“East Meets West” July 1-3 In Los Angeles, KISS to Play with Momoiro Clover Z at Anime Expo 2015
LEGENDARY SUPERSTAR ROCK BAND KISS TO WELCOME JAPAN'S
#1 SINGING GROUP SENSATION “MOMOIRO CLOVER Z” (MCZ)
TO THE UNITED STATES FOR SPECIAL APPEARANCES
AT MICROSOFT THEATER IN LA DURING ANIME EXPO 2015:
TICKETS NOW ON SALE!!!
KISS TO RECEIVE PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FROM JAPAN'S
INTERNATIONAL “SHORT SHORTS” ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL –
WORLD PREMIERE OF LIVE CONCERT VIDEO FEATURING KISS & MCZ
FROM TOKYO DOME (3/3/15) PERFORMANCE TO BE SHOWN:
KISS WILL ALSO UNVEIL IN U.S. LIMITED EDITION BAND-INSPIRED
PRINTS CREATED VIA HISTORIC & ICONIC UYIKO-E ART PROCESS --
Hollywood, CA, JUNE, 2015 -- Legendary superstar rock band KISS will welcome the current # 1 Pop Sensation in Japan, Momoiro Clover Z (MCZ,) a singing group comprised of five young girl singers, to Los Angeles during the week of June 29th, concurrent with the 2015 Anime Expo. As part of MCZ's Anime Expo activities, the group will perform live during a special concert at the Microsoft (formerly Nokia) Theatre on July 2, with KISS co-founders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley introducing the group. To be held at the LA Convention Center, the Anime Expo is the largest and most popular convention in North America for fans of the anime and manga artforms, and of Japanese pop culture with over 280,000 people expected to attend.
Tickets ARE NOW ON SALE for this special Concert. Tickets are available ONLY to Badge Holders for attendance to Anime Expo. Tickets can be purchased here:
http://www.anime-expo.org/momoiro-clover-z-ticket-sales-opening-up/
In addition, KISS will receive the prestigious 2015 “Special Commissioner's Award” from Japan's International Short Shorts Asian Film Festival, one of Asia's largest and most popular international short film festivals. KISS is receiving this award for the music video they produced in 2014, entitled “Samurai Son,” in which they appear together with MCZ. The award will be presented to Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley on July 2nd at the Nokia Theatre, prior to the start of the MCZ concert that evening.
Also: Harry Horinouchi, Consul-General of the office of the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles, will present KISS with a Special Commendation during this event.
To view Music Videos of KISS and MCZ:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivJZljEostE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYlEmWr0Gtc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zaOKC8k_js/
This “EAST MEETS WEST” cross-promotional campaign is the direct result of KISS' decades-long affection for Japan and the Japanese culture, along with an unprecedented recent collaboration between KISS and MCZ. In early 2015, MCZ's release of the Paul Stanley written song "Yume no Ukiyo Ni Saitemina,” (“Samurai Son,”) along with MCZ's cover of the KISS classic “Rock N' Roll All Night,” were both included on MCZ's # 1 EP in Japan. This # 1 EP concurrently marked KISS' first # 1 record in the band's 40-year history. The # 1 EP was listed on Japan's Oricon Chart and Japan's Amazon Pop Chart. MCZ appears on King Records.
Between February 23 and March 3, 2015, KISS performed to over 1.3 million fans during the band's five-date tour of Japan (at venues in Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima and Sendai.) On March 3rd, KISS performed at the Tokyo Dome to over 30,000 fans. To mark the end of that show, KISS welcomed MCZ on-stage to perform two encores: MCZ performed their smash hits “Yume no Ukiyo Ni Saitemina” and “Rock N' Roll All Night.” The Video of this Performance will make its World Premiere During the MCZ Concert on July 2 at Nokia Theatre.
During their performance at the Nokia Theater on July 2, MCZ will also perform songs from the upcoming feature films “Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F',” produced by FUNimation, coming to U.S. theaters in August, 2015, and “Sailor Moon Crystal,” which will be released in the U.S. on HULU later in 2015.
