Kiss have never been shy of merchandising. From Kiss dolls to Kiss guitars, Kiss ice-creams to Kiss make-up, Kiss are easily the world's most merchandised band. Last year, they introduced the Kiss Kasket so that Kiss fans can be buried in the image of their favourite rock band.

Now there's the Kiss Kondom's. Only Kiss can take your money when you are coming or going.

The first Kiss Kondom was the lubricated tongue, released three months ago and featuring the Gene Simmon's fully extended tongue on the wrapper. Now there's the Studded Paul based on the Kiss' Paul Stanley.

Paul Stanley spoke to Undercover Media's Paul Cashmere

Paul Cashmere: Every previous time I have ever spoken to you has been about the music. Talking to you about condoms makes for an interesting subject diversion.

Paul Stanley: My thought about it is who else but us can do something like this. Life is about challenges. It is kind of like in Star Trek where no man has gone before which is kind of appropriate when you are using a condom, I guess. The truth is people are not going to stop having sex, nor should they. Anything you can do to make it safer and to keep the fun in it is a good thing. There is so much fear and anxiety with some people associated with sex that condoms are a way of life, literally. Without them you are playing Russian Roulette. That being said, the idea of a Kiss Kondom, why not?. Who better than Kiss?

PC: And for those who don't use the Kiss Kondom, there is always the Kiss Kasket.

PS: That's right, we are going to get you one way or other.

PC: That's right, coming or going

PS: No pun intended. Coming or going we are going to get you.

PC: Who came up with the name Studded Paul?

PS: I left that to the powers that be. I don't want to blow my own horn (so to speak) although I wish I could …

PC: Now who's doing the puns?

PS: There you go. I have serious competition on the phone. I'm trying to keep up with you. They came up with it and more power to them. As I said, variety is the spice of life. Different types of condoms are like different types of food. They are all appropriate for different meals.

PC: Will there be a collection of these? We have already had Gene's Lubricated Tongue, now the Studded Paul. What's next?

PS: There are more coming (laughs). Everything I say has a double entendre whether I mean to or not. When you are interested in Kiss Kondoms all I can say is there are more to come.

PC: Do you know if fans by them for their intended purpose of just to have as Kiss souvenirs?

PS: I tend not to get too involved in people's private life. What they do once they leave the store is really up to them. If some lovely woman would like me to give her a demonstration, if the situation avails itself, I will rise to the occasion.

PC: Not another pun

PS: (laughs)

PC: Kiss are one of the most merchandised and successfully merchandised bands in the world.

PS: We get these accolades as brilliant businessmen. It is very easy to take credit for that and I'm not comfortable with that. All we have ever done is given people what they ask for. There is no great credit to deliver what people request. If you go to McDonalds and you ask for a double cheese and fries and that's what you get, you don't say to them "brilliant, you gave me what I asked for". That's really all our philosophy as far as merchandise is. Who are we to deny anybody what they like purely because we are "artistes". I say that with quotation marks and an e on the end. To me it is a challenge and a great part of this band. Really, quite honestly, does anybody want to have an Eagles condom?

PC: What is your favourite piece of Kiss merchandise?

PS: There's been so much great stuff. I remember on the first tour of Australia we had these great Kiss frozen confections. There were three flavours. It was an ice-cream. In Australia we also had Maybelline Kiss make-up. It is all great. It is difficult when everything is so over the top for someone to ask "what's your favourite". We are the most merchandised band in history and I have never allowed that to eclipse the fact that first and foremost, we are a band. Without music and without the live show that we are, the rest would never happen. Some people think they can't coexist with each other and that it is impossible to be a "rock and roll band" and at the same time not sell-out by doing merchandise. To me, you are not selling out, you are selling.

PC: The most spectacular is probably the car.

PS: Yeah, that was pretty great. I thought once about driving one around but if you want to draw attention to yourself that would be a great way to do it. I tend to like my private time to myself.

PC: Just back on the condoms. Will there be an Ace condom and a Peter Criss condom?

PS: There are more condoms in the works. We know there is stiff competition.

PC: Oh gawd, there he goes again.

PS: (laughs)

PC: On another subject, there's talk of Kiss performing with an orchestra next year.

PS: Without being cryptic or trying to sidestep it, what the future holds will be revealed in due time. It is gratifying to know that going out on a worldwide farewell tour what we were met with by most people was "don't go, don't leave". When we finished the farewell tour it was really interesting having people coming up to me all the time saying "I loved the farewell tour. When are you doing the 30th anniversary tour". It gives you a chance to reassess and rethink things. So many people with the best of intentions call it a day and then for whatever reason find they aren't really finished. Certainly that has been on the front burner and something we have been talking about quite a bit.

PC: And as long as The Stones are out there doing it, there is always someone who has been doing it longer.

PS: As long as they are out there we will be always be younger.

PC: Having Kiss perform with an orchestra would be spectacular.

PS: It would be an event to remember and it would be stunning, What could be accomplished by a band with our sonic prowess and an orchestra would leave most people lobotomised sonically.

