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January 31st - Ski Maker’s Idea for a Tribute Is Met With a Scolding Tongue By CHRISTINA ERB LAS VEGAS — The Faction Collective S.A., a ski manufacturer based in Switzerland, displayed new graphics on its big-mountain powder skis this week at the snow-sport industry’s biggest trade show here at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. When placed side by side, the skis’ tips depict the painted face of the Kiss front man Gene Simmons, his red tongue hanging. Then Gene Simmons showed up. “My friend said, ‘Oh my God, it’s Gene,’ and then he bolted — he just left,” said Ross Janzen, who was manning the booth for the Faction Collective. “I turned around and it was Gene. People were standing three-deep around him. I was completely dumbfounded. He’s an imposing figure.” Especially imposing because Faction Collective had not received permission to use the trademarked image. Last year, one of the company’s founders, Tony McWilliam, decided to pay homage to the music world with a new series of graphics — pointy guitars, tape decks. Simmons’s iconic face was put on their powder ski, Thirteen. “Gene Simmons is a big inspiration to three generations now,” McWilliam said. “He communicates to a lot of people. “We knew there might be a risk, but we wanted to get some impact.” McWilliam said he tried to get a license to use the image but Simmons did not respond, so the company manufactured sample skis to display at the SnowSports Industry America trade show. Faction took up about a dozen square feet, making it a blip on a convention floor occupied by more than 820 brands, 445 exhibitors and 3,479 booths. The four-day show, which ended Friday, drew 18,000 people — one of whom happened to be Simmons. Surrounded by an entourage of barely clothed women, Simmons was there to promote a snowboard and ski accessory line called MoneyBag, a label he runs with Jason Dussault. On their way to an interview, weaving through the maze of booths, Dussault spotted the Faction skis, then watched as Simmons approached Janzen. “If you’re a bootlegger, and you think you’re going to get by and put something out illegally, it will cost you more to defend that than simply getting a license,” Simmons said in a telephone interview Friday. “They think they can get by being a nuisance, just pests, until they meet Gene Simmons, who kills pests dead.” Janzen offered to give Simmons the skis. Instead, Simmons gave Janzen his lawyer’s contact information. Bill Byrne, who runs a public relations firm in San Diego and works for several outdoors brands, said: “Graphic take-offs or blatant use of a brand’s likeness without consent is one way a lot of brands build product awareness or controversy. The downside is, there could be some unanticipated legal issues. “Gene is known for going after people that use his likeness. My guess is that ski guys think they are under the radar enough to do it. What are the chances that Gene Simmons is going to walk through S.I.A.? Does he even ski?” Simmons does ski, apparently. And Kiss has licensed more than 2,500 products. New letters posted... Hey Gene, Not sure if you caught the latest episode of Everybody Hates Chris, but the story involved him and a friend trying to get fake ID's to go to an over-18 concert. Their identities were Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. His mom ended the episode changing her usual call of "Chris!" at the end of the "Everybody hates..." tagline to "Gene!" KISS Kulture is everywhere! George Hawver Letters... January 29th - KISS TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY Tickets for KISS' Buenos Aires stadium, Argentina concert go on sale next Monday, February 2nd at www.ticketek.com.ar . The April 5th concert is part of the Quilmes Rock Festival, with KISS closing the event at the 70,000 seat River Plate Stadium! January 28th - Gene Simmons Invades the Great White North By Brock Thiessen Whether you like it or not Canada, Gene Simmons is setting up shop in the Great White North. Through the Kiss bassist’s latest entrepreneurial venture, Simmons Records, he’s begun sniffing out Canadian talent and looking for unsigned bands to join his all-Canadian imprint, which is partnered up Universal Music Canada. “The mandate of Simmons Records is Canadian,” Simmons recently told CBC Radio, “not only content but Canadian bands, and we’re going to make sure that the next generation of world stars that emanate from Canada — they won’t have to [move to the U.S.]