS are setting sail with their fans this October, there is no better place to experience this new spirit than on the high seas of the band’s very own KISS Kruise.
The history behind calling a gin ‘navy strength’ dates back to the 18th century when the British Navy stored their spirits next to gunpowder. Should the gin barrels split, spilling their liquid into the gunpowder, the higher strength content, a minimum of 57% alc/vol, ensured the gunpowder would still explode.
KISS Cold Gin Navy Strength 57% alc/vol has a five-time distilled base including juniper, lemon peel, and a selection of fine spices. There are no artificial flavours or added sweeteners. To maintain the highest quality, additional flavours of juniper and lemon are macerated and blended with the distillate, achieving a full balance of the botanical experience. This is a superior quality product, expertly created by globally recognised in-house master blender Daniel Henriksson.
KISS Cold Gin Navy Strength doesn’t just taste great, it looks incredible too! Impress your friends with this stylish bottle, including eye-catching silver and gold details, with all four band members metallically illustrated on each side of the Brooklyn Bridge. The main label features a gold disc and the iconic landmarks of New York City, including the Manhattan Skyline. The stunning art deco pattern behind the disc is based on the scales of The Demon’s boots. This label artwork is a magnificent homage to KISSTORY and the band’s musical roots.
“The KISS Spirit’s range, Drink It Up by KISS, has now sold over 250,000 bottles worldwide. We are so excited to launch this fantastic addition to the KISS portfolio and just in time for KISS Kruise,” says Yvonne Wener, head of Brands For Fans.
The product is available NOW, in the UK, mainland Europe, Sweden,
The Nordics, and in the US on Kiss Kruise at the end of October.
What we’ve got here on ‘Kover All Over’ is a collection of Kiss covers recorded by Lester Greenowski during the pandemic. Each song features different line-ups and different guests on each track and adds a little bit of Lester’s heart and soul to each and every track. Now I’m not the biggest Kiss fan that’s for sure but I can’t deny they have a healthy back catalogue, especially the first few albums and up until the mid-80s when I first saw the band without the makeup but when people cover their songs they often miss the point where the earlier tunes were proper Rock n Roll songs and that’s something Lester gets, well and truly embracing the true spirit of what made them such a good band early on.
Back in his pre-teen years, Lester learned about the 70s New York City music scene through Kiss. Soon that scene will become one of Lester’s main passions and musical influences. Right from the opening salvo of ‘Radioactive’ you absolutely get that but he also manages to infuse what other greats poured out of the city that doesn’t sleep making this album more than just run-of-the-mill kiss covers this has plenty of Blondie and Dolls running through its heart and soul and you can hear that in these interpretations.
Sure there are some tracks that are (to this day) staple Kiss klassiks and it’s a brave move for a fan to tackle such tunes but Lester has a punk-n-roll beating heart and such a challenge must have been a buzz and the love shines through like lady liberty’s torch. ‘Got To Choose’ is a blast and the backing vocals have really captured the feel of the original and absolutely reeks of NYC, great job!
Of the biggies, I feel ‘New York Groove’ is a blast of energy, and the same can be said of ‘Cold Gin’ with a razor-sharp riff perfectly captured and my favourite Kiss tune ‘Strutter’ is thumpingly good. What’s not to like on the riff of ‘Parasite’ and Gene’s vocal is delivered with style. The power-pop swing of ‘It’s My Life’ clearly left a mark and as is the case for the whole of this album the quality of covers is exceptional and a real homage to Lester’s heroes and he does it so well.
Lester clearly loves it loud and this collection of Kovers serves him well for he has taken that passion and paid his dues and turned in a very respectable record. If you are a Kiss Kollector or just Kurious kome on in and get an earful of these fantastik Kiss Kovers now where are my stack boots and Kiss Korpse paint? Lester has got me diggin out me old Kiss rekords – I love it (loud)
Wednesday 19th May 2021 – After an epic and well documented 45-year career that launched an era of rock n roll legends, KISS launched their final ever tour in 2019.
2019 saw sold out KISS shows across the globe with arguably the greatest KISS show ever! The initial tour announcement was met with huge fan demand for added shows, but the END OF ROAD TOUR will officially come to a close with a date and NY location yet to be named.
