All Discussions Tagged 'kiss' - Classic Rock Bottom2024-03-29T14:06:13Zhttps://classic-rock-bottom.ning.com/group/kiss/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=kiss&feed=yes&xn_auth=no36 YEARS AGO: KISS FIRE THEIR ‘LOVE GUN’tag:classic-rock-bottom.ning.com,2013-07-01:6060463:Topic:870522013-07-01T00:49:35.359ZRJhog (Admin)https://classic-rock-bottom.ning.com/profile/JeffHogland
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<p>Article taken from Ultimate Classic Rock</p>
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<p>‘Love Gun,’ the sixth studio album from <a href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/tags/kiss">Kiss</a>, and the clear pinnacle of the band’s first golden era, was released 36 years ago this week.<span id="more-69160"></span></p>
<p>The album’s release marked a pair of turning points for the band. It was the…</p>
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<p>Article taken from Ultimate Classic Rock</p>
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<p>‘Love Gun,’ the sixth studio album from <a href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/tags/kiss">Kiss</a>, and the clear pinnacle of the band’s first golden era, was released 36 years ago this week.<span id="more-69160"></span></p>
<p>The album’s release marked a pair of turning points for the band. It was the last record to feature their original lineup — <a href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/tags/paul-stanley">Paul Stanley</a>, <a href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/tags/gene-simmons">Gene Simmons</a>,<a href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/tags/peter-criss">Peter Criss</a> and <a href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/tags/ace-frehley">Ace Frehley</a> — performing together on every song.</p>
<p>(In 1998, the foursome released a reunion album entitled ‘<a href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/best-kiss-psycho-circus-song/">Psycho Circus</a>,’ but it is widely reported that outside musicians joined Stanley and Simmons for much of that project.)</p>
<p>‘Love Gun’ was also released at the high-point of the band’s commercial success. Kiss were without question the hottest band in the land at the time, with arena shows selling out across the country and mountains of records and merchandise flying off store shelves.</p>
<p>Seeing as how ‘Love Gun’ was their fifth studio LP in just three years — not to mention the near-constant touring the group had been doing since 1973 — it’s hard to say they didn’t work hard to earn that position.</p>
<p>By 1977, they were ready to reap the rewards. As Stanley explains in the band’s official biography ‘<a href="http://www.breadpro.com/oven?id=44474190&targetUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FKISS-Behind-Official-Authorized-Biography%2Fdp%2F0446695246" target="_blank" title="http://www.amazon.com/KISS-Behind-Official-Authorized-Biography/dp/0446695246">Behind the Mask</a>,’ “I had fun making ‘Love Gun’ because I was feeling my oats. I had a very clear vision of what I wanted to do and in some ways what Kiss was going to do… I’d give that four and a half, five stars. I’m proud of the record.”</p>
<p>Recorded<a href="http://www.breadpro.com/oven?id=44474190&targetUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kissfaq.com%2FKissFAQ-wiki%2Findex.php%3Ftitle%3DKiss_Album_Focus_-_Love_Gun" target="_blank" title="http://www.kissfaq.com/KissFAQ-wiki/index.php?title=Kiss_Album_Focus_-_Love_Gun"> in just three weeks</a> with production help from the legendary Eddie Kramer, who had worked with the band on their breakthrough 1975 ‘Alive’ double-live concert album, ‘Love Gun”s drum-heavy <a href="http://www.breadpro.com/oven?id=44474190&targetUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DtrR5ROuf1Uk" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trR5ROuf1Uk">title song</a><em> (rat-a-tat-tat, rat-a-tat-tat!)</em> became an instant classic, and has been performed at nearly every Kiss concert since its release.</p>
<p>The piano-tinged ‘<a href="http://www.breadpro.com/oven?id=44474190&targetUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dvib9VMA0v-w" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vib9VMA0v-w">Christine Sixteen</a>‘ and the blistering album opener ‘<a href="http://www.breadpro.com/oven?id=44474190&targetUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DJaNpkjnJz9g" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaNpkjnJz9g">I Stole Your Love</a>‘ have also endured in fan’s hearts and on the group’s setlists. (The downright nasty Simmons tune ‘<a href="http://www.breadpro.com/oven?id=44474190&targetUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DUqg9jWP5OUI" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqg9jWP5OUI">Almost Human</a>‘ has always been one of our personal favorites, not that anybody asked.)</p>
