As part of the 2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards, the site is counting down the Top 10 Rock News Artists of the year.
Finalists for the 4th annual hennemusic Rock News Awards are chosen by readers: winners are determined by the combined total page views of the top 50 hennemusic rock news stories of the past twelve months.
The 2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards winners will be announced on Friday, January 17.
Rock News Artist of The Year No. 4 – KISS
KISS marked their 40th anniversary in 2013 and it was to prove to be a year of big news for the New York band.
The group would continue their “Monster” world tour with an 8-date Australian trek in March.
In April, original KISS drummer Peter Criss would receive the first "Man Of Courage" award from The Beauty Foundation For Cancer Care, a non-profit organization that serves to alleviate the physical, financial and emotional burdens patients and their families face while coping with cancer. The new honor will be named "The Peter Criss Man Of Courage Award" moving forward (details here).
May saw original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley reportedly fighting a foreclosure action on his New York home, a story that would surface again later in the year.
That same month, Paul Stanley would take some shots at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, as KISS continued to be denied entry into the institution.
"Look, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is marketing," Stanley said. "You've got a bunch of faceless people in a back room who trademark a name that sounds very official. Well, if you had thought of it first, you would have been the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."
KISS have been eligible for the Rock Hall since 1999; asked if he thought the band might one day be voted in, Stanley responded, "Well, it depends on who lives longer, us or [Rock Hall chairman and Rolling Stone head] Jann Wenner." (read more of Paul’s comments here).
On June 1, KISS kicked off a European tour at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden – watch video from opening night here.
In July, the band launched an extensive Canadian tour and played a few US dates.
In early August, KISS announced that Alan G. Parker will direct “You Wanted The Best…You Got The Best – The Official KISS Movie.” The project promises to offer the most in-depth look yet at the band who formed in New York in the early 70s as Wicked Lester and went on to sell over 75 million albums (more info here).
Business ventures outside of KISS’ music continued to dominate the headlines, as the group announced the launch of their own Arena Football League team, The LA KISS, in August; the news brings professional football back to Los Angeles after a five year hiatus (details here).
Following the summer tour dates, Gene Simmons recorded a duet in late August with Engelbert Humperdinck for an upcoming duets album by the crooner (see video here).
The bassist went on to sing the US national anthem the NFL International Series game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings at London’s Wembley Stadium in late September (watch video here).
October brought major news for KISS: after years of bitching, the band were among the nominees announced for the 2014 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame (details here).
A Japanese tour followed in October, with the group’s final show broadcast via pay per view.
Original KISS members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss reunited on stage for the first time in 13 years during an October all-star jam at the 30th-anniversary party for VH1 Classic "That Metal Show" co-host Eddie Trunk's radio show at the Hard Rock Café in New York City (see video here).
October saw the band host KISS Kruise III, presenting a mixture of acoustic and electric shows for fans.
In November, Ace Frehley announced that he had signed a new two-album deal with eOne Music; the following month, his New York home was damaged in an electrical fire (info here).
On December 17, KISS were announced as one of the inductees into the 2014 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, alongside Nirvana, Peter Gabriel, Hall and Oates, Cat Stevens and Linda Ronstadt. The band thanks former members and fans for the recognition (read more here), while opening a Pandora’s Box regarding a possible reunion of the original KISS lineup at the April 10 ceremony in New York.
On the heels of the Rock Hall news, Paul Stanley revealed that he will publish his autobiography, “Face The Music: A Life Exposed”, two weeks after the group are inducted into the Hall (details here).
KISS steamrolled into 2014 with more news, including the band’s upcoming appearance at the first outdoor NHL game in Los Angeles, set for January 25 at Dodger Stadium.
Former KISS and current Grand Funk Railroad guitarist Bruce Kulick married his girlfriend, Lisa Lane, on January 4 (here).
This past week, KISS were featured in the launch of a new spring/summer advertising campaign by fashion designer John Varvatos (here).
Now, all eyes and ears are focused on April 10 as KISS fans anxiously await the band’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
2013 Rock News Artist Of The Year – Top 10
05 – THE ROLLING STONES
06 – GUNS N’ ROSES
07 - JOURNEY
08 – BLACK SABBATH
09 – STONE TEMPLE PILOTS
10 – DEF LEPPARD
See also:
2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards announced
Van Halen dominate the 2012 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen win two hennemusic Rock News Awards
Guns N’ Roses named hennemusic’s Rock News Artist of The Year
Jimmy Page’s 2011 plans named hennemusic’s Rock News Story Of The Year