Unfortunately, due to world events KISS could not complete the original European dates scheduled through 2020 and 2021. But the band are delighted to announce rescheduled and new European dates for 2022. Further dates will also be added to the cities announced today
KISS will be offering VIP experiences and special KISS Army fan presales. VIP experiences may include a personal photo opportunity with the band, access to an exclusive pre-show lounge and a behind the scenes tour. Visit www.kissonline.com for more information.
Known for their trademark larger-than-life blistering performances, KISS has proven for decades why they are hands down the most iconic live show in rock n roll. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, who have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, have said this tour is devoted to the millions of KISS Army fans.
KISS END OF THE ROAD 2022 rescheduled and new (in red) European dates announced today are below. With more dates to be added.
Wednesday 1st June 2022 Westfalenhalle, Dortmund GERMANY
Friday 3rd June 2022 Atlas Arena, Lodz POLAND
Monday 6th June 2022 Sportspalais, Antwerp BELGIUM
Tuesday 7th June 2022 Accor Arena, Paris FRANCE
Friday 10th June 2022 Download Festival, Castle Donington, UK
Monday 13th June 2022 Barclaycard Arena, Hamburg GERMANY
Thursday 16th June 2022 Copenhell Festival, Copenhagen, DENMARK
Saturday 18th June 2022 Tele 2 Arena, Stockholm SWEDEN
Monday 20th June 2022 Hartwell Arena, Helsinki FINLAND
Wednesday 22nd June 2022 Scandinavian, Gothenburg SWEDEN
Friday 24th June 2022 Festhalle, Frankfurt GERMANY
Sunday 26th June 2022 Stadthalle, Vienna AUSTRIA
Tuesday 28th June 2022 Schleyerhalle, Stuttgart GERMANY
Thursday 30th June 2022 Festival Du Printemps De Perouges, Saint-Vulbas FRANCE
Saturday 2nd July 2022 Rockfest, Barcelona, SPAIN
Sunday 3rd July 2022 Wizink Arena, Madrid SPAIN
Tuesday 5th July 2022 Festival De Nîmes, Les Arènes de Nîmes, Nîmes
FRANCE
Thursday 7th July 2022 Hallenstadion, Zurich SWITZERLAND
Saturday 9th July 2022 Zagreb Arena, Zagreb CROATIA
Monday 11th July 2022 Arena Di Verona, Verona ITALY
Wednesday 13th July 2022 O2 Arena, Prague CZECH REPUBLIC
Thursday 14th July 2022 Budapest Arena, Budapest HUNGARY
Saturday 16th July 2022 Romexpo, Bucharest ROMANIA
Thursday 21st July 2022 Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam HOLLAND
“All that we have built and all that we have conquered over the past four decades could never have happened without the millions of people worldwide who’ve filled clubs, arenas and stadiums over those years. This will be the ultimate celebration for those who’ve seen us and a last chance for those who haven’t. KISS Army, we’re saying goodbye on our final tour with our biggest show yet and we’ll go out the same way we came in… Unapologetic and Unstoppable,” said KISS on The End Of the Road tour.
Once upon a time, it was cool to be a full-tilt Rock and Roll band and get in a van with your mates and drive around continents plugging in goofin’ round and playing it like your life depended on it night after night putting in the hard yards – earning those Rock and Roll stripes without much fuss just doin’ it because you had to it where your heart was taking you for little reward except to find like-minded people around this globe digging what it was you were playing and the records you were writing and releasing. Well, guess what. It’s still cool and those guys who were in the trenches back then are still in the trenches fighting for their cause in the name of entertainment some Brothers fell by the wayside like The Dragons but some kept at it and still have records coming out like the recent ‘Live At The Pic’ set on Yeah Right! Records so I thought Id give CC a call and find out what it was like playing in cool rock and roll band and let him tell the story of The Spitfires. So here goes folks sit back relax and enjoy…
Tell us about The Spitfires how did the band come about where did you guys meet?
The original line up of the band grew up in the ‘burbs outside of Vancouver. We’d been jamming for a couple years under different names, not being very serious about anything. Being from a small town, anyone who had an instrument, or a place to jam, was someone you knew. The later members were friends we made in Vancouver.
That debut CD how did it come about?
