That's not actually Paul Stanley; it's Bobby Jensen playing the part of the Starchild in the Minneapolis-based classic rock tribute band Hairball in concert. But either way, it's still pretty badass (at least until you remember the tragic Great White fire of 2003, and start to wonder why the hell there weren't more contingencies in place to prevent this kind of accident).

After the incident, Jensen, who also performs in an Alice Cooper tribute act, spoke to Ultimate Classic Rock and said, "I live an Evil Knievel kind of life, so if I'm on fire a little bit, I don't care, that's just part of the fun. I knew I was on fire right away, and that wasn't a wig, that's my hair. It was really nice and foofy before the show, now I have a much better Alice Cooper cut."

(This insanely metal moment actually happened over Valentine's Day weekend in 2019, but the band returned to Sioux City again this year, making the video spread like fire all over again.) Read the rest

In a move that is so bombastic yet embarrassing that it sounds like something straight out This is Spinal Tap—ya know what, let's just let ABC Australia fill us in:

[KISS] cancelled its other [Australian] concerts after lead singer Paul Stanley pulled out due to illness.

But a line-up featuring bass guitarist Gene Simmons, lead guitarist Tommy Thayer, and drummer Eric Singer took to the seas as part of an Airbnb promotion designed to promote tourism locations around the world.

The concert was billed as KISS playing to great white sharks — although no sharks actually turned up.

That's it. That's what actually happened. In Australia, of all places. There were reportedly eight people who paid actual currency to watch this stunt on the boat, along with some media people and stray boaters, for a total estimated crowd of maybe 50 people. Watching 3/4 of KISS perform with a terrible sound system. Okay.

The event was hosted by Adventure Bay Charters, a company that apparently promises "shark cage diving" adventures in the waters around Australia. Hence, the concert was supposed to demonstrate the company's ability to attract sharks for the experience using sound waves instead of blood…except that the whole thing failed in that regard.

"KISS cancel Australian tour but show must go on for great white sharks" [Jodie Hamilton, Emma Pedler and Paul Turton / ABC]

Image via Wikimedia Commons Read the rest

My friend Jared Hirsch spotted this at a local Bay Area toy store and wasted no time sending me the photographic evidence of its existence.

This KISS inflatable tongue is, naturally, fashioned after Gene Simmons' crazy long tongue and is touted to inflate to "3 times its original size!"

According to the KISS Museum, an online KISS retail store, "The 'inflatable' feature isn't to make the tongue larger so much as to make it move and twitch as if it were your own. Practice makes perfect!" Alrighty then.

In any event, you'll certainly get more for your money with this KISS toy than you would with their "air guitar strings."

(RED) Read the rest

When pressed to explain the high weirdness of America's bicentennial year, simply cite The Paul Lynde Halloween Special which aired in 1976 as an ABC special. Special guests included: Read the rest