." The label has yet to ink any deals but it is currently soliciting demos over at the imprint’s website (if the bands follow the rules, that is). Also, according to Ottawa Xpress, Simmons has been courting Ontario self-described “post-rock/post-hardcore” outfit Final Thought, who reportedly played a private showcase for the star after he heard their new EP, Take This Home. And just in case you feel the urge to make light of Mr. Simmons and his Canadian label (which by the way, he talks is apparently the only one), watch your step. In response to a January 26 Idolator story headlined “Gene Simmons Is Going to Lick Up Some Canadian Bands for the Purposes of Profit,” the Kiss man fired back with this: “Here’s an amateur who'’ achieved nothing in his life. Read it. You will see the built in bias...the arrogance of U.S. media. What are YOU and I going to do about it? We're going to shame this guy into submission. We will send him and his ilk back to fish wrapping factory they escaped from. “How are we going to do it? We're going to find, develop, nurture and launch new talent emanating from — CANADA!!! That's right, baby. Why here? Because you actually DO have the talent. And now, you have a WAY. “ME.” And if that wasn’t already enough scolding, Simmons finished the message off by saying: “Oh, and the asshole who posted the story? He gets no free tix, no backstage passes, and therefore, he won't have access to our parties and our girls. All naysayers can get in line. It forms over there... to my left.” In the wake of that bit of nastiness, we’re just going to keep our mouths shut and head straight to the video. Gene Simmons "Firestarter" More info at SIMMONSRECORDS.COM January 26th - January 24th -      SIMMONS RECORDS.COM    If you're reading this and you're in a Canadian band (only!!!)....and you believe you're the next Elvis or Beatles (don't we all...)...go to SIMMONS RECORDS.COM and we will tell you how YOU can submit your electronic demo. This is serious.    We are signing 3 new acts the first year.    We intend on launching them from Canada and then worldwide.    More news soon. January 23rd - ROCK LEGEND GENE SIMMONS & JASON DUSSAULT APPEARING AT THE SIA.09 SNOWSPORTS TRADE SHOW WITH MONEYBAG™ SNOWBOARD AND SKI ACCESSORY LINE Las Vegas, (23/January/2009) Dussault Apparel, Inc. [OTCBB: DUSS] is pleased to announce that the Company Founder Jason Dussault will be attending the SIA.09 SnowSports Trade Show 2009 SIA Ski and Snowboard convention in Las Vegas with rock legend Gene Simmons. Dussault and Simmons will be showing their latest collaborations of the Snowboard and Ski accessory line including hats and beanies to be released later this year under the MoneyBag™ moniker, as well as wallets, belts and luggage. Each item features the Gene Simmons created and designed MoneyBag™ logo. www.genesimmonsmoneybag.com/ Simmons will be shooting an episode of his award-winning hit reality series Gene Simmons Family Jewels at the SIA.09 Show with Jason. This is the third episode featuring Jason and the Dussault Apparel™ and Gene Simmons MoneyBag™ brands. www.aetv.com/familyjewels Dussault Apparel, Inc. is a designer, manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer of high-end quality apparel, its expanding product line includes custom designed hoodies, jeans, jewelry, t-shirts, hats and leather goods. An accelerated growth company, Dussault Apparel, Inc. trades on the Nasdaq OTC: BB as DUSS. www.dussaultapparel.com January 19th -    Nick and the Hands of God played their first gig at the NAMM Convention recently. Here are a few fotos from the event. New letters posted... Ciao Gene This is Rolling Stone Brasil January issue. Great interview and picture indeed! Fabio -- Stay tuned! www.deucenews.jimdo.com Letters... New Lady in Waiting! Brooke Williams More Ladies... January 14th - Rock Icon and Entrepreneur Gene Simmons Keynote Speaker: March 12th Canadian Music Week 2009 TORONTO, Jan. 14 /CNW/ - Gene Simmons, the media multi-hyphenate and co-founder of the hottest band in the world, KISS, will be a featured artist keynote speaker at this year's Canadian Music Week. On Thursday, March 12, 2009 11:00 a.m., Simmons will speak about his various business endeavours and experiences as the co-founder of the rock super-group KISS. A limited number of tickets for the artist keynote will be available to the public for purchase on the Canadian Music Week website - www.cmw.net - Rotate This, and Soundscapes as of Monday, January 19. Recently Simmons' record label, Simmons Records, has joined forces with Universal Music Canada (UMC), the