C.C. We had a record finished and ready to release with Vancouver’s Mint Records before they suddenly dropped us. I think we were too trashy for them. I sent around the recordings (on cassette tape and in the mail!) to a bunch of labels I’d seen in Maximum Rock ‘n’ Roll or Flipside. Mike at Sonic Swirl in Cleveland loved it, and he had released some stuff from Jason Solyom’s other garage rock band, The Fiends. Somehow Brian at TSB in Scotland got a hold of the album too, and he released the UK/Euro version.
Was the late 90s a good time for Rock and Roll bands in your district? Who else was out at the time? That you’d meet on the road?
Yeah, it was a blast. We had a really amazing group of friends up and down the West Coast. The Dragons, Murder City Devils, Humpers, Black Halo, Catheters etc. We’d gone to NYC a few times and never really made any tight friends. In Columbus we had the New Bomb Turks, and up in Montreal and Toronto we had The Spaceshits and The Deadly Snakes. It was a fun time. People made phone calls to book tours, and connect with people. We’d drive into some new city and hope the promoter would pick up the phone. Otherwise we’d sometimes be stuck at a coin phone at some gas station. Compton was a particularly interesting gas station phone booth to wait at.
What bands were inspiring you guys at the time?
We were really into Crypt Records bands and Sympathy for the Record Industry. A lot of the “Glunk Punk” as Eric Davidson would later coin it. But we were all suburban kids, who weren’t afraid to say we liked Alice Cooper, Kiss, Aerosmith and all the other great arena rock bands of our youth.
You managed to get Junk to press the new album on Vinyl. That must have been so uncool at the time hardly anyone was pressing vinyl at the time what kinda deal were labels like Junk offering at the time was there the opportunity to hit Europe on tour?
Haha, that’s a different perspective. Over here vinyl was totally cool at that time, at least with the scene we were in. Labels like Junk, Estrus, Sympathy, Crypt, were all putting out loads of good stuff. On CD too of course, but we had been hoping to get some real vinyl out. It was actually Estrus who put out our first vinyl single, “Cut Me Some Slack”. Junk was a really good label at the time. Lou Carus, the owner, was working as an engineer with Boeing. I’m pretty sure he spent every penny he earned on his bands. He’s still a really good friend, and every time I’m in California I make sure to see him. Junk was a sub label to Nitro at the time, so we really had great press and distribution. We didn’t get to Europe until the third album though.
Who decided on the third album title? I guess you were firing on all cylinders at the time? You also added a second guitarist. What was the reason for that? and by the time you made it back into the studio, you were back to a four-piece for the ‘Aim Low’ album.
I think that “Three” was a band decision? We love classic rock, and that seemed like a cool classic rock kind of thing to do. And yeah, we were on fire at that time. We did add Dave Paterson for that album, who was a lot of fun and a great player, but he only lasted a year. We replaced him with Jay Millette from the Black Halos, because Rich had just quit their band and moved to L.A.. “Aim Low” was a few years after the band had actually broken up. Jay Millette wasn’t in the band by then, he had moved to Toronto. It was actually a 5-piece recording with Marcel LaFluer and Deano on guitars. Deano, the last of the originals besides me and Solyom, was still in the band but he quit after the recording. That’s when Graham Tuson joined. We recorded a few songs with that line-up that are still in the vaults.
Did you ever get any heat from other bands called the Spitfires?
Good question. At the time that we started we had found out that “Pooch” from Flipside Magazine had a band in L.A. called the Spitfires. So I wrote him a letter and sent a demo tape. I said we’d happily chnge the name if they wanted us to. He wrote back to say, in fact, they would change their name! They became The Condors, and I’ve remained friends with Pooch to this day.
What were some of the tours like?
That’s funny, Marty (drummer) and I were talking about this just the other day. I’ve forgotten a lot of the stuff we did. We were a rolling disaster. I mean, we had a lot of fun, but I wouldn’t be able to tell my colleagues at work any of those stories! Haha. One of my best memories though was the U.K. tour we did in 2002. We had so much fun and so many laughs. The highlight was playing the Astoria in London with the Rezillos! We also played the Dirty Water Club which was packed and super fun.
What with hindsight was the best Spitfires album?
I’m partial to “Three”. I think the production and songs are really the best we had. Howard Redekopp recorded and produced it at a really great studio (Mushroom RIP), and that made a big difference. A lot of people thought we had recorded that on Pro Tools (which people thought was lame at the time) but it’s all analogue 24 channel board to 2-inch tape.
On the Yeah right! Bandcamp page they say to hide the fire extinguisher. Care to expand?
