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December 29
: Online KISS Tribute Music From the FAQ Volume III
From:
KISS Fan Tributes (Mike)
The deadline for submitting songs for Music from the FAQ Volume
III is January 31st, 2009. The compilation will be available for
download within a day or two after that date.
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December 20 :
ACE FREHLEY: Album Artwork, Title To Be Unveiled In Two Weeks
From:
Blabbermouth.net
Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley revealed last night (December
19) during an appearance on Eddie Trunk's "Friday Night Rocks" radio
show on New York's Q104.3 FM as part of this year's edition of "The
Original Merry Kissmas Special" that he will unveil the artwork for
his long-awaited new solo album via his newly launched web site,
AceFrehley.com., on January 5. The CD is tentatively due in the
spring.
In an early 2008 interview with Billboard, Frehley stated about
his forthcoming solo album, "Basically, I'm trying to get back into
the mindset I was in when I did my first solo record [1978's 'Ace
Frehley']. That record seemed to have all the elements everybody
liked — a real cool instrumental, a hit single, some real heavy
rockers, a nice variety of different genres of music."
Among his favorite new tracks are "A Little Below the Angels",
hard-rocking "Pain in the Neck" and an instrumental called
"Fractured Quantum", which is a follow-up to his previous
instrumentals "Fractured Mirror" and "Fractured Too". Another
favorite is "groove song" titled "Genghis Khan", which he likens in
tone to LED ZEPPELIN's "Kashmir".
Frehley told
MyrtleBeachOnline.com
that he's shooting for 12 tracks on his next album, his first in
18 years. Studio work has spanned several months, and some of the
songs go back 12 years.
Frehley recently spent time on the road fronting a band that
featured second guitarist Derek Hawkins, drummer Scot Coogan
(ex-BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION) and bassist Anthony Esposito (ex-LYNCH
MOB)..
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December 16 : new
BALANCE (Bob Kulick) album on Frontiers Records
From:
Frontiers Records
Frontiers Records are proud to announce the return of Balance with
the release of the band’s anticipated new album, entitled
“Equilibrium”, on February 20, 2009.
The melodic rock and AOR scenes are both made up of legendary
albums and bands, which, as time goes by, become even more respected
among the community of fans. Balance are exactly one of these bands,
whose name and reputation, like good wine, has stood the test of
time for more than two decades. Formed at the end of the 70s by
three promising talents out of the NY music scene: singer Peppy
Castro (formerly of The Blues Magoos, Wiggy Bits and Barnaby Bye),
the classically trained keyboardist Doug Katsaros and guitarist Bob
Kulick (who had already appeared as a guest musician on Kiss
recordings and on the Paul Stanley solo album in 1978 as well as
playing in Meat Loaf’s band), Balance soon inked a deal with
Portrait Records who released the band’s first eponymous
album
in 1981.
While the songwriting and production quality shone all over the
record and the band were immediately on the same level as
contemporary luminaries such as Toto, Survivor or Journey, the album
for which Balance are still today highly regarded is the follow-up,
“In For The Count”, released in 1982. The line-up was completed by
former Speedway Blvd. member (the band that also featured the future
Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess) Dennis Feldman on bass and
Chuck Bürgi (ex-Brand X and later with Rainbow and Red Dawn) on
drums. On “In For The Count” the band kicked in with heavier guitars
and outstanding production skills, with a song writing talent that
was not afraid to experiment while still keeping their strong
melodic rock trademark intact.
In a perfect world that record should have catapulted Balance to
the same level of popularity as Journey, Foreigner or Survivor,
however fate and the label’s lack of support decreed the end of the
band. As proof of the multi-talented artists involved in Balance,
all members went on to brilliant careers in music in the following
years. Kulick continued collaborating with the members of Kiss and
Meat Loaf and went on to form
SKULL
and
MURDERER'S
ROW, before becoming a Grammy Award producer in L.A. Katsaros
played, sang & arranged for Kiss, Rod Stewart, Cher, Bon Jovi,
Sinéad O'Connor and Aerosmith among others and worked in several
rockin' Broadway shows, including The Rocky Horror Show and
Footloose. Peppy collaborated and sang on records by Diana Ross,
Kiss, Laura Branigan and
MICHAEL BOLTON before starting to work in the jingles business.
