March 29th -
 I'm proud to announce that I will be Grand Marshall at the upcoming INDY ST. PETERSBURG RACE, April 2nd. Our SIMMONS ABRAMSON MARKETING team are going to be in Tampa/St. Pete doing press and meeting with Indy Team Owners, Drivers and media to maximize media exposure.
Watch the April 2nd Indy St. Pete race on ESPN (3:30 EST) and go to INDYCAR.COM for more details.
My partner in our GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS, tv producer/writer/director LESLIE GREIF, is also premiering his movie, FUNNY MONEY in Sarasota. It stars Chevy Chase and a host of crazies. I'll be going to the premier at the Sarasota Film Fest.
If you're down there, come up and say hello.
 In the World Baseball Classic championship game tonight between Cuba and Japan they played Rock and Roll All Night at the stadium. It aired on ESPN.
Rob
 Was proud to attend the first race of the new INDY RACING LEAGUE series at Homestead/Miami. And, while I was thrilled to be there with the Nuggets' CARMELO ANTHONY (and his PJ Chessin driven CAR MELO) and to wave the Green Flag which started the race, I was stunned and devastated to learn that PAUL DANA died during the warmup to the races.
Our deepest condolences to the Dana family.
Please log on to INDYCAR.COM for additional details.
Kiss star Simmons drawn to IndyCar
Sarah Talalay
Sports business columnist
March 26, 2006
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Gene Simmons, of the rock group KISS, is surrounded by fans at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Saturday March 25, 2006. Simmons will wave the start flag at Sunday's IRL Indy 300 race.
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NASCAR might be more fitting his Kiss persona, but Gene Simmons is all about Indy these days.
The Kiss founder and his business partner, Richard Abramson, a veteran Hollywood marketer, film producer and talent manager, who together formed Simmons Abramson Marketing, are telling anyone who will listen that the Indy Racing League is the next frontier. The new great American pastime.
"It'll be about a dad and his son and a hot dog on a Sunday afternoon," said Simmons, who is waving the green flag as honorary starter for this afternoon's Toyota Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Simmons attended his first IndyCar series race in Texas last year and has been hooked since.
He co-wrote I Am Indy, as a rock anthem to represent the open wheel racing series. He speaks poetically of drivers as "rock stars in their rocket ships" traveling at 225 mph. Simmons Abramson signed on as the official marketer of the Indy Racing League in January.
"Gene likes to say we're doing a makeover," Abramson said.
Simmons brought Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony into the fold, securing his investment in the Hemelgarn Racing team with its rookie driver, P.J. Chesson. Anthony is expected to watch his namesake, Car-Melo, at today's race.
"Perception is everything," Simmons said. "You could be just another horse race, but if it's done right, you become the Kentucky Derby, baby!"
There's no question the Kiss star is a master marketer, with 24 gold records and a stable of 2,500 licensed products. Simmons also has several of his own ventures, including magazines and television programs.
But a former IRL team marketer isn't sure what the Simmons team can do beyond attracting attention.
"Gene Simmons is a showman, so it makes sense that if you have the biggest show in a demographic in racing, that you would want to have a showman to make it even better," said Larry Flegle, who worked for IRL Team Cheever in 1998-99 and is a sports marketing professor at the online American Military University. "I get a feeling it'll be a flash in the pan."
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I don't know if you've seen this one ( a favorite in my collection ) ...
Peace
Glendon Griffith
New issue of WAD Magazine.
 Just got done watching you on "Wind Tunnel" on the Speed Channel. First I want to say that you are looking good. Well you're always looking good, but seriously you are looking better than what you have in the past 10 years. Very Sexy. Anyways, back to the show. You're obviously doing your job with Indy. It's great and I can't wait to see my first indy race ever. I can't wait until there is a race in Michigan. Hey, since you said you'll be going to like every race, maybe I'll see you one of these times. Well anyways, keep up the great work with Indy.