Well, this goes back to The Dirty Water Club in London. We had set an extinguisher off on stage, and it was awesome. Looked totally cool and it was a mellow shot of water that misted the whole room. But when we did it at the Horseshoe, it ruined our career and got us banned in Toronto. The build-up to the ban in Toronto was signing on with a bigwig agent, Ralph James at the Agency Group and touring with the Headstones (and getting them back on the sauce). When our agent got us a show at the Horseshoe Tavern for Canadian Music Week we were blown away. Then we ended up being Now Magazine’s pick of the week and headlining the show with Robbie Robertson, Chad Kroeger, Brittany Murphy, etc. in attendance. Ralph was fast tracking us at the time. Then our singer shot off a chemical fire extinguisher on stage which choked the crowd and created a panic and rush to the exit. This was shortly after the Great White fire in Rhode Island, so people were on edge. Anyway, it effectively ruined our career and probably rightly so! haha.
Who’s idea was the ‘Live at the Pic’ album? just released after some 17 years, It’s a bit tasty. How well did it capture the band live? Recorded in 2003 the line up had two guitars again, did the dynamic change when the band went from 4 to 5? What memorable shows stand out and why? Was the pic a one-off show for the recording or were you recording shows most nights and this is the pic(K) sorry couldn’t resist it 🙂
The album has been sitting collecting (digital) dust for more than 17 years now! It was the pinnacle of our career I’d say. We were totally on fire, and this might be the only recording that truly captures what the band sounded like. It was recorded by Howard Redekopp before he became well known (Tegan and Sara, Mother Mother, New Pornographers). The live footage that will accompany it was shot by Danny Nowack and his crew (Hard Core Logo etc.), so there’s some Canadiana there. The video was lost in our Jason’s basement until this spring! It is, however, not just a digital release. Yeah Right! Records is releasing the vinyl LP before Xmas this year!
When you hit the UK for some shows how did that come about?
That was through the help of Brian at TSB records in Scotland. He hooked it up with Ian at Hidden Talent over in the UK who booked everything and set up the gear/van/driver. Unfortunately, it was The Spitfires only trip off the North American continent. Our other bands have all toured Europe, but we never quite managed. It was an incredible tour tough, and we loved it. We got as far North as Glasgow and as far South as Brighton. Met a load of great people. Mark (RIP) up in Nottingham, Baz and the Punker Bunker, Dave Kerr and the Chery Kicks up in Scotland at the time. It was so fun.
Neil Leyton tried hard to put on a few tours of these shores for bands like The Pariahs as well as his own band. How cool was the scene back where you are because of all the Canadian bands I saw him bring over they were all excellent and there has always been a really healthy underground that I’ve been aware of especially power pop and alternative rock n roll bands. Is it still a cool place for bands and shows?
Yeah, it’s a cold country, what else are we gonna do? Haha. I think there are probably a few advantages we have here like Sweden, with a good education system that supports arts and music, as well as government assistance programs to support and develop Canadian talent. Which translates into free money for wild rock and rollers to take expensive trips around the world. You’re right though, this last decade has seen a hell of a lot of great Canadian music from all genres.
What’s next for the Spitfires post-pandemic?
There’s still all that new and unreleased stuff we recorded in 2009 sitting in Jason’s basement. At this rate we’ll have a new album done by 2030 hopefully!
You guys will win the record for the most bands within a band tell us about some of the projects you guys are working on that you think the readers should check out??
I really like the Dysnea Boys stuff I did while living in Berlin, but I’m in a New Wave/Power Pop trio now called Autogramm. I’m also working on an album with Rich Jones (Michael Monroe/Loyalties/Black Halos) called “Dangercans”. It’s an epic project that I hope we actually finish. Jason Solyom is drumming and mixing the record too. Jason is in a great 70’s inspired boogie rock band called La Chinga. They’ve done a bunch of touring. Jay Millette in the reformed Black Halos (who I am managing!) and recording his own solo stuff under the name Silver Receiver. Jay Solyom also has a recording studio and Graham has also been recording a bunch of new stuff. Shock, the newest Spitfire, has a band going called The Slip Ons.
Monday 20thJuly 2020 – After an epic and well documented 45-year career that launched an era of rock n roll legends, KISS launched their final ever tour in 2019.
