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KISS Issue Warning To Bootleggers: 'We Will Find You And We Will Take You Out'
- Apr. 27, 2005
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The following message has been posted at the official KISS web site, KissOnline.com:
"Last August, the attorneys for KISS obtained an injunction against the sale of counterfeit KISS merchandise and seized bootleg videos of KISS concerts that were being offered for sale at a KISS Expo in North Carolina. Our attorneys (Ray Scott and William Randolph), following up on that seizure, obtained last week a permanent injunction against defendant Roy Damm and damages awarded to Kiss Catalog of $7,000,000, plus attorneys' fees.
"We hope that this judgment sends a clear message that KISS will not tolerate being ripped off by counterfeiters and bootleggers. This is also a rip-off of KISS fans who have a right to expect that when they spend their hard earned money for KISS merchandise and videos, they are getting high-quality, authorized KISS products. When you purchase bootleg videos, including bootleg DVDs marketed under the KissVision label, we ALL lose. This is our $7,000,000 warning to those who are selling counterfeit and bootleg KISS goods, that they risk the same fate as Roy Damm. We have directed the KISS attorneys to continue protecting KISS' rights as aggressively as allowed. No slaps on the wrist. We will find you and we will take you out."
(Thanks: Dave Conlon)
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To report any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or
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please send an e-mail to bmouth@bellatlantic.net
with pertinent details.
Anyone posting such material will be immediately and permanently banned. IP
addresses are recorded to aid us in enforcing these conditions.
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COMMENT | holy Krap!
posted by : darthadv
4/27/2005 9:25:16 AM
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KISS Kounterfeiters? where will the madness end?
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COMMENT | they're greedy and all...
posted by :
4/27/2005 9:25:51 AM
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... but i fully support this. i don't think there's anything off bootlegs, but in this case they're bootlegging AND MAKING MONEY off someone else's work.
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COMMENT | who the hell wants a Kiss bootleg?
posted by :
4/27/2005 9:29:54 AM
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isn't their studio albums awful enough?
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COMMENT | Heaven Forbid....
posted by :
4/27/2005 9:30:06 AM
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KISS doesn't make every dollar they feel they should. Why stop at just billions when you can go for TRILLIONS!!! Long live rock.
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COMMENT | KI$$
posted by :
4/27/2005 9:34:44 AM
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$uck$
I guess they are trying to recoup some of the money they lost on their last tour when they played to 1/2 or 1/4 filled concert halls.
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COMMENT | $immon$
posted by : FH
4/27/2005 9:35:28 AM
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A$$hole.
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COMMENT | WHAT THE FUCK!
posted by : evilernie
4/27/2005 9:40:57 AM
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Kiss conventions are all about Kiss fans buying and selling Kiss stuff. Including bootlegs. It's been that way since the Kiss conventions started. Why are they choosing to do this now?
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COMMENT | KI$$ $UCK BALL$
posted by :
4/27/2005 9:48:38 AM
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^^I think my me$$age is $ummed up above ^^
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COMMENT | $immon$ =
posted by : RiotAct666
4/27/2005 9:59:17 AM
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Greedy old fat Fuck
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COMMENT |
posted by :
4/27/2005 9:59:59 AM
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I didn't want Kiss bootlegs before, but now that I see it's going to upset them so much, I'm going to go out and buy all the Kiss bootlegs in existence.
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COMMENT | JUST
posted by :
4/27/2005 10:02:23 AM
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GET GWAR TO KILL KI$$
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COMMENT | Greedy fucks
posted by :
4/27/2005 10:02:53 AM
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To those who say "don't rip the artist off"...
how many of those videos do you think Kiss were going to/will make available to their fans? If some guy films a concert that Kiss didn't give a damn about, to a reasonable standard, and then sells it (maybe to someone who was at the gig and thought it'd be cool to see the same gig) to recoup the expense of making the video and then make a bit of money then what's the problem? As long as it's not bootlegs of genuine albums, or official DVD's/videos then why do Kiss deserve the money? Even Metallica allow bootlegs of gigs to get distribution as long as certain rules are abided by.
I fully believe that an artist should profit from their work for survival, but the extent to which Ozzy, Kiss etc push it is insane.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
4/27/2005 10:11:42 AM
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maybe if they didn't suck i would download their bootlegs.
