Today, Wednesday June 22nd, Swedish hard rock band JOHAN KIHLBERG’S IMPERA will be special guest at the final performance by KISS in the city of Göteborg (Gothenburg), Sweden.
JOHAN KIHLBERG’S IMPERA released their latest album “Spirit Of Alchemy” in 2021 on the Metalville label.
The album features John Leven (EUROPE) on bass, Snowy Shaw (KING DIAMOND, SABATON) on drums, Jonny Lindkvist (NOCTURNAL RITES) on vocals, Lars Chriss (LION’S SHARE), on guitars, Kay Backlund (LION’S SHARE), on keyboards – main man Johan Kihlberg, with Pontus Egberg (KING DIAMOND) and Mats Vassfjord (220 VOLT) playing bass on one song each.
Last night, the band also did a warm-up show at the Valand venue in Gothenburg, as part of a KISS pre-party.
The live line-up for these two shows are: Johan Kihlberg – guitar Lars Chriss (LION’S SHARE) – guitar Jonny Lindkvist (NOCTURNAL RITES) – vocals Magnus Ulfstedt (ex-ECLIPSE) – drums Mats Vassfjord (220 VOLT) – bass
Under My Skin – Drama, Trauma & Rock ‘n’ Roll is author Elise Krentzel’s memoir of her life between the ages of 5 through 20. Growing up in New York City during the end of the 1960s flower power era and into the tumultuous rock and roll 1970s, she reveals how a young girl in a toxic family survives by plowing all her energy and talent into writing and music. While still in high school she is published and throws herself into the music business full-force. Eventually, at the tender age of nineteen Elise is invited to become part of the Kiss Army; one of several journalists invited to tour with Kiss, with one of the greatest rock bands of all time to Japan. Think Almost Famous only female. But there’s more!
Elise Krentzel shares with readers how her life – beginning with the invitation to tour with the band, to the flight with Kiss on the PanAm Kiss Clipper, to the actual tour around the country that ended with the iconic live Kiss LP Live at the Budokan – became one of the most pivotal moments in Kiss’s history, and in hers!
Conversations with manager Bill Aucoin reveal what his strategy for the band was prior to the tour, “Fact is, this is the last hurrah for the band. After the Pacific tour and Canada, we record one more album, and then the band’s finished,” while Al Ross, Kiss’ PR manager from The Press Office primed Elise for her arrival in Japan and introduced her to the key players in the music industry in Tokyo. While on tour Elise gets involved in a host of different situations, some life threatening, others simply audacious. She writes a Kiss Diary for Music Life, the leading Japanese rock magazine of its era.
Amazon Sales Charts #1 in Biographies of Rock Bands #1 in Rock #1 in Music Business (Kindle Store) #1 in Jewish Life (Kindle Store) #1 in Composers & Musicians
Book Signings
March 11 at Mosaic at Mueller Business Center, 4600 Mueller Blvd. Austin, TX from 3-6pm
March 12 at Ken’z Guitars, 705 S. Main Street, Georgetown, TX from 1:15-4:00pm
March 16 at Wild About Music, 615 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX from 1-4pm & 7-10pm
April 9 at The Rockport Daily Grind, 302 S Austin Street, Rockport, TX from 8am-4pm
Elise Krentzel is currently working on her second book in a trilogy and lives in Austin, Texas. You can buy her book on Amazon at tinyurl.com/umsbook
Since launching in 2012 Three Sides of the Coin a unofficial KISS podcast that celebrates the hottest band in the world KISS is excited to announce that the show has been viewed or listened to over 7,000,000 times.
The co-hosts of Three Sides of the Coin share they excitement, Lisa Martini said, “A huge accomplishment that wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing and loyal listeners!!! Here’s to the next 7 million!!!”
Mark Cicchini adds, “As my co-hosts would attest to… this “silly little podcast” (as I like to say) has resonated with a lot of people around the world. We’ve received many messages over the years that quite frankly have left me humbled & grateful.”
Tommy Sommers continues, “7 million blows my mind. When we started we would have been happy with 7. Our listeners are the reason this happened. They are the best!”
Michael Brandvold concludes, “Thank you to every single person who has ever hit the play button. And, thank you to Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, Eric Carr, Vinnie Vincent, Bruce Kulick, Mark St. John, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer… we do this because of everything you have given us.”
Three Sides of the Coin has been joined by special guests including Gene Simmons, Eric Singer, Ace Frehley, Bruce Kulick, Vinnie Vincent, Rob Halford, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Dennis DeYoung, Buck Dharma, Lydia Criss, Eddie Trunk, WWE/AEW Superstar and lead singer of Fozzy Chris Jericho, Angel lead guitarist Punky Meadows, Five Finger Death Punch members Jason Hook and Jeremy Spencer, Vinnie Vincent Invasion and Slaughter lead singer Mark Slaughter, Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider and Jay Jay French, comedian Craig Gass, KISS’ former business manager Chris Lendt, KISS art director Dennis Woloch, Head of KISS Security Big John Harte, the Black Veil Brides Andy Biersack, Ron Keel, Frank Munoz associate producer for Ace Frehley’s Anomaly album, award-winning songwriter Adam Mitchell, Ed Kanon (Peter Criss’ drum tech), Kevin Valentine (drummer on KISS’ Psycho Circus album) and many, many more.