2019 saw sold out KISS shows across the globe with arguably the greatest KISS show ever! The initial tour announcement was met with huge fan demand for added shows, but the END OF ROAD TOUR will officially come to a close with a date and NY location yet to be named.
Unfortunately, due to world events KISS could not complete the original dates scheduled through June and July 2020. But the band are delighted to announce rescheduled and new European dates for 2021. Further dates will also be added to the cities announced today
Paul Stanley says, “We are waiting. We are ready. When we are told everyone is safe and this pandemic is over, we will shake the earth and rock your world as always and as never before.”
Gene Simmons says, “We can’t wait for this pandemic to be over, and for all of you to be safe. We are planning to rock your world, once it is safe out there, for all of you and for us. See you in Europe”
KISS will be offering VIP experiences and special KISS Army fan presales. VIP experiences may include a personal photo opportunity with the band, access to an exclusive pre-show lounge and a behind the scenes tour. Visit www.kissonline.com for more information.
Known for their trademark larger-than-life blistering performances, KISS has proven for decades why they are hands down the most iconic live show in rock n roll. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, who have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, have said this tour is devoted to the millions of KISS Army fans.
KISS END OF THE ROAD 2021 rescheduled and new European dates announced today are below. With more dates to be added.
Wednesday 2ndJune 2021 Sportspalais, Antwerp BELGIUM
Tuesday 8thJune 2021 Accors Hotel Arena, Paris FRANCE
Thursday 10thJune 2021 Westfalenhalle, Dortmund GERMANY
Saturday 12thJune 2021 Atlas Arena, Lodz POLAND
Tuesday 15thJune 2021 Barclaycard Arena, Hamburg GERMANY
Saturday 19thJune 2021 Tele 2 Arena, Stockholm SWEDEN
Monday 21stJune 2021 Hartwell Arena, Helsinki FINLAND
Wednesday 23rdJune 2021 Scandanavian, Gothenburg SWEDEN
Friday 25thJune 2021 Festhalle, Frankfurt GERMANY
Wednesday 30thJune 2021 Hallenstadion, Zurich SWITZERLAND
Saturday 3rdJuly 2021 Rockfest, Barcelona, SPAIN
Sunday 4thJuly 2021 Wizink Arena, Madrid SPAIN
Tuesday 6thJuly 2021 Roman Arena, Nimes FRANCE
Thursday 8thJuly 2021 Schleyerhalle, Stuttgart GERMANY
Saturday 10thJuly 2021 O2 Arena, Prague CZECH REPUBLIC
Monday 12thJuly 2021 Arena Di Verona, Verona ITALY
Thursday 15thJuly 2021 Budapest Arena, Budapest HUNGARY
For local ticket information XXX VIP Packages ONLY – XXX CET
XXX KISS Army Fan Club Presale – XXX CET XXX Public Onsale – XXX CET
Unfortunately, due to scheduling issues involved with moving the tour back a year KISS will not be able to play the following cities, that were originally set for 2020.
Sandnes, Norway
Kaunas, Lithuania
Lisbon, Portugal
Gliwice, Poland
Sofia, Bulgaria
Those fans with tickets for the above cities should refer to their ticket office for refunds.
“All that we have built and all that we have conquered over the past four decades could never have happened without the millions of people worldwide who’ve filled clubs, arenas, and stadiums over those years. This will be the ultimate celebration for those who’ve seen us and the last chance for those who haven’t. KISS Army, we’re saying goodbye on our final tour with our biggest show yet and we’ll go out the same way we came in… Unapologetic and Unstoppable,” said KISS on The End Of The Road tour.
Hello again, RPM-people, it’s been a while. A limited skirmish with a failing hard drive meant that I lost the first attempt at this article for the cultured readers of this fine web-based tome and, as with all tortured artists, I found myself shaking a fist at the Gods of technology rather than simply getting back on the horse and writing it again while the effortless cool (possibly) was still fresh in my mind. This article’s featured item was going nowhere, however, so new words about old stuff came easy.
Now, if you’re hitting up this webzine regularly then I would imagine that you are well-versed in all forms of rock ‘n’ roll rebellion; trouble is, many of those rebels that litter our record collections are now asking for new dress socks on gig riders or peddling butter on shit TV channels. With that in mind I have had to roll back the decades to find, not only a true rebel of the music business, but also an item of music memorabilia that is as decadent as it is delicious.
