Kiss Takes Center Stage In Backstage Auctions' Rock and Roll Summer Classic Auction

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September 1, 2013
Houston, TX

KISS

Kiss fans and collectors from all over the world will get access to over 200 exclusive pieces of Kiss memorabilia in The Rock and Roll Summer Classic Auction during Backstage Auctions' September online auction event.

'This is our fourth Kiss auction in 10 years and we are excited to once again have a most unique offering of fantastic collectibles', comments Backstage Auctions owner Jacques van Gool. 'Kiss is one of the most collectible bands in the world and their fans are exceptionally loyal - and knowledgeable. All this makes for a great event and we couldn't be more pleased to be part of it'.

The items in the auction come from a host of recognizable names in Kiss circles, such as Lydia Criss (ex-wife of Kiss' original drummer Peter Criss), the estates of Bill Aucoin and Eric Carr, former Kiss crew members Eddie Balandas and Hank Schmel, Canadian promoter Nick Panaseiko as well as reputable concert photographers Robert Alford, Chip Rock and Julian Baum.

Kiss is spanning 5 decades and so do the items in this auction, which go back to the Wicked Lester days and span all the way to the recent 'Monster' album and tour. One such item is this original 10-song Wicked Lester recording reel from 1972 from the Bill Aucoin estate, which contains a host of songs that eventually would become Kiss classics.

And speaking of classics; none as epic as the ultimate 'Rock 'n Roll All Nite' anthem....but only one lucky collector can walk away with this acetate from January 1975 that contains an early demo version of this Kiss staple.

There will be no shortage of autographed items, such as this 1975 signed photo to Chip Rock, which is just one of a few dozen autographed pieces.

Paper goods collectors will have plenty to pick and choose from; tour programs, magazines, comics, books, fan magazines, newsletters, correspondence, posters, tickets and even this exceptionally rare 1975 concert handbill from New Jersey which until now has been an undiscovered gem.

On a more private level, the auction will offer many lots of personal owned documents, letters, notes, receipts and ephemera from Kiss drummers Peter Criss and Eric Carr. An example is this massive lot of Eric Carr receipts from the 1980s which all contain his handwriting and notes.

If clothing, apparel and accessories is more your thing; this auction will not disappoint. A host of items from the Peter & Lydia Criss closets will cause plenty of excitement, including this denim jacket from 1974, which was arguably the first Kiss logo jacket ever made.

A special space is reserved for the photo collections of Julian Baum, Chip Rock and Robert Alford, all who actively photographed Kiss in their early days. These are mostly never before seen photos which could easily become one of the crown jewels in any Kiss collection.

Because there is so much to see within a very short period of time,  the auction will start with a preview week, beginning Saturday August 31. The auction will then open up for online bidding on Saturday, September 7th and come to a close on Sunday,  September 15.

For more information about the auction, please visit Backstage Auctions and register for your free VIP All Access Pass.



Backstage Auctions is a boutique online auction house specializing in authentic rock memorabilia representing a long list of notable and very talented musicians, producers and managers in the music industry since 2003. Exclusive online auction events have featured the private collections of legendary producer Eddie Kramer (Hendrix, Zeppelin, Kiss) and since then, we have represented Scott Ian & Charlie Benante (Anthrax), Page Hamilton (Helmet), John Tempesta (Exodus, Testament, The Cult), John 5 (Zombie, Marilyn Manson),  Ted Nugent, Howard Kaylan (The Turtles), Ross Valory (Journey) and Michael Shrieve (Santana), Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, White Snake), Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Alcatrazz), Al Jourgensen (Ministry), Johny Barbata (Jefferson Starship), Kip Winger (Winger) as well as managers of legendary bands such as The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, KISS, Journey, Joe Walsh, Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, Motley Crue, Pantera, White Zombie and more. Backstage Auctions works closely with each of their clients and incorporates their personal stories and memories throughout the online auction event. The end result is a unique, historical and unforgettable journey spanning decades of music history.