The three of them kept in touch and had the chance to work
together on several projects, however they could never resume the
Balance concept and complete their musical circle, so as soon as
they got a proposal from Frontiers Records, and after the recent
reissue of their classic “In For The Count” album on Rock
Candy/Universal, they decided the time was right to start working
again, in Doug Katsaros words, on ‘tunes mostly originally written
for a third album, and shelved at the collapse of the record
company’.
Completed with the help of Bret Chassen on drums (who also
co-produced the album together with Bob Kulick), the resulting
album, “Equilibrium”, is truly a labour of love: a record written
and crafted with the highest respect for the fans and the same
enthusiasm as the old days, bringing back the trademark sound and
updating it to the production techniques and taste of the new
millennium. “All the guitars, vocals, synths and mix sounds are
based on the original two records”, explains Katsaros, “we took
great care in making certain there was nothing that could not have
been performed in the 1980s, even the sequences. Also, the songs are
authentic to the time period, since most of them were written in the
time period! And we always had astonishing background harmonies and
Peppy and I worked hard to keep that up as well. And you can't beat
using the original members to get an authentic sound! It was also
great fun to recreate the whole blend of a tight intricate keyboard
part as a counterpoint to Bobby's brilliance.” .
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December 16
: GENE SIMMONS: 'I Know How To Make Things Happen'
From:
Blabbermouth.net
A three-minute video report from Rhonda Nye of Citytv.com's "City
Scene" on KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons' recent visit to
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to unearth more talent that will be signed
to his new record label can be viewed below. Nye talks to two bands
that were handpicked to play for him — Red Deer's SOUL SIDE IN and
Edmonton's TURN IT UP.
Simmons is reportedly relaunching his dormant Canadian label,
Simmons Records, in a joint venture with Magna car parts heiress
Belinda Stronach and Universal Music Canada. Simmons told the
Toronto Star: "I have a new business model that will get Canadian
bands out on tour, onto television and into the world's mainstream.
The idea is to have the bands we sign develop a strong Canadian
identity first in Canada, then move them onto the world stage. For
years, the only way Canadian acts could make it was to go to the
States and more or less become an American band. In the new music
marketing age, that doesn't have to happen." He added: "Canadian
labels have been trying to do something like this for years. What's
different this time is me. I know how to make things happen."
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December 16 :DEE
SNIDER, BRUCE KULICK, JOHN CORABI, BOBBY ROCK, RUDY SARZO: 'Monster
Circus' Video Footage Available
From:
Blabbermouth.net
/
Kulick.net
Dee Snider (TWISTED SISTER), Bruce Kulick (KISS), Rudy Sarzo (OZZY
OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT, WHITESNAKE, DIO) and Dave Kushner (VELVET
REVOLVER) are among the musicians who took part in the first Monster
Circus performance in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Hilton on December 9.
The band played a set of some of the greatest songs of all time with
a "Las Vegas twist!"
Video footage available at YouTube.com
-
We're Not Gonna Take It
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Dream On
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Bang Your Head (Metal Health)
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Paradise City (1)
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Paradise City (2, excerpt)
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Highway To Hell (excerpt)
Kulick last week issued the following recap of the event: "Well,
the big day came and went fast, and it was simply amazing. No one
really knew what to expect (including me) but the idea of having
great players rocking on stage backed by a totally cool Vegas style
experience was pulled off without a glitch at the Hilton in Las
Vegas on December 9.
"'Monster Circus' was formed by Tony Montana (GREAT WHITE), Rudy
Sarzo and John Corabi (ex-MÖTLEY CRÜE). These three asked Bobby Rock
(SLAUGHTER, VINNIE VINCENT INVASION) to play drums and myself to
join them on stage, with Dee Snider and Dave Kushner as the special
guests to play nine classic hits along with a great show that
included fire breathers, pyro, dancers and tight rope style
performances in a totally Vegas over-the-top manner.
"The Hilton stage, home to Barry Manilow of late but most famous
for Elvis Presley from his Vegas years, was simply put an amazing
place to perform. Using Elvis's dressing room and getting a tour of
some of the private rooms built for Elvis for his famous
performances was quite a thrill.
