NEWS UPDATE : August 2017


 

August 31 : Bob Kulick vs Gene Simmons demo Box set update From : allthatshreds.com Bob Kulick was recently interviewed by Andrew Catania from All That Shreds on the occasion of the release of his first solo album "Skeletons In The Closet", which will be released on September 15, 2017. When Bob Kulick was asked what the future holds for him to which he replied: “Gene Simmons had contacted me about releasing a box set of songs that he had written back in the day of which I have 4-5 songs which may end up on his box set. That should be out next year.” >> READ THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW CLICKING HERE <<

August 19 : The WIRES digital single "Tonight" feat. Bruce Kulick From : KISS Related Recordings (Thorbjörn Brorsson) Today another Swedish band released a song on Spotify that features Bruce Kulick on guitar. The name of the band is THE WIRES and the song is titled "Tonight". At the moment there's no information about a possible physical release.

August 15 : HIRSH GARDNER talks about upcoming WARRIOR disc .. From : From : KISS Related Recordings September 15, 2017 Cherry Red Records will release (Vinnie Vincent’s) WARRIOR album, which contains the original finished 1982 studio recordings, as well as 5 instrumental versions, plus 5 rehearsal tracks featuring Fergie Frederikson on lead vocals instead of Vinnie Vincent himself. Prior the WARRIOR release, drummer Hirsh Gardner will release his second solo album “My Brain Needs A Holiday” on August 25. For this website a good reason to do an interview with WARRIOR drummer Hisrh Gardner to ask some questions about his days with Vinnie Vincent, as well as about NEW ENGLAND, which 1979 debut album was produced by Paul Stanley'. KRR : When did Bill Aucoin discovered the band NEW ENGLAND, and was he responsible the band got signed at Infinity Records …, and if yes, why Casablanca (Neil Bogart) was not interested (probably because they were more into disco at the time, and already had ANGEL ?) HIRSH GARDNER: …… well the answer to your question is yes Bill Aucoin was very instrumental in hooking us up with Infinity Records. Ron Alexenburg was formerly the head of CBS records and was given an enormous amount of money to start his own independent label distributed by MCA. But the story goes a little further than just auditioning for Ron and getting the deal with Infinity Records. We had a rehearsal studio just a little south of Boston where we initially auditioned for Bill Aucoin. Bill started bringing record labels to our small studio to audition the band. Neil Bogart of Casablanca was not one of those who came to the studio but I'm sure Bill had had conversations with him about signing the band. KRR : Now the WARRIOR recordings gets a proper release at Cherry Red Records, I’m wondering who decided the time is right. Except for the Fergie Frederikson (RIP) rehearsals, after the tape trading circuit (80’s/90’s), all songs circulate on the internet for years … So I think it’s interesting to know who’s responsible that the WARRIOR recordings finally will be released officially … Did the label contact you ? Or did one of you did contact Cherry Red Records … Or is it Vinnie Vincent himself who decided the time is right ? Are you still in contact with Vinnie ? HIRSH GARDNER: I really did not have anything to do with the release of the Cherry Red recordings. KRR : To me it’s very cool that Fergie Frederikson is involved too … I’m sure most of us didn’t know that. After Trillion, Frderikson signed with Casablanca Records, and released an album under the alias of David London. In 1981 he worked with Gregg Giuffria in hopes of a possible new ANGEL album under a new line-up. Probably Bill Aucoin suggested to bring in Fergie Frederikson to allow Vinnie to concentrate more on guitar ?? HIRSH GARDNER: … actually we did not have anything to do with Bill Aucoin at that time. We had parted ways with Bill Aucoin in the midst of our third New England album, "Walking Wild". While we were rehearsing with WARRIOR in LA we had several singers including Fergie, Robert Fleischman among others audition for the band. I kept telling Vinnie over and over and over again, dude, none of these people can sing your songs as well as you can. Thus begins the stubbornness that surrounds the Vinnie Vincent story that we've all heard about. KRR : What can we expect of your new album “My Brain Needs A Holiday" (release date August 25, 2017) ? HIRSH GARDNER: I think this album really shows a lot of diversity in my Productions. There are kick ass rockers like Do Me Do Me and My Brain Needs A Holiday and then I do a complete left turn with a song like Diamond Moon. I have a lot of very eclectic influences. For instance one of my favorite all-time singers is the country singer Vince Gill whom I worship as a lead vocalist. At the same time I have a song like Git It Back which feature is Ron Bumblefoot Thal on guitar that is very industrial in nature. It's actually me playing live drums but I'm using the track as a loop also combining some synthesizer bass Loops as well. And then there is Love Is which the first three quarters of that song are an acapella performance with me singing about 60 tracks of vocals. But the bottom line is it's definitely a rock album that anyone that enjoys AOR melodic rock will probably love... I hope!!!! >> READ THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW CLICKING HERE <<

