Please stop!

[Psychonaut]

Please?


KISS’ official website (www.kissonline.com) reports that orders are now being accepted for the new KISS bowling ball. The following message has been posted at the site:



“That's right folks! A Real Bowling Ball! Hit the lanes in style and be the envy of all when you pull your KISS Bowling Ball out of your bag. Balls are shipped WITHOUT holes. If you wish to bowl with your new ball, you will have to take it to your local bowlers pro shop and have it drilled.



Sizes: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 16 lbs. Price: $139.95.”



This item will ship on December 10th. Limited quantities for the holidays.



A photo of the ball can be seen at http://www.kissonline.com/news/index.php?page=news_index.html.

 

[BlackGoat]

Looks like their bank accounts need a recharge... Who´s fanatic enough to buy that ? Oh wait, people also pay 150 USD for a ticket to see then live... Nuts.

 

[AngelWitch73]

I don´t know whether to fall on the floor laughing myself to death or cry. *shakes head*

 

[Ayeka]

I don't think any bank accounts need recharging, I swear they must be set from now til kingdom come...not that that'd stop Gene and Paul!

I must admit, I've found a grudging respect for those two for their business approach and the straight honesty that they just want our money, and know we're happy to give it to 'em. Grrrr!

 

[Wyvern]

What's so shocking? KISS long ago stop to being a shock/glam rock band to become a money making franchise like Disney, McDonalds, Microsoft, sorry if i offend someone sensibility regarding the band. I never like them anyway.

 

[sixxswine]

I saw those too. I'm embarrassed, to have been(once) a card carrying member of
the KISS Army of Jackasses...
Sixx

 

[Ayeka]

What's so shocking? KISS long ago stop to being a shock/glam rock band to become a money making franchise like Disney, McDonalds, Microsoft, sorry if i offend someone sensibility regarding the band. I never like them anyway.

I get the impression there was never any doubt about it from when they started...

 

[carnut]

next up some solo-balls from all kiss members ....

 

[tedvanfrehley]

I think it's great. It's no secret that I love KISS past present and future. I don't give a crap. Musical integrity? no way. The greatest live show on earth? YUP! (my opinion) I dunno. KISS has always kept the child within me alive and I love 'em for it. I think, as AYEKA said, that as long as they are up front about wanting your money..so be it! It's all these bands that claim to be all about the music but really are all about the benjamins that make me nauseous. Gene is honest about caring about money above all else...what else can ya do? Nobody has to buy the stuff.

KISS is still the greatest show on earth. Until VH brings Dave back. hehehe
Love ya!
Mean it!
Ted

 

[sixxswine]

AYEKA said, that as long as they are up front about wanting your money..so be it! It's all these bands that claim to be all about the music but really are all about the benjamins that make me nauseous. Gene is honest about caring about money above all else...what else can ya do? Nobody has to buy the stuff.
Ted

Gene makes me sick, he's like a walking "sound bite." He's so predictable &
contrived. I like him better when he's not saying anything. They will keep cranking stuff out as long as the "fans" keep buying this crap.
What's next an Eric Singer & Tommy Thayer ball too?!
I wish they'd take the paint off & do another non-make up record,
with either Thayer or Kulick, hell maybe even both!

 

[SoundMaster]

Well, what does one expect from middle-aged men in clown make-up? LOL


Heck, back in the day, these fools could really only be ridiculed for their poor music, childish lyrics, fake rocknroll attitude and overall clown-like aura.
Now, we can also spit on them for being true poseurs.....these guys were never really in it for the music. They're business men. Period.

Instead of selling computer products or food, the medium they used to make money was music. In many ways, they're more disgusting than the 'suits' who run the major label record companies.

 

[tedvanfrehley]

Well, you guys are gonna rip me to shreds for this but here goes: I don't think that ANY professional musicians truly care 100% about the music and not the money. I don't care if it's the poppiest pop band, nu metal, or the most death ripping hellfire satanic black acid metal band that nobody has ever heard of. There are still a couple things that every band considers. 1. IMAGE 2. MONEY Unless your favorite band has day jobs, they are probably somewhat concerned about making money at what they do. This way, they don't have to have other sources of income. If they honestly just want to share their music and not make money then they may be a great local band, but they will never be able to live off of their art. EVERY band cares about their image almost as much as their music and that makes them to a some degree, "poseurs", in that they do care about how their fans see them and what the fans are buying into. Since turning 30 a lot of things occurred to me about music. It is a business. Just like everything else. It's for this reason that I kind of let all my heroes go. These guys' personal lives are so fucked anyway that there's no sense in looking up to them. Hell, look at one of my favorites, Eddie VH. The guy can play, but is pretty much worthless in real life...can't quit drining, lost his wife, I'm sure his son is hurt by all that...I don't care what band you like...like them for the music and like or dislike the image...but to say that one band is more "poseur" than another has lost its meaning for me. I THINK THEY ALL ARE. But that's neither good or bad. Just truth. Musicians gotta make dough if all they wanna do is play music. If they had total musical purityas their first priority then they would probably just jam on weekends. i think even LEMMY is concerned about image and money. ANd I think even he would give KISS his blessing. If they can get it...get it!

Are there ANY people here that, if offered more money for whatever reason...a raise at their job, a gift, a winning lottery ticket...whatever...would ANYBODY sane not turn down more money?!?!?!?! Unless getting more money hurts you, your family, or others, then GET THE FUCKING MONEY!

