And for the first time ever...

A week from now, I'll be playing live with my wife!
 

 
As a KISS fan, I'm beyond excited to be part of this great project, a fundraiser for the Imagine Foundation (musical instruments for Clark County schools). To share the stage with such legends as Bob Kulick is an incredible privilege, and to play Count's Vamp'd, where so many of my old heroes regularly come to play is thrilling.
 
We've played there for the Judas Priest night in June (though we weren't on the same songs) and I can't wait to get on that stage again.
 
But the biggest thing for me is to play a song with my wife, live. After all those years, I finally got her to sing KISS!!! lol
We had our first rehearsal this pm; that was actually the first time we played an entire song together - besides a couple of times when we noodled around at home, drunk. But today...Goosebumps all the way!
 
Actually, I never felt as comfortable playing music with someone. All the stress seems to vanish.
 
That should be the last big event before we start working on the album with our producer. I still have a couple of recording studio gig/session musician gigs, but from there on, it's the album and our live band. 
 
I love Las Vegas, man...

craigb
*Sheesh!*  It's not that big of a deal, heck even I've been on stage in Vegas! 
 
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J/K!  (Though I really HAVE been on stage more than once in Vegas, a couple of times for dart events and even once with a band - TONS of fun! Wish I was there to watch. )

Actually, I think it'll be broadcasted - I don't have the details yet, though.

ampfixer
 
Will Gene show up to collect his tariff?

 
You know, I started out as a fan of Ace, but the guy is a phenomenal prick. As much as he's funny, I can't imagine what it was to be in a band with him. Peter Criss has got to be the most detestable musician/person in the business - reading his biography was an exercise in facepalming. It's one of the very few books I couldn't bring myself to finish... I despised him after a couple of pages.
 
Simmons is an odd case - he comes across as detestable on many levels, but I also have tremendous respect for him in many regards. 
 
Stanley I never cared much for, but reading his biography, he comes across as the most likeable guy of the bunch (as far as you can tell from a bio). His dedication, the way he approached his role in Phantom of the Opera in total humility, his attitude towards Simmons, his work for AboutFace... He seems a better person than the 3 others. 

I'm sure that a lot of our hero's are actually zero's in real life. I used to fantasize about meeting my guitar hero's when I was a kid; I still do. Now that I've read books and seen documentaries, such as the Eagles' doc., I've come to realize that most are ego maniacs that are socially crippled and morally bankrupt.
 
Gene Simmons is very up-front about who he is. He's also up-front about his lust and passion for control. Probably one of the smartest guys on the planet when it comes to business and monetizing fame.

SWEEEET, that's so SWEEEEET. I'm glad for you both!! :o) Really....
Don't get overly excited about it, though! NO tongue jobs, man. The add-ons look
rather cheap and lifeless, even when donated by a pig.

bitflipper
I guess I'm in the wrong age demographic, but I've never cared for KISS. I'm just impressed you can rattle off their names, and probably even know the lyrics.
 
Nevertheless, I'd happily pony up the 10 bucks if I was in town. It's for a good cause, 'cause what else are Clark County kids going to study? Croupier school?

I didn't get to hear them much in the 70's, though I was vaguely aware of them. But I was just a kid and the only music I listened to came from my parents' record collection, mostly Elvis. Then I heard Creatures of the Night when I was 11 and I was hooked. That's the album that started it all for me. My tastes evolved and as I grew older, I moved to different things, more "serious" stuff.
 
For whatever reason, a few years ago I dug out those old albums and started listening again. I love the fact that most of their music is a simple celebration of life and oneself. No tormented artist, no college poetry, no self-absorbed ramblings.
 
If I want poetry or philosophy, I'll read a book. If I want to be blown away by music, I'll listen to to classical music or jazz. Looking for depth in pop culture is likely end up in a compromise in most cases. 
 
Furthermore, reading their history, I was blown away by the level of commitment those guys showed in the early day, their professionalism (well, mostly Paul and Gene) and the discipline behind it all. Seeing how big entertainment companies such as Cirque du Soleil work, I couldn't help but trace a parallel, and as such, feel that KISS were way ahead of their time in many respect. 
 
I know many people discard them as being only image with no substance, but I think that in many cases, its actually the people that can't get past the make up and the stage show.
 
Me I like the music. Detroit Rock City, Love Gun and all those songs - to me that's all great rock and roll music, make up or no make up. I'd be pretty happy if I wrote anything like that.

Rain
 
To be honest, I've never cared much for meeting musicians and actors that I liked. I'm just not good at worshiping, even though I like to pretend, for fun, such as with Jimmy Page. I mean, he is probably my biggest musical influence, but he's just a human being. 
 
...

This was the nicest thing about GONG ... there were no stars, and taking pictures was fun and fine. And they were all well spoken, polite and more accommodating than they had to be! I don't think that I have enjoyed being with any band more than them! I specially enjoyed spending time with Gilly and Mike, however small that was!

Good on you... get someone to make a bootleg video!! please.
 
Julien

Rain
The whole thing is broadcasted - though it might be a bit long for someone to sit through: the event starts at 9pm PST and if previous years are any indication, may very well run past 4 am. But I should have links to our performances some times afterwards.

Definitely gotta catch that one ... hurry up!!!!!!!!

That's great news Rain! Hope to see a video of it someday.
What is your wife's name anyway? It's nice that you always refer to her as "your wife" but what is her stage name?
 
Also, Vinny Vincent played on my unreleased 2nd album for Planet way back in 1980. He was a great Kiss guitarist for the time he spent with them. 
 
Good luck!

I'm not Rain, but her stage name is Cassiopée, Rimshot and she even has her own Wikipedia page!  (Though they should add a picture.) 

craigb
I'm not Rain, but her stage name is Cassiopée, Rimshot and she even has her own Wikipedia page!  (Though they should add a picture.) 

Tell me about it! I worked on her Wiki a few years ago only to see a bunch of changes undone by whoever... But they must know better, right? 

I often see lots of things on Wikipedia or Discogs that I could fix or add to, but I realize that if I ever start down those paths, I may never have any free time again! LOL.
 

Just make sure they keep their drinks AWAY from the gear while they're trying to get near you!