country's leading music company. This partnership will construct a multi-platform vehicle to seek out, develop and promote Canadian talent from both the domestic market and international stage. Simmons co-founded KISS over 35 years ago, and to date the band has played thousands of shows to millions of people around the world. KISS is the juggernaut of licensing and merchandising, with over 3,000 products - from KISS Visa cards to KISS condoms. Simmons' current endeavors include: starring and producing in Gene Simmons Family Jewels, a reality series in its fourth season; My Dad the Rock Star, his own cartoon show created for Canada's Nelvana now in its fifth year; and current best seller Ladies of the Night released through his own Simmons Books. Simmons Comic Group and Simmons Abramson Marketing handles all branding and marketing aspects for the Indy Car Series. His clothing line, Moneybag has joined forces with Canada's Dussault Custom Ink, providing cutting edge clothing to fashion savvy consumers. Simmons is also chairman of the board for NO GOOD TV (NGTV.com). The Site has over 300 million video clicks. It serves as the largest producer of uncensored entertainment programming in the world. And now, Simmons Records has partnered with Universal Music Canada working specifically with Canadian talent. For more information, please visit www.cmw.net Kiss frontman to tout business savvy to Canadian music industry Kiss member Gene Simmons is shown is shown in July 2008 during a pre-race news conference for the IndyCar Series auto race in Edmonton. (John Ulan/Canadian Press) Gene Simmons, the Kiss frontman who is relaunching his record label in Canada, will be a keynote speaker at Canadian Music Week. Canadian Music Week is an annual industry festival and celebration of Canadian music held in March in Toronto. Simmons's relaunched Simmons Records is partnering with Universal Music Canada to produce Canadian talent. Simmons launched it last fall with a promise of commercial success for bands under his wing. At Canadian Music Week, he will speak about his business endeavours, including his experiences as co-founder of Kiss, a band that has survived for 35 years. Kiss is a juggernaut of licensing and merchandising, with over 3,000 product — from Kiss Visa cards to Kiss condoms. Simmons's other endeavours include: Reality TV series Gene Simmons Family Jewels, which he produces. Cartoon show My Dad the Rock Star for Nelvana. Ladies of the Night released through his own Simmons Books. Marketing and branding for Indy Car Series through Simmons Comic Group and Simmons Abramson Marketing. A clothing line. Canadian Music Week runs March 11-14 and includes four awards shows and a music festival. Simmons is to speak March 12. http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2009/01/14/simmons-speaks.html Simmons fronting Cdn. Music Week Kiss frontman to be keynote speaker at Canadian Music Week By THE CANADIAN PRESS Gene Simmons will be a keynote speaker at Canadian Music Week in Toronto. (CNW Group/Canadian Music Week) Gene Simmons will be a keynote speaker at Canadian Music Week in Toronto. (CNW Group/Canadian Music Week) TORONTO - Kiss frontman Gene Simmons will be the keynote speaker at Canadian Music Week this year. Simmons will speak on March 12 about his various business endeavours and his 35-plus years with Kiss. Currently, Simmons stars and produces "Gene Simmons Family Jewels," a reality TV show in its fourth season. He also has his own cartoon show called "My Dad the Rock Star," in its fifth year, and published "Ladies of the Night" through his own Simmons Books. Canadian Music Week runs March 11-14 in Toronto. http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/2009/01/14/8024301-cp.html January 14th - Gene Simmons Moneybag These 100% leather bags from Gene the Nazarene come in a duffel and two sizes of messenger, are branded all over with the company's $-sign'd sack of loot logo, and totally went down on your mom back in '76. Buy one and you'll totally be able to breathe fire! For sale at GeneSimmonsMoneybag.com From Thrillist Nation January 14th - GENE SIMMONS: HOUSE OF HORRORS TPB written by "various" Art by "various" Published by IDW Publishing Publication Date: 2008 Format: Color - 192 pages Price: $27.99 A wonderful collection of haunting, macabre and eerie tales brought to you from the demon himself, Gene Simmons. Straight off the IDW production line we have the graphic novel "Gene Simmons - House of Horrors". This packed edition contains all the contents of the series by