Gene $immon$ has never hurt anybody....fans buy his merch by their own free will...he doesn't beat people down and take it or push drugs on the corner. Why resent him for it? I sure as hell would LOOOOOOOOOOOVE to have a bowling ball with my face on it that people would pay $140 to get ahold of. And if it pissed off people because my musical integrity went bye bye? I can't honestly say that I would give a wet dog's fart.

This is just my opinion. I don't mean any disrespect...I just think people like Simmons deserve respect. I wish I had his $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[SoundMaster]

'Tis the reason why I'm glad that some of my fav bands are so UNknown and admittedly HAVE TO work day jobs (Katatonia, My Dying Bride, Anathema). It helps to keep the music honest.


Someone commented on this in my 70s Aerosmith thread. Back when they were poor and unknown, they composed great, emotional music. Now, when they're multi-millionaires, they release cardboard music, with no soul.

I do not fault Gene $immon$ and Paul $tanley for living the capitalist dream. I do fault them, however, for pretending to be in it for the music. Or, perhaps that's my own ignorance. Have they EVER claimed to be in it for the music???!?

 

[SoundMaster]

And all that this tells us is that the world is an imperfect place.


And if that's the way it is, we should accept it. And with that said, I'll STILL always choose honest music over nonsense.
Hence, I'll rock out to early 70s Aerosmith while simaltaneously ignoring the poorer, new stuff.

 

[Unfaithfully Metalhead]

Bowling Ball ... what will be next? Kiss Hemorroidal Cream? lol ...

 

[tedvanfrehley]

Soundmaster - you are a great man. That's all I'm saying. Real honest music is out there even if it's in your own backyard...$immon$ has never claimed to be about the music. No more than Donald Trump has tried to be in the good tv business. They both wanna make money and they are not shy about telling the world. "I love cash. I want more". People buy KISS stuff and people watch The Apprentice, not for the intellectual or emotional content, but for the pure escapism and entertainment! Whether or not somebody is spitting blood, breathing fire, or saying "You're Fired!", it's purely entertainment. And everybody pays for that in some form. I like KISS. I would buy the bowling ball if I was a regular bowler and had the dough. Does that make me a jackass? Maybe, but if I have a good time with it and it takes me away from the stuff that's "no fun" then hell yeah it's a cool thing.

There's a lot to be said for real honest music. You are right about that, my friend. BUt there's nothing wrong with CLOWNS as long as they make you laugh. KISS are clowns. No doubt about it. They are whores. For sure. They are greedy. But everytime I hear 'em I feel a little better...if only for a minute or two.

 

[SoundMaster]

KISS...But everytime I hear 'em I feel a little better...if only for a minute or two.

Well, at the end of the day, that's what it's all about, right!
So, from that perspective, Kiss is doing what an artist is supposed to do: elicit an emotional response in the listener.


Anyway, I've always loved the riffs in "God of Thunder" and "Unholy".

 

[Unfaithfully Metalhead]

'Tis the reason why I'm glad that some of my fav bands are so UNknown and admittedly HAVE TO work day jobs (Katatonia, My Dying Bride, Anathema). It helps to keep the music honest.


Someone commented on this in my 70s Aerosmith thread. Back when they were poor and unknown, they composed great, emotional music. Now, when they're multi-millionaires, they release cardboard music, with no soul.

I do not fault Gene $immon$ and Paul $tanley for living the capitalist dream. I do fault them, however, for pretending to be in it for the music. Or, perhaps that's my own ignorance. Have they EVER claimed to be in it for the music???!?

I dont have a problem with a band making a living at music.. its great to make money doing what you love as long as you dont prostitute yourself like a cheap hooker on a street corner which I think Kiss tends to do... though i do like a song or two of theirs... but if they wanted to be Clowns and make money at it they should of joined the circus lol ... Plus I think My Dying Bride is becoming popular enough worldwide to make a living at it and not work dayjobs.. though im not sure... <shrugs> ...

 

[Ayeka]

Well, you guys are gonna rip me to shreds for this but here goes: I don't think that ANY professional musicians truly care 100% about the music and not the money. I don't care if it's the poppiest pop band, nu metal, or the most death ripping hellfire satanic black acid metal band that nobody has ever heard of. There are still a couple things that every band considers. 1. IMAGE 2. MONEY Unless your favorite band has day jobs, they are probably somewhat concerned about making money at what they do.

Some great posts there, mate. I think a lot of people tend to forget that bands are not charity organisations - musicians need to eat too. Pretty much every band we listen to engages in this in some form or another. It's the degree to which they do it and how far they stray musically in order to accomplish it that depends how pissed off fans get (and how much they really deserve it). I think KISS has been pretty much covered as far as this goes

 

[Wyvern]

Well, what does one expect from middle-aged men in clown make-up? LOL

Careful with that statement, King Diamond an lots of BM bands fall in that range. Nor that I care for any of them, but sometimes is dangerous to generalize.

On the other hand I think that Alice Cooper make-up is great, but I raise my eybrow really high in the case of a guy who use more eye-liner and lipstick than my mother (and please Trixx and Connie let's not start a Bret Michaels debate here, it was just an observation ).

So I don't judge KISS for their looks but for their attitude, and frankly lately with so many DVDs, boxsets and regalia Iron Maiden is trying really hard to annoy me, as an example (don't shoot me I'm also wearing my full-body armour )