And that’s where Andy Gibb comes in.
“Andy Gibb?!” I hear the RPM head honcho exclaim as this hits his inbox like the late Scott Columbus hit those cymbals in Manowar’s ‘Blow Your Speakers’ music video, the Double Diamond tearing at the neck of his Maiden shirt, Ozzy-style. Hear me out: Andrew Roy Gibb was a true rock ‘n’ pop tearaway, and the ultimate piece of merchandise released to tie-in with his all-too-short career is collectable excess par plastic excellence. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves…
Andy Gibb was the youngest of the Gibb kids: brother to Barry, Robin, Maurice, and forever-forgotten sister, Lesley. He was born in Manchester, was raised in Australia until the age of eight before the Family Gibb returned to the UK. When his brothers were looking nailed-on for pop stardom, Andy was looking for trouble: he quit school at the age of thirteen and, armed with an acoustic guitar given to him by big bro Barry, he toured the clubs of Ibiza and the Isle of Wight (both places where his parents lived at some point). He was married, divorced, and had fathered a child before he was even out of his teens. Minor pop stardom came a-calling when he returned to Australia, but it was when Bee Gees manager, Robert Stigwood, signed him to his label and persuaded him to relocate to Florida that things really started to take off for Andy Gibb.
With Barry producing, and Joe Walsh guesting on guitar for a couple of tracks, Andy’s debut album, ‘Flowing Rivers’, sold over a million copies and, by the time the lead single from his second long player, 1978’s ‘Shadow Dancing’, hit the top spot, he had become the first male solo artist to have three consecutive Number One singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He dated Dallas star, Victoria Principal, starred on Broadway in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, sang with Queen (on a version of the song, ‘Play The Game’, which has never seen commercial release, with some believing that a recording doesn’t actually exist), and co-hosted American television music show, Solid Gold. He would, however, be fired from both the television and Dreamcoat gigs due to absenteeism, with the blame laid firmly at the door of his cocaine binges. The fall was rapid. Guest appearances on US shows Gimme A Break! and Punky Brewster followed, as did gigs in Vegas, but Andy was now tabloid fodder; the Betty Ford Center now a date on his tour itinerary.
In early 1988 it was announced that Andy would become an official member of the Bee Gees – the six-legged tooth machine mutating into quite the quartet – but it was never to be: just two days after his thirtieth birthday in March of that year, Andy was hospitalized in Oxford complaining of chest pains. He died on March 10th as a result of myocarditis; an inflammation of the heart muscle caused by years of cocaine abuse.
Dying young is a sad by-product of rock ‘n’ roll excess the history of which many of you are well-versed in, I’m sure; but I am here to wax lyrical on music-related memorabilia (I had to get there eventually!) so I have to roll everything back to 1979, when Andy was on the covers of teen magazines, on the walls of pop-smeared children’s bedrooms, and on the Toy Fair brochures of the Ideal Toy Company.
Now, there’s a saying amongst the elite of vintage toy collectors that goes, and I’m paraphrasing here, “buy mint and you buy once, buy not mint and you buy many times.” I’m not sure of the exact words because I always scoff when I hear it as, in my humble opinion, it is utter bollocks. Who wouldn’t pick up something über-cool for their shelf because some bloke on the internet has one in better condition? Not me, and that’s why I back-flipped all the way to Nerdtopia when I found myself a vintage Andy Gibb doll.
In 1979, Ideal graced the toy shelves of the coolest US stores with the Andy Gibb ‘Disco Dancin’ With The Stars’ doll. There is, in collector circles, many a debate over whether a toy is a doll or an action figure: never call a middle-aged white guy’s Action Man a doll for Gawd’s sake! Well, let me tell you, the Disco Dancin’ Andy Gibb toy is a doll. He came packaged in neon-littered box art with the supreme tagline: “move him to a disco beat on his dancin’ disc!” Yes, the disco dance stand that came packaged with the doll would actually move mini-Andy’s feet so that it looked like he was actually disco dancing. Sublime Seventies innovation, right there.
Thing is, I don’t have the box. Or the stand. Forgive me, men in sensible footwear in village hall toy fairs the length and breadth of the UK. I do have a mint condition Andy Gibb ‘Disco Dancin’ With The Stars’ doll still attached to its original box inlay, though, so I guess I’m still a winner at life. Also, someone, in their confused wisdom, decided that penning “one of the Bee Gees” on the back of said box inlay was going to help with the identification of this toy. All it did, however, was make me love it even more. Who needed to read that curious inscription anyway? The doll is wearing a lurid pink waistcoat with the “Andy Gibb” logo printed on it!