From its very start in the 1970s, KISS paid tribute to the Japanese influence of Kabuki as evidenced by the famous makeup worn by the four members of the band—STARCHILD, DEMON, CATMAN, SPACEMAN. KISS has adopted Japanese iconography into its DNA, and has now become Uykiyo-e, a 400-year old art form whose master woodcarvers total only nine living artists! Ukiyo-e, the world renowned Japanese traditional woodblock printing culture, is struggling to survive in the modern world. Through KISS' involvement, the “UKIYO-E PROJECT” has created brand new Ukiyo-e artwork prints inspired by the four KISS characters. The hopes of this Project are to resurrect this amazing art form and to help pass these techniques to the next generation. So far, there have been two KISS Ukiyo-e designs released. KISS and MCZ collaborative Ukiyo-e artworks will be revealed at the Anime Expo.
Says Gene Simmons, “Ukiyo-e, that's Nippon, that's tradition, that's history, that's Kabuki, that's deep deep culture. We respect it.”
KISS and Momoiro Clover Z postage stamps, recently issued through the Japanese Postal service, will also be on display backstage prior to the MCZ Concert on July 2nd.
ABOUT MOMOIRO CLOVER Z:
Originally founded in Tokyo in 2008 as a six-piece singing act, Momoiro Clover Z became a five-member unit in 2009 starring Reni Takagi, Kanako Momota, Akari Hayami, Shiori Tamai and Ayaka Sasaki. The group is highly acclaimed for its music across several genres as well as for its highly energetic performances, incorporating elements of ballet, gymnastics, and action movies. For the past three years, the group has consistently been among the top four music artists by total sales revenues in Japan, generating billions of yen. The group, which has sold over 4-million CDs and DVDs to date, has released 15 hit singles and two hit albums, and has earned 2 Platinum Records and 8 Gold Records. MCZ has consistently ranked as the most popular female idol group in Japan for many years.
To view video “WHO IS Momoiro Clover Z” please see:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I8-yo5MPQM
On January 28, 2015, Momoiro Clover Z released a collaboration single with KISS, entitled "Yume no Ukiyo ni Saitemina." It was the first time that KISS released a collaboration CD with another artist. The song earned strong sales worldwide via iTunes. In Japan, it was released physically in two versions: Momoiro Clover Z edition (CD + Blu-ray) and Kiss edition (CD only.) An alternate mix of the single's title song was also included as an opening track on the Japanese-only SHM-CD album “Best of Kiss 40,” which was released in Japan on the same day.
MCZ also provided the theme song, "Z no Chikai," which was released as the group's fifteenth single in late April 2015 to promote the “Dragon Ball Z: Fukkatsu no F” theatrical anime film. An English dub version of that film will have a limited premiere across North American movie theaters August 4-12. The film will later premiere in 70 different countries.
In May 2014, the group released its 11th single "Naite mo Iin Da yo"--the B-side of that single, entitled "My Dear Fellow,” made its debut at Yankee Stadium when it was used for Masahiro Tanaka's warm up for his first game with the New York Yankees.
Also in 2014, the group recorded the theme music for the new 2015 anime web series “Sailor Moon Crystal,” a reboot of the original classic manga anime TV series “Sailor Moon.” The web series presents 26 episodes and will available via streaming in the United States on HULU later this year. On July 3rd, the English dubbed version of “Sailor Moon Crystal” will make its U.S. debut during the 2015 Anime Expo. MCZ's song from the series, "Moon Pride," represents the group's 12th single.
