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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - KISS, one of the most successful and outrageous rock groups, is auctioning off pretty much everything it owns from its touring days -- from guitars to sexy costumes, auction officials said Wednesday. The auction will take place June 24-25 at Paramount Studios' Theater in Hollywood. Bids can also be made on the Internet. Auctioneers presenting the event, Greg Manning Auctions, Inc., and Butterfields Auctioneers, a division of eBay, say it will be a multimillion dollar affair, with prices on nearly 1,000 items expected to fetch between $100 and $100,000. One of the least expensive items for sale will be Gene Simmons' black leather ``codpiece'' belt adorned with metal studs, plates, buckles and straps, auction officials said, estimating it will go for a modest $750. At the other end of the scale, the original costumes worn by Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss in their breakthrough 1975-1976 Alive! tour could bring up to $100,000. For the man who wants to stand tall, Simmons' circa 1974 platform shoes, may go for between $1,000 and $1,500, according to the ``KISS. The Auction'' catalogue. The group's guitars are each expected to fetch between $5,000 and $7,000, while jackets are expected to go for $1,000 apiece and other sets of tour costumes for up to $80,000. ``We don't want this stuff -- the great outfits and guitars -- to be mothballed,'' Simmons said in a statement. ``We would rather the world have it. We've always been of the people, for the people, and by the people. We would like as many people as possible to have a piece of KISS.'' Auction information can be obtained at http://www.butterfields.com/KISS and http://www.gregmanning.com. Reuters/Variety |