Gotta have it, can't live without it. Being a huge Dylan and Zappa fan and also a proud member of the KISS Army (and a former member of KISS 2, a band I formed with my friend Scott Daniels in Maplewood West, back in the third grade), this is a dream come true: http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040223/235294_1.html Press Release Source: SIMMONS RECORDS/Sanctuary Music Group SIMMONS RECORDS/Sanctuary Music Group Set for Their Debut Release of Gene Simmons' New Solo Album Entitled ***HOLE on April 20 Monday February 23, 9:05 am ET NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 2004--SIMMONS RECORDS/Sanctuary Music Group is pleased to announce the release of the highly anticipated solo album from GENE SIMMONS entitled, ***HOLE, on April 20. The title track, "***hole," will be the first single released to rock radio on 4/15. This release will mark the second solo album from the "God Of Thunder" since his self-titled platinum solo album in 1978. GENE SIMMONS, founding member of KISS, America's No.1 Gold Record Champions Of All Time (RIAA - Group Category),has rock and rolled all night and partied every day for over 30 years and is nowhere near hanging up his platform boots. The band recently proudly released its KISS SYMPHONY - ALIVE IV on the KISS Records/Sanctuary Music Group imprint. The DVD debuted at No.1. KISS has broken box office attendance records set by Elvis Presley and the Beatles and is the juggernaut of the licensing merchandising world, with over 2,000 KISS toys and games -- from KISS Visa Cards, KISS comic books and KISS Caskets!!! Not one to rest on his laurels, the next GENE SIMMONS epoch continues, stronger than ever. Produced by SIMMONS, this forward thinking, genre splitting effort, is an ambitious musical tour-de force through SIMMONS' psyche, revealing yet another side to the multi-talented artist. "Doing a solo record is important because I write so many different kinds of songs. I literally have hundreds of songs that are demoed up that aren't right for KISS, and some songs that weren't used on KISS records I still like, like 'Carnival Of Souls' and 'Sweet & Dirty.' In assembling the album, I went and reviewed over a hundred songs that I had lying around, and then it was by process of elimination I determined what would go on the record. But at the end of the day, above and beyond style, I had to like the songs." stated SIMMONS. Like his 1978 self-titled solo album, ***HOLE is a model of versatility, drawing together an eclectic swath of styles including hard rock, blues, thrash, neo-psychedelia, Beatlesque pop, rap, prog-rock and even power ballads. "My taste is eclectic and all over the place. I love all kinds of artists, from Patsy Cline to the Beatles, Motown to Hoobastank. As for the record's stylistic diversity, I'm a child of The Beatles. They created this sort of hybrid white version of American music. They could do it all-- Little Richard, country, pop, soul, psychedelia. They had no rules. That had a major effect on me and that influence comes through on the record." SIMMONS said. Transcending genres and confounding expectations, ***HOLE resounds with a surprise at every turn. Like the artist's self-titled solo effort, a number of musical luminaries join in on the fun. BOB DYLAN and GENE co-wrote the album's "Waiting For The Morning Light." FRANK ZAPPA and GENE share co-writing credit on "Black Tongue" and the ZAPPA Family, DWEEZIL, AHMET, MOON, GAIL and FRANK ZAPPA himself sing and play guitar on the song . Other guests featured on the album include DAVE NAVARRO, ex-KISS members BRUCE KULICK and ERIC SINGER, new SIMMONS RECORDS/Sanctuary Music Group signing BAG, as well as GENE's longtime live in SHANNON TWEED and their two children, SOPHIE and NICHOLAS. Track listing is as follows (order subject to change): 1. ***hole 2. Carnival of Souls 3. If I Had A Gun 4. Weapons 5. Waiting For The Morning Light 6. Whatever Turns You On 7. Sweet & Dirty Love 8. Beautiful 9. Dog 10. Now That You're Gone 11. Black Tongue 12. I Dream A Thousand Dreams 13. Firestarter Drawing together over three decades of record making, ***HOLE is a grand, and swaggering portrait of SIMMONS in the 21st Century, a brave musical statement from a man unafraid of pushing the envelope and exploring new boundaries.
It's about damn time. Been waiting for a long time (since he mentioned it in an interview about a year ago) for this one.
Well, I'm not a Kiss fan, but I'm a huge fan of Zappa and Dylan. If they thought enough of Simmons to write music with him, then I'm going to buy it. Zappa and Dylan were/are musical genius's. (edit: "duh!") I was lucky enough to see Frank live, more than I've seen Bob. Both are underrated guitarists. Zappa was just incredible in person. He could play with anyone. I wish it showed more on his records.
Jealous of you, Deckard. Never saw Zappa live. Had to settle for Baby Snakes and the like. Seen Dylan at least thirty times though and I finally saw KISS at the Summit about six years ago. Tenth row center. Incredible.
I am also a KISS fan and am looking forward to the album. Typical Gene...I have to laugh at the album title! Personally I wish he would have stuck with the original title, "Firestarter". And yeah, my BB handle, "Deuce", is named after the song.
I knew Deuce would show up in this thread. (vague memories of Rockets pages, linked to really extensive KISS pages, in the early days of the Web... )
