New letters posted...
This was in todays Herald-Sun Newspaper down here in Melbourne, Australia regarding the Coffeehouse. It great to see it's even reaching the Australian Media. And for once it's not negative press. Congratulations on another successful venture. Hope to see KISS down here again soon.
Kind Regards,
Scott Yorston
Melbourne, Australia
Simmons, gal pal settle
Rocker Gene Simmons can Kiss and tell.
The heavy metal frontman settled a lawsuit by a former girlfriend who said he made her seem like a "sex-addicted nymphomaniac," his spokesman said yesterday.
But no money changed hands as part of the deal, Simmons spokesman Stan Rosenfield said. And the woman acknowledged that Simmons had no part in the production, editing, selection or inclusion of photos in the documentary that prompted her to sue.
Georgeann Walsh Ward had argued that photos of her shown 11 times during the VH1 broadcast, in which Simmons talks about his sexual conquests, made it seem like she was one of them.
Simmons and Ward began dating in 1972 before his Kiss days, while he was still an elementary school teacher.
In the documentary, Simmons, 53, claimed to have bedded 4,600 women. "I was a 24-hour whore. All I ever thought about was sex," Simmons says in the film.
Simmons issued a statement yesterday saying, "I value my early relationship with Ms. Ward and wish her well. My quotes in the documentary that Ms. Ward took issue with were solely about me, not Ms. Ward or anyone else."
Ward's lawyer could not be reached for comment.
Helen Peterson
Originally published on June 29, 2006
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Log on to KISSONLINE.COM to see lots of photos of what an amazing event our First KISS COFFEEHOUSE Grand Opening was in Myrtle Beach. More to come!!!
 The Richmond INDY Race was magnificent, as I'm sure you will attest if you attended or watched on ESPN. Sam Hornish Jr. won. Sam also won the Indy 500 (the largest live event on Earth, by the way). A fantastic race featuring the fastest cars on the planet.
If you've never been to an INDY Race, check out INDYCAR.COM for the racing schedules and come on down. My partner Rich Abramson and I go to every one.
See you there.
New letters posted...
Hello, Gene,
 First off, warm greetings from Lusaka in sunny Zambia.
Have you ever visited Southern Africa and if not, why not? or if you have, where have you been?
Have been watching your show Rock School on BBC Prime and I must say that I am impressed with the way you deal with difficult teenagers. They certainly appear to be in awe of you.
Would be wonderful if you ,sometime in the future could pay us a visit and see and hear how our kids play musical instruments made up of old oil cans and string, drums made of wood and cowhide, rattles made up of seed pods etc. We do have some very good local bands using conventional instruments as well!
Well you never know unless one asks.
Hope you get to read this email sometime.
Cheers and keep rocking!!
Margaret
(A Very Mature Rocker)
In NY on our TELEVISION VENTURE. Can't say more, because of legal restrictions. However, as soon as we are allowed to discuss this publicly, we will.
And, we are on our way to Richmond for the INDYCAR race there. Hope you all come out.
And, early next week on our way to Myrtle Beach for the Grand Opening of the KISS COFFEEHOUSE. Wanna see what it looks like? Log on to KISSONLINE.COM...the only official KISS site.
New letters posted...
there are some "interesting" bars in Bangkok. Did you know about this one...? ;-)
Take care
Joern
Yesterday i went to a concert in the PSV Eindhoven stadium in Holland.
Famous Dutch singer Guus Meeuwis is giving 3 sold out shows (for a total of 100.000 people) Before he went on there was a clip of him telling his manager he needed a new sexy image. Well...guess what he came up with.
There's just no way avoiding u is there?
Get your ass over tot Holland soon, else i have to kick it!
Greetings,
Anton Lenders
Eindhoven
Holland
 Hectic, but exciting past few days.