the same name from issues 1-3 and guarantees hours of entertainment as it takes you thorough over 18 tales of horror approved by Gene himself. Add to that some dynamic covers along the way topped with short and sweet stories with a collection of killer artist contributions and you've got yourself a pretty cool read. Being a kiss fan myself, I really never knew the extent of Gene's story and his interest in comics. Gene provides a nice introduction that takes you back to the days before he decided to put a rock group together (ya I think they called it KISS ;). And come full circle he's still keeping the dream alive by producing a comic line that will appeal to all sorts of horror fans. With his own comic label "Simmons comics group" he hasn't stopped feeding the boyhood interest and his interest in the horror genre. Writers and artists in this one? Too many to name but all contribute a unique and artistic take on the tales that have been presented . A little about the Simmons and IDW merger? Well I found this short bit after going a little digging: IDW Publishing is proud to announce that they have partnered with Rock Legend Gene Simmons of KISS fame to create the Simmons Comics Group, an imprint within IDW's stable of comics. Simmons himself will be writing some of the comics, and has fully created and fleshed out a number of new titles that will be appearing in comics shops and beyond in 2007 - published on http://www.simmons-comics.com Are we pumping this book up just for marketing purposes? absolutely not! I love this book!! Being well into my adulthood, I can still come home from work kick back and enjoy a great comic. In this case a "great horror comic" The tales are short enough to read a few, grab some supper, and catch a few more later. 192 pages of coolness. Did we mention what else you get? Nick simmons provides a short story written personally to each edition inside, while his father takes the role of the crypt keeper by welcoming you into his house of horrors. Stories range the gamut from devil children, oil serpents, an angry forest, a literal trip down into hell, ufos, aliens, water creatures, serial killers, family curses and a whole lot more! Macabre? - oh yes and plenty of it! While some tales are easily pg-13, other ones bring you into worlds of visceral horror and body parts galore. The illustration work is amazing complete with detail renderings and impressive inking. I know, all this excitement and nothing bad? To be honest no, I loved it and think you will too. Its a fun read and captures the heart of horror short stories From my perspective I'd say pass on the individual issues and just get this collection as a whole. It collects them all nicely in large graphic novel format to shelf next to you "Silent Hill" graphic novels - great stuff! Pick one up at IDW store or at Amazon.com REVIEWED BY "BONE DIGGER" at horrornews.net January 12th - Dussault Apparel Founder Jason Dussault and Gene Simmons to Appear at the SIA.09 SnowSports Trade Show in Las Vegas Dussault Apparel, Inc. (OTCBB: DUSS) is pleased to announce that the Company Founder Jason Dussault will be attending the SIA.09 SnowSports Trade Show 2009 SIA Ski and Snowboard convention in Las Vegas with rock legend Gene Simmons. Dussault and Simmons will be showing their latest collaborations of hats and beanies to be released later this year under the MoneyBag(TM) moniker, as well as wallets, belts and luggage. Each item features the Gene Simmons created and designed MoneyBag(TM) logo. The SIA.09 SnowSports Trade Show, the world's foremost ski and snowboard convention, takes place Tuesday, January 27 to Friday, January 30, 2009 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. This trade, professionals and superstar participants' show will deliver the largest, most concentrated and authentic trade event in the snow sports industry with nearly 20,000 attendees. The show launches the styles, technologies, innovations, culture, and energy of snow sports presented by close to 1000 brands. http://www.snowsports.org/sia_shows_events/2009_trade_show New letters posted... OK, folks. Lots of you have been asking me what a Co-Hab Agreement is. I am taking the liberty of posting what wikipedia.org says, though I don't rely on this site for all things. It doesn't fact check and is open to rumor and innuendo. So, get yourselves a lawyer to explain the facts of life. Otherwise, here's a short cut re Co-Hab Agreements. This explains a CO-Hab nicely http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cohabitation_agreement