HERE'S THE PROOF, FOLKS.
EBAY VULTURES PRETENDING TO BE FANS.
Notice how the alleged vulture actually hides his face.
Now maybe some of you will believe me.
Here I am having a chat with what seems to be a nice enough guy who kept telling me he was a fan and just wanted this for his wall -- that he would NEVER put it on Ebay.
Welcome to my world.
Was in New York with Rich Abramson and our SIMMONS ABRAMSON MARKETING entity on a number of ventures.
The story that appears under this, is one example. Though what Hedge Funds have to do with us will, for now, be kept under wraps until the proper time.
While there our GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS producer Leslie Greif and I dropped in on MTV to pitch em our scripted show. If they pick it up, we will post more info.
We stopped by TIME INC, the holding entity for maybe 100 magazines -- everything from Time to Fortune magazines -- re getting involved in our INDYCAR SERIES. There are a lot of exciting strategies being worked out on a business to business level that impacts well for both entities.
Got back to LA, close to exhaustion -- took a nap and woke up in time to put on some duds, and escort Miss Tweed, young Nick and INDY 500 Champion DAN WHELDON down the Red Carpet for US MAGAZINE's Party. All the usual suspects were there covering the event -- Entertainment Tonight, Extra and so on.
GENE SIMMONS HOUSE OF HORRORS
LAUNCHES IN JULY FROM IDW
 In July 2007, rock legend Gene Simmons takes the stage in an all-new capacity—as the mysterious master of ceremonies for his own quarterly horror anthology, GENE SIMMONS HOUSE OF HORRORS, which kicks off with a deliriously gruesome cover image by the legendary creator of Spawn, Todd McFarlane, based on an idea by Simmons.
As the flagship title for the newly-formed IDW Publishing imprint, Simmons Comics Group, GENE SIMMONS HOUSE OF HORRORS promises to bring readers the best in horror, fantasy and science fiction over all 64 full-color pages.
The anthology will feature intro and outro pages illustrated by Matt Busch and written by The Demon himself, as well as a short prose story by Nick Simmons—Gene’s son, budding co-star on Gene Simmons Family Jewels, the top-rated A&E reality show, and the creator of the upcoming IDW comic Skullduggery. Top that off with five short horror stories by some of the hottest new talent in comics today and wrap it in the terrifying cover image by Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo, and you’ve got all the makings of a deliciously scary treat.
“I had always loved the Twilight Zone. I never missed an episode,” says Gene Simmons. “I read Amazing Stories and Analog. In short, I loved the anthology horror/sci-fi canvas and wanted to re-introduce the format into comic books. [Gene Simmons House of Horrors] is a chance to showcase the best in professional talent, and to introduce new talent, as well. Each story will be written and drawn independently, with wraparound commentaries by myself. The fact that I'm powerful and attractive will only add to the stunning effect of the stories.”
Stories featured in the debut issue of GENE SIMMONS HOUSE OF HORRORS include:
“Into The Woods,” written by Leah Moore & John Reppion (Raise the Dead) and illustrated by Jeff Zornow (American Werewolf).
“Into The Woods” is somewhere between Midwitch Cuckoos and Grimm’s Fairytales. A teenage pyromaniac with mismatched eyes who destroys her village but doesn’t know why. We follow the girl as she seemingly condemns herself and her neighbors to a gruesome death. We see wild animals and the forest itself turn on the hapless peasants as they fight for their lives. This is what might happen if Hansel and Gretel stumbled into The Evil Dead... they might need more than breadcrumbs this time.
“Circle Seven,” written by Chris Ryall (Zombies Vs. Robots) and illustrated by Steph Stamb (Angel: Masks)
Dack is a new recruit to the Eternal Punishment Border Patrol, but he's got too much to prove to let simple inexperience slow him down. So he's set to be the Neil Armstrong of his generation, only instead of going up, he's headed down—into the newly discovered gateway to Hell. He's sent there alone, because you can't trust a partner once you enter the Stygian depths. There have been doomsday cries of big plans being made in the worst area of Hell, Circle Seven, and Dack's job is to see if a human being can successfully enter—and exit—Hell, and, most importantly, stop Hell from spilling into the real world.