In the early ’90s, Michael Brandvold launched the fifth ever website on the Internet devoted to KISS, KISS Otaku. He built, launched and maintained Kissonline.com (KISS’ official web presence). He now owns Michael Brandvold Marketing, providing marketing services and digital strategy to musicians. Tommy Sommers spent 15 years on the record show circuit collecting, trading and selling memorabilia / Kiss merchandise. He is now a successful residential Real Estate agent in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area. Tommy has also produced a KISS song For The Oddfathers and is the owner of Rock Steady Digital Photography. Mark Cicchini, is a world-renown KISS collector. KISS has used parts of Mark’s vast KISS collection for audio, video & print materials including their book NOTHIN TO LOSE, CD re-release of the LOVE GUN album & the VH1 Ultimate Album KISS ALIVE! special as well as many other KISS projects. His wife also makes a mean meatloaf! Lisa Martini has been a KISS fan, almost since birth, thanks to her older brother introducing her to KISS in 1974! Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Lisa Martini has extensive experience in the music industry, from radio to production to merchandising, and also holds a degree in audio engineering. Over the years she’s worked at many KISS Expos. starting at the New York Expos in the mid 90’s to present day. She’s been fortunate enough to have been part of many outstanding KISS moments, such as helping to launch the KISS fragrance and accompanying them to their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Inspired by Gene Simmons’ legendary persona, this immaculately detailed costume is made with a thick outer hard shell allowing you to rock cities while looking fancy and maintaining a comfortable form fit. The detailed armor is just the tip of the tongue. Cast from the actual molds used to create the same armor for the mythical Gene Simmons’ Demon, this costume also features adjustable sleeve armor positioning, adaptable side torso straps, adjustable codpiece, spiked fingerless gloves and the black studded pleather cape with 4 points of attachment. Allowing for even more pliancy, the torso features 3 adjustable leather straps meant to adapt to most all body types.
The Demon MONSTER features stunning organic anatomic details and lavalike seams. With this costume you’re not just playing dress-up, you’re becoming the King of the Night Time World ready to find your headlight queen.
With this set limited to just 250 orders, you are not going to want to let this one get away.
The Demon MONSTER is made in North America and includes: • Torso Armor, Sleeve Armor, Fingerless Gloves, Cape, Cod Piece, Bodysuit and Dragon Boots • Mind-blowing details visually identical to the actual Demon stage worn armor • Adjustable Sleeve Positioning – Adaptable fit chest • Adjustable Cod Piece • Custom Black Studded Cape with 4 Points of Attachment
Since 2015, KISS Replicas has been the premier developer of officially high-end KISS replica costumes under license by Epic Rights, KISS’s global licensing agent. All costumes are produced by UD Replicas, the licensing division of Universal Designs Ltd.
David Pea, President UD Replicas says, “Nothing like this has ever been offered before. This beautifully intricate costume is made entirely by hand and each one takes hundreds of hours to complete. It’s more than just a costume, this is a dream come true for fans the world over that have an emotional connection to KISS and the excitement their costumes garner.”
Visit KISSreplicas.com and on Facebook for more information and additional KISS costumes.
North American hard rock legends KISS, and the British hard rock legends DEF LEPPARD, will get the Rocksaws jigsaw puzzle treatment in April.
Zee Productions will release two classic DEF LEPPARD album covers, “Hysteria” and “Pyromania”, and four classic KISS album covers – “Rock And Roll Over”, “Destroyer”, “Love Gun” and “Dynasty” – as a 500 piece jigsaws, in April 2020, on Zee Productions imprint Rock Saws. The iconic arts of some of Rock’s most influential and highly regarded albums is presented in puzzle form for the first time ever. All puzzles come in a vinyl box set sized box, perfect to fit alongside a vinyl record collection.
The puzzles will be available on April 8, 2020, along with previously announced puzzles with STATUS QUO, SCORPIONS and ALICE COOPER.
Johan Kihlberg’s IMPERA have been confirmed as the special guest when KISS plays their final concert ever in Gothenburg, Sweden, on June 23rd.
Johan Kihlberg’s IMPERA is currently finishing up a new album to be released later this year on a yet undecided label. Besides main man Johan Kihlberg, the album features Snowy Shaw (ex-KING DIAMOND, SABATON) on drums, Jonny Lindkvist (NOCTURNAL RITES) on vocals, John Levén (EUROPE), Pontus Egberg (KING DIAMOND) and Mats Vassfjord (220 VOLT) on bass, Kay Backlund (LION’S SHARE) on keyboards and Lars Chriss (LION’S SHARE) on guitars and album mix.
On the previous albums Johan Kihlberg’s IMPERA has worked with several members and ex-members from bands like KISS, SAGA, Yngwie Malmsteen band, Europe, Freak Kitchen etc.
Johan Kihlberg’s IMPERA – 2020 live lineup: Johan Kihlberg – guitar Lars Chriss (LION’S SHARE) – guitar Matti Alfonzetti (SKINTRADE) – vocals Nils Patrik Johansson (LION’S SHARE, ASTRAL DOORS) – vocals Magnus Ulfstedt (ex- ECLIPSE) – drums Mats Vassfjord (220 VOLT) – bass Kay Backlund (LION’S SHARE) – keyboards
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 