PC: How serious are the talks then?

PS: We are talking things over amongst ourselves and there are many offers, to be quite honest with you. Some get spoken about before others but nothing is confirmed in any case with any of the possibilities that we may be doing, if in fact we are going to do anything.

PC: Will it be a one-off or a world tour?

PS: Once again, we are in the talking stages about this. Anything is possible and more will be revealed.

PC: Something else that has been in the talking stages for a long, long time is the Kiss Alive IV album. What is the status of that?

PS: Kiss Alive IV unfortunately got tangled in a lot of red tape and bureaucracy things that I think can sometimes suppress what rock and roll is meant to be about … Impulse and instinct. Unfortunately it is mired in all sorts of bureaucracy and red tape. Life goes on and I also believe that everything happens as it should and when it should.

PC: Will that album ever be released?

PS: Let me know!

PC: One album that is new is The Very Best of Kiss. Where you involved in that?

PS: What happened was as far as the record company is allowed to do, they are well within their rights to put that out. Since they were going to put it out we decided rather than have something come out with our name on it and our images and us not being in some sort of control of it, we opted to get involved with it. We had involvement in the packaging and the tracks and the sequencing. That being said we stand behind it 100%. It is a great primer or sampler for someone who hasn't had the overview of the band. Also, the way it is sequenced it is a great CD to put in your car. It works quite well.

PC: What about future Kiss releases, now you are no longer with Universal. Will they be independent or are you working towards another major?

PS: As I said earlier, so much gets bandied about. I hear so much about projects that are really in there infancy and more often than not will never see the light of day. But because they have been leaked or spoken about I am queried on it. Truthfully, at this point, everything is in an early stage and there is really nothing to speak of. Suffice to say, I am far from being done making music.

PC: At least we'd like to see another solo album. Are you at least working on that?

PS: That too is possible. In the healthiest way possible I have always thought of Kiss albums as my solo albums. I think when I go into the studio my thought is always (with a few exceptions) has always been to reflect myself. That is perhaps why it wasn't surprising when people heard the first solo album I did, they said "gee, that sounds like Kiss". Well, there's a reason for that. One way or another there will certainly be more music.

PC: Going in the studio when you recorded Psycho Circus, were you surprised how good that came out?

PS: I love that album. I thought like the reunion tour there were great expectations. It is hard to live up to what people expect because sometimes they expect the impossible. It is a personal taste and everybody has their opinion of that album. I am certainly very, very proud of it. I think the material and the playing is superb.

PC: Gene is in Australia later this month doing the spoken word life and times show. Will we ever see you doing that sort of thing?

PS: I hope not. To paraphrase there is a saying "to each to their self be true". I think everyone has to be true to themselves and I can't imagine me doing that. If you want to know the life and times of Paul Stanley, the best way to have that is to have dinner with me.

PC: Name the restaurant then.

PS: Who's buying?

PC: Do you know much about Gene's shows?

PS: Not to be misread or misinterpreted, it is something I have no involvement in. Really, I don't keep abreast of it. It is something that is a project of Gene's and I can't give you any information on it. I wouldn't want to be misconstrued.

PC: You said Australia is your second favourite country. When will we see you back here?

PS: I hope sooner than later. Every time I come there I always wind up thinking about buying a house which is something I don't do lightly. I think Australia is a country that has an enormous amount to be proud of. It is much like America without some of the things that we could do without like crime and a certain amount of garbage that Australia lacks. I have to say I am an ENORMOUS (you can put that in capital letters) fan of Australian women. Besides being spectacular looking they are great fun in all aspects. They are just great women. I am enamoured of them all.

PC: Where would you buy your house?

PS: That's a toughy. Sydney is spectacular, Melbourne is spectacular and so is Perth. That doesn't take anything away from the others. Every place I have been is wonderful. The Gold Coast is great, it is all great. I'm not sure you as Aussies appreciate what you have. I am here to tell you "chin up and stop and smell the roses". You have a fabulous place.

PC: What else can I say but "onya mate".

PS: And right back atcha.

PC: Thanks for talking to us Paul and spreading the safe sex message.

PS: All humour aside, everybody likes to believe it is going to be the other guy who is going to have the car accident or it is other guy who will fall ill. We should always remember that to the other guy it is you. Let's all have a great time and stay safe.

The Kiss Kondoms are available at Condomania.com, at Condomania's flagship retail store in Greenwich Village, N.Y., and at more than 1,000 retail locations across America including Spencer Gifts stores, Tower Records stores, numerous music chains, convenience stores, specialty gift shops and or online at KISSOnline.com.

The first condom in the KISS Kondom product line, "Tongue Lubricated," featured a bright red lubricated latex condom and images of Gene Simmons sporting his signature pose -- his fully extended tongue -- on the condom wrapper and box. After "Studded Paul," the next product will be "Love Gun Protection," to be introduced in early 2003 and will feature extra strength latex condoms and images of the whole group on the packaging. KISS Kondoms are sold in packs of three with a suggested retail price of $4.95.