Will the real KISS please stand up. The image of KISS in the poster to the left is not the real band, but rather a tribute band.
A few years ago it seems that Signatures Network, now Live Nation Merchandise, the official merchandiser for KISS had a bit of a image control problem when they released this same image on a official KISS t-shirt. Yeah it looks like KISS, and the pose is similar to the Dynasty album poster, but it is a tribute band recreating the pose.
Looks like the image control problems are back, because now you can buy this poster at AllPosters.com as part of a official Live Nation Merchandise section.
Maybe it is time to just delete this image from the database so it doesn’t happen again.
I noticed this as well! They also used a Bill Sebetta pic one time as well. That may have been a bootleg item or unofficial magazine
Does it matter anymore? Considering half of the “real” band are tribute musicians anyway, in other people’s makeup and characters?
In other words, I am not sure there is such a thing as “REAL” KISS anymore.
Doug that is a whole different discussion. This is more about paying someone to manage your image and likeness and they don’t even know when they have a image that is not the band. And making the same mistake with the same image twice.
I understand that, my point is, I don’t think KISS cares. I am not so sure this is a mistake, more likely it is indifference. It’s a small point, but overall, KISS now has full license to use whatever actors they want to portray their characters, the fans have entitled them to do it – and I think you’ll see them do that more and more. The fans don’t care about authenticity, they’ll buy anything with the logo and makeup designs. So why bother to audit the images too closely?
KISS doesn’t audit their images, that is why they contract with a licensing agent. I am sure that just like the last time, once Gene hears about this he will call Live Nation Merchandise. He is paying someone for a job, when they don’t do what he pays for he is not quiet about letting them know. Maybe the people in this image should issue a cease and desist.
IMO $immons owes the Tribute band some cash for allowing their images to be used…HA!
Gene probably will correct it, eventually, but there’s no major liability here, thi is more about indifference. There’s no major liability for damage, because its makeup, characters, brands and logos that Gene owns. KISS isn’t people, its imagery. That’s the line that was crossed a few years ago.
What this really shows is this band has no desire to ensure quality…because they have a legion of fans that buy anything they produce. In fact, more than any other fanbase, KISS fans suck up just about anything they are served. That’s the genius of KISS and the stupidity of KISS in a nutshell.
This is just another example in a long line of shoddy merchandise and indifference…the spines on the KISS book, the inauthentic signatures on merchandise, the lies about who played what on albums, the lies about who wrote certain songs.
KISS fans have bought albums that were not recorded by or written by KISS, gone to concerts where musians are replaced by guys off the street, (dressed up to look like certain people). They’ve bought autographs that are not real, fake guitar picks, and gold coins that had no gold in them.
There’s nothing authentic about KISS…nothing. And this is just another small example of a band that doesn’t give a rat. I’ll end my rant, because your point is to be careful about images and branding, a much broader point (and a far more noble one).
Rant over, continue your far more civil and intelligent discussion, I promise to derail it no further. 🙂
Why do you think I posted this… it will without fail cause some rants and conversations. 🙂
I saw a kinda/sorta similar thing at Walt Disney World. There is (was? think it may be closed now) in Downtown Disney that features pop culture memorabilia. One of the items? A signed plaque from KISS. The autographs were of Gene, Paul, Peter, and Ace. The Picture was Gene, Paul, Eric, and Tommy. Huh. Kinda made me question the integrity of every item in the shop.
the quality control fits Gene’s budget
If I were any of the four guys in that tribute band, I would IMMEDIATELY send out a press release linking to this poster, and use the tagline – “So close not even Live Nation knows for sure…”
If that were MY tribute band, I certainly would not complain! I’d buy as much of the stuff as possible! I’d trumpet the fact that ‘the band cant even tell the difference!’. And as far as the band not caring, that’s simply hogwash. As long as Paul and Gene are there, there is KISS. The other 2 original guys aren’t important in 2010.
lol!!!