“Crude,” written by Tom Waltz (Children of the Grave) and illustrated by Esteve Polls (Mega-City Noir)
In 1991, Desert Storm rages in the Kuwaiti Desert. Iraqi forces, in a desperate attempt to delay the overwhelming Coalition onslaught and turn world opinion against the campaign for liberation, ignite many of Kuwait's oil wells, creating an unprecedented environmental catastrophe in the region. As the Coalition attack surges forward, pushing the Iraqi defenders back into their own country, an elite Delta Force team is sent in to investigate the damage done to the oil wells by the blazing, pollution spewing fires. The team goes in with six men, but only one man returns. Something massacred the Delta Force soldiers during the recon mission, and it wasn't enemy soldiers. No, it was something far more sinister, vicious and inhuman. It was something straight out of the depths of the earth itself.
“The Basement,” by Dwight L. MacPherson (Dead Men Tell No Tales) and illustrated by Grant Bond (Revere)
When Agnes Beecham's 9-year-old daughter Rosa began telling fantastic stories about a visitor from another planet living in the basement, she dismissed them as childhood oneirism. One day, however, Rosa's father Michael decided to step into the basement to investigate and returned a vegetable. The doctors told Agnes her husband had suffered a stroke, but Rosa knew it was the man in the basement who made her father a helpless invalid. In the days that followed the incident, Rosa began drawing pictures of strange flying objects and telling her mother the man in the basement wished to take her to his home -- and then she mentioned the name Aleister Crowley.
“Nymph,” by Sean Taylor (Fishnet Angel) and illustrated by Jon Alderink (City of Fire)
Jane is an eco-happy entymologist married to Dave, a commercial contractor who builds strip malls and parking decks. While celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary on a picnic in the mountains, Dave goes missing after an argument about his work. Jane looks for him, only to find him already consumed by the trees and herself the prey of a blood-thirsty tree nymph.
Gene Simmons House of Horrors #1 will be available in July and is available for pre-order now. Diamond Order code MAY07 3563.
http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=110391
Citi reaffirms that 17,000 former co-workers
are rocking and rolling, partying every day
 Gene Simmons was just spotted on the Citi fixed income floor, accompanied by blaring KISS music, courtesy of the traders. Our Citi tipper had no idea why this was happening. Anyone have the scoop?
Comment or send any info to tips@dealbreaker.com. Info like this is always welcome, and we hope to do more SpotMarket features fueled by your anecdotes. Unfortunately, the "coolest" person who ever appeared on my old floor of 277 Park was John Edwards, although he was dressed as a member of KISS, and did carry a giant sack of money out with him.
UPDATE: We're told that Gene may be starting a hedge fund and is really into finance and like, stuff. A new reality show - "Fund of Rock?"
http://www.dealbreaker.com/2007/04/citi_reaffirms_that_17000_form.php#more
FRANK'S ENERGY DRINK Gene Simmons Toronto Promo Trip
Click to see the video.
The Pulse interview with Leah Moore and John Reppion, the headlining writing team for Gene Simmons House of Horrors #1
 BY JENNIFER M. CONTINO
John Reppion and Leah Moore have been getting not just their feet, but most of their legs wet in the horror genre this past year. Now the two are working on one of the Gene Simmons' Comics Group tales in his House of Horrors volume. They told us what it was like working with Jeff Zornow on their "Into The Woods" tale.
THE PULSE: How did the two of you become a part of the new Gene Simmons projects?
JOHN REPPION: We were approached by Tom Waltz on behalf of Gene and IDW to see if we wanted to get involved with the flagship title for Simmons Comics Group, the horror anthology called Gene Simmons House of Horrors. We wrote up some rough ideas for a story and passed them on. Tom, Chris Ryall and Gene approved the ideas and we went from there.
