NICOLA CICCARONE

After many interviews I’m very pleased to close 2008 with a nice chat with the great Nicola Ciccarone.
For those who doesn’t know him (???) Nicola was the founder of one of the finest KISS Fanzine in the world, Strike, and the founder of the KISS ARMY INTERNATIONAL.
Nico has organized and participated in numerous KISSKonventions worldwide with exceptional guests such as Ace, Peter, Eric Singer, Bruce and Vinnie
His photos were used by KISS for the booklet of ALIVEIII and the video KISSKonfidentatial.
Hello Nico what’s going on?
Well, well Fabio!
30 minute are enough? You know I must go and take my son from school.
Sure! Although I think you mayo tell me about KISS for days!
Well the KISS have been my life for many years.
Now, since I returned to Italy instead I deal with  weddings pictures and I am very taken by the deployment of my new studio and also by my son Jordan!
I saw the photos, really beautiful!
Eh, eh, thanks!

Any KISS projects so far?
I’m planning a KISSKonvention, most likely in Milan in February with the help of Barbara [Caserta] and then we will see.
I have no deadlines and I want to return slowly in the world that for a long time I haven’ seen anymore.
I still have all the merchandise that I was used to sell at that a time and for those who are still interested I can say also that prices are of that time!

You can see everything here www.nicostrike.com
Good news, as you know I was one of many that has enriched his KISS collection through you.
Coming back to photos, I guess you have tonnes of KISS shoots...
Oh yes, you can tell, and I must admit that after having breathed again the smell of the  concerts I feel hungry again for KISS!
Who knows? I may start again where I left in the near future.
As I told you in Verona my dream is to publish a photo book about KISS, with my best shots, with the stories of the most beautiful and fun recollections, the story of a large part of my life.
In Verona I took beautiful pictures but I think that in Milan I did the best shoots of an entire career.
But I don’ want to have time constraints; I want a product worthy of the KISS name and my name.
I should be the first one to like it.
Hope you will publish it soon!

Listen, I guess you had a privileged relationship with them, rather different than a common fan ...
Yes, and I am happy to say that our relationship was always based on mutual esteem, both from a human perspective than a work perspective.
I know that sometimes I disturbed them, as sometimes they hurt me, but everyone is unique and see the things in its own way, from his perspective
I have always tried to move in order to be close to them but not too much.
When your idols become friends your risk to be disappointed both from your idols than from your friends…
I stayed next and also away from them, sometimes choosing to stay away just to maintain an equidistant relationship between me and their fans, always trying to do something that would please me,  KISS and the fans, never exceeding in having a more favourable position compared to many others.
I travelled for years, having always my bag ready for the next trip.
I like to do things right so my time was dedicated to my work as a photographer and reporter, 15 hours a day, 7 days a week 7, I did not have time for other things.
Well the results stand for you, I think that Strike was the most beautiful KISS Fanzine around!
I always liked very much the graphics, photos, layouts part of my work, much less the journalist part, writing the pieces in support of the photos.
When my son was born then I decided to be a good dad.
And maybe even with a little saturation from KISS I loosened my dedication to the group always keeping in touch with the band though.
Out of the many adventures along with KISS what comes to your mind as an indelible memory?
We spent a lot of cool moments together, ... let me think ...
Look, one of the best memories I have of them is a dinner organized by Polygram in Tuscany during the promotional tour of Revenge.
We were about twenty people there with the band and I do not remember how I managed the thing and what they really do it, but I got myself seated at the table next to Paul and opposite to Gene!
... Wow!
Yes, but that is not all at some point I need to go to the bathroom and when I come back they're gone.... The others tell me they were offended that I was away and they wnr back to the hotel.
What? I was used to Eric’s jokes, but ...
Result? I'm still looking around when the four of them jump out of tents next to the door windows screaming! They had hidden themselves to play me a joke!
Here it was my relationship with them.

And now how the things are going?
Now I am in touch via email with Tommy, Bruce and Eric, it’s e very long time I don’t write to Ace and Peter...
Gene and Paul, I do not even hear them because they are always really busy.
But the nice thing is that when they came back this year and we saw each other again it was like when you meet with a childhood friend, months or years may pass, but when you find yourself again, well the magic is still there.
Well I can’t avoid telling you that somehow I feel envy!
Nico, well, thank you for this nice talk and keep me updated about the developments of your business.
Sure Fabio, thanks to you, it's always nice to talk about our "friends".
Give me also the chance to thank all the ones who have supported me along all these years and which enabled me to do what I was always liked to do and we will all see at the next KISSKonvention!