KISS FRONTMAN PAUL STANLEY ON WHY THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS WILL NOT BE PERFORMING AT ROCK HALL INDUCTION: “WE HAVE DIFFERENCES AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE DIFFERENCES”

paulstanley400 Gary Graff of Billboard spoke with KISS frontman Paul Stanley about his forthcoming autobiography and the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame induction. Excerpts of the interview appear below.

Billboard: You’re the last of the original Kiss members with a book of your own. Just a slacker?

Paul Stanley: It really had nothing to do with the band as far as being first, last, middle. It wasn’t with any of that in mind. The truth of the matter is I had sworn for, literally, decades not to write an autobiography. I always go back to George Orwell, who said the autobiography is the most outrageous form of fiction. And I would say 90-plus, 95 percent of the autobiographies by any of my contemporaries would be better suited on a roll of soft paper, so at least you could use it for something, ’cause they’re nothing more than self-serving fantasies or delusions or love letters to themselves. They serve no purpose. What I finally came to grips with was the idea that my life could be inspiring to other people… and almost more importantly I wanted something that my children could read when they got older to understand what it took for me to succeed and a better understanding of who I am and perhaps what they need in their lives to move forward. So there was a real purpose to this as opposed to just some sort of bragging rights.

Billboard: There is a lot more struggle in your book, especially in your youth, than many would expect — family dysfunction and especially the misshapen right ear and being deaf on that side. That’s something you kept quite for decades. Why?

Paul Stanley: It was too painful. You can only reveal things and you can only deal with things when you’re ready to. My experiences as a child were so debilitating and destructive that the best way for me to deal with my ear was to cover it and to, at least on the surface, ignore what was going on — although that really wasn’t an answer. Luckily, as an adult I found different ways to resolve some of those issues and also to find some surgical relief and modifications.

Billboard: So what actually went down with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and your decision not to play at the ceremony?

Paul Stanley: Oh, it starts decades go. That it’s 14 years on (of eligibility) and we’re getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a clear indication that the people who hide behind that moniker don’t like us, but it reached a point where it was so absurd and ludicrous (to exclude KISS) that they caved. But they’re only going to induct the original four (members), and bringing up the idea of inducting members other than the original four…was shut down as a non-starter. It’s a very valid argument considering that there are people who played on multi-platinum albums and played for millions of people and were very important for the continuation of the band. And clearly when you’ve got a busload of Grateful Dead (members) who have been inducted and guys in the Chili Peppers who nobody knows who they are because they played on the very earliest albums are inducted, and when the original drummer of Rush, John Rutsey, who played on a classic album, isn’t inducted. The list goes on and on of the inconsistencies. Now, I’m not pointing fingers at any of those people, but I’m certainly pointing a finger at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The only consistencies are inconsistencies and the rules clearly are there are no rules because the criteria for how and who gets in is purely based upon a personal like or dislike. And when I feel we’re being treated unfairly, I have issues with that.

Billboard: You could just play with the original four of you, of course.

Paul Stanley: They wanted the original four guys to play, in makeup. But, honestly, I don’t want to roll the dice and possibly negatively impact on what I personally have been involved in building for 40 years. I have too much invested at this point. It really is a can of worms that I feel is better off left closed. So there’s been a lot of issues, and perhaps the best way to deal with them is to celebrate the four original guys and go there and get our award and to look past the differences that will always be there. It doesn’t change the big picture; we have differences and we will continue to have differences. It doesn’t change who I want to play with and who represents KISS. There are a lot of people who are great inspirations to me, and still are, who are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and for that reason and the fact that fans want us in there, I graciously and vigorously will be there to accept the award. We should salute and enjoy an evening that celebrates what the four of us started. But there’s always a lot of cloak and dagger stuff and a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes.

Read more at Billboard.

In related news, the singer also discussed his autobiography and six-date book tour here.

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LATE KISS DRUMMER ERIC CARR’S FAMILY SAYS THE BAND STIFFED THEM ON ROYALTIES

ericcarr430 Julia Marsh of the New York Post reports:

The heirs of the late KISS drummer Eric Carr — who replaced founding band member Peter Criss — have slapped the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-bound band with a lawsuit over unpaid royalties.

Carr’s heirs say the group, including founding frontmen Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, has stiffed them on untold payments stretching back to the Brooklyn-born musician’s death from cancer in 1991.

