NEWS HEADLINES

June 30th- Continuing its ongoing support of aspiring artists, Guitar Center (www.guitarcenter.com), the world's largest musical instrument retailer, today announced that it has teamed up with rock and roll icons KISS (www.KISSonline.com), and leading digital media company for entertainment, Eventful, for a revolutionary music program: Guitar Center On-Stage, a competition that provides unsigned bands and artists the career-altering opportunity to open for KISS on their upcoming North American tour, The Hottest Show on Earth. One band from each of twenty-two markets across the United States will be chosen to play at a KISS show. At the conclusion of the tour, KISS will choose the best of the twenty-two bands to receive the grand prize that includes a $10,000 Guitar Center shopping spree. Now through September 1, 2010, bands across the country are invited to register at GCOnstage.com. "With Guitar Center On-Stage, we are giving bands across the country the mind-blowing chance to open for one of the greatest rock groups on the planet when KISS comes to their town," said KISS. "A lot of rock's greatest bands got their start opening for KISS including AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Rush, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motley Crue among many others. Thirty-seven years ago someone gave KISS the opportunity to become the Hottest Band on Earth. Now, KISS and Guitar Center are returning the favor by offering unsigned bands the opportunity to open for KISS on The Hottest Show on Earth." June 29th- Yep. Here's another award for our show. Notice the "apostrophe" after the name. Nice. It'll look good on the mantle. Bill Aucoin was KISS' first manager from 1974 - 1983. Sadly, he passed away. Without Bill, KISS would never have happened. Friend, Mentor and fierce Defender... Bill will be missed. June 25th- New letters posted... Hi Gene! Czech republic in Europe was distributed in Czech and English language : Gene Simmons – Family jewels – The Complete Season 1. Thank you so much, Marian Cira LETTERS... June 24th- Gene Simmons was a guest on the Greg Behrendt Show and gave out some of the best parenting advice I've ever heard. New letters posted... I was at your concert at the Staples Center last year and just wanted to tell you what a wonderful son you and Shannon have. Nick was sitting two rows ahead of us and everybody was bothering him for pictures. He was so polite even moved so someone could get a better picture of him. He never once was rude even though the people were rude to interfere with his evening out with his friends. Congrats to both of you on having an extra special son. Liz LETTERS... June 21st- The Envy recently completed their new record for Simmons/Universal Records with Producer Gavin Brown (Three Days Grace, Billy Talent, Metric). Scheduled for release in the Fall, 2010. “Don’t Let Go”, the upcoming first single, was nominated for the song of the year in the Song of the Year contest (www.SongOfTheYear.com) judged by Bon Jovi and Norah Jones among others. MMVA winner for BEST DIRECTOR COLIN MINIHAN shot the video. Watch for The Envy on the road this summer, as they open for KISS on their upcoming The Hottest Show on Earth North America beginning July 23. New letters posted... Dear Gene, Your characteristic that I admire the most is the consistency of your mindset. When I look back to your interviews, no matter 10 or 20 years old, you have always firmly stuck to your beliefs which have not changed. All the best to you, Audrius LETTERS... June 19th- The fotos speak for themselves. Paul Hayeland, who works on our GENE SIMMONS AXE venture, has been driving the GS Axe Van (literallly) around the world. Across America, Canada and now, Europe. Yes. You can take pictures of yourself in front of the van. If you see it, come on up and snap. And, if you want your own GENE SIMMONS AXE, numbered and signed (each one hand made), you can order HERE. And, if you're interested in an Axe or Punisher actually played on stage, contact Paul Hayeland at: Paul@GSAXE.com June 18th- Who's that beautiful lady in red? Why, none other than SOPHIE TWEED SIMMONS..... MVP of her Volleyball team, of which she is Co-Captain. Graduation class. June 15th- Here's a preview of the new KISS ad that will be running on video screens in Times Square at 44th and Broadway! June 14th- Here's KISS in front of a record-setting crowd in Malmo, Sweden. KISS' show last night drew more people than any other concert EVER held in Malmo! June 10th- By Jade Peng    June 9th, 2010 Some of the BEST speaker-marketing ideas for making BIG MONEY as a public speaker come from outside of the speaking industry. This is a lesson many speakers miss. I've never listened to one KISS song, wouldn't have a clue of any KISS song titles and could't name one band member other than Gene Simmons. Here's why I know Gene Simmons and study him. As I was channel surfing on the television late one evening several years ago, I came across KISS band leader Gene Simmons being interviewed on a business show. That intrigued me as I thought why is band-guy on this business show? This ought to be humorous. So I thought I'd watch for a few minutes and get a good laugh. As I listened, I quickly realized