<p>‘Love Gun’ was the first Kiss album to feature all four members on lead vocals, with Criss signing of his younger trouble-making days in ‘<a href="http://www.breadpro.com/oven?id=44474190&targetUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DmTw2oJ6OVNs" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTw2oJ6OVNs">Hooligan</a>‘ and Ace Frehley turning in one of his career highlights with ‘<a href="http://www.breadpro.com/oven?id=44474190&targetUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQK9W5_6l2K4" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK9W5_6l2K4">Shock Me</a>.’ Inspired by an accidental and scary on-stage electrocution, the guitarist wrote the track and then gave into his bandmates’ positive peer pressure to take the lead, although he was reportedly so nervous he sang the track lying flat on his back in the studio.</p>
<p>Looking back, the only sour note Stanley sees on the record is the gender-switched, <a href="http://www.breadpro.com/oven?id=44474190&targetUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DBANb073_8-o" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BANb073_8-o">album-ending cover</a> of the Crystals’ 1963 smash ‘<a href="http://www.breadpro.com/oven?id=44474190&targetUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DcE_jOD2Fxvs" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE_jOD2Fxvs">Then He Kissed Me</a>.’ “Some things in retrospect just don’t work. That’s a great song and it needs to get redone like ‘<a href="http://www.breadpro.com/oven?id=44474190&targetUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Da_csEEI4PFE" target="_blank" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_csEEI4PFE">I Want to Hold Your Hand</a>‘ needs to get redone. It’s a song you don’t mess with.’</p>
<p>‘Love Gun’ was a smash hit immediately upon release, racing up to No. 4 on the Billboard charts and selling over a million copies. But cracks were forming within the band. Criss and Frehley were eager for more creative freedom, and Stanley and Simmons were growing tired of the hard-partying duo’s unreliable ways.</p>
<p>The very next year, these internal squabbles would result in each of the Kiss members recording solo albums under the band’s brand name. Between those four simultaneously-released projects, the band’s second live album (‘Alive II’), and their first-ever best-of collection, ‘Double Platinum,’ it could easily be argued that Kiss over-saturated the market prior to the release of their next group album, 1979′s ‘Dynasty,’ which, <a href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/best-kiss-dynasty-song/">as discussed here</a>, is widely regarded as the beginning of the group’s most challenging er<span style="font-size: 13px;">a.</span></p>
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<p></p> It's been 40 years since Kiss put on paint and changed the face of rock and rolltag:classic-rock-bottom.ning.com,2013-03-24:6060463:Topic:827182013-03-24T18:28:20.154ZRJhog (Admin)https://classic-rock-bottom.ning.com/profile/JeffHogland
<p><span>By </span><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/authors?author=Ethan%20Sacks" rel="author"><span>Ethan Sacks</span> </a><span>/ NEW YORK DAILY NEWS</span><span><br></br><br></br><img alt="" height="432" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1297586.1364094128!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/kiss24n-2-web.jpg" title="" width="635"></img></span></p>
<h4 class="credit">BARRY LEVINE</h4>
<p>In 1973, Ace Frehley (from l.), Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss put on makeup and changed the face of rock and roll.</p>
<p><span><span><br></br><br></br></span></span></p>
<p>Back before they could afford to party all day, they were already rock ’n’…</p>
<p><span>By </span><a rel="author" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/authors?author=Ethan%20Sacks"><span>Ethan Sacks</span> </a><span>/ NEW YORK DAILY NEWS</span><span><br/><br/><img title="" height="432" alt="" width="635" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1297586.1364094128!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/kiss24n-2-web.jpg"/></span></p>
<h4 class="credit">BARRY LEVINE</h4>
<p>In 1973, Ace Frehley (from l.), Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss put on makeup and changed the face of rock and roll.</p>
<p><span><span><br/><br/></span></span></p>
<p>Back before they could afford to party all day, they were already rock ’n’ rolling all night.</p>
<p>Forty years ago this month, Kiss bassist <a title="Gene Simmons" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Gene+Simmons">Gene Simmons</a>, guitarists <a title="Paul Stanley" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Paul+Stanley">Paul Stanley</a> and Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss dabbed on some black and white facepaint bought in a Manhattan hobby store and forever left their mark on music history.</p>
<p><span><span><br/><br/></span></span></p>
<div class="story-img"><img alt="KISS24N_3_WEB" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1297588!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/kiss24n-3-web.jpg"/><h4 class="credit">WARING ABBOTT</h4>
<h4 class="caption">Kiss with their fans in Central Park in the early 1970s.</h4>