Your Michigan Buddy,
Alicia
Drive, He Said: Anthony Invests in Auto Racing
If the rookie Indy Car driver P. J. Chesson can accelerate as fast as his new car's namesake (the Honda-Dallara will be called the Car-Melo), then one of the stranger sports crossovers in recent years will be a success.
Carmelo Anthony, the third-year Denver Nuggets star, bought into the Indy Racing League team Hemelgarn last week, a deal brokered by the Kiss guitarist Gene Simmons, whose marketing company is promoting the I.R.L. this season.
"When you see a group of three people like that, you know something special is going to happen," Anthony said Friday in a telephone interview.
Though he will neither drive nor paint his face like Simmons, Anthony, 21, will try to promote interest among African-Americans in open-wheel racing.
"I think it will work, I've been getting good feedback already," said Anthony, who announced the deal at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday before hitting the winning shot against the Pacers that night. "It's different, it's another world people get to see me in."
Anthony's face is on the car along with the Nuggets' colors — baby blue and white. Even when not speeding 230 miles an hour, his image is sleek. He has recovered from his part in the bronze-medal embarrassment at the 2004 Olympics and from the vilification over his appearance in the "Stop Snitching" DVD in Baltimore.
"At first, I was too worried about what people were saying about me because it hurt me," Anthony said Monday in New York. "I would do anything in my power to get people to understand who I am as a person. People weren't trying to hear that. But now, as you can see, people are."
Winning is the ultimate image-changer. Anthony has hit six game-winning or game-tying shots since Jan. 6 in lifting the Nuggets to 37-30 (through Friday) from 14-17 since the start of 2006.
"In January, he put this team on his back and saved the season," Nuggets Coach George Karl said. "When we had every excuse to give in to injuries, to give in to the schedule, we won games we weren't supposed to win."
Anthony had led the Nuggets to four victories in six games on the road and had surged to seventh on the league's scoring list (24.6 points).
His invitation to the United States national team has validated his maturity. "It's like a second chance for me," Anthony said. "I'm born again. That's what I feel like right now, for people to throw out what happened last year or at the Olympics."
Intense summer workouts in Denver helped propel him to this point. "I wanted to get used to the altitude; it takes three years to get used to it," Anthony said.
Now opponents are getting used to him at altitude.
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This woman may be small, but I've come to the conclusion that she is more powerful then you and me. Well, at least at 220 miles a hour!!!!! When you met, did you catch her with your charm, or were you charmed by her?
Looking forward to watching the races.
From someone who never has.
I AM INDY
Car-melo Sticks Finger in Cynics' Eye
Written by: Jeff Olson
Indianapolis, Ind. – 3/17/2006
Chesson, Hemelgarn, Simmons and Anthony might be an improbable combination for IndyCar racing, but at least they all make for good publicity. (Jim Haines/IRL photo)
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Cynicism is easy, which explains why everyone seems to be a cynic – smarter-than-thou, smirking-at-the-world misanthropists with all the answers but little ambition to follow up on them. If cynicism were difficult, like hard work and success, then only a few would be cynical. Instead, cynicism is easy, so society is brimming with sofa-surfing intellects who solve the world’s problems between bags of Cheetos.
We heard from this crowd again this week after the announcement that Carmelo Anthony and Gene Simmons would back P.J. Chesson and Ron Hemelgarn in the IRL IndyCar Series this season. Car-melo apparently struck a nerve with the anti-IRL crowd – as if anything doesn’t strike a nerve with them – and they’ve been chuckling about Simmons since his marketing firm signed on with the IRL in January.
The teaming of Anthony and Simmons threatens the know-everythings because it contains the elements of external fame and attention they find so intimidating. Anthony, the star forward for the Denver Nuggets, has on his coattails the attention of mainstream sports media; after Wednesday’s press conference, ESPN set a non-Danica record for SportsCenter time devoted to the IRL. The message-board experts don’t understand this concept, but Anthony’s ability to deliver different eyes to the IRL actually helps both sides of the open-wheel conflagration. What he brings, you shall also receive.
If one rule could be added to the unwritten motorsports handbook, it should be this: Outsiders are beneficial. Too often, they’re viewed as adversary. Instead, they should be welcomed. Nothing profits sport more than attention, and nothing brings it like outsiders. Inside the thick glass of the racing fishbowl, people become myopic. It’s time to stop treating this game of ours like it’s ours only. Open it up. Let others in. Maybe they have ideas that we can’t see because we’re too close.
True, Simmons is a born salesman. After all, he turned a mediocre rock band with a gimmick into a 30-year marketing wonder that can be found on anything from lunchboxes to credit cards. As he often says, KISS isn’t one of the top 100 bands in history, but it is one of the five best known. In turning makeup into gold, he became one of the most famous faces in the world. Now that fame is redirected to the IRL.
True, we’ve brought ourselves to tears making fun of his “I am Indy” anthem. True, most of us – inside and outside – scoffed when he was hired. But he is enthusiastic about it, he does demand attention, and he is entertaining. That’s far more than can be said about any previous attempts to market the Indy Racing League.
True, Anthony and Simmons know little about racing. So? Maybe that’s a good thing. As two factions of the same racing game beat each other about the head and neck over what amount to petty, insignificant issues and enormous amounts of greed and ego, the viewing public yawns. Regardless which side of this silly war you’re on, you know the sport needs help reaching the public. You know people have rejected an intriguing form of racing – that includes both open-wheel sides – while embracing another form of racing. You know the help might well come from beyond the boundaries of the game. It might have to.
True, Chesson has little experience at the top level. So? What the sport needs is a brash, clever, ballsy tough guy who knows how to put on a show. What it needs is a good quote. What it needs is a challenger, a guy who isn’t afraid to wear the black hat or offend sponsors or knock down a wall or two. What it needs is a new face that’s interesting. At this point in his career, only one thing can be said about Chesson: He is not boring. The same cannot be said for every other racer out there.
It would be fun to sit about and trash all of this, to be the detractor and joker and wise-ass. In fact, it would be delightfully easy. It’s more fun to rip something than it is to come up with a better plan. Solutions are much more difficult to come by. They take time and effort and even failure before they come to fruition. They take more contemplation and exertion than it takes to be a clown on a message board, ripping away in anonymity.
If this team and this effort turn out a failure, it wasn’t because somebody didn’t try. And it wasn’t because someone sat around and laughed at it.
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 In case some of you are watching VH1, you will have noticed that this last weekend, they ran a GENE SIMMONS ROCK SCHOOL Marathon. The entire series was played back to back. You will be seeing it again.
New letters posted...
He's everywhere! Thought you would like to see the cover of the latest Amazing Figure Modeler Magazine.
Regards,
Jay Fraser
Vancouver, Canada
From: Keith Leroux / KISS Asylum.com
Saw Gene Simmons at tonight's Indianapolis Pacers game versus the Denver Nuggets. He was attending the game to see his new partner in an INDY Racing Team, the Nugget's Carmelo Anthony. During the game they put Gene on the screen during the kiss cam segment - where people kiss each other on camera - and announced Gene Simmons of KISS. Gene received a huge applause. People all over were taking photos and calling friends on their cells to tell them Gene was there. Later Gene was on the screen again during an air guitar segment and before he left he signed autographs for quite a few fans.
Earlier in the day, Gene attended a press conference here in INDY for his new racing team.
Here are some photos from the game taken by my friend JR:
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NBA star Anthony to partner with IRL race team
 Posted 3/15/2006 10:04 PM
By Steve Herman, The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS — Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets will be a co-owner of the Hemelgarn team in the Indy Racing League, a partnership designed in part to broaden the series' appeal to a younger generation of race fans.
The deal between the IRL team and the 21-year-old Anthony, one of the top young stars in the NBA, was brokered by rock guitarist and member of KISS Gene Simmons, whose marketing company signed a deal to promote the open-wheel series in January.
"It was my group, his group, going back and forth for a long period of time," Anthony said Wednesday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "The opportunity was there and I couldn't let it slip out of my hands to be involved in something like this."
Rookie P.J. Chesson, a sprint-car driver and four-time World of Outlaws winner who debuted in the IRL developmental Indy Pro Series two years ago, will drive the No. 91 blue and white Dallara, which carries the name "Car Melo" and a likeness of the NBA star.
"For the record, I'm not getting in the car. I can't fit into no Indy car," the 6-foot-8 Anthony said. "I'm just excited about the project. I think we're going to have a lot of fun."
Anthony, seventh in NBA scoring at 26.3 points a game, was in Indianapolis for the Nuggets' game Wednesday night against the Indiana Pacers.
Last week, Anthony, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and 20 other players were selected to the USA Basketball team for possible spots on the world championship and 2008 Beijing Olympic teams.
"When I really like something, I try to put my all into it," Anthony said. "This is something that's different from when I was growing up on the basketball court, running up and down, scoring 30 points or something. This is totally something different."
Simmons, who wrote a 91-second promotional anthem called I Am Indy, also attended the announcement at the Speedway, along with his marketing partner Richard Abramson.
"I'm perhaps the public persona of a really simple message: You should all be blessed because you're standing on hallowed ground," Simmons said. "This is the Indy, baby. ... These are the fastest cars on four wheels. We have rock stars and rockets. These cars will drive on the ceiling.
"We intend on carrying this message around the world, because it deserves it," he said. "Indy? I am Indy, baby."
Team owner Ron Hemelgarn won the 2000 IRL championship and the 1996 Indianapolis 500 with driver Buddy Lazier.
He said Anthony, the 27-year-old Chesson and Simmons' promotion would "create excitement, a new fan base and attention" to the IRL.
"This kind of promotion is not just about Hemelgarn Racing. This is about the Indy Racing League, what it's going to do for the league," Hemelgarn said. "This kid (Chesson) comes from where I like, sprint cars and so on. Gene, that guy is motivated all the time. When the opportunity came about, I thought it was great."
Anthony said he would try to attend as many races as possible, including the Indy 500 on May 28 if the Nuggets are not in the NBA playoffs.
"I hope we'll be playing. But if we're not, then I'll be here," he said.
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Partnership between Anthony, rocker Simmons is curious
Pair to sponsor driver on the IndyCar circuit
By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News
March 14, 2006
NEW YORK - Considering the affinity each has for tongue wagging, perhaps a Gene Simmons-Michael Jordan union would seem more likely.
But Simmons, the front man for the rock group KISS, has teamed with Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony to sponsor an IndyCar Series driver.
The two are among those who have partnered with team owner Ron Hemelgarn to put rookie driver P.J. Chesson on the track this season. The team will debut March 26.
So has Anthony begun to like the music of KISS?
"Now I do," said Anthony, who said he got to know Simmons through mutual friends. "I never really listened to them (before). Just seeing their merchandise and listening to them here and there (has given him an appreciation)."
Anthony long has had an appreciation for auto racing. That's why he has gotten involved in the project.
"But I'm not getting behind the wheel," he said.
Anthony wouldn't divulge how much money he has put into the team. There will be a news conference about his role Wednesday in Indianapolis, the day the Nuggets play the Indiana Pacers.
Copyright 2006, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.
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 Woke up at the crack of dawn to do the ADAM CAROLLA radio program. Adam took over Howard Sterns slot in the West Coast. Those of you who listened in, I'm sure got an earful about my personal observations of life as we know it on Earth.
TODAY INSIDE THE KREMLINS NATIONAL MUSEUM I BOUGHT A SET OF KISS WOODEN DOLLS ...ONE WITH YOUR PICTURE . REGARDS, MICHAEL
WARNING; Read the following and take note!!!
I AM NOT MARRIED.
Repeat.
I am NOT married.
Here's what this is about.
Yesterday, there was a surprise party I set up for someone. A beautiful girl. It was a set up!!! But, the surprise was on me!!! She and her people arranged for: Wedding cake. Rabbi. Rings..And cameras.
She did it as a joke.
So, no matter what you hear and no matter what pictures you see in print from that Surprise Party, I AM NOT MARRIED!!!
"Me thinks he doth protest too much?" You bet your ass.
hi gene
 just to let u know the rock the nation dvd was last wk number 1 on the dvd charts here in australia.
would kiss be thinking of doing a tour down under some time soon. seeing as how well the australian people like the band so much.
thanks
richard
We have a music competition tonight in Sweden and what you see is
proberly the stage outfit for one of the girls song number.
That Gene is dressing girls was new to me ;-)
/Örjan Lennström, Sweden
Kiss fan since 1975
Gene Simmons’ Rock School to air in Holland too
One of Gene Simmons’ popular TV series has been purchased by RTL Nederland - one of the biggest TV/Radio stations in Holland - to air later this year, RTL just confirmed to KISS Kollector Online. The series is Rock School, a.k.a. Gene Simmons’ Rock School, as produced by RDF Media. It's not known yet whether it will air on RTL 4, RTL 5 or RTL 7 (air date is not known yet either obviously). Previously, a few other TV series Gene had a hand in were sold to TV stations in Holland also. Net 5 has bought Mr. Romance which they started airing recently, whereas a few years ago Gene’s animation series My Dad The Rock Star was sold to children’s channel Nickelodeon where it became an instant hit.
 Just saw a game show on tv Friday night called "Deal or no Deal." When asked what he would do if he won the big money, the guy who was playing at the time said "My 50th birthday is just around the corner and it has always been a dream of mine to hire KISS to perform at my 50th birthday party!!!" He wound up blowing a shot at really big money, and walked out with a mere $5000.
I thought you would like this , and it made me wonder if HUGE bands like KISS were really for hire for tiny parties if the price was right.
Another quick KISS sighting: In "Superman the Animated Series", the Episode titled "The Main Man pt 1", the bad buy "Lobo" has a KISS poster up on his wall at his hang out, all the way in another galaxy. It has all four KISS faces drawn on it, but it is spelled "KIZZ." Just goes to prove that not only is KISS the greatest band on Earth, but they are known through out the universe... lol.
Sincerely
Shawn A.
The Outrageous Entrepreneur
Gene Simmons of KISS has built a mini-empire with his in-your-face media marketing.
By Josh Friedman, Times Staff Writer
March 4, 2006
As the tongue-wagging singer for the rock band KISS, Gene Simmons likes to brag about turning a band into a brand.
Behind the garish makeup, Simmons, 56, was the driving force behind a blitzkrieg of KISS-themed products, including lunch pails and caskets. The band's heyday is long gone, but Simmons says he's far from finished.
The Beverly Hills-based impresario is starring in two reality TV shows, developing a magazine, running his own music label and launching an entertainment-themed pay-TV show that will feature uncensored music videos and celebrity interviews. Think "Access Hollywood" meets "Girls Gone Wild."
Simmons, who calls himself "Disney without the overhead," still occasionally dons his KISS get-up to perform as the Demon.
"I'm as ravenous as ever," he said. "I remember when my belly was empty, and I didn't like the feeling."
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 Just saw your interview on "Your World w/Cavuto"...
LOVED IT!!! Just wish you weren't interrupted as often as you were, but I know it's his show!
Always great to hear your thoughts, and see the legend in action... If only you had more time!
You are a true inspiration, Gene.
All the best in your ventures...
Take care
Philip Gilmer
Auckland, New Zealand
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