THE PULSE: When you were first getting into the comics industry, did you think you'd be doing so much in the horror genre or is this just how things have played out?
LEAH MOORE: It’s come as a big surprise to be honest, once we had done Wild Girl and Albion, we were wondering what we’d like to do next and we kept saying to each other how cool it would be to do a horror comic. It’s a case of be careful what you wish for really as now we’re doing loads of horror comics! Its great fun though, Jeff Zornow has been an angel to work with (albeit a blood obsessed death murder and maiming angel) and he has translated our script into some of the craziest pages of comic I’ve seen in a while. Its not often we write something that actually makes us go “eurrgh!” when we open the comic but Jeff has surpassed himself and made us feel quite ill.
 THE PULSE: What is it about this genre that attracts the creative side of you both?
JOHN REPPION: Well, I'm a big fan of horror anyway and we tried to do this as EC as possible. Getting Jeff as our artist was a real coup and we knew he'd handle the blood and guts of the whole thing in glorious detail so we just had fun with it really; trying to be as insane and nasty as we could.
THE PULSE: Since you signed on to work on Gene Simmons House of Horrors, have you had the chance to talk to Gene Simmons and get his input or has most of your communications been with IDW Publishing?
LEAH MOORE: We’ve only spoken through IDW, but we heard he really liked the story and was happy to put it as the headliner on the first issue, which is a huge boost for us. We’re really pleased to be involved with the project, and we think it’ll do really well for Mr Simmons.
THE PULSE: So jus what is Gene Simmons House of Horrors? I'm guessing it's not his house after the maid's been missing for a few weeks ....
JOHN REPPION: Basically, it's Gene Simmons playing Crypt Keeper to a good old fashioned horror anthology in the vein of Eerie, Tales from the Crypt and all that. Along side ourselves there are stories from the likes of Dwight L. MacPherson (Dead Men Tell No Tales), Sean Taylor (Fishnet Angel), Tom Waltz (Children of the Grave) and Chris Ryall (Zombies vs. Robots) as well as Gene's son Nick. Add to that a Todd MacFarlane cover and you've got a winner surely?
More...
 Was invited to appear on HENRY ROLLINS' IFC Show. And, as you probably know by now (if you know Rollins' speaking tour rep or have read his books), he can "patois" (used here as a verb). This will see the light of day on soon enough on IFC (Indep Film Channel --- horrible monicker....they need a cooler name).
Rollins, if you have lived under a rock is the seminal, defining figure of intellectual Punk Rock and has fathered BLACK FLAG and the ROLLINS BAND. Watch his show.
 Miss Tweed and I went over to PLAYBOY Studios and both of us picked up cameras and each took a turn as Playboy Fotogs -- shooting the lovely Miss Kathy.
Clothed and unclothed.
We are in a contest to see which of us is a better fotog. HUGH HEFNER will decide.
We shot the ongoings for our GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS.
And thereafter, we went to our partner LESLIE GREIF's 'BRANDO" a terrific iconic tribute to the finest actor of his generation documentary he did for Turner, which had its debut at the Egyptian Theater in LA. Hellos were exchanged with Brooke Shields, James Caan, Harry Dean Stanton, and Godfather producer Al Ruddy.
A local Baltimore FM radio station 105.7 WHFS, is advertising their morning DJ's going on a tour.
As you can see by the picture, they are clearly using the K and S from the KISS logo. Is this legal or do I smell a lawsuit?
Steve Wrzesien
Marriottsville, MD
After the XBOX 360 campaign I did in NY, I had to fly to Toronto with Rich Abramson re our SIMMONS ABRAMSON MARKETING venture, to meet with some folks about launching a new energy drink and a speaker entity that books high end talent for corporate events. Ended the day with parties, tv and media.
Got up at the crack of dawn, flew the whole day...landed in LA and went into a financial meeting and then continued shooting the last few episodes of our new season of GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS (Sunday nights at 9 pm, 8 pm Central on A&E).
More as it develops.
