Kiss Kasket

The Kiss Kasket is an item of merchandise licensed by the rock band Kiss. It is an actual coffin, decorated with a Kiss logo and pictures of the band members. In introducing the Kiss Kasket, Simmons quipped, "I love livin', but this makes the alternative look pretty damn good."^[1] The Kiss Kasket went on sale in 2001; as of 2008, it was no longer available from Kiss's website.^[2] As of February 2011, the second generation models of the Kiss Kasket became available on Kiss's website.^[3]

Reintroduction - second generation

• On December 1, 2010, Kissonline.com announced a new licensing agreement between Kiss and Eternal Image Inc. (a public company engaged in the design, manufacturing, and marketing of officially licensed memorial products) to design, manufacture, and market a limited edition line of official KISS branded memorial products. The line will reportedly include caskets, cremation urns, bronze memorials, memorial prayer cards, registry books, memorial candles, and pet cremation urns—all designed after the famous rock band's iconic images. ^[4]
• On December 10, 2010, Wrap Wizard, a division of Sign & Graphic Solutions, Inc. located in Newnan, Georgia produced the first mock-up of the New and improved Kiss Casket for Gene Simmons of Kiss. ^[5]
• On December 15, 2010, Kissonline.com provided a sneak-peek and announced that the newest second generation Kiss Kaskets are in production. ^[6]
• On December 31, 2010, Eternal Image, Inc. announced on its website that the latest Kiss caskets will be available for purchase by the end of February 2011.^[7]
• On February 14, 2011, Eternal Image, Inc. announced that two models of the Kiss casket (a premium model and a standard model) are now available.^[8]
• On February 14, 2011, Kissonline.com provided images and details of the two second-generation caskets.^[9]

References in popular culture

• On an episode of The Drew Carey Show, Drew Carey's character's father was accidentally buried in a Kiss Kasket that played the Kiss song "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II," a reworking of the Argent song "God Gave Rock and Roll to You," when opened.
• During an episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien (season 9; episode 76), the Kiss Kasket was brought out on stage and promoted by Gene Simmons.
• The Kiss Kasket made a brief appearance in an episode of Cribs (Season 5; episode 3) which featured Gene Simmons. The kasket was part of Simmons’ collection of Kiss memorabilia.
• On the December 22, 2010 airing of Lopez Tonight, guest Gene Simmons indicated that the Kiss Kasket will be making an appearance in an upcoming episode of Simmons' reality show, Gene Simmons Family Jewels. ^[10]
• The Kiss Kasket made an appearance in the October 11, 2011 airing of episode 138/139 of Gene Simmons Family Jewels entitled “Till Death Do Us Part.” ^[11]
• The Kiss Kasket made an appearance in the news documentary CNN Presents, which aired October 23, 2011. The kasket was part of the segment, “KISS: The Band and The Brand.” ^[12]

Connection with notable celebrities

• Dimebag Darrell of Pantera was buried in a Kiss Kasket as was requested in his will.^[13][14]

Reported uses prior to interment

• One of the Kiss Kasket's selling points was that it was waterproof and could serve as a "Giant Kiss Cooler."^[15]

References

1. ^ "Kiss Introduce Their Latest Merchandising Endeavor: The Kiss Kasket". NYRock. Retrieved July 30, 2006.
2. ^ Internet Archive Wayback Machine information for http://www.kissonline.com/kasket/, accessed May 21, 2006.
3. ^ Kissonline.com, Entry of February 14, 2011 entitled, "Kiss Caskets Now Available," accessed February 15, 2011.
4. ^ Kissonline.com, Entry of December 1, 2010 entitled, "Kiss Limited Edition Memorial Product," accessed December 1, 2010.
5. ^ http://www.WrapWizard.com, Entry of December 10, 2010 entitled, "Mock up complete: New Kiss Casket," accessed January 17, 2011.
6. ^ Kissonline.com, Entry of December 15, 2010 entitled, "First Look: New Kiss Casket," accessed December 22, 2010.
7. ^ http://www.eternalimage.net/investors/, accessed January 2, 2011.
8. ^ http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Eternal-Image-Officially-pz-1508656662.html?x=0&.v=1, accessed February 15, 2011.
9. ^ Kissonline.com, Entry of February 14, 2011 entitled, "Kiss Caskets Now Available," accessed February 15, 2011.
10. ^ Kissonline.com, Entry of December 22, 2010 entitled, "Gene on Lopez Tonight," accessed December 28, 2010.
11. ^ http://www.aetv.com/gene-simmons-family-jewels/episode-guide/ accessed October 12, 2011.
12. ^ http://cnnpresents.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/19/kiss-the-band-and-the-brand/ accessed November 11, 2011
13. ^ "Dimebag Darrell to Be Buried in Kiss Kasket," Blabbermouth.net, December 13, 2004, accessed May 21, 2006.
14. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimebag_Darrell, accessed December 28, 2010.
15. ^ Signatures Network, "Kiss...Forever: Official 'Kiss Kaskets' Let Kiss' Fans Rock and Roll for Eternity," press release issued June 12, 2001, accessed May 21, 2006.

External links

• Kiss Kasket at KISS Official Store
• Archived kissonline.com Kiss Kasket page at the Internet Archive