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COMMENT | Holy shit, when I first read this headline...
posted by :
4/27/2005 10:11:55 AM
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I almost went out and destroyed my liquor still but I guess I can keep on with my moonshine operation after all.
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COMMENT | i changed my mind
posted by :
4/27/2005 10:28:00 AM
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i agree with curly sue.
though if it's like the bootleggers selling the "authentic" LLN stuff, then i side with kiss.
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COMMENT | skunkworks...
posted by :
4/27/2005 10:28:38 AM
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you have a very valid point. people who buy bootlegs probably have every kiss album released. still, it does seem wrong that someone else is profitting off them. that's why bootlegs should be reserved to free downloads and/or trades.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
4/27/2005 10:30:11 AM
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Hey, who here thinks they'll send the Kiss Demon after the bootleggers?
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COMMENT |
posted by :
4/27/2005 10:39:23 AM
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I agree with both sides. It's too bad to have people getting shit that they worked hard on for free. But at the same time it depends what the bootlegs are and how much money was made. I don't agree with people making shitloads off of bootlegs but if I want a video of a show I should be able to get it. Another I don't agree with is the 7 million awarded, that's pretty crazy eh? The guy must have been doing alot of bootlegging or making quite a profit, that I can understand, it's the little people that should be able to get ahold of this kind of stuff.
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COMMENT | Who pays?
posted by :
4/27/2005 10:43:11 AM
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I have been downloading Kiss stuff for free from dimeadozen.org
Money shouldn't be exchanged.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
4/27/2005 10:44:10 AM
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What Curly Sue said is right on.
The people who buy the bootlegs are the same people who have ALREADY BOUGHT all the "official" stuff.
If the artist is not offering it for sale legitimately, then it's fair game. The word "fan" is short for fanatic, and a true fan wanrs all the material of their favorite band(s) they can get their mitts on.
Note to artists: If you don't want it bootlegged, release it legitimately. If you can't be bothered to release it yourself, then shut the fuck up.
Q for KI$$rules: After your rant, are you telling me you don't have a CD of Wicked Lester or any "unofficial" tour videos lying around? Yeah, right. As big a KI$$fan as you are, you have them and you know exactly what I am saying.
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COMMENT | WELL
posted by :
4/27/2005 10:47:37 AM
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I don't think Kiss would have a problem with fans trading bootleg copies of concerts and that sort of thing but i think they most certainly have every right to stop some greasy business man from selling like 100's of bootleged items at expos and shit,bootlegging is huge just come to Toronto and go deep inside the Asian community and see how many illegal copies of movies, still in the theatres i might add, you can buy for dirt cheap.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
4/27/2005 10:50:52 AM
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Well said ricky. If the fans want them that's cool but I agree with them when people make big bucks off the bootlegs. If they truly are for the fans, go to town. But they shouldn't be making lots of coin off of them.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
4/27/2005 11:00:31 AM
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Fuck you guys! I saw a band Sunday night, and the lead singer asked people to burn a few copies of their cds for their friends, and bring a tape player to their next show in the area... They sold a ton of merch that night according to their webjournal. And they thanked everyone. I got to meet the lead singer and get his autograph. He wasn't a dick at all. I love bands like that.
Here's a lyric for kiss: "BUT MOST OF ALL, FUCK YOU!!!"
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COMMENT | biggest problem with bootlegs
posted by :
4/27/2005 11:26:17 AM
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is that 99% of them look and sound like shit. If they really want to stop bootleggers they should follow Pearl Jam's example and just release EVERY live show they've ever done. They release them relatively cheaply ($14 for a double live cd and it's a direct soundboard recording to boot) and there's no way any vendor at a cd show can compete with it. Other bands have followed suit with issuing their own "bootleg" stuff (Dream Theater, Testament, Grateful Dead) so it's a great way to counteract it. It's good for fans and their collectors too as they have plenty of different shows to choose from.
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COMMENT |
posted by : MurderCapital666
4/27/2005 11:42:34 AM
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Next up, KISS in million dollar lawsuit - sues fan for wearing unofficial KISS t-shirt !
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COMMENT | There are no winners here;
posted by :
4/27/2005 12:02:27 PM
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not KISS, not the bootleggers and certainly not the fans.
blessed be.
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COMMENT | Offical cheap kiss crap sold at spencers or hot topic
posted by :
4/27/2005 12:19:10 PM
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"they are getting high-quality, authorized KISS products" Right kiss like the kiss baseball and napkins you sell at spencers or hot topic?