GUITAR HERO II ON XBOX 360
Here are some fotos from the New York promo visit I recently did for the fine folks at XBox.
GENE SIMMONS ON TOM GREEN
KISS bassist/vocalist GENE SIMMONS was a guest on Tom Green Internet-only talk show "Tom Green Live" Saturday night (April 7). Watch the program at TomGreen.com
Gene Simmons Family Jewels, April 8, 2007:
Face the Face!
A Dose of Reality by R.J. Carter
Published: April 9, 2007
When Ozzy Osbourne and family first hit the airwaves with a reality show based around the daily activities of their family, it was a media trainwreck of epic proportions. The screaming, the shouting, the dog poo...
...and we lapped it up (the show, that is, not the dog poo) until it became old -- which took about three seasons, during which time Sharon Osbourne got her own talk show and Ozzy's popularity surged.
So when I first heard last year that KISS frontman Gene Simmons was planning a reality show for A&E, my initial thought was, "Well, he's a little behind the curve on that one, isn't he?"
I couldn't have been more wrong. Rather than coming in late, Simmons seems to have learned from the mistakes of his predecessors. For one thing, Simmons is far more intelligible than was the oft-mumbling Ozzy. The profanity is also brought down to a level where you can actually go through an entire episode with nary a bleep.
But beyond all that, Gene Simmons Family Jewels is flat-out entertaining.
For those out of the loop, the show centers on Simmons, his girlfriend of 23 years Shannon Tweed, and their two children, Nick and Sophie (with occassional appearances by Gene's dear old mom.) Simmons will often correct interviewers who refer to Tweed as his wife, reminding them that he has been happily un-married all these years ("common law" having apparently lost its meaning). Which doesn't deter Tweed from taking the same advantages of Gene that a wife comfortable with her husband wouldn't also take: one episode had her and the kids burning his leather pants while Gene was away, just to get them out of the house. More recently, she's been after the rock god for another child, a plan the children are just as uncomfortable with as is dear old dad.
The Simmons scions are two of the high points of the show. Nick, having the appearance and quick-wittedness one might attribute to a teenaged Neil Gaiman, enjoys many a repartee with and about his dadd-o, exhibiting a personality that ought to land The Demon's son in roles other than his reality series. Likewise with Sophie, albeit with a softer approach. Both of the children exhibit a level of restraint and responsibility that is the complete antithesis of what viewers of The Osbournes observed.
Now enjoying its second season, the April 8th episode of Family Jewels finds Gene and Shannon in the hospital, Shannon having finally convinced workaholic Gene to join her in plastic surgery. The episode came with a warning about potential graphic images of surgery and surgical procedures, and since my wife was often covering her eyes with the pillow, I can only assume the warning was well-placed. Gene, with his thick skin (according to the doctors), was a chore to work on, while Shannon's corrections were, by comparison, mild. That said, the next day it's Gene who is up and around first, while Shannon is in such a deal of pain that she could not be filmed and was kept in observation even after Gene had gone home.
Sophie and Nick did not appear at the hospital, so when they arrive home that first night, they have not had a chance to see their old man with his bandages half-off. You can imagine their shock, then, when they walk into Gene's room to find... a bruised and battered William Shatner?! It's hard to say how Gene's facelift will actually affect his countenance just yet for all the swelling, but despite his insistence that he was feeling no pain at all, the current image had a definite impact on the Simmons sibs. The usually upbeat Nick was downright somber, and Sophie became so upset that she went to her room sobbing, and, when Gene went in to comfort her, he had the cameras shut off at Sophie's request.
Probably the hallmarks of this episode weren't the things we saw, but the things we didn't see. Twice I mentioned that the cameras were sent away -- and deservedly so. A more sensationalist show would have plowed in with lights and action, regardless of the emotions involved, just to capture the raw realness of the situation. That Family Jewels avoided this approach is just one more reason why Gene Simmons Family Jewels is more than a reality show that I like; it's a series I can actually respect.
RUSSIAN "KVAS" BEVERAGE COMMERCIAL
New letters posted...