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<p>“We were just four kids off the streets of New York that dreamed big," Simmons, who was born Chaim Witz, told the Daily News this week.</p>
<p>There’s no historical plaque in front of the six-story, cast-iron building at 10 E. 23rd St., where Kiss first formed and practiced their three-chord riffs in a dingy fourth floor loft with yolk-encrusted egg crates nailed to the walls to muffle the noise.</p>
<div class="story-img"><img alt="image-1.1297594" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1297594!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/image-1-1297594.jpg"/><h4 class="credit">COURTESY OF KISS</h4>
<h4 class="caption">First promo in their makeup in 1973. </h4>
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<p>But maybe there should be one: Kiss has gone on to sell more than 100 million records and perform live in front of an estimated 22 million fans.</p>
<p>Stanley (born Stanley Eisen), who drove a cab to pay the bills in those days, says one of them hit on the eureka idea one day that an ominous look would get people to notice them long enough to hear their music in a New York scene already oversaturated with bands.</p>
<div class="story-img"><img alt="KISS24N_7_WEB" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1297582!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/entertainment-mtv.jpg"/><h4 class="credit">STRINGER/MEXICO/REUTERS</h4>
<h4 class="caption">Simmons with his devoted female fans at MTV awards show in 2008.</h4>
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<p>The makeup was a work in progress.</p>
<p>“Paul drew a circle around his eye,” says Simmons. “He looked like the dog on ‘Our Gang.’ It was Ace who suggested to Paul to put two stars, one over each eyes, and Paul said, ‘I'm just going to do one. I'm too lazy.’ And that's why to this day he only has one star.”</p>
<div class="story-img"><img alt="image-1.1297652" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1297652!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/image-1-1297652.jpg"/><h4 class="credit"></h4>
<h4 class="caption">Kiss vamping in Central Park.</h4>
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<p>Stanley remembers it slightly differently.</p>
<p>“I always liked the asymmetry of it,” he says, laughing. “Maybe it's because there's at least two sides to me.”</p>
<div class="story-img"><img alt="Kiss Rock Group" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1297664!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/kiss-rock-group.jpg"/><h4 class="credit">RICHARD CORKERY/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS</h4>
<h4 class="caption">Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss at The New York Chapter of the Recording Academy's sixth annual New York Heroes Awards at the Roosevelt Hotel.</h4>
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<p><strong><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/pink-puts-talent-character-display-garden-show-article-1.1297014">RELATED: PINK PUTS TALENT, CHARACTER ON DISPLAY AT GARDEN SHOW</a></strong></p>
<p>They debuted their new look at a pair of gigs at an Amityville, Long Island, club called The Daisy on March 9 and 10, 1973 — and got panned by their first critic.</p>
<div class="story-img"><img alt="image-1.1297670" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1297670!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/image-1-1297670.jpg"/><h4 class="credit">WARING ABBOTT</h4>
<h4 class="caption">Kiss and their fans were sitting pretty in the 1970s.</h4>
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<p>“I remember playing The Daisy and locking ourselves in the owner's office because one of the bouncers said he was going to kill us because of the way we looked,” says Stanley.</p>
<p>“The first night there really was a handful of people, but within a few times of playing there, they were literally breaking the windows to get into the place.”</p>
<div class="story-img"><img alt="PERU/" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1297672!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/peru.jpg"/><h4 class="credit">PILAR OLIVARES</h4>
<h4 class="caption">Kiss rock crowd at National Stadium in Lima, Peru in 2009.</h4>
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<p>Within a few days, the band found themselves in a studio, recording a demo with producer Eddie Kramer of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin fame.</p>
<p>“That five-song demo got us a record contract right away; that five-song demo got us a manager,” says Simmons.</p>
<div class="story-img"><img alt="KISS24N_6_WEB" src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1297583!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/kiss-rock-group.jpg"/><h4 class="credit">RICHARD CORKERY/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS</h4>
<h4 class="caption">Kiss scared the pants of parents, but were adored by their children.</h4>
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<p>“Within a year and a half of that record coming out, we were playing Anaheim Stadium.”</p>