Started off Saturday, the 10th of June in Dallas/Ft Worth at the Texas Speedway at the INDY Race. PATRICK (Grey's Anatomy/ABC) DEMPSEY was Grand Marshall. Patrick is also a co-team owner of an IndyCar at Vision Racing.
Then took a series of flights on Sunday that got Rich Abramson and I to London to meet the investment community there for another venture of ours. And, while there, had time to meet on yet another financial venture.
Got back yesterday to LA at just after 5 pm and by 7:30 was in the studio working on our GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS theme song.
And, just got up at the crack of dawn to start filming what is shaping up to be the last of our 13 episodes for this first season.
Tired? Maybe just a little.
Proud to say the first KISS COFFEEHOUSE is having its grand opening this month!!!
Please come by. Would love to see you there. Check out all the info at the only official KISS site, KISSONLINE.COM.
Rock School
 SHOWING ON: BBC Prime (Starhub Ch 76), Tuesdays, 8pm RATING: ****
IF you have watched the Jack Black movie School Of Rock, expect something similar from reality TV show Rock School.
Only this time, instead of Black, we have the rocker of all rockers - GENE SIMMONS, the bassist from rock band KISS (below).
On the show, Simmons is hired by a preppy 450-year-old British boarding school in West Sussex, London.
He is asked to teach music to a group of 13-year-old students who are more inclined towards classical music.
Simmons' idea of music, as expected, limits itself to only one genre - hard rock.
He seems out of place, with his leather trench coat and black sunglasses, among the throngs of disciplined students who are dressed neatly in their uniforms.
But that doesn't stop him from his mission, which is to transform these well-disciplined children into little clones of himself - arrogant rock monsters.
He breaks all conventional teaching rules and is the only teacher in the school who gets his students to bang on tables, climb on top of desks, shout and adopt a mean attitude.
One has to give him credit for helping these prim and proper students break out of their shells and be comfortable with who they are.
I thought the process where Simmons narrows down the list of students to join the band was pretty intense.
It was interesting to see these kids let their hair down bit by bit and compete with each other.
They learn how to pluck at the guitars, head bang and play the drums the way a true rocker would.
And some of them have hidden talents that even their classical music training failed to show up.
Simmons takes his role of teacher seriously and even teaches his little prodigies history.
Well, rock history that is.
But it's not only the students and teachers who have trouble adapting to Simmons' teaching style.
Simmons has to adapt to the school's strict traditions as well.
However, he manages to score points with the principal by singing one of KISS' hits, God Gave Rock 'n' Roll To You, during the school church session.
At least he doesn't spew blood and stick out his tongue as he used to do at his concerts.
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New letters posted...
Great job on the "I am Indy" concept. First time for myself and my Dad at the 90th Indy 500. We were 5 rows from the track. I took of picture of you (see attached) driving by. Unfortunately, it is the back of your head sporting the "I am Indy" ballcap and forgot to use the zoom on the camera...."
In the current issue (June '06), of Modern Drummer magazine, Chad Smith (drummer of Red hot Chilli Peppers) states that on of his best albums is KISS ALIVE! There is a foto of the album in the interview.
Another great musician influenced by KISS!!!..."
 The GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS camera crews are finishing our first season's filming...and the day started off with a photo session with Sophie and Nicholas for a forthcoming book called FATHERS. The other Fathers in the book include Steven Spielberg, Dustin Hoffman and so on. Coming next year.
It was a pleasant surprise to sign onto America Online today.
I thought you'd like to see why...
Andrew,
Staten Island, NY
 My name is Janet and I totally love you! Congratulations on the VH 1 honors! I have been there since 1974. Now that the formals are out of the way, I have to tell you that YOUR GRINDING SKILLS WERE OFF THE CHAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!! Damn Gene! Gene, you sent shock waves from the TV to my...well...uh..you know! WOW! You are totally awesome! Keep up the awesome work!
Future Lady In Waiting,
Janet
 "...Also when is Miss (sexy) Shannon Tweed's book being released in the UK?
yours truely
Benita
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