MCZ's appearances during the week of July 1st in Los Angeles will mark only the third time the band will have ever performed outside of Japan. The first two appearances were: the Japan Expo 2012 in France, and the National Youth Day Celebration 2012 in Malaysia. Please see: http://evilline.com/momoclo/global/
ABOUT JAPAN'S INTL. “SHORT SHORTS” ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL:
Japan's International “Short Shorts” Asian Film Festival is a qualifying film festival for the annual Academy Awards® and one of Asia's largest international short film festivals. The 2015 event will be held in Tokyo (5 venues) and Yokohama (1 venue) from June 4 through June 14. Nearly 5,000 films from over 100 countries and regions around the world were in the running, with the cream of the crop -- some 200 titles -- being selected to screen at the festival. For more information, please see: http://www.shortshorts.org/2015/en/about/
ABOUT UKIYO-E:
Japan's truly unique artform Ukiyo-e(pronounced “ooh-kee-yoh-eh”) is a style of woodblock printing that became popular in the early 1600's which requires three highly sksilled artisans – an illustrator, a woodcarver and a printer – to create one print. “Ukiyo” means “Current Events” and the “e” means “Print.” Ukiyo-e has been depicting the moment of “now” throughout its history, and has featured Kabuki actors, sumo wrestlers, beautiful women, folk tales, landscapes, etc. Today, new production of Ukiyo-e art is very rare, as the number of these skilled artisans continues to steadily decline (only 9 Woodcarvers and 30 Hand Printers still practice as of 2011.)
Mitsui Agency International, Inc., of Los Angeles, and Mitsui Music, Inc., of Tokyo, have collaborated with KISS to produce KISS Ukiyo-e, a series of Japanese traditional woodblock prints. These KISS prints are the first feature of “UKIYO-E PROJECT,” launched in 2014 by Mitsui Agency and Mitsui Music to help the few remaining living Ukiyo-e artisan masters pass down their skills and traditions to the next generation through the creation of new Ukiyo-e artworks featuring pop-icons of the world today.
In collaboration with U.S.-based Epic Rights, the global brand management firm for KISS, the “UKIYO-E PROJECT” has created 2 versions of a KISS inspired limited series of 200 prints. The four KISS characters are depicted within these prints as having been transformed into Kabuki Actors and Monsters. A Third Design- that of KISS Vs. MCZ, will be released soon. The band will autograph 100 prints of each design.
Yuka Mitsui, President/CEO, of Mitsui Agency, said, “KISS was the first artist to say ‘YES’ to helping keep the great cause of Ukiyo-e alive. Ukiyo-e depicts the heart and soul of these rock 'n 'roll times. And there is no greater rock and roll band in the world than KISS!”
After 8 months of production, “KISS Ukiyo-e” prints are finally available in the U.S. Please see: https://ukiyoeprojectstore.com/
ABOUT ANIME EXPO:
Anime Expo is an annual celebration dedicated to bringing together industry and fans of Japanese Pop Culture. The event is currently the largest anime and manga convention in North America. This year's expo will be held July 2-5, 2015 (the show's 24th year) at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is the parent organization which funds and manages Anime Expo.
Popular Anime Expo events include; the Masquerade, Anime Music Video Contest, Concerts, and the Fashion Show. Anime Expo also offers late-night programming such as dance, video screenings, tabletop and electronic gaming, and open-mic karaoke. Many of the attendees cosplay while attending the convention, and join in the many gatherings for fans of different anime, manga, gaming and other genres.
Renowned for its ability to bring famous guests to America for panels and concerts, Anime Expo has been the site of many U.S. debuts of TV shows, movies, and bands. For more information, please see: http://www.anime-expo.org/
ABOUT KISS:
KISS remains one of the most influential bands in the history of rock and roll. As one of America's top gold-record champions, KISS has released 44 albums and sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. Decades of record-breaking tours around the globe have included high-profile appearances at Super Bowl XXXIII, the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the Rockin' The Corps concert dedicated to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and special guest appearance on the 2009 American Idol finale that boasted 30 million viewers and a 2010 Dr. Pepper Super Bowl commercial and advertising campaign in support of their Hottest Show On Earth tour.
KISS has been featured in major advertising and marketing campaigns for John Varvatos and Google Play. In 2014, KISS launched their inaugural Arena Football League Season with the LA KISS Football team bringing professional football back to Los Angeles.
The KISS legacy continues to grow, generation after generation. The unparalleled devotion and loyalty of the KISS Army to the "Hottest Band in the World" is a striking testament to the band's unbreakable bond with its fans. KISS recently celebrated two major milestones, their induction into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as the band's 40th Anniversary. KISS 40, an album celebrating 40 years of Rock 'N Roll, is the band's latest release. For more information, visit www.KissOnline.com
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