Hi!
My name is Alexander. 43 years old. >From Russia.
I'm your fan from 1979...
http://www.sostav.ru/news/2007/04/06/r2/
Here you can see russian commercial of beverage "kvas".
They use your image & I'm not sure it's legal without paying.
If you have any questions, just write, I'll translate the text.
Regards!
 Flew in to NY to do promo campaign for the new XBOX. Doing CBS Morning Show with Julie Chen on Wednesday, April 11th and a Virgin Megastore appearance.
Sitting with me was WEDDING CRASHERS's JANE SEYMOUR...we chatted about branding and kids...for 5 hours.
GENE SIMMONS Entrepreneur
 Took the Family Jewels, Soph, Nick and Shannon to the Annual PLAYBOY EASTER EGG HUNT -- which is, exactly what it sounds like, at the PLAYBOY MANSION. Hello's exchanged with HUGH HEFNER, PAMELA ANDERSON, and various friends.
This event, has more (what is commonly referred to as) MILF's, then anywhere else you would imagine. Former Playmates bring their kids and everyone runs around looking for hidden Easter Eggs.
Good food. Good fun.
 Took my good lookin' son NICK to see the Tarantino/Rodriguez roller coaster thrill ride, GRINDHOUSE. Worth seeing. Very 60's, exploitation movie. Ran into former World Boxing Champion MIKE TYSON -- chatted and then went in.
 Did TOM GREEN's Internet Show....different than anything I've ever done. We get streamed live on broadband and at the same time, he has hookups to truck drivers via intercom (you know...the stuff truck drivers use to communicate and say things like "Hey Convoy Master, give me your 10-4 good buddy"), phone lines, and live Skype video from fans asking questions - live!!!
Then went on to do the KTLA 10 PM News Hour (LA), to promo our (ahem..smash hit) GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS (Sundays, 9 pm - 8 pm Central on A&E). Anchor Hal Fishman has been doing it for over 40 years. A real icon in the industry.
My cartoon show, MY DAD THE ROCK STAR on NickToons is entering its 4th (!!!) Year. Check your local paper for viewing schedule. It's on every day, I'm told.
STEPHEN HAWKING and GENE SIMMONS
 What do Stephen Hawking, world-renown physicist and expert on gravity, and Gene Simmons, legendary front man for the band KISS, have in common?
Try $75,100. Over the past week, both men have held charity auctions through eBay Giving Works, and in each case, his respective listing closed at $75,100.
Hawking recently listed the opportunity to enjoy a weightless flight aboard The G-Force One. The undisclosed winning bidder and a guest will join Hawking on April 26 for a 90-minute flight. Departing the Kennedy Space Center, the flight makes a controlled ascent and descent, allowing passengers to experience the gravity of Mars (1/3 that of earth), the moon (1/6 gravity) and zero-G space. The charity auction benefited the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation.
Simmons and girlfriend Shannon Tweed auctioned off a chance for a lucky bidder and three guests to have a VIP dinner in Los Angeles on May 19, including the flight, limo service, fine wine, champagne, and a rare signed Collector's Edition DVD set of Gene Simmons Family Jewels that airs on A&E. The charity auction benefited the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
http://sednacomm.blogspot.com/
 Ebay Auction A Record
Proud to report the Ebay Auction for a Dinner with Miss Shannon Tweed and myself, has officially closed. No more bids are being accepted.
The winning bid:
$75,000 dollars!!!
All the money is to benefit Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric Aids.
Thank you one and all for participating. It's an important cause.
Just got back from viewing some of the last episodes (rough cuts) of our GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS show, which is a huge smash, they tell us. And, though I don't remember much of the filming process (remember, we live a lot of it -- the cameras often just follow us around), I found myself laughing and tearing up...especially with baby shots of Soph and Nick.
But then again, you're supposed to do that if you're a Mom or Dad.
Then went off to FOX TV to do JOHN GIBSON's show to promote our A&E show (Sunday nights at 9 pm -- in most of the country.,.8 pm elsewhere).
