Rob Benjamin Music
Share my adventures in the music business and life, as well as celebrity encounters and occasional oddities. Through my time as music fan, collector, fanzine publisher and songwriter, I have met superstars such as James Brown, Reba McEntire, Gene Simmons, Bruce Springsteen, Bill Withers and Diane Warren, who all had a huge impact. This channel is a celebration of those impactful experiences and the influence they've had on my life. Join me on this journey as we explore all aspects of the music world.
Rob Benjamin Music
Happy Birthday to Paul Stanley of @KISS - simply the greatest rock frontman of all time! No one can touch the Starchild - the very best showman and songwriter any band could ever have. #paulstanley #kiss
9 hours ago | [YT] | 122
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Rob Benjamin Music
Working on a new book about my time in KISStory as a fanzine publisher. Here is a teaser:
There I was, just sixteen years old, standing backstage with Eric Carr—the drummer for KISS—on Gene Simmons’ birthday, no less. It was one of those situations that felt surreal even as it was happening, the kind you don’t question because questioning it might make it disappear.
We weren’t supposed to be there. The security guard had no reason to let us through. There had been no instructions, no scheduled meet-and-greet, but we were kids and determined. All we had were two passes and a shared confidence that, in those days, sometimes that was enough. This was 1990, when access was still a physical thing—laminated badges, handwritten lists, the judgment call of a guy in a black jacket deciding whether you looked like you belonged.
Somehow, we did.
That was the magic of KISS. I finally belonged to something—something I could keep, something magical that would never abandon me or hurt me.
We were backstage before the show, in that strange quiet-before-the-storm space where road cases sat stacked like barricades and the air smelled faintly of metal, sweat, and electrical heat. The band hadn’t transformed yet. No opening act—just early evening, as people were still finding their seats. When it comes to KISS, I am next level. I loved this band, and I was going backstage, come hell or high water, it was going to be a crazy night.
A security guard let us back with our passes, though he wasn’t supposed to. As we wandered farther in—having no clue where to go or what we were doing—we somehow ended up right outside the KISS dressing room. Another guard at the door let someone inside know there were 'guests' outside.
Who popped out? None other than Eric Carr—who was the greatest guy in the whole group when it came to fans.
Eric was incredibly cool, but he also chastised us for being back there. I’ll never forget what he said: “If it was Gene and not me who came out, that guard would be fired—and you guys would be kicked out.”
#kiss #kissarmy
1 day ago (edited) | [YT] | 54
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Rob Benjamin Music
This incredible piece of Gene art is connected to his recent testimony before the U.S. Congress. During his testimony, Gene presented compelling and intelligent arguments regarding artist royalty rates in the USA. Post Credit: Craig Isaac via LinkedIn
1 day ago | [YT] | 61
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Rob Benjamin Music
My buddy Braylon at my old job reminds me of Lil Ronnie from ‘Role Models’, a hilarious movie released in 2008 that heavily features @KISS - when I saw his hair I had to get a photo. KISS is everywhere! 🤘🏼#genesimmons #kissarmy
2 days ago | [YT] | 55
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Rob Benjamin Music
What should my next long form video be about? Any suggestions - comment below, let's go! #2026 #contentcreator
6 days ago | [YT] | 18
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Rob Benjamin Music
@KISS - accept no substitutes. #kissarmy #kiss #neca #bencooper #kisstory
1 week ago | [YT] | 165
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Rob Benjamin Music
Did you catch the Kennedy Center Honors on @CBS or @paramountplus featuring @KISS?
So, my friend asked me what I thought of it, and here's the thing - if I'm honest, I might get attacked by nutty KISS fans, but here goes. I thought it was underwhelming; I was really hoping for a KISS moment like when Heart performed 'Stairway To Heaven' for Led Zeppelin.
I'm a big fan of both Garth Brooks and Marcus King, and of course, Cheap Trick are still awesome, however the whole experience just didn't live up to my expectations; it fell flat for me. I don't think the song choices for Garth and Marcus matched their strengths. I would have like to have heard Garth sing "Hard Luck Woman", his version of "Shout It Out Loud" was a bit cringe, and neither felt like they knew those songs well enough for such a major performance (or rehearsed enough), like they did a one and done run through. Cheap Trick was very cool to use the KISS logo and how it was presented, but with those guys being older and the attendees being older it felt just 'okay'.
I was really moved by the tribute to Ace Frehley, it was so touching. It was awesome, but I could tell they edited it down for broadcast. I really wished they had played the entire 'Fractured' instrumental and showed more funny photos of Ace as a backdrop. It felt a bit morbid for me, however it was still very touching and cool at the same time.
With Gene trash talking both Peter and Ace in recent weeks (for no reason other than to get attention), it has become very clear this is likely the very last time we will see any version of the original lineup together. To me it also felt like Peter physically stayed away from Paul, sad to see that Peter is without Ace, you can see the dynamic shift without him.
Speaking of Peter, his album has done well and we are happy to see him happy. Cheers to a new era in KISStory! #kiss #kisstory #kissarmy
1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 113
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Rob Benjamin Music
I came across this unique $150 Gene Simmons @KISS shirt at a local vintage store. It is worth noting that the design, featuring a syringe on the back, is not something that Gene Simmons or KISS would typically authorize and this was not an official item. It sold-out on the designer's website over a year ago and is a unique piece. It almost looks like a tabloid cover, very different.
Seeing something like this celebrated by a younger generation (wearing designer street wear) serves as evidence of KISS's significant impact on pop culture, surpassing all expectations the band had when they started out decades ago. KISS is everywhere!
#kiss #genesimmons #kisstory #fashion
2 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 140
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Rob Benjamin Music
Happy New Year - here's to one more, ah hey let's go! 1.4 Million channel views and counting, thank you to all my subscribers! #2026 #musicislife
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 234
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Rob Benjamin Music
Today we are celebrating the greatest rock star of ALL, Jesus! Merry Christmas everyone! #jesusfreak #jesusrocks
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 77
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