KISS, Rock's Grandest Ghouls Set to Conquer A Smaller Stage

From Sideshow Toy:

One of the most prolific and popular touring bands in the history of rock music, KISS, has agreed to conquer a smaller stage—the figure collectibles market. In a landmark licensing agreement, rock's grandest ghouls will be rendered as premium format sculptures by Sideshow Collectibles, of Thousand Oaks, CA. Sideshow, the world's premier manufacturer of licensed and proprietary figure collectibles and prop replicas, will release 1:4 scale recreations of all four KISS musicians-in full makeup and stage regalia.

With stage personas like "The Demon," "The Starchild," "The Catman," and "The Spaceman," KISS has stormed the planet and rocked arenas for more than three decades. Since their inception in 1974, KISS has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide. KISSteria has spawned a series of KISS-specific conventions, a comic book series, a feature film and a Movie of the Week. No longer relegated to heavy metal subculture, KISS has gone mainstream; they performed at the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXIII, at the 2002 Winter Olympics, and with the 70-piece Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

But KISS is best known for thirty years of sold-out arena performances; rock 'n roll theatrical extravaganzas that pioneered a host of now-standard pyrotechnics, strobe and laser effects and-always-costume flourishes. Those savage-looking, goth-o-ramic stage personas have been meticulously recreated by Sideshow's artistic team. Sculptor Pablo Viggiano, working with clothing fabricators Greg Mowry and Gidget Earle, has created the definitive 1:4 scale reproduction of each band member. Sideshow's Premium Format sculptures stand approximately 18 inches tall, and utilize a variety of components, including polystone, metal, and fabrics to achieve an astonishing likeness.

Sideshow's Creative Director, Tom Gilliland, anticipates limited editions for each Premium Format KISS figure, with an MSRP of $249.99. The KISS line will begin shipping with "The Spaceman" figure in fourth quarter, 2006. A new figure will be shipped every other month thereafter, until all four band members have regrouped in your collection. Sideshow is the premier source for highly collectible figures, statues, busts, framed art, prop replicas and figure-study maquettes. Sideshow products are available online at: www.sideshowcollectibles.com, as well as through specialty shops, comic book stores, and via collectible web sites worldwide.