<p>Criss, aka George Peter Criscuolla of Brooklyn, was drummed out of the band in 1980; Frehley left two years later. Both have briefly returned several times over the years, but their platform shoes currently are filled.</p>
<p>Stanley still can close his eyes and recall stepping on the Madison Square Garden stage for the first time — a Queens boy's dream.</p>
<p>“When I played there the first time, I remembered not too much earlier than that, driving my cab and driving a couple to Madison Square Garden to see Elvis Presley (in 1972),” says Stanley, “and I thought to myself,</p>
<p>‘One of these days people are going to be coming here to see me.’ ”</p>
<p><span><span><br/><br/></span><br/></span></p> MONSTER ALBUM REVIEWtag:classic-rock-bottom.ning.com,2013-01-12:6060463:Topic:782342013-01-12T19:48:08.080ZRJhog (Admin)https://classic-rock-bottom.ning.com/profile/JeffHogland
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<p>Okay, I know all of you have been patiently waiting on this. It's my personal review of the newest Kiss album, Monster and everything that it concerns. And let me warn you, this may be a bit long winded. So proceed at your own peril. Also, I'm not a professional writer, I don't use big words. You might get tired of reading the words cool, terrific and…</p>
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<p>Okay, I know all of you have been patiently waiting on this. It's my personal review of the newest Kiss album, Monster and everything that it concerns. And let me warn you, this may be a bit long winded. So proceed at your own peril. Also, I'm not a professional writer, I don't use big words. You might get tired of reading the words cool, terrific and fantastic.</p>
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<p>First, why am I doing an extensive review of Monster? There are two reasons. The first reason is that Kiss is and will always be my favorite band. Whether I like this album or not has no bearing on that. And If I don't like it, after 20 studio albums, there's bound to be a couple of stinkers in the bunch. My initial thoughts have been that the album stinks as far as Kiss albums go, so since my initial listen or two I've been avoiding it like the friggin' plague. And that's the other reason I wanted to do this in depth review. You know, give it a few serious, concentrated spins and see how it shakes out. </p>
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<p><strong><span class="font-size-2">So here are my goals:</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-2">A. Review each song and rate it based on a scale of 1-10. </span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-2">B. Review each band member's performance.</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-2">C. Calculate an overall album rating from these ratings.</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-2">D. Use the info in number one and number two above to list what I think is right or wrong with Kiss today and give my reasonable suggestions that could make the band better musically (I say reasonable because something like Ace or Peter re-joining the band would not be considered reasonable).</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-2">E. And finally, give the album it's proper title (this will be based on other information gathered throughout the listening experience).</span></strong></p>
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<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span class="font-size-3">A. Individual Song Ratings</span></strong></span></p>
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<p>1. Hell Or Hallelujah (Stanley) (10)- Kicking things off is the first single released from the album. This song starts with a great riff, very reminiscent of one of my favorite Kiss tunes, I Stole Your Love. This is a very decent song. It's straight up rock and Tommy lays down a good solo. I really like when Paul's vocal coincides with the solo. Song Rating 8/10</p>
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<p>2. Wall Of Sound (Stanley/Simmons/Thayer) (6) - Another really nice riff to kick things off. Gene's got vocals on this, and he sounds great. The second verse is really short, but that's nothing new. It doesn't take away from the song. Tommy's solo for this song is outstanding. He doesn't overplay, but it's a slightly extended solo, with the second half really smokin'. This is better than any song off of Sonic Boom in my opinion. Gene has outdone himself here. Song Rating 10/10</p>
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<p>3. Freak (Stanley/Thayer) (16) - This one kicks in pretty good, but I'm not crazy about the verse. The chorus is a little better, but just doesn't really sound all that convincing coming from Paul. Another good solo. But the breakdown in the middle just seems out of place to me. "I pledge allegiance, to the state of, independence". WTF. I don't get it. But I do like the nod to Hendrix as it comes back to the song. Song Rating 7/10</p>
<p></p>