I would rather pay ten bucks for a bootleg video rather a kiss ash tray or candle or what ever stupid shit they will put there name on. Kiss should use there time making another fake farwell tour or another fake last album. Instead of punishing some over eratic kiss fans.
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COMMENT | I agree with both sides too...
posted by :
4/27/2005 12:31:57 PM
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which is why KISS should release all that stuff themselves!
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COMMENT | tommy and eric are
posted by :
4/27/2005 12:47:10 PM
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ARE BOOTLEGS. SUE YOURSELVES FOR RIPPING THE FANS OFF.
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COMMENT | Instant Live
posted by : Vision of Hell
4/27/2005 1:04:55 PM
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On the last tour all the shows but a handful were recorded and you could get your cd of the show immediately after the show. The only ones that weren't recorded for Instant Live, I believe, were the ones that weren't sponsored by Clear Channel.
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COMMENT | Here's todays REAL KISS news...
posted by : Von Doom
4/27/2005 1:09:01 PM
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Happy Birthday Ace !!!
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COMMENT | I aggre with H.Hugo....nobody wins...especaily Ace^^^...
posted by :
4/27/2005 1:18:51 PM
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He's probably drinking a bottle of Jack alone in some seedy motel, a chocolate donut with a candle stuck in it on the nightstand next to him....
I have visions of GreedyGene swimming in a money bin like Scrooge McDuck......
Fuck KISS.
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COMMENT | romant666
posted by :
4/27/2005 1:35:37 PM
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"I have visions of GreedyGene swimming in a money bin like Scrooge McDuck"
That is fucking hilarious.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
4/27/2005 1:41:07 PM
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Kiss is nothing more than a hideous fashion show that is past it's prime and should be dragged out and shot! Does Kiss even matter anymore?No they don't! Are people still searching for Kiss memorabilia? Yes, but 75% of them are retarded! Why would
you want a bootleg of Kiss nowadays anyway? Now that I think about it... why would you want a Kiss show period! Every damn Kiss show is the same (boring and old). If you are a supporter of this band, shame on you! Kiss is nothing more than a money hungry machine that wants to take all of your money and intelligence level away from you, and if you were smart you'd realize that all their doing is using up the last of their resorces because they know KISS IS DEAD!
P.S. Bootlegs are fun!
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COMMENT | Yeah! Happy Birthday ACE!!
posted by :
4/27/2005 1:45:28 PM
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I think I'll spin my vinyl copy of his solo album in honor.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
4/27/2005 1:58:10 PM
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the lesson here?
Never come between a j-o-o and his money.
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COMMENT | I'm surprised
posted by : Skeleton Of Society
4/27/2005 2:08:21 PM
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$immon$ didn't come after me for selling my entire KI$$ collection (Including boots) on Ebay awhile back. I did that because of the fact that I was disgusted by how he has run the band into the ground with his incessant whoring of the band name.
I think Sebastian Bach said it best on "Most Metal Moments" when he said "You know of all the KI$$ merchandise that they've put out, there is one thing that the fans really want that they haven't put out...A new album!" He's dead on there. What a joke they have become, which is sad considering the fact that they were the first band I ever got into and lead me into all of the great Hard Rock and Metal I listen to today. I'll always respect them for that, but it's getting harder by the day to respect them for anything else.
Not that Chaim cares, he's too busy counting his money somewhere and plotting to go after bootleggers.
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COMMENT | "we will find you and we will take you out"
posted by :
4/27/2005 2:36:30 PM
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Kinda reminds you of the stuff president bush would say to the terrorists huh? Anyhow, anybody want to buy my bootleggs?
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COMMENT | Fortunately...
posted by : Hellfire(~\m/~)
4/27/2005 3:15:32 PM
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I am no danger of being ripped off because I haven't bought KISS merch since 1978. Phew!!!!
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COMMENT |
posted by :
4/27/2005 3:42:50 PM
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I have all the bootlegs of KISS from the original members, so I'm done.
Where's my buddy destructo_dog....would like to hear from the 'ol boy....I figured a KISS thread would surely get a post from him?
