12/26/09: Hope everybody had a great Christmas! As usual I spent mine staying local in NJ with family. When you have a 2 and 6 year old the holidays are all about them, as it should be! Spent the day wiring up the Wii Santa gave my daughter. Good stuff. Hope yours was great. Also hope everyone enjoyed this years Merry KISSmas special. Since it aired on Q104 on Christmas night I recorded it this year, but had some fun with one song from every studio album in order. Thought it was fun to listen to the evolution of the band through the music and lineup changes. I started my yearly KISSmas show back in 1992, long before anyone else did such a thing, and I started it for one reason; because outside of R&R All Night, there was almost no airplay on a regular basis for them on radio. Call me crazy but what I always liked most about Kiss was the MUSIC! I hate the fact that nobody ever talks about that. Makeup, stage show, blood, but for me it was the music, and this is my way of showcasing that. Of course when I recorded this years show I had no idea Kiss would have the ulitmate snub by the R&R Hall and finally make the ballot, and then be passed over for ABBA and others. At the time I recorded this show I figured this would be the year they finally made it after getting on the ballot against that competition. Like all Kiss fans I was shocked even though I probably should not have been. My thoughts on this are in previous blogs so I won't go over again here. So it was great to celebrate the music of Kiss more than ever this year. By the way there was an interesting article in Rolling Stone about who makes the Hall and why. The writer reveals that there was much debate if they should put Kiss on the ballot because people argued if they were a real band or a side show act? Critic Dave Marsh (who also has a vote) has said publicly that he thinks Kiss is a "shitty rock band" and is largely responsible for keeping them out. This is what we are dealing with folks, it is beyond comprehension! These few people decide and the true rock fans lose. It has to end! Anyway, hope you enjoyed the Kiss celebration last night. The show airs again on affiliate stations this weekend. Don't forget, become an AA Member of the site and hear these shows on this site On Demand! Playlist for KISSmas 2009 up now on the site under broadcasts. This Friday the final year end special where we look back on all the hard rock and metal of 2009. Maybe discover some stuff you missed and hear the latest stuff we played all year on the show. Also, this show will be live so I will have chances to win copies of many of the CDs I will feature. See you New Years Day night at 11PM on Q104.3 NYC and live online at www.q1043.com.
Many emailed asking for an update on Ronnie James Dio. He is doing well from what I hear and continuing chemo. I even hear some talk of H&H being on Summer festivals in Europe next year, which is a great sign for RJD to make a full recovery! H&H has had a rough time with Iommi having a tendon issue and Vinnie having shoulder surgery. Lets hope everyone if healthy for 2010!
Enjoy the weekend and see you live Monday at 6P ET/3P Pacific on Sirius 19/XM 53. Live show, lots of music, requests, talk and more.
Go Giants!