August 11 : RONNIE MONTROSE 10x10 (Eric Singer) release date From : KISS Related Recordings Rhino (USA) will release RONNIE MONTROSE's long-awaited final album, "10x10" on September 29. Before his untimely death in 2012, renowned American rock guitarist Ronnie Montrose began recording an ambitious passion project with bassist Ricky Phillips (Styx, Bad English) and drummer ERIC SINGER (Kiss, Alice Cooper). The idea was to record 10 songs with 10 different singers and call the album 10X10. Sadly, Montrose was unable to see the album through during his lifetime. Instead, Phillips made it his mission to finish the songs by enlisting a small army of Ronnie’s musician friends to record the vocals and the guitar solos for each song, completing the album in recent years. March 29, 2005 KISS-Related-Recordings got the following update from Ronnie Montrose. "I've finished rough mixes of tracks to present to 10 of my favorite singers and have each one contribute lyrics and vocals to some incredible “Power Trio” tracks that Ricky Phillips (bassist – Babys, Bad English, and now Styx,) Eric Singer (drummer - Alice Cooper and now KISS) and I recorded live in the studio. We have most singers on board now, and I’ll list them next month… I’ve contacted many of my old as well as new friends, and am very excited to bring this assemblage of talent together on one project… The title will be “Ronnie Montrose and Friends – 10x10.” From : melodicrock.com (2005) Not only that, but the long in progress Montrose record continues to take shape under Ricky Phillips guidance. With much of the music completed, it's now time to start recording lead vocals for the album, which is set to be an all-star affair. Musically the line-up features Ronnie Montrose on guitar, Ricky on bass and Eric Singer on drums. Guest vocalists lined up to do a track each include Sammy Hagar, Eric Martin, Tommy Shaw, Paul Stanley, Gregg Rolie and more. The style of the album says Ricky "is old school 70's heavy rock n roll...no overdubs, no computers...". From : KISSfaq (2005) Paul Stanley was also suggested to be involved musically with Ronnie Montrose. In July 2005 Paul announced that he expected to be recording the guest vocals for a Montrose song. He said, "Barring any unforeseen contractual problems, I'm hoping to do it since Ronnie Montrose is a friend and killer guitar player. The first album by the original lineup of Montrose is one of my all-time favorites" (melodicrock.com). The tracks Ronnie Montrose had done, that needed lead vocals, had been recorded during the summer of 2003 with Eric Singer and bassist Ricky Phillips. Ronnie commented in 2004, "I'm now working on bringing 10 of my favorite singers together to each contribute lyrics and vocals to some incredible 'Power Trio' tracks that Ricky Phillips and Eric Singer and I recorded live in the studio last summer. The tentative title will be 'Ronnie Montrose and Friends - 10x10' and the complete list of singers will be listed here as soon as everyone is on board... I've contacted many of my friends, and am very excited to bring this assemblage of talent together on one project" (RonnieMontrose.com). Unfortunately, within a few months Paul Stanley's involvement was cancelled, apparently because he wasn't happy with the song. >> CLICK HERE FOR TRACK LIST and FULL ALBUM DETAILS <<

August 5 : Tommy Thayer recalls surprise recording encounter with Bob Dylan From : Jay Gilbert (Coffee-talk) KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer was recently interviewed by Jay Gilbert and asked about his favorite “industry moments.” Thayer replied: “Gene Simmons wrote a song with Bob Dylan and I’m guessing it was around 1991. One day I got a call from Gene and he says, “Get a drummer and a keyboard player and meet me down at Cherokee Studios at 7pm tonight, we’re going to record a song I wrote with Bob Dylan.” I’m like wow, seriously? I brought my Les Paul and two acoustic guitars, a 6 and a 12-string that I borrowed from my buddy Marc Ferrari. I get there and sure enough in walks Bob Dylan and his girlfriend. Suddenly I’m thinking it’s Bob Dylan, the guy who influenced the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, unreal. He says let me show you the chord changes and we proceed to pass the 12-string acoustic back and forth. It seemed like one of the most surreal thing I’ve ever experienced. He was quiet and eccentric but friendly. The thing that stood out to me more than anything was Gene. He won’t mind me saying this, but I’ve never seen Gene be anything but “I’m Gene Simmons and I’m the center of the universe,” but around Bob Dylan, he was like a kid just happy to be in the room. I do remember taking the strings off the 12-string the next day before I gave it back to Marc. I still have those strings.” You can read the rest of the “Coffee Talk with Tommy Thayer” interview at Jay Gilber's website. From : KISS Related Recordings The song Tommy Thayer is talking about probably is "Laughing When You Want To Cry". which was once been known as a Gene co-wrote with the legendary Bob Dylan. According to Gene, "Bob came up with the chords, most of them, and then I took it and wrote lyrics, melody, the rest of it.... We understood each other right away. He picked up an acoustic guitar, and we just tossed it back and forth, 'How 'bout this, how 'bout that?' And he started to strum, because he -- at least with me -- tended to talk and strum guitar at the same time. And as soon as I heard the first three or four chords, I went, 'Wait, wait, what's that? Do that again.' So I went and started to write a lyric around that" (Billboard.com). A re-recording of the song ended up on Gene Simmons 2004 solo album "Asshole" with the song title changed to "Waiting for the Morning Light".  Maybe the original recording with Bob Dylan will end up on Gene Simmons box set, which is planned to be released later this year.

August 1 : Swedish fan release KISS tribute song feat. Bruce Kulick From : KISS Related Recordings (Thorbjörn Brorsson) Swedish KISS fan Anders Cronzell has been a musician and songwriter for 20 years and Kiss has always been his favorite and inspiration. At KISS Kruise V (2015) Anders  met Paul Stanley and he bought Paul's guitar. On that guitar he wrote the song "Rock 'n Roll Keeps You Young" as a tribute to his heroes. Later on he met Kiss again at a meet and greet and he gave them an USB containing the song. Paul told him he liked it. He continued to work/write on the song together with producer Uffe Nilsson. Then he got in contact with Bruce Kulick and asked him if he wanted to play on the song. Bruce accepted, so now Bruce is the lead guitarist on the finished product. August 8th "Rock 'n Roll Keeps You Young" will be released on Spotify (and other digital platforms). At this moment there is no physical release planned but it might be physically released in the future. The tribute song will be released under the name "Cronzell".