- Title: UK: U.S. rockers Kiss launch "Monster" book, with over 4000 USD price tag.
- Date: 3rd July 2012
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JULY 3, 2012) (REUTERS) ***BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** WIDE OF U.S. BAND KISS HOLDING UP "MONSTER" BOOK CLOSE UP OF BOOK, THEN CLOSE UP OF KISS LEAD SINGER AND RHYTHM GUITARIST PAUL STANLEY, THEN CLOSE OF KISS BASS GUITARIST AND SINGER GENE SIMMONS WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE WITH KISS (SOUNDBITE) (English) KISS BASS GUITARIST AND SINGER GENE SIMMONS, SAYING: "Let's put it bluntly. It's not a cheap book because it's handbound, hand put together. It's the Rolls Royce of books. We'll see how many people want them and we'll figure out the details later. We're not really great planners. It always seems as if Kiss has some sort of master plan figured out. We really don't. We sort of take it as it comes and we react to what our fans want. (They are) our boss." WIDE OF FIRST PAGE OF BRITISH EDITION OF "MONSTER" BOOK (SOUNDBITE) (English) KISS BASS GUITARIST AND SINGER GENE SIMMONS, SAYING: "There was a rumour somebody said something very stupid. It struck us like (pretend to jumps up in his seat) 'What?' How do I say this in French? Are you fucking kidding me? We're having the time of our lives. We may have one of the best records we've ever done, produced by Paul by the way." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) KISS LEAD SINGER AND RHYTHM GUITARIST PAUL STANLEY, SAYING: "We don't do anything small and we wanted to do a book that chronicles and pays tribute to the last 40 years. Not only our 40 years, but our involvement with our fans so we picked some really remarkable photos over the years and put it in this 40 pound (18 kgs) book. It's interesting because the book is over three feet tall and some people would say it's a coffee table book. But really it's a coffee table, if you put legs on this thing, it's astounding, but we're really proud of it." VARIOUS OF KISS SIGNING "MONSTER" BOOK THEN HOLDING IT UP FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) KISS LEAD SINGER AND RHYTHM GUITARIST PAUL STANLEY, SAYING: "What we take for granted is the fact we live in a free country. Over here in England, it's much the same. A free country's greatest national treasure are the people who keep it free. And it's amazing these people go overseas to fight on our behalf and they come back and not only do they get a heroes' welcome, they don't get taken care of like they should." FRONT COVER OF "MONSTER" BOOK BEING CLOSED (SOUNDBITE) (English) KISS LEAD SINGER AND RHYTHM GUITARIST PAUL STANLEY, ON THE ALBUM WHICH HE ALSO PRODUCED, SAYING: "The album's great. It's great on so many levels. Bands who have been around a long time try to recapture what they once were. Bands go into the studio and try to sound like they once did. We wanted to make the album that sounds like we never did. Something that's far beyond anything we've ever done. I listen to it and I'm proud far beyond proud."
- Embargoed: 18th July 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVAD936EHU65SOB9FPAI06303D13
- Story Text: EDITORS NOTE - HEAVY USE OF FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY / GRAPHIC LANGUAGE IN SHOT 6 / RESENDING WITH FULL SCRIPT / GRAPHIC USE OF BAD LANGUAGE IN SCRIPT Never ones to do things small, glam rockers Kiss unveil three foot tall (one metre) book that lives up to its name "Monster", with an equally large price tag of more than 4000 U.S. dollars (2,742 British pounds). Kiss also talk about their upcoming 20th studio album and why Tom Cruise cannot join the band.
U.S. rockers Kiss launched their coffee table book, which they jokingly said could be a coffee table due to its overly large size and weight, appropriately entitled "Monster" in London on Tuesday (July 3).
The book weighs 40 pounds (18 kgs), stands at three feet (one metre) tall and costs 4,299 USD (2,742 GBP).
The photographic book looks back at the band's 40 years on the road and was named after their upcoming 20th studio album, their first in three years, produced by lead singer and rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley.
There will be special editions for various countries they've toured and only 1000 of the books will be released, with the possibility of more being launched, depending on the books' success.
Bass guitarist and vocalist Gene Simmons defended the hefty price tag at a news conference.
"Lets put it bluntly. It's not a cheap book because it's hand bound, hand put together. It's the Rolls Royce of books. We'll see how many people want them and we'll figure out the details later. We're not really great planners. It always seems as if Kiss has some sort of master plan figured out. We really don't. We sort of take it as it comes and we react to what our fans want. (They are) our boss," he said.
A copy of the book will be auctioned to raise money for charity Help for Heroes, with the band's performance at a gig at The Forum in the British capital on Wednesday (July 4). All proceeds of the concert will go to the charity.
"What we take for granted is the fact we live in a free country. Over here in England, it's much the same. A free country's greatest national treasure are the people who keep it free. And it's amazing these people go overseas to fight on our behalf and they come back and not only do they get a heroes' welcome, they don't get taken care of like they should," said Stanley.
Taking on dual roles as musician and producer, Stanley said their upcoming album "Monster" aims to go where the band haven't been before.
"The album's great. It's great on so many levels. Bands who have been around a long time try to recapture what they once were. Bands go into the studio and try to sound like they once did. We wanted to make the album that sounds like we never did. Something that's far beyond anything we've ever done. I listen to it and I'm proud far beyond proud," he told Reuters Television.
Formed in New York city in the early Seventies by Stanley and Simmons, the band found fame with such anthems as "Rock n' Roll All Nite" and "Detroit Rock City".
Nearly 40 years on, the flamboyant, make-up wearing rockers have defied rock and roll odds. Their success is due mainly to their relentless touring and thriving merchandise sales, which range from condoms, pinball machines, to a golf club in Las Vegas.
There's even the Kiss Kruise, where 2000 fans get to ride on board a vessel from Miami to the Bahamas, with the U.S. rockers performing every night for four nights.
Slow down? Simmons says no way.
"There was a rumour somebody said something very stupid. It struck us like (pretend to jumps up in his seat) 'What?' How do I say this in French? Are you fucking kidding me? We're having the time of our lives."
He added: "Next year (it's) our 40th year, not of being together, but of touring. I remember as a kid, don't trust anybody over 30. Then I remember (Paul) McCartney saying 'Will you still love me when I'm 64?' I'm not 64 yet. McCartney's 70 now and rocking the stadiums of the world. This new music called rock, rock and roll, didn't have any rules. It was not like you had Mozart, here's the music and you have to play it exact. This is an evolving thing. Kiss is going to go where no band has gone before. (Points to camera) Write that down children."
When asked about the renewed interest in all things hard rock and heavy metal thanks to the success of musical-turned-film "Rock of Ages", Simmons approved of Tom Cruise's performance as rock god Stacee Jaxx in the film.
"When girls and guys look into each other's faces and say I love you. It's not my thing. But when Cruise was on stage it was a rock band and he could join a band," said Simmons.
When asked whether Cruise could join Kiss, Simmons and Stanley gave simultaneously a resounding "No".
"There's no vacancy here. It's like a hotel with the No Vacancy sign. We're full," said Stanley.
The "Monster" album will be released in October, with the band set to kick off a U.S. tour with fellow rockers Motley Crue on July 20. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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