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COMMENT |
posted by :
4/27/2005 3:52:38 PM
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Seriously I buy bootlegs and usually they are better than the crap thats sold retail... I mean seriously Kiss: Exposed blah........ These fuckers have turned into Rats, money grubbing, and how dare they say its all for the fans,, they been ripping off fans for 10 years with greatest hits packages
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COMMENT | Comes as no surprise
posted by :
4/27/2005 4:06:01 PM
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Sure, bootlegging can be bad for business, better for others, & sure they have a right to pursue these elements, but good fucking luck! Look, as long as there is a demand or as long as there are people who will buy such items, bootlegs will exist. Same goes for the drug trade, so their war on bootlegs might have a slight impact, but overall the only people to benefit from this fight are the fucking filthy rich lawyers. The short of it: suck my balls, you greedy fucking pricks! Kiss & their affiliates have to be some of the richest people in the music business! When will they stop?!?!?!????
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COMMENT | hahahaha
posted by :
4/27/2005 5:29:01 PM
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"I have all the bootlegs of KISS from the original members, so I'm done."
Well I guess thats better than say,...kissing a girl.... or talking to one, or maybe just having a life in general.....
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COMMENT | kiss
posted by :
4/27/2005 5:57:10 PM
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KISS IS AWESOME
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COMMENT | making money
posted by :
4/27/2005 6:11:18 PM
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Roy Damm makes his living off of KISS boots...I hope they go after Peter Arquette soon..He sold so many shitty tapes back in the day for 9-10.00 a pop for a damn audio cassette...and 30.00-35.00 a VHS tape plus shipping...and that put his butt through college doing it...and still kept selling...
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COMMENT | Sad
posted by : TC
4/27/2005 8:38:21 PM
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As a Kiss fan that has attended many a Kiss convention, I find this ridiculous. Kiss claims that they would be nothing without the fans, well, it is the fans the purchase the bootlegs. Without some of the bootleg material to view or listen to, fans would lose interest in the band. From what I understand, the KissVision stuff, was video work that was okayed by the band but never released. Most of the KissVision stuff is great. I wish Kiss would release the KissVision releases under the Kiss banner. But they don't. So fans have no way to see alot of the classic stuff. I am not saying that the bootleggers are right, but Kiss should release this stuff under the Kiss banner and give the fans what they want instead of suing people.
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COMMENT | ace spacebear 79
posted by : M.E.262
4/27/2005 9:15:04 PM
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i would love to see that video. i was lol just reading the post, i would die laughing watching this vid...
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COMMENT | Roy Damm is an asshole...
posted by :
4/27/2005 10:51:36 PM
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He's been doing this for the better part of 20 years. It's about time his inability to make an honest buck caught up with him.
Damn, Roy, WTF were you thinkin'? I'm surprised it took $immon$ this fuckin' long to get your ass! It must really suck to be sued by your idol!
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COMMENT | Oh yeah i forgot!!!
posted by :
4/28/2005 1:15:10 AM
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I'm glad this was posted on here.I don't visit kissonline anymore.It went from the site that clicks ass to the site that SUCKS ASS!!!
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COMMENT | WHO CARES
posted by :
4/28/2005 8:53:31 AM
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KISS HAS ALREADY LOST 80% OF THEIR FAN BASE BECAUSE OF THEIR NONSENSE. WHO THE HELL WILL BUY KISS BOOTLEGS? WHEN KISS CANT SELL SHIT ANYMORE
YOU BOYS GIVE URSELF WAY TOO MUCH CREDIT
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COMMENT | What I dont get
posted by : BLS-SDMF
4/29/2005 2:46:34 AM
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What I don't get is this. Sure you're pissed about people making money off of bootlegs right? Well guess who those people are?! They're your fucking fans, who gave you everything you have now, so quit your bitching! It's fucked up to attack the people who made you, plus it's pretty stupid. Lars has to this day never fully recovered from attacking fans in Napster, and he's in a much bigger band then KISS and much more popular one as well.
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COMMENT | When will it end?
posted by :
5/11/2005 8:58:16 AM
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When will the day come that all of these videos under the KISSVision label come out officially? It's all a dream. However, I agree with the fact that whatever you do, don't sell them, don't buy them!
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COMMENT | I very briefly met Roy Damm...
posted by :
9/27/2008 5:02:18 PM
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... in San Diego north county back in late 1989. He's a scammer, a liar, and he will cheat you out of your money if he's given the chance.
Roy got absolutely what he deserved.
Trust me, guys. If you want real stuff, stick with real merchants like Peter Arquette at kissmuseum.com.
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