#glam rock
The Paul Stanley KISS Bust by Illusive Originals Numbered 178 of 15,000. This was during the era when KISS took over Spencer’s, and visiting a Spencer’s store in 1996 was like entering Willy Wonka’s factory. It’s crazy that was over 20 years ago.
The simple joy of shopping malls, music stores, KISS Merchandise, and leaving the house without a phone.
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My post from yesterday got the imagination rolling, and the desire to pen to paper. In the same vein of THE SEASONS OF KISS post, I might soon start sprinkling in…
THE ITSALLFORYOUDEMON BAR GUIDE
(Nightcaps for the Kings of the Night Time World)
Avoiding obvious choices like, “Cold Gin”, and being more of a beer boy myself, this should be interesting, challenging, and fun. Most of all fun…
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Since it’s Friday, why not create a KISS related nightcap?
I present to you, “Thrills In The Night”
1 oz. Triple Sec
Blood Orange Soda
Dash of Grenadine
Dash of Peach Syrup
Now there’s your million dollar idea…THE KISS KOCKTAILS RECIPE BOOK.
Have a good weekend everyone…
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Happy March 1st everyone. We are one day closer to Spring, and one day closer to “Shandi” weather.
Enjoy…
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I have always been a Marketer’s dream. If you package something right, or place it in the right setting, I want it. From E.T. and Reese’s Pieces, to Barbasol Shaving Cream Cans with the Jurassic Park logo on it. I’m sold. The same goes for rock stars. When I heard rumor that Eddie Van Halen boiled his guitar strings? There I was, a day later, ruining sets upon sets of Ernie Balls. The Motley Crue logo came from a bottle of Löwenbräu Beer? Better pick up a six pack. Backstage photos, like this one, Lynn Goldsmith captured in 1977, have the same effect. I’m a sucker, but it’s all in fun.
Now…if they only still made Michelob with the Gold label and curvy dark bottles….
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Uploaded a new video to my YouTube Channel…Conjuring the good vibes of Spring by celebrating all that is fun with one of the greatest ‘Spring’ releases of the non-makeup years, ASYLUM.
Happy a good week everyone. Spring will be here before we know it…
For another round of NEVER BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT AN ALBUM THE SAME WAY AGAIN…
A few weeks ago, my friend Gery commented that upon seeing the LOVE GUN album for the first time at K-Mart in 1977, the album motif struck him as having a strong Southwestern influence. Peter’s bandolier, Ace’s semi-bandoliered-space suit, the lounging exotic women, the steps, the pillars, the color scheme…it all adds up. Now, I cannot stop NOT-seeing it that way. The LOVE GUN album is my favorite album cover of all time. Adding one more way to view it, only makes it that much better.
Combining it’s beauty with some Southwestern cuisine and a cold Trooper, only adds to the fun…
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My freshman year of high school, there was a video store in town that sold SUPER SAVER CD’s for $9.99. They came in super cheap packaging, clear plastic long boxes, with the compact disc at the bottom, and the CD artwork / booklet on top. My friends and I thought we hit the jackpot, when we noticed that someone at the store had mis-marked the KISS ALIVE’s for $9.99, when most double CD’s were $19.99. Both sets of ALIVE! were purchased before the store became any wiser. I remember falling in love with ALIVE! almost immediately, particularity “She” and “Watching You”. Around the same time I had a $99 JcPenny Harmony electric guitar, that I couldn’t play a lick of, but spent many nights wearing it around my neck, make believing I was in a rock and roll band to the strains of KISS ALIVE! Pretty cool to imagine, what I was doing in 1990, had been done by kids 15 years prior upon it’s release. Dreaming big dreams to the sounds of the greatest ‘live’ rock record ever.
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As the rumors are flying the end of KISS may be around the corner, with the band trademarking the the phrase, “End of the road”, I thought it was time to put pen to paper on my thoughts and feelings, imagining a world without our heroes.
WHAT DO I THINK WILL HAPPEN? I imagine Ace will become a part of the band again, and possibly Peter, resulting in a FULL MAKEUP “End of the road” World Tour featuring the four original members.
MY THOUGHTS? Don’t do it. It’s been done. We’ve seen it. We saw it happen in 1996, and it was magic. Then, we saw it fall apart. We saw it get ugly. And from that final standpoint, (hate to say this), but if the band would reunite like this, it appears simply for one last bankroll.