<p>4. Back To The Stone Age (Simmons/Stanley/Thayer/Singer) (4) - I love the start of this song. The bass distortion is cool. The driving drum beat is cool too. "Howl at the moon" and "kiss the ring". I'm pretty sure these are recycled lyrics, the former from Tommy's song on Sonic Boom and the latter from a Gene song off of either Hot In The Shade or Revenge. The is not terrible, but the lowest rated song for me so far. Song Rating 6/10</p>
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<p>5. Shout Mercy (Stanley/Thayer) (6) - Nothing stands out about the beginning of Shout Mercy. I hear more recycled lyrics ("ready, steady to go"). I even hear a Led Zeppelin lyric, almost ("what is and what could never be"). I don't like the little hand clap after the solo, and I can't make up my mind if I like the nod to The Stones ("woo woo") or not. Song Rating 6/10</p>
<p></p>
<p>6. Long Way Down (Stanley/Thayer) (4) - I absolutely love the beginning of this song. It really jumps out of the speakers at you. The verse is superb. The only part I'm not crazy about is when Paul sings "but you would not listen". And this lyric, "This life makes fools of wise men, thieves and kings" is just so cool. You can really hear Tommy in the backing vocals. I like this song a good bit. I'd say it's the second best song so far. Song Rating 9/10</p>
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<p>7. Eat Your Heart Out (Simmons) (14) - An a capella intro for this song. At first I didn't like this song at all, but after spinning it a few times, it's definitely a grower. Gene's bass and Tommy's solo shine here. My recommendation is that if you didn't like this after one listen, try it a few more times. And quit being pissed off because Tommy's in the band<img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Grin.gif"/>. Song Rating 7/10</p>
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<p>8. The Devil Is Me (Simmons/Stanley/Thayer) (7) - This is a perfect Gene song. The bass, the evilness of the lyrics. Seriously, check out the bass on this song. Another killer solo from Tommy and I'm gonna say this is rivaling Wall Of Sound for my favorite song on the album. Song Rating 10/10</p>
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<p>9. Outta This World (Thayer) (4) - Let the Tommy bashing begin...but not here. This is a good, rocking song. Eric Singer's drumming is really up front, especially at the end of the song. Uh oh, there's another recycled lyric ("you and me we're like TNT"). I guess Paul told Tommy he could use his lyric from the Sonic Boom album. Other than that, this is better than his song from Sonic Boom. Song Rating 8/10</p>
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<p>10. All For The Love Of Rock & Roll (Stanley) (7) - And following Tommy, we have the obligatory Eric song, written, of course, by Paul. I guess Eric can't write his own song. Anyway, what I do dig here is the cowbell and the opening riff that's goes back to the 70's (Mr. Speed) and the 80's (Secretly Cruel). And it's the first song that I've actually noticed Paul's voice in the backing vocals. But that's about it. I wouldn't say I hate it, but I don't particularly like it. Song Rating 6/10</p>
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<p>11. Take Me Down Below (Simmons/Stanley/Thayer) (11) - I love it when Paul and Gene share vocals...usually. But I'm gonna be very blunt here, and pardon my French, but this song fuckin' sucks. Song Rating 2/10</p>
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<p>12. Last Chance (Stanley/Simmons/Thayer) (7) - This is, finally, another solid song by Paul. The opening bass play by Gene, distorted tone and all, are terrific. Love it. Nothing bad to say here. Song Rating 9/10</p>
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<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span class="font-size-3">B. Individual Performance</span></strong></span></p>
<p></p>
<p>Eric Singer - Eric has been a solid member of Kiss for quite a while now. And his performance is very solid on Monster. I like the re-invigorated use of the cowbell over the last two albums for the band. And his drums do seem to really pop at times. Eric has a good voice, similar to Peter Criss' voice but not as raspy. But the song Paul wrote for him to sing is one of the worst on the album. Grade - B</p>
<p></p>
<p>Tommy Thayer - Tommy plays some really nice lead on this album. I'm not a musician, so I can't use guitar terms, but it's pleasing to my ears. And they aren't direct rips from many of Ace's original leads like on Sonic Boom. You can discern his voice on a couple of backing vocals. And his song is actually better than his song from Sonic Boom. Grade - B Plus</p>
<p></p>
<p>Gene Simmons - Gene has four and a half of the twelve songs on Monster. But the big surprise to me is that two of his songs scored highest for me. Perfect tens to be exact. Paul's songs have always resonated better with me. But not this time. Gene's voice is still in pretty good shape after all these years. He still writes cheesy lyrics and still sounds silly when he