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Ace Frehley goes all in

Lydia Criss has more KISS stories to tell in the second printing of "Sealed with a KISS"

By Peter Lindblad

Sealed with a KISS - Lydia Criss 2013

As the ex-wife of one of the most recognizable drummers in the world in Peter Criss, Lydia Criss has plenty of stories to tell about her days with the “hottest band in the world. Interviewed at length recently, Lydia has a lot to say about Peter, KISS and all who had a hand in helping drive KISS to the top, and we’ll have a much more expansive Q&A with her in future postings.

As a teaser, however, Lydia provided a couple of her own Ace Frehley anecdotes.

By now, everyone knows how Frehley walked into his audition for Wicked Lester wearing one orange sneaker and one red one. Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Peter Criss – the group’s newest recruit – could only stare as the long-haired Frehley strolled confidently past them to plug in and play.

As they have all expressed in interviews over the years, none of the three expected much from Frehley, given how he looked. Against all odds, however, the mercurial Frehley impressed them with his prowess on the guitar, and the rest is KISStory, as they say.

Lydia Criss knows the story of Frehley’s odd introduction to his future band mates well. She writes about it in her book,“Sealed with a Kiss,” which is now in it's second printing with additional stories and photos. The book can be purchased by going to http://www.lydiacriss.com/.

For Lydia, Ace “is a story in himself.” This is, after all, the man who brought a smoking flute onto the set of VH1’s “That Metal Show.”

“He’s a character,” she adds.

One of the tales she could tell about Ace – which is included in her recently revived and expanded biography “Sealed with a Kiss” – does get rather blue and involves a hotel balcony and a female companion. You’ll have to get the book to read that one. We’re not going to spoil it for you.

There are others, though … many others.

KISS - Ace Frehley 

“I’ve got a story about Ace. I probably don’t have it in the book. Okay … well, maybe I do. I’m not sure,” says the Brooklyn-born Lydia, the former Lydia Di Leonardo, who was married to Peter Criss from 1970 to 1979. “Anyway, Ace is here one day. He’s at my apartment, and he’s going over to see this girl Linda, who lives on 72^nd. I’m like a couple of blocks away from there. A few blocks from the Dakota. So he’s going over to see Linda, and he goes, ‘Lydia, could you lend me $20?’ I said, ‘$20? What the hell are you going to do with $20?’ And he says, ‘Oh, you know, just in case I need $20.’ I said, ‘Ace, I’ll give you $50.’ So I went over the safe and got $50 out of the safe and I gave him $50, and he goes, ‘Hey, you got a lot of money?’ And I said, ‘No, but I’ve got money.’ And he goes, ‘Will you marry me?’ Needless to say, I never got the $50 back (laughs).”

Matrimony wasn’t in the cards for Lydia and Ace, but he would get the chance to win back that $50 for Lydia.

“He loves to gamble. I was at his apartment once. It was me and [Frehley’s ex-wife] Jeanette Trerotola,” recalls Lydia. “We were at the apartment, and he took a Lear jet to Atlantic City, and he called up Jeanette. And he says, ‘Jeanette, I’m not coming home tonight.’ She goes, ‘What do you mean?’ We were in his Manhattan apartment. He had a house at that point I think it was up in Irvington, New York. It was just a rental. Or maybe he owned it. I’m not sure. He might have owned it. I’m not sure, but it wasn’t the big house that he bought in Wilson, N.Y. He goes, ‘I’m not coming home.’ And she goes, ‘Why not?’ And he says, ‘Because I’m winning $40,000. I’m up $40,000. And I’m not coming home. We’re rained in.’ And she goes, ‘Okay, fine.’ The next day he takes the plane out and comes home with $25,000. She goes, ‘What happened to the other $15,000?’ And he goes, ‘Well, I lost it. And I also bought you a mink coat (laughs).’ He’s hysterical.”

There are plenty of funny and touching moments in Lydia’s book, which is jam-packed with KISS photos taken by Lydia and a treasure trove of KISS memorabilia. Riding a rollercoaster of emotions, Lydia’s book tells the story of KISS’s rise to fame through the eyes of someone who was there, experiencing all the highs and lows the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle has to offer.

We’ll have a much more expansive Q&A with her in future postings.