The suit says the estate is entitled to between a 5 and 50 percent cut on four lesser-known songs that Carr wrote — Breakout, Carr Jam 1981 Car Jam 1991 and Little Caesar.

Carr joined the band — known for its Kabuki makeup and pyrotechnic stagecraft — in 1980 and recorded eight albums.

For years the heirs believed they were only due royalties from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).

“They thought they were getting it all from one source,” the estate’s attorney, Robert Garson, told The Post.

The heirs — a friend and a relative of Carr’s whom Garson declined to name — realized that they should have been receiving payments from KISS entities including the current group, two publishing firms and Gene Simmons Worldwide Inc.

Reps for KISS stonewalled his attempts for information—blaming the delays on the band’s touring schedule and overworked accountants, records show.

Included in the Manhattan Supreme Court suit is a 1989 receipt Garson unearthed from KISS Co. to Carr for over $4,000 in payments from foreign use.

Garson wants to know where those funds went following Carr’s early death.

Carr, who took the stage wearing the facial makeup of “The Fox,” joined the band in 1980 and recorded eight albums with the group.

The Rock and Roll All Night band has recently enjoyed a resurgence with Stanley releasing a biography Face the Music: A Life Exposed this month and menswear designer John Varvatos hiring the band for his spring ad campaign.

But it’s also dealing with a rift among the original quartet over a reunion performance at the sold-out ceremony for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction at Barclay’s arena on April 10th.

Hall of Fame organizers wanted the founding members to play—but Simmons and Stanley balked, claiming the performance would amount to an awkward KISS-and-make-up session with an ex-wife.

Fans are still hoping the foursome will get together for a jam session at the end of the night– ticket prices on the secondary market are up to over $2,000 each.

The band did not immediately return requests seeking comment.

**UPDATE** According to Paul Stanley’s Twitter, “Eric Carr’s family is shocked by a lawsuit filed without their knowledge or support. We will deal with this attempted scam appropriately.”

source: nypost.com

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ROCKLAHOMA 2014: NEW ZIPPO ENCORE FAN PACKAGE AVAILABLE STARTING 3/18; MISS ROCKLAHOMA CONTEST UNDERWAY; TICKET PRICES TO INCREASE 3/18

rocklahoma640 America’s biggest Memorial Day Weekend party–adds a new fan-friendly ticket option beginning March 18th, with the introduction of the Zippo Encore Fan Package For Two (see below for details). Weekend General Admission tickets for Rocklahoma 2014 are available now, starting at $109 plus fees. A limited number of VIP Rockstar and Groupie packages are still available. VIP Reserved Tickets are sold out.

Ticket prices for the May 23rd-25th festival–which features an all-star lineup of more than 50 bands, led by Kid Rock, Five Finger Death Punch, Twisted Sister, Deftones and Motörhead–will increase starting March 18 at Noon Central Time. Prices for military discount tickets, available at GovX will also increase on March 18th at Noon Central Time.

Meanwhile, the Miss Rocklahoma competition returns again this year. From now through April 18th, contestants can register at www.rocklahoma.com or a chance to be crowned Miss Rocklahoma 2014. Ten finalists will be announced in late April at www.rocklahoma.com, and fan voting will help determine who will be crowned this year’s Miss Rocklahoma live onstage at Rocklahoma 2014.

Details of the new Zippo Encore Fan Package For Two are below. For ticket prices, additional details, and to purchase Zippo Encore Fan Packages beginning March 18 at Noon Central Time, go to www.rocklahoma.com:

2 Weekend General Admission tickets (inclusive of all service charges and fees)
Meal Vouchers (2 per day)
2 Official Festival Zippo Lighters
1 one-year subscription to Revolver Magazine

The March 18 ticket price increase details are as follows:

Weekend GA – From $109 + Fees to $129 + Fees
Weekend GA 4-Pack – From $349 + Fees to $399 + Fees