"The band rehearsed in L.A. for a week and then it was off to
Vegas for a day and a half of rehearsal with the dancers etc. It was
a miracle how quickly it all came together.
"Admission to the show was free for agents, fans and press alike,
all were definitely impressed, and I was very proud of everyone
involved. Dee Snider is a great performer, and I was very proud of
John and the band for being tight and exciting.
"The way 'Monster Circus' is set up, the band can have different
members rotate in and out depending on the individual players'
schedules, and I look forward to a chance to do the show again when
possible. So let's hope it gets picked up in Vegas, as it is was a
great night and I got to have some fun in a place where Elvis made
history.
"Keep your eyes out for more 'Monster Circus', and I would like to
thank everyone involved again for making this a very rewarding
experience. Thanks for the invite!"
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December 7
: Bruce Kulick appears on another Christmas Album
From:
Northern Light Orchestra
Northern Light Orchestra highlights majestic, orchestrated rock
music featuring soaring vocals, incredible guitar solos worthy of
true “Guitar Hero” status, and pounding rhythms sure to impress and
invigorate the baby boomer generation that grew up on what is today
classic rock! Combined with the talents of executive producer and
longtime record mogul Russ Regan, (responsible for over 800 million
record sales with such artists as Neil Diamond, Elton John, and
Barry White as well as soundtracks such as Flashdance and Jesus
Christ Superstar), NLO is slated to become a seasonal live
performance and recording entity that provides the very best in
entertainment!
The brain child of re-mix keyboardist/writer Brian Stewart
(Backstreet Boys, Robert Plant, Hall & Oates, Poe) and produced by
industry veteran Ken Mary (House of Lords, Trik Turner, Alice
Cooper, The Beach Boys), NLO is designed to create a total musical
experience combining the powerful drama of Webber and Rice’s “Jesus
Christ Superstar” with the emotionally moving musical styles of
Electric Light Orchestra, Yes, and Kansas. Vocalists and musicians
appearing on NLO have been responsible for the sale of over 200
million albums worldwide and include members and former members of
household names such as The Beach Boys, Sly and the Family Stone,
Alice Cooper, Survivor, Steely Dan, Firehouse, Megadeth, Sister
Sledge, Quiet Riot, Vanilla Fudge, Winger, Bob Carlisle, Guns and
Roses, Grand Funk Railroad, Kiss, House of Lords, and Whitesnake
just to name a few. Live performances will highlight a spectacular
light and video presentation, theatrical movements, as well as
incredible musicianship all assembled to tell the story of the birth
of Jesus Christ over two thousand years ago.
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December 6 : Bruce
Kulick " BK3"
Studio blog update
From:
Bruce Kulick / Kulick.net (studioblog, Days 36 - 39)
These were all short days, so I am putting them all together for
all of you.
Days 36 and 37 were vocals days for me. "Life" is a great tune, that
needs a special vocal vibe. You might have noticed I sang it back in
March, but it was important to readdress.
It was sounding good but first really wanted to get another
important songs done, called "I Will Survive". This one I nailed
quickly compared to the other tune. I sang the bridge earlier in the
year, so Jeremy and I were happy with the vibe. I was doubling and
even tripling some parts for special sounds.
The next night we re-addressed "Life". After some heated
discussions regarding what can we really expect for the song from my
vocal approach, Jeremy put an acoustic guitar in my hand and said...
play and sing!!! Well it worked. Of course I was just making
believe I was playing the guitar, as you don't want the guitar in
the vocal mike, but my timing for the song came together much
quicker so Jeremy and I achieved what we hoped for. Another song
done. Phew! On both those nights Jeremy laid down some piano parts,
and they really added a cool texture to the songs.
Next trip to the studio, I did vocals for a song called "And I
Know". I originally had very sweet lyrics, and the tone of my disc
is getting a bit heavy, so I put a bit of a twist on the words, and
it was more bittersweet than the original concept.
Jeremy was happy to hear me singing out, as the rehearsals for
Monster Circus has me warming up. Because of my rehearsal schedule,
I could only get in for BK 3 recordings in the evenings from 10 till
midnight or 1PM. I really don't do well past that, as I wake up
pretty early to start my day walking the dog etc. Well, I want to
get this done, so I was there to get down to business. I sang the
chorus's and bridge and we even did some lyric changes. We will do
the verses another night, as we might tweak those lyrics a bit
then.
