The Latest Breaking News from Gene Simmons

Kiss’s longest-serving guitarist looks back on growing into his onstage role and eventually writing one of the band’s standards, and what lies ahead after the rock institution’s final shows

Angel were tipped to become the next Kiss. That didn’t happen, but they still delivered a lost treasure with 1976’s Helluva Band album

Starting out with a $5 guitar and spending $25 on a life-changing lesson from Joe Pass, Farris is no longer professional – but could be persuaded to go round again

Also available: the special, limited edition Kiss bundle edition. Inside: Iron Maiden, Thin Lizzy, Nirvana, The Doors, Saxon, Peter Gabriel and more

With the help of Trixter’s Steve Brown, the Kiss guitar legend reckons he’s made the best record of his career. He explains why 10,000 Volts debunks his former bandmates’ claims, what made the Fender Strat a recording mainstay throughout his career – and why Yngwie Malmsteen and Eddie Van Halen’s…

Kiss played their very first gig on January 30, 1973, in front of 10 people. Half a century on, here are 50 obscure facts about the Hottest Band In The World

Gene Simmons worked with them, Bon Jovi borrowed their producer and they appeared on the b-side of a Madonna single – Black ’N Blue are one of 80s hard rock’s great near-misses

Kiss fans will have to wait 4 years to see the band in avatar form

He's happy his former bandmates have closed the curtain on their final physical farewell tour, but Frehley admits he doesn't “get” the next phase of Kiss

Kiss supported Black Sabbath for three dates on the Sabotage tour, and Gene Simmons remembers it well

The former Kiss guitarist says he's “always been the kind of guy to let the music do the talking” – and that's exactly the plan for his forthcoming record