When I interviewed Keith Urban last month, we talked a lot about guitars. Well, he talked. I listened. He had a lot to say about his whole arsenal. But the thrill in his voice seemed to go up a notch when we got around to his latest creation.
It’s a Fender, and senior master guitar builder and artist Yuriy Shishkov made this Telecaster just for Urban. Urban told me it was his love of KISS‘ Paul Stanley growing up and his Mirror Ball Iceman guitar that gave him the idea for his own decked-out guitar. “I was always mesmerized by his guitar. So we reached out to the guy who’d made one for Paul, so we could do a Telecaster with that same look. Like broken pieces of mirror all over it.”
When I asked him how heavy it was, he said very. “I’ve had a ‘56 Les Paul and a Start that were real back breakers, so I should be fine,” he said. And when I asked him how it would sound, he laughed and told me, “You’ll be blinded into thinking it sounds good.”
Urban didn’t get to see KISS play live until about five years ago. But growing up, he’d watched the band on television. “I saw that guitar, and it just stayed with me. I always want to add something to the show. Although I may only play it on one or two songs, because it’s pretty over the top.” Indeed, you can see the new guitar on his webisodes from his shows in the Carolinas. It is covered with hundreds of fragments of hand-cut mirrored glass.
But because he’s Keith Urban — the man who’s occasionally listed in liner notes as playing the cardboard box — he makes the guitar look downright lightweight, and he makes it sound like he’s been playing it for years.
ONE LIVE KISS WINS TELLY AWARD!
June 29th, 2009 | PAULSTANLEY.com
The 30th Annual TELLY AWARDS have been announced and ONE LIVE KISS received the highest honor!
ONE LIVE KISS : Producers Paul Stanley & Louis Antonelli have received the Special CLASSIC GOLD TELLY AWARD, presented to Film & Video productions that are among the finest in the 30 year history of THE TELLY AWARDS.
Founded in 1978, The Telly is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional and cable TV programs, as well as the finest video and film productions. The 30th Annual TELLY AWARDS received over 14,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents.
Among past winners of The TELLY AWARDS are industry leaders such as:
Harpo Studios - Oprah Winfrey, Dreamworks, Pixar, Disney, Lightstorm Entertainment, TCM, Clear Channel Entertainment, CNN, A&E, Comcast, VH1, Time Warner, MTV, and Universal Studios.
PAUL ADDS ATLANTA ART SHOWS
June 15th, 2009 | PAULSTANLEY.com
Wentworth Gallery is pleased to present two art exhibitions by artist, rock icon and legendary KISS frontman Paul Stanley. Paul will make two special appearances at Wentworth Gallery in July & August
Friday – July 31, 2009 -6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Wentworth Gallery
Phipps Plaza
3500 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, Georgia
For details on the VIP Reception with Paul Stanley or
to RSVP please call 404-233-0903 or 800-732-6140
For details on the VIP Reception with Paul Stanley or
to RSVP please call 770-913-0641 or 800-732-6140
PAUL ON FOX NEWS RISING
June 12th, 2009 | PAULSTANLEY.com
Paul Stanley was in Charlotte for his art exhibit, and stopped by the Bahakel Communications Fox affiliate during its Fox News Rising program. As the show ended at 8 a.m., so too did analog broadcasting for WCCB. The anchors counted down from 10, and Stanley flipped the switch. “It was historic,” Stanley told (digital) viewers seconds later.
Click the links below to see Paul on the Fox News Rising program....looks like everyone had a great time!
Paul will be appearing on several Charlotte media outlets on Friday.
Below is the schedule of appearances:
1) WCCB / FOX TV / Fox News Rising @ 7:10 AM EST
2) WLNK-FM Radio / Bob & Sheri Show @ 9:10 AM EST
3) News 14 TV @ 10:30 AM EST
4) WCNC-TV NBC 6 @ 11:15 AM EST
KISSING CANVASES WITH PAUL STANLEY
June 11th, 2009 | CREATIVE LOAFING
by Anita Overcash in Arts
If you didn’t know it, Paul Stanley, long-time guitarist and vocalist for the metal band KISS, has picked up a paint brush. Stanley, who visited Charlotte last year to show off his abstract creations, will visit again for his exhibition New Works by Paul Stanley on Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13.
You might be surprised to find out his paintings — with titles like “Dream Catcher,” “Karma,” and “Star Power” — are anything but scary. In fact, the adjectives “colorful” and “vibrant” come to mind.
To RSVP for the event, call 704-365-2733. June 12, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.; June 13, 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Wentworth Gallery in SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Rd., Ste. 206. www.wentworth-art.com.
PAUL ON JOHN BOY & BILLY BIG SHOW TUESDAY
June 8th, 2009 | PAULSTANLEY.com
Paul Stanley will appear on the nationally syndicated 'John Boy & Billy Big Show' Tuesday at 8:10 AM EST.
Charlotte’s #1 morning radio show broadcasts from WRFX and is syndicated in over 70 US Markets.
Wentworth Gallery is pleased to present two art exhibitions by artist, rock icon and legendary KISS frontman Paul Stanley. Paul will make two special appearances at Wentworth Gallery in June.
Friday – June 12, 2009 -7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Saturday – June 13, 2009 – 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Wentworth Gallery
South Park Mall
4400 Sharon Road
Charlotte, NC 28211
For details on the VIP Reception with Paul Stanley or to RSVP please call 704-365-2733 or 800-732-6140
Pictured are a few photos from Paul's Art shows in King Of Prussia.
Lifelong Claremont resident Tony Banks, 48, has almost fully recovered from a serious head injury that nearly ended his life 2 years ago.
While attending his daughter Taylor's volleyball match on May 12, 2007, Mr. Banks fell off the bleachers while retrieving volleyballs. He dropped about 30 feet and hit his head on a nearby cement wall. He immediately fell unconscious and spent weeks in the Intensive Care Unit, where doctors performed multiple surgeries and removed a portion of his front temporal lobe.
During a 3-week coma, Mr. Banks explained the sensation of being stuck in a crypt made of ice and screaming at doctors and family members above. In reality, he could not speak or move.
While in the hospital, his wife Jacqueline played his favorite album and doctors said his blood pressure would improve while he was listening to the music. The album was Live to Win by Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley.
"The power of music really amazes me," Mr. Banks said.
