KISS
Immigration. People are constantly seeking personal freedoms or a better life. Then there's Chaim Witz, The Demon - otherwise known as Gene Simmons. He was born in Israel in '49. His parents had survived the Holocaust in Eastern Europe and immigrated to Israel. When Simmons' parents divorced in '54 he and his mother immigrated to America settling in Brooklyn. As Gene began learning English, comic books and horror films fascinated him. Obviously, this came into play later on.
By '71 Simmons had hooked up with Paul Stanley in Wicked Lester. They even managed to get a record deal from Epic but the project went nowhere. But it did provide the two with some money to live on. Simmons was also supporting himself as a schoolteacher. However, he ran afoul of Spanish Harlem's P.S. 75 school administration for using Spiderman #36 as a teaching tool. He knew his students didn't like to read but loved comics. Seemed like a good way to go. Also, by this time Gene had adopted Simmons as his last name.
During the waning hours of Wicked Lester there was an ad in Rolling Stone's East Coast edition that read "experienced drummer willing to do anything to make it." Enter Peter Criscoula (Criss). Finally, when Ace Frehley joined, it was the end of Wicked Lester and the beginning of KISS - lights, make-up, stage costumes, explosions and loud, driving Rock.
KISS' make-up was Simmons' idea. And it was perfect. First, it allowed some ordinary looking guys to be Rock stars. Secondly, and nobody thought of this at the time, the make-up hid the inevitable aging (until it became too pronounced).
All in all, KISS had an incredible run in the '70s, blasting out "Rock n' Roll All Night," "Detroit Rock City," and "Love Gun." By the '80s the band had fractured due to constant touring, personal conflicts and yes, drugs. Criss and Frehley left and were replaced initially by Eric Carr and Vinnie Vincent. Eventually, Ace and Peter were allowed back.
KISS Rocked but they also were highly visual. Their concert performances were loud, fierce, high-tech (explosions don't go off by themselves) events. But even on record, where they were probably their tamest, they kicked. The four original members got together in '96, cashed in and continued to do so until their "farewell" tour.
Like any group with an extended career, KISS box sets appeard. "KISSology Volume 1: 1974-1977" was followed by "KISSology Volume 2: 1978-1991. And just in time for Christmas '07, "KISSology Vol. 3: 1992-2000" came out. The four-disc set featured nearly 10 hours of live performance footage, including a vintage '73 New York show, a complete '92 Detroit concert and the '95 MTV Unplugged set.
A short time later (early '08), Simmons appeared on in NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice (yep, the show with Donald Trump). As one of 14 contestants Simmons got an ego stroke and a chance to show off his vaunted business acumen (also promote his various ventures) with the proceeds going to charity. He decided to participate in the series because he was intrigued by the challenge. "I'm the rat that knew the maze to get to the cheese as a Rocker. But how good am I in a brand-new maze?"
Prime KISS is 1975-77 - a long time in Rock years. Two guitars, one bass, one drum kit and a ton of power. It took a while for KISS to catch fire but when it did, they ruled. Of course, KISS crashed just as spectacularly. It's a good idea to stay away from the solo albums (see below) though Ace Frehley had a hit with "Back In The New York Groove." Pay no attention to "Beth," everyone was doing those wimpy ballads back in the '70s. Criss should have saved that little nugget for his solo record. Listen to "Detroit Rock City," one of the all-time great Rock songs.
Don't fall for KISS with replacement players. KISS is: Simmons, Stanley, Frehley and Criss.
Gotta Haves:
Destroyer 1975
KISS' best shot. The throbbing insanity of "Detroit Rock City" along with the anthem "Shout It Out Loud" are hot Rockers. "Flaming Youth" and the orchestrated (believe it) "Great Expectations" are up there too. To be honest the album does have "Beth" probably the lamest "rock" ballad ever released by a major group. Of course, it was their biggest pop hit.
Alive 1975
In concert great Rock bands build on their studio material while ordinary bands just play it. Early KISS recordings seem confined. The studio may have inhibited or intimated them. Recording and re-recording takes a lot of the fun and spontaneity out. Then there's that drive to make everything letter perfect.
In concert KISS was a party band to the hilt and party bands don't worry. They play loud, have fun and put on a show. "Rock 'n' Roll All Night" and "Deuce" are the are the highlights of this exceptional set.
Twenty-eight years after his initial solo effort, Stanley released "Live To Win" in '06. He produced and co-wrote nine of the CD's 10 tracks with a variety of collaborators. However, "Loving You Without You Now" is completely his own creation.
Solo albums by KISS members have always been a questionable endeavor. Clearly, with this group, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. "Live To Win" will do little to change that impression. The title track is a good effort but it doesn't deliver the killer blow. Stanley finds his footing on "Bulletproof" and "All About You" which tosses a nod to KISS' "Rock N' Roll all night, party every day" ethos. Interestingly, the set's best track is the acoustic tinged mid-tempo ballad "Every Time I See You Around."
One critic praised Stanley saying he was an "example of a veteran Rocker refusing to rest on vintage material." Yeah, but the "vintage material" is a lot better. In one of those twists of fate, yet another KISS compilation hit the streets just a week after "Live To Win." The best bet would be to opt for "KISSology Volume 1: 1974-1977."
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