kiss Archives - ALL ACCESS LIVE with KEVIN RANKIN

MARINA V RETURNS TO ALL ACCESS LIVE

Award-winning singer/songwriter Marina V unveils her electrifying new single, “Symphony & Metal”, a powerful anthem blending orchestral grandeur and metal intensity. The track features an all-star lineup, including guitarist Bruce Kulick (KISS), bassist David Ellefson (Megadeth), and renowned composer Steve Horner (known for Bridgerton), with Marina’s husband and co-writer Nick Baker on drums.

A NOTE FROM MARINA:

“I am beyond excited to release SYMPHONY & METAL! It is an honor to have incredible musicians and long-time friends on the recording, all of whom brought my vision to life. Thank you Steve, Bruce, David & Nick!

I feel that this song is a reflection of the timeless battle between our inner light and darkness, a message of resilience, and a call to never give up.

We are fragile, vulnerable, and beautiful (symphony) yet extremely adaptable, strong, and tough (metal). This duality resonates deeply with me, especially after experiencing life’s extremes in recent years—becoming a mom, losing my dad during the pandemic, and enduring the devastating effects of the war on my family in Russia and Ukraine. The lyric, ‘It doesn’t matter how many times you get knocked down, it only matters if you get back up,’ has been my daily mantra.

When recording ‘Symphony & Metal’, I knew we needed serious bombast and musical wizardry for the epic sound of the song. My co-writer/husband/drummer and I were fortunate to enlist long-time friends and extraordinary musicians: legendary guitarist Bruce Kulick (KISS), GRAMMY-winning bassist David Ellefson (MEGADETH), and award-winning composer Steve Horner (known for his string arrangements on Bridgerton, etc).”

David Ellefson shares: “I’ve known Marina V now for many years, as she was one of my clients when I ran Artist Relations for Peavey 2003-2010. She has written a fantastic song here and I’m proud to be a part of it with my buddy Bruce Kulick. The lyrics really describe the delicate balance of an artist’s life in music.”

Bruce Kulick adds, “Marina V and her husband Nick are talented and wonderful people. After listening to the song, I immediately knew what my guitar parts should be. I spent a year recording the KISS LP Revenge with Bob Ezrin and I am a huge fan of his work. I imagined he was guiding me with my guitar parts. Marina loved the approach as it gave the song another powerful dimension.”

All Access Live

ALL ACCESS LIVE with BLACK N’ BLUE’S JAIME ST. JAMES

Jaime St. James is the lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the glam metal band Black ‘N Blue. He also served briefly in the mid-2000s as the lead singer of Warrant, but he left upon the return of the band’s original lead singer Jani Lane in 2008. He sang (and co-wrote several tracks) on Warrant’s 2006 album Born Again. Born James Pond, St. James started out playing drums, as he had fantasized about being a rock drummer during his youth.

He began his professional music career while a student at Cleveland High School, where he and classmates Dan Kurth, Barry Pendergrass, and Ray Malsom formed the Molly Hatchet-inspired combo Jet. Pond and Jet are featured prominently in the 1977 Legend, the yearbook of Cleveland High School. The band was briefly a favorite among Portland’s high school crowd, and his version of the ZZ Top song “La Grange” was an early hint of his future fame.

It was also during high school that Pond met his then-classmate and fellow musician, Tommy Thayer, creating a friendship that has lasted to the present. He and Thayer formed a band that ultimately evolved into Black ‘n Blue, which gave the two their first taste of mainstream success.Following Black N’ Blue, St. James performed with the bands Freight Train Jane, The Glorious Things (which also featured former Warrant guitarist Billy Morris), and his own band St. James, which Billy Morris guested with.

Jaime St. James also played drums for the Kiss tribute band called Cold Gin, playing the role of Peter Criss. Tommy Thayer, band mate of St. James in Black ‘N Blue (and current member of Kiss) was also in Cold Gin, playing the role of Ace Frehley. He co-wrote one Kiss song with Gene Simmons and Scott Van Zen: “In My Head”, which appeared on their album Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions.

Aside from Black ‘N Blue, St. James is currently a member of the Hard Rock All Stars with Juan Croucier of Ratt, Stacey Blades (formerly of L.A. Guns) and Pete Holmes of Black ‘N Blue / Michael Schenker. Their set list includes songs from their own respective bands Black ‘N Blue, Ratt & L.A. Guns.In late 2013, St. James joined the live show Let It Rawk with Stacey Blades, Oz Fox, Scot Coogan, Eric Brittingham and Sean McNabb. The band currently performs regularly in Las Vegas, Hollywood, and at various rock festivals.

All Access Live

ALL ACCESS LIVE with JOEL WERTMAN

Joel’s career started in 1977 when he wrote and produced a song that became a top five record in Canada and Europe. Following this major break, Mr. Wertman made the move to Los Angeles where he joined Mushroom Records as a staff producer and writer. There he recorded and remixed for artists including Heart, Doucette and Ian Matthews. Mr. Wertman got his first taste for television as a writer with Hart to Hart and Taxi and a songwriter/producer for Happy Days and Joanie Loves Chachi.

Later in his career, Mr. Wertman held executive roles with multiple record labels including president of Eureka/EMI, Eureka/BMG, Eureka Records and Sire/Discovery Records. During his tenure, Mr. Wertman was instrumental in the careers of many artists including The Goo Goo Dolls, Heart, KISS, No Doubt, Bush, Young MC, and Tiffany, among others, officials said.

Additionally, Mr. Wertman develops and produces television programming for children.

Today, Wertman is far from Hollywood but very much involved in a media company with its hand in music and a focus on a visual future fueled by 5G just as much as ATSC 3.0.

Wertman is the President of Reach High Media Group, a Chattanooga, Tenn.-based company that is the successor to Luken Communications.

ALL ACCESS with TOM HOLLAND

Insiders might know Tom as “The Rock & Roll Accountant”, but his talents lie far beyond crunching numbers. Tom is a talented songwriter, performer, businessman and philanthropist that has been a champion for great causes in Music Education and the fulfillment of honoring those great musicians of Oregon before him.

We’ve been friends many years, and every moment I spend with Tom leaves me reassured that good people DO exist in this world! He and his bride Char have influenced many fellow Oregonians with their generosity and kindness, and I’m excited to share some of those great humane qualities.

ALL ACCESS LIVE with PJ FARLEY (LITA FORD, TRIXTER)

I first met PJ while my band opened for his band (Trixter) in about 1990. 30 years later, PJ Farley has amassed an impressive list of recording and touring credits. From Lita Ford to 40 Ft Ringo & a whole lot in-between, we’ll talk about his cool new gig “Kuarantine” with Chris Jericho. Let’s practice some social distancing together with PJ!

Tag Archive for: kiss