In the makeup room, ran into DENNIS MILLER, who was going on before me. Dennis isn't just one of the funnier people on the planet, he also has the cranial capacity to throw a line that will leave you giggling and then looking up the words that made you laugh. A smart guy.
Hurried back to shoot with our camera crews from 7 pm till Midnight.
Tomorrow's another day.
INDYCAR.COM List Of This Season's Races
Come On Out and Have A Ball
 MAR 24/SAT - MIAMI HOMESTEAD
APR 1/SUN - ST. PETE, FLA
APR 21/SAT - JAPAN/TOKYO
APR 29/SUN - KANSAS CITY
MAY 27/SUN - INDY 500/INDIANAPOLIS
JUN 3/SUN - MILWAUKEE
JUN 9/SAT - FT WORTH
JUN 24/SUN - IOWA
JUN 20/SAT - RICHMOND, VA
JUL 8/SUN - WATKINS GLEN, NY
JUL 14/SAT - NASHVILLE
JUL 21/SUN - MID-OHIO
AUG 5/SUN - MICH SPEEDWAY
AUG 11/SAT - KENTUCKY
AUG 26/SUN - INFINION, CAL
SEP 2/SUN - BELLE ISLE
SEP 9/SUN - CHICAGO
2007 INDYCAR SCHEDULE ON ESPN/ESPN2 AND ESPN ON ABC AS OF 4/3/2007
|
DATE
|
DAY
|
TIME |
NET |
NOTES |
| 17-Mar |
FRI |
7-8p |
ESPN2 |
2007 IndyCar Series Season Preview |
| 24-Mar |
SAT |
8-10:30p |
ESPN2 |
Miami |
| 1-Apr |
SUN |
2:30-5p |
ESPN |
St. Pete Cup in Martinsville |
| 8-Apr |
|
|
|
OFF |
| 15-Apr |
|
|
|
OFF |
| 21-Apr |
SAT |
12-2p |
ESPN |
Japan |
| 29-Apr |
SUN |
4:30-7p |
ESPN2 |
Kansas Cup in Talladega |
| 6-May |
|
|
|
OFF |
| May 12-13 |
|
|
|
Indy Qualifying |
| May 19-20 |
|
|
|
Indy Qualifying |
| 27-May |
SUN |
12-4:30p |
ABC |
Indy 500 |
| 3-Jun |
SUN |
4-6p |
ABC |
Milwaukee Cup in Dover |
| 9-Jun |
SAT |
10p-12:30a |
ESPN2 |
Texas Busch Lead-In |
| 17-Jun |
|
|
|
OFF |
| 24-Jun |
SUN |
1-3:30p |
ABC |
Iowa Cup in Sonoma |
| 30-Jun |
SAT |
7:30-9:30p |
ESPN |
Richmond |
| 8-Jul |
SUN |
3:30-6p |
ABC |
Watkins Glen |
| 14-Jul |
SAT |
7:30-9:30p |
ESPN |
Nashville |
| 22-Jul |
SUN |
1:30-4p |
ABC |
Mid-Ohio |
| 29-Jul |
|
|
|
OFF |
| 5-Aug |
SUN |
12-2:30p |
ESPN2 |
Michigan Cup in Pocono on E1 |
| 11-Aug |
SAT |
6:30-8:30p |
ESPN2 |
Kentucky Busch Lead-In |
| 18-Aug |
|
|
|
OFF |
| 26-Aug |
SUN |
3:30-6p |
ESPN |
Sonoma |
| 2-Sep |
SUN |
3:30-6p |
ABC |
Belle Isle - Detroit |
| 9-Sep |
SUN |
4-6p |
ABC |
Chicago |
New letters posted...
Hi Gene,
I just wanted to ask you if you guys have agreed to Dutch company Akzo Nobel using the Kiss imagery for its Swedish subsidiary selling cow licking stones (!).
Look here: http://www.knz.se/index.html
/best regards,
--
JANNE PETTERSSON
|