WHAT DO I WISH WOULD HAPPEN? Ditch the makeup. It’s time. The music of KISS is what we love. Go out, showcasing to the world the MUSIC of KISS. Lastly, bring EVERYONE back. Gene, Paul, Eric, Tommy, Bruce, Ace, Peter, Vinnie. Do a huge non-makeup show celebrating EVERY incarnation, every amazing song, every unexpected B-Side, and blow up every bomb you have left in your arsenal. Give the world KISS. In all it’s magnificent glory.
It should be interesting to see how all this plays out.
Good times ahead….
Over the weekend, my friend Mike mentioned that he loved the DRESSED TO KILL album cover for the cover’s “Gangster” tie-in. I have NEVER in all my life looked at this album cover through that lens. I have always seen the album from the Clark Kent / Superman photo shoot the band did for Cream Magazine. But, his view makes sense, especially tied in with the album title. And now, I will never look at it the same again…and that is awesome. Trading insights with fans and learning something new everyday. It’s fun to be a KISS Fan.
(Although per yesterday’s trademark, the end is nigh?)
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Uploaded a new episode of DEVEREAUX’S LABORATORY. Changing things a bit from the first episode, dropping the Podcast and going for a straight up Vlog. In this episode, Dan, Todd, Mike and myself wax the first three records and try to decide what constitutes CLASSIC KISS.
Enjoy…
Three things that have been a constant source of fun in my life are rock and roll music, toys, and comic books. When the fun of rock music crosses the record store shelf to the toy store shelf (comic book shelf), the circle of fun is complete. The magic of this crossover is what truly sparks my imagination.
I love the magic of this comic book. I think people forget Alice did it all FIRST. He created the image. He evoked the danger. He created theatrical rock and roll.
Today was pretty special. Sharing a moment of rock & roll toy store glory with the legend himself.
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THE REASON KISS FANS ARE THE BEST:
A few days ago I posted a blog about a KISS poster I remember seeing when I was 14 years old. It was around this time, I was first diving into KISS, so memories of the poster, bring back that kind of nostalgia that brings a smile to your face. The innocence of youth. The fun of rock & roll. Today, I received a package from a fellow KISS fan @ajzetro1975. The very poster from my youth, from his personal collection. HOW FREAKING COOL IS THAT?
A huge THANK YOU to ajzetro1975. This gesture was beyond cool, and this poster will forever hang in the Laboratory, and my 14 year old self will smile every time I pass it. Thank you.
Lastly…in regards to all KISS FANS (or FANS in general). Let’s face it, the internet these days can be a pretty sour place. But the thing we all share here is pretty amazing. Whether it’s Horror, Retro Toys, Motley Crue or KISS, fans share one common bond. We celebrate the ESCAPE. We celebrate the FUN. There are so many cool and creative people posting good stuff everyday it has made social media fun again, and that is what life should be about…FUN.
I know I sound like a sentimental old man, but we put up with enough garbage during the day at work or at school, no one needs it clogging up their feed. If a photo of your favorite record makes you happy…post it. If doing a vlog review your favorite movie excites you…record it. If you can imagine a cartoon picture of Eric Carr as an Anime-Fox…draw it.
Follow your bliss. Share your fandom. Put your happiness out into the world.
Have a good day everyone.
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Why is it, K-TEL Records are a little more fun when KISS appears on them?
Very K-MART, 1979.
GLORY.
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A comment was made on my Valentines Vlog, “The Season of KISS 3 - The Best Love Songs of KISS”, that “A Million To One” was one of the strongest KISS Ballads in the bands catalog. Having never looked at it this way, I decided to give it a spin last night, and listening via new ears, must completely agree. Although, I still cast my vote for “Reason To Live”…“A Million To One” wins the ballad war hands down over “I Still Love You”.
Now, the ultimate post Valentine Day question…which do you love more…CREATURES OF THE NIGHT or LICK IT UP?
PS - Anyone reading this who may be coming off of a day of depressed, anxious, or lonely thoughts about yesterday’s holiday….STOP. It’s a stupid day. You are perfect the way you are. And you don’t need anyone in your life to prove that. Go be you. Go enjoy your records. (Preferably LICK IT UP….per my answer above).
Have a good day everyone.
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I have been really digging the HOW THE BEATLES CHANGED THE WORLD documentary on Netflix. Around the time I was 13, I dove headfirst into the Beatles. They were the first band I ever considered “collecting”. That stint of soaking in every ounce of music and every bit of information I could get my hands on, while eyeballing every antique store corner, certainly paved the way to my becoming a KISS fan.
Here are some similar looking album covers, each with the first piece of merchandise I ever added to my collection for both of the greatest bands in music history. (IMHO)
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