It is fun to be spontaneous with the words in the studio, and
sometimes you even have to finish them in the studio. (Gene did that
with us back in Sept.)
My next BK 3 session was with John Corabi. We had worked on this
song back in the beginning of the year, and it is very UNION
sounding. A great riff and very rock for sure. Only problem, John
and are are rehearsing hard for MONSTER CIRCUS and we knew it would
be a late start in the studio, and the verse lyrics were NOT
finished!
So we were brave and bold rolling in at 10PM and got the lyrics done
in an hour.
Then John was a real trooper going in and singing the song in a
powerful manner.
FINALLY we have it done, as John moved to Nashville, it has been
hard to coordinate everything for this important song. Name of the
tune is "No Friend Of Mine".
I have some future plans for a special guest guitar hero, and info
on that will be when it happens. More info with the next sessions.
PS - I know that when he is not completely happy with something,
even one word, Corabi will let it drive him crazy. Well, he kept
thinking about the lyrics for "No Friend Of Mine" and asked me if he
could grab one more session so we can update that verse and play
with the song again anyway. Fortunately the studio (Stagg Street
Studio, in Van Nuys) was available for us, and I wasn't too tired to
take a few pix of that session. He updated verse one, and then his
voice was so strong we just went ahead and sang it all again. John
sounded great, and it was a relaxing productive 2 hours of work on a
great song. Thank you John!! The UNION fans, won't be disappointed
for sure! I am done with my guest vocalists for now, but do have one
more surprise that I will let you all know about later on this
month.
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December 2
: first KISS album pianist interviewed by Rockpages.Gr
From:
Rockpages.gr
Rockpages.gr continues their year-long KISS special feature with
an interview of a KISS-related figure. This week, Bruce Foster, the
pianist behind the excellent middle section of "Nothin’ To Lose"
remembers that session in 1973! Here’s an excerpt:
Rockpages.gr: You played piano on the now KISS classic tune "Nothin'
To Lose". What do you remember from the recordings of that song?
Bruce Foster: Adding piano to "Nothin' to Lose" was an after
thought of Richie Wise, the producer. I had finished playing on some
Gladys Knight tracks and other artists. Richie was then producing,
so he had a chance to hear my range of playing styles, one of which
was like classic Jerry Lee Lewis. That may have inspired him to
combine that element with "Nothin’ To Lose". I performed that piece
as an overdub several days after the initial recording date. I think
it was a good call because it really moved the track to a place that
everyone seemed to like! I got so carried away on getting the right
approach on the barrel house glissandos that my fingers started to
bleed. I recall GENE SIMMONS coming into the room & being impressed
that there was blood on the piano keys. Whenever I saw him for years
after that he would kiddingly inspect my hands to see if I ever
figured out how to get the right effect without maiming myself!
Check the recently added interview by clicking the link below.
-
Bruce Foster (pianist on KISS 1973 "Nothin' To Lose")
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last
update : 2008-12-31 |
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News
Archives |
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New Releases |
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Misty Mountain Hop
Nov 25, 2008
Tribute To Led Zeppelin |
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PAUL
STANLEY October
21, 2008
One
Live KISS - DVD |
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KISS
August 27, 2008
Jigoku Retsuden -
Re-Recordings |
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ACE
FREHLEY
2009
Anomaly |
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MUSIC
FROM THE FAQ IIIJan
2009
A
Tribute To KISS (free download) |
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NORTHERN LIGHT ORCHESTRA
The Spirit Of
Christmas (Bruce K.) |
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Got
To Foo
October 31, 2008
a Sagafoo Tribute to KISS |
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PAUL
STANLEY October
21, 2008
One
Live KISS - DVD |
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Metal
Xmas
October 13, 2008
featuring Bruce Kulick |
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FAITH
CIRCUSSeptember
20,, 2008
Faith
Circus (Eric Carr/Bruce Kulick) |
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KISS
MY ANKH
August 27, 2008
A
Tribute to Vinnie Vincent |
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GREEKTURES OF THE NIGHT2008
A
Greek Tribute To KISS |
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ALICE
COOPER
July 25, 2008
Along Came A Spider
(Eric Singer) |
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