Guest writer: Nigel King
The hottest band in the world are back in the UK! Kiss don’t do anything by half, and their world premiere book launch of “Kiss Monster” in the Arts club in Mayfair yesterday was no exception. The book is huge at three feet tall and two and half feet wide and at times took half the band to manoeuvre! “A band that is bigger than life deserves a book that’s bigger than life. You could call it a coffee table book, but if you put legs on it, it is a coffee table,” joked Stanley.
The band – Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer discussed how it came about and how the selection process, which took Tommy Thayer weeks to go through before the band made their final choice. Interestingly enough Paul Stanley mentioned the book has not excluded past members of the band addressing them as the foundation of the band, which helped kiss get to where they are today, and that Kiss wouldn’t be here without them.
The KISS Monster book features all the different eras of KISS live, from the early years to the present day. It features unseen photographs from the band’s 40-year career, by top rock photographers: Richard Aaron, Fin Costello, Bob Gruen, Ross Halfin, Tom Hill, to name but a few.
Each hand bound book is signed by the band and buyers can choose between 10 country flags on the cover. With only 1000 copies produced and a price tag of $4299 its seems that it’s for the ultimate Kiss army fan. “It’s the Rolls-Royce of books…..Size matters, ask your girlfriend!” said Gene Simmons and who is to say otherwise.
The book coincides with their new album Monster out in October, New single released July 2nd and a special show at The Forum in London in aid of Help for Heroes on Independence Day, Wednesday 4th July.
More information from: http://www.kissmonsterbook.com
Photos by Nigel King