Gene Simmons was nothing short of brilliant. The host asked Gene why KISS sold so many albums and continues to earn mega-millions each year while many other talented artists never seem to make it. Gene's answer was profound and made me an instant fan. He said, "?That's easy. Most artists just don't get it. While they're all out spending an enormous amount of time and money trying to craft their songs, vocals and lyrics, I was crafting a business by creating uniqueness, brand and other revenue streams!" WOW! Talk about a person who gets it! If you didn't catch-the-message then you're missing one of the most important speaker marketing lessons that can sky-rocket your speaking business and income to incredible levels. What Gene was talking about was that he didn't focus the majority of his time on the craft of being a musician. He focused the majority of his time on the marketing and business side. So what does this have to do with you as a public speaker? It has everything to do with you and your public speaking business. I'm always preaching that to new and experienced speakers that I teach in my boot camps and in my coaching programs. You're NOT in the speaking business. You're in the business of marketing your public speaking services! I don't care what your message is about or how good of a speaker you are, if you're not focusing 90% of your time and energy on positioning and marketing yourself and your uniqueness while creating multiple streams of speaking income, then you will make mediocre money. My friend Alexandria Brown (aka, The E-Zine Queen) always says, "The marketing is more important than the mastery!". How true that is. It doesn't matter how great you are at the craft, in this case delivering a presentation. If you can't effectively market yourself to close bookings and get event coordinators to give you money, then you will experience frustration as a public speaker. From this moment forward, always focus the majority of your time and energy on the marketing, not the craft and watch your public speaking business soar to new heights you dreamed of reaching! June 9th- Here's KISS on stage in front of 90,000 fans at Rock Am Ring last Thursday night. June 8th- Trick or Treat is not, as you may have guessed (wrongly) the movie of the same name I appeared in. This Trick or Treat was a program that had various people opening bags and commenting on them... Here's mine. June 5th- GuitarHero.com    June 4th, 2010 All-New Story-Based Quest Mode Voiced By KISS' Gene Simmons. This fall, living room legends and their friends will join together and embark on an epic rock journey to save rock n' roll with Activision Publishing, Inc.'s Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. The latest installment in the world's most popular music game series, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, will once again redefine music gaming with an all-new, story-driven Quest Mode, a completely redesigned rock-inspired guitar controller, the biggest on-disc selection of rock music ever in a Guitar Hero game and Quickplay+, which invites challenge-starved fanatics to test their rock skills in any of the on-disc or over 500 songs in the Guitar Hero Music Library. In Quest Mode, using any combination of instruments, players will embark on a larger-than-life, epic rock journey from the stage of CBGBs, the infamous punk-rock club in New York City, to the molten lava fields of rock treachery as eight Guitar Hero characters transform into rock warriors that must join together to use their unique, game-changing powers to help the Demi-God of Rock take down "The Beast" and save rock n' roll. "The world is a boring place. Come with me, and enter a world populated of Demi-Gods and Beasts. Transform from an everyday person and become the savior of rock and roll," said Gene Simmons of KISS. "It was an honor and privilege to narrate Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, even more so, to voice the Demi God. From the God of Thunder to the Demi-God, how cool is that..." Delivering the largest on-disc rock music set list to-date, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock features more than 90 tracks including KISS' "Love Gun." New letters posted... Hey Gene! This is in response to Brad's letter about taking his Axe Bass to the bar and having the bass player plug it in. I thought that was really cool Because I realize that most people who buy the Axe want to put it on the wall like a piece of art, which is fine because a beautiful piece of art it is. Although, it's such a quality instrument that I keep thinkin in the back of my head that if it never gets played it's like buying a Ferrrari and parking it in the garage without ever starting the engine. I too bought an Axe and the first thing I did when I got it home was run downstairs, plug it in, crank the volume to 10, bang on the b and let her ring. It was awesome!! People out there who have an Axe or plan to buy one promise me you'll let her sing at least once before it goes on the wall. Thanx Gene and thank you Brad. You Rock! Rock out, Billy LETTERS... June 3rd- All new episodes of GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS coming in July!

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