The line-up for Rocklahoma 2014 is: Kid Rock, Five Finger Death Punch, Staind, Twisted Sister, Deftones, Seether, Motörhead, Jackyl, Filter, Black Label Society, Theory of a Deadman, Killswitch Engage, Skid Row, Tom Keifer of Cinderella, Hellyeah, Kix, Down, Pop Evil, Adelitas Way, Black Stone Cherry, Trivium, Texas Hippie Coalition, The Pretty Reckless, Thousand Foot Krutch, Redlight King, Skindred, KYNG, We As Human, Nothing More, Devour the Day, Heaven’s Basement, Gemini Syndrome, Butcher Babies, Eve to Adam, Truckfighters, Scorpion Child, Twelve Foot Ninja, Kill Devil Hill, Killer Dwarfs, Mandy Lion, Bai Bang, Lynam, ASKA, Black Tora, Firstryke, Mystery, Nasty Habit, Sleepy Hollow, Wicked, Down & Dirty, Loveblast, Ruff Justice, Ratchet Dolls, Ragdoll, Dellacoma, Chaotic Resemblance, Scattered Hamlet, Siren, Mach22, Tempt, London’s Dungeon, Mine Enemies Fall, Station, The Chimpz, Sleepwalking Home, Well Hung Heart, Framing The Red, Blackwater Rebellion, Dryvr, Jet West and Dirty Crush.

Rocklahoma is located just 45 minutes northeast of Tulsa, in Pryor, OK. The “Catch the Fever” Festival Grounds is a premier destination for a multi-day festival and includes onsite camping with access to restrooms and shower house, a general store for campers, VIP reserved seating, hospitality areas and much more. Camping tickets may be purchased at www.rocklahoma.com, by calling the Rocklahoma Camping Office at (866) 310-2288 or emailing info@feverfest.com. Campgrounds open on Sunday, May 18 and will remain open through noon on Tuesday, May 27th.

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ALICE COOPER WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU, ASK HIM ANYTHING AT “KEEP CALM & GO ASK ALICE”

AliceCoopertophat As previously reported, Banger Films, in association with Eagle Rock Entertainment will be presenting Alice Cooper in Super Duper Alice Cooper, a documentary that will premiere at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival and will be released nationwide on May 30th.

In order to make Super Duper Alice Cooper as interactive for his devoted fans as he possibly can, Cooper is putting together a special pre-recorded Keep Calm & Go Ask Alice Q&A that will run following each theatrical screening. In order for Alice to give some wild answers, he’ll require some burning questions from fans, so he’s inviting YOU to ask him anything now at SuperDuperAliceCooper.com (click the Keep Calm & Go Ask Alice graphic).

Once the submission period is closed, Alice will personally handpick select questions and answer them via video, serving as the aforementioned Q&A. So, do you want your question to be answered in the pre-recorded Alice Cooper Q&A running after each and every screening in the U.S.? Of course you do! Submit your questions now.

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VIDEO FROM THE “All METAL” VERSION ROCK N’ ROLL FANTASY CAMP, FEATURING MEMBERS OF JUDAS PRIEST, ZAKK WYLDE AND LITA FORD, POSTED ONLINE

judaspriestfantasycampvid_638 Judas Priest members Rob Halford (vocals), Ian Hill (bass) Richie Faulkner (guitair) and Scott Travis (drums) along side guitarist Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society), vocalist Geoff Tate (Queensryche), guitarist Lita Ford, bassist Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake), drummer Vinny Appice (Heaven and Hell, Dio) and bassist Phil Soussan (Ozzy Osbourne all participated in the initial all metal version of Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp.

The camp took place at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada from February 27th to March 2nd. Some video of the band performances can be viewed below.

To view photos from this event, please click here.

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KXM FEATURING GEORGE LYNCH, DUG PINNICK AND RAY LUZIER, RELEASE A VIDEO FOR THE SONG “RESCUE ME”

georgewlynch.dougpinnik640 KXM, the band featuring guitarist George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob, Souls of We) singer dUg Pinnick (Kings X) and drummer Ray Luzier (Korn), have released a video for the song, Rescue Me, from their self titled album due out March 11th. Watch the video below.

To learn more about KXM, and where you can purchase the CD, please click here.

The track listing for KXM is:
1. Stars
2. Rescue Me
3. Gun Fight
4. Never Stop
5. Faith Is A Room
6. I’ll Be Ok
7. Sleep
8. Love
9. Burn
10. Do It Now
11. Human Friction
12. Tranquilize (Bonus Track)
13. Rescue Me (Radio Edit) (Bonus Track)

georgelynchkxmcover640

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