So let’s recap: a mint condition (save for a few age-related garment marks) Andy Gibb doll, still attached to its original cardboard inlay, wearing a white jumpsuit and pink waistcoat, and with a piece of inked graffiti completely lacking in irony administered to its forever home? Who the frig wouldn’t want one of those?! Not me!
This toy sits happily in my collection alongside the Sonny Bono, Cher, ABBA, KISS, Boy George, Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, Sex Pistols, and Elvis toys and, do you know what? They all get along. Now, if we all just got along a little better then this revolving rock that we call home would be a little easier to negotiate. Not those people who told me not to buy the Andy Gibb doll because it didn’t have the box, though – they can fuck off.
I’ll be back as soon as possible, technology permitting, with more curios from the Pop Culture Schlock collection. I might even get my studded wristband back out for the next installment. Thanks for reading, keep watching the skies and, most importantly, don’t be a twat!
Dutch rock ‘n’ rollers The Dirty Denims follow up 2017’s ‘Back With A Bang’ by releasing their brand spankin’ new long player ‘Ready, Steady, Go!’. It sees singer/guitarist Mirjam and guitarist Jeroen joined by a couple of new, denim-clad players aka Marc on bass and Suzanne on drums.
Continuing their tradition of releasing their albums in stages, 5 tracks were released as singles over a period of 6 months, this they entitled ‘Part 1’. Now, July sees the band release their full new album on CD, download and of course lovely vinyl.
This Eindhoven based band has been at it for a decade now and sound-wise they follow on where The Donnas left off. The Dirty Denims combine the traditional rock ‘n’ roll sound of The Runaways, Suzy Quatro and The Sweet with a slew of AC/DC riffs thrown in for good measure.
They claim to play ‘Happy Hard Rock’ and don’t take themselves too seriously. Lyrically, we ain’t talking ‘The Wall’ here, the likes of last year’s single ‘Last Call For Alcohol’ is a testament to that. What they do deal in is upbeat, powerhouse rock ‘n’ roll with a sound and energy that makes you want to turn the dial up a notch and party with the best of them.
With its powerhouse 80’s drums, rumbling bass and tongue-in-cheek lyricism ‘Thunder From Down Under’ tips its hat to AC/DC in more ways than one and they even throw in the riff to The Cult’s ‘Wild Flower’ for good measure. ‘Roll The Dice’ follows a similar path, with killer riffs emanating from each speaker, stabs of piano, high-powered hollerin’ and cool, gang backing vocals.
‘Turn off The Radio’ will incite you to do just that and put a damn record on! Today’s radio tunes are boring anyway, right? The Dirty Denims know that and so do you! Here, we are in prime power pop Donnas territory. Urgent, anthemic and melodic, just the way we like it. Elsewhere, ‘Creatures Of The Night’ is not the Kiss classic, but it crunches nicely and powers through, a solid traditional 80’s rocker that stands on its own two feet.
‘Band Not a Brand’ is killer, bubblegum pop full of handclaps and organ riffs. It’s their Saturday morning kids TV theme, a middle finger to high street stores that sell Ramones shirts to Instagram influencers who wouldn’t know ‘Road To Ruin’ if it smacked them in the face. It’s also the best and most commercial song they have released to date.
‘Messin Around’ adds cool handclaps and percussion to the sound. This mixes well with Mirjam’s high octane hollerin’ and Jeroen’s token AC/DC riffage to give 70’s footstomping glam nostalgia.
They like ‘Last Call For Alcohol’ so much they played it twice! The album closes with a ‘Hangover Version’, stripped back and laid bare with acoustics and percussion, it’s the Sunday morning hangover remedy to the Saturday night party.
‘Ready, Steady, Go!’ is a fun, party record that does exactly what it says on the tin. The Dirty Denims are doing nothing new, they aren’t here to change the world or preach a message in these uncertain times. But if you want escapism, if you desire something old school to kick your ass into next week and to blast from the stereo while you hit the highway to Hell, then you could do no better than visit Eindenhoven Rock City for 40 minutes or so.
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