Racket from Russia

Kiss were once banned in Russia, but - 44 years into an improbably successful career - they're now playing for 15,000 people in Moscow. The New Statesman's Kate Mossman went behind the scenes, trying to discover what lies beneath the make-up.

Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are an odd couple, seemingly united solely by the band but sharing a common background, both being the sons of Jewish women who fled Nazi persecution in Europe. While Stanley seems relatively quiet, distant and thoughtful, Simmons comes across as a rather unpleasant individual, a domineering loudmouth who is unrepentantly reactionary in his views. There can't be many iconic male rock stars who started out as a temp at Glamour and Vogue.

(Thanks to Sean for the link.)