Cohabitation agreement From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A cohabitation agreement is a form of legal agreement reached between a couple who have chosen to live together (whether they are heterosexual or of the same sex). In some ways, such a couple may be treated like a married couple, such as when applying for a mortgage or working out child support. However, in some other areas, such as property rights, pensions and inheritance, they are treated differently. A cohabitation agreement contains documentation for a couple who want to live together in order to protect themselves from unnecessary cost and litigation should their cohabitation break down. They can clearly regulate their property rights and what arrangements might be made for mutual financial support, dealing with debt, caring for children, etc. The agreement also, much like a prenuptial agreement, allows the individuals concerned to determine in advance who will keep specific assets and what will happen to assets that have been purchased jointly if they separate. This agreement is intended to bind both parties. Letters... New letters posted... Hello Good Sir; Here's a fan Youtube video of the KISS Fremont Street Experience Show Premier New Year's Eve 2009 in Las Vegas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXG9ASe7HhI It looks absolutely amazing! Happy New Year to you and your family, Gene. Your biggest fan, PAUL ZILLA>;-)~ Letters... January 6th -    Here's another foto of Kevin and I at the GLENN MARTIN DDS new animated show on Nick @ Nite...coming soon. January 5th - Lumberjacks' kitchen guru has cooked for the stars by Pati LaLonde | The Bay City Times Monday January 05, 2009 Carol Kelly recently became the chef at Lumberjacks Steak House and Piano Saloon and the Diamond Ball Room on East Midland Street. In her more than 30-year career she has made food for many celebrities, including a peanut butter and banana sandwich for Elvis. Carol Kelly can say she's made oatmeal for Gene Simmons from the rock group KISS. Actually, the oatmeal wasn't for Simmons himself, but for his pet snake. And it wasn't really for eating, it was for slithering. Apparently, oatmeal is good for a snake's skin. The things you learn as a chef. Response from Gene:    Nice story, but not true. I don't own a snake. Have never owned a snake and I'm not too sure who this lady is.  But good luck to her, anyway. January 2nd - Gene Simmons Coming to Nick at Nite Kiss bassist Gene Simmons will lend his animated likeness to a new stop-motion comedy series that will debut next summer as part of Nickelodeon's 'Nick at Nite' programming. The show will follow a dentist and his family as they hit the open road in a toothbrush-topped "dental mobile." "Michael Eisner is producing. I was asked to play me," Simmons writes of the series -- which will also star 'Weeds' veteran Kevin Nealon -- on Kissonline. The show is about a family whose house burned down, so they get into their motor home and travel the country. The script is very funny." January 1st - NGTV: Where the press junkets are more entertaining than the movies NGTV.COM Click Here Want to hear the stars of "The Yes Men" discuss post-nasal coke drip and sex with GILFs? Or see Rosario Dawson describe "Seven Pounds" as "superfuckingfabulicious?" Then you want No Good TV, a refreshingly fearless video site that doesn't know from the seven words you can't say on television. Although the site also includes interviews with more traditionally uncensored performers such as porn stars Belladonna and Kimberly Kane (age verification required), mainstream actors appear to appreciate the no-holds-barred schtick as a welcome break from the fatuous press-junket solemnity that dogs so much movie PR, especially when their sparring partner is comely blonde host Carrie Keagan. From an interchange with Will Smith re: "Seven Pounds": CARRIE: Fucking awesome movie! WILL: Hey, you can't say that on TV! CARRIE: Yes, I can! WILL: You'll just bleep it? CARRIE: Nmm... no. (snip) CARRIE: Did you bring your "Seven Pounds" of happiness? WILL: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I'll take that over Mary Hart any day. Apparently, so would Mark Burnett; he took a stake in the popular online video producer last month with plans to turn it into a TV series. I hope the web version will continue to thrive, since I don't know what channel would allow Dawson's description of preparing for a sex scene with Smith -- and that would be a pity. [NGTV]

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