Serpent 3D reports:

To promote our business, Serpent 3D has previously released all of KISS' major stage designs. With the excitement for the upcoming KISS album growing, we thought it would offer an excellent opportunity to present KISS with our depiction of an all new KISS stage set and special effects. While KISS nor their management still hasn't got back to us regarding the design, we bear no grudge! Our alternative stage set for KISS' upcoming tour will be a nice benchmark while simultaneously demonstrating the powerful visualization capabilities within a project delivered by Serpent 3D.

Although the band members themselves are the most important stage props in KISS, stage design was always an integral part of the band. Simple special effects like sirens and dry ice machines were present from their very first performances. Due to the outlandish on-stage characters, KISS’ late manager Bill Aucoin cleverly refined the stage presentation in conjunction with the essence of their image. The first step in the evolution of the stage presentation came with the levitating drum podium, incorporated into the stage show in 1974. Stage props were present during the first three tours, but only suggested the potential and what was to be seen ahead. The transition came with the release of Destroyer in 1976. Following the concept and theme of the album, the stage design was now transforming into a believable environment for the KISS characters to operate in. Each band member was given his natural habitat: Gene Simmons’ rested on his castle to the left; Ace Frehley hovered above his planetary surface on the right. Peter Criss was guarded by to giant altar cats, while Paul Stanley took centre stage surrounded by huge crystals. It all tied in with their on-stage personas as well as with the themes of the new songs. On the subsequent three major tours, KISS developed the stage shows, adding new elements which often reflected the change in musical style and creative direction.

ResearchIt is now November 2nd 2011, and the band has been recording since late spring: Monster appears to become one of the most time consuming recording processes to ever have been undertaken by the band. As their previous studio album debuted on 2nd place on the Billboard charts, KISS as well as the fans is hopeful towards the next release, anticipating a success artistically as well as commercially. Sonic Boom resonated well with the critics, but the tour did certainly not live up to the tradition of theme based stage sets: It merely consisted of a wall of LCD-screens flanking Eric Singer’s drums. Once upon a time, the band was undeniably leaders and inventorswhen it came to creativity and the implementation of technology in their stage presentation. Nobody should therefore be surprised that a vast proportion of their fan base felt the Sonic Boom tour was a letdown. With all previous stage designs om file, it was a fairly straight forward process selecting the various elements and conceptual art. The Destroyer stage set was by far the best effort at creating a believable scenography, making it a perfect frame for the KISS experience. That stage design, created by Mark Ravitz, was therefore a natural starting point going ahead with the Monster.

Read more and check out a video demonstration at this location.

KISS have been working on the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Sonic Boom in Los Angeles for a 2012 release. For the Monster album, KISS is planning a massive 2012-2013 world tour which will take the band around the globe.

During an extensive three-hour chat with BraveWords.com recently, KISS drummer Eric Singer says that Monster "isn’t The Elder where we have a theme for the whole record. It’s a straight-ahead rock KISS record and I think this stuff so far is stronger better material (than Sonic Boom). It’s more riff-y which makes it more interesting. This album will have more production (than Sonic Boom), so in that sense it might be leaning more towards a Destroyer type approach. I’ve asked to have my drums put in a bigger room because I want to get a big sound… a more bombastic drum sound. We’ve taken more time to get better sounds on this recording."

Read the entire interview here.

Following the success of the One Nite KISS, Waiting For The Boom, in 2009, to celebrate the forthcoming KISS Monster album and related new tour, DeuceNews presents The Italian KISS Expo 2011, featuring Eric Singer.

Eric will be the special guest at the 2011 Italian KISS Expo, at the Dancing La Montagnola in Campogalliano (MO) on December 2nd. Keith Leroux from KISSOnline will also be attending the event with the greatest Official KISS merchandise.

Tribute bands LIVE4WIN and JULIETKISS will perform the hottest KISS songs, KISS dealers and Washburn Guitars booth will be there for you and more.

Ticket pre-orders and more details soon at DeuceNews.com.

Eric Singer will also be the guest at the 2011 Holland KISS Fan Expo at Poppodium Atak in Enschede on November 27th. The Fan Expo will also feature KISS dealers from around the world, a makeup contest, and Europe’s KISS ON THE ROCKS will perform a classic KISS set.

Click here for ticket info.

The 2011 Holland KISS Fan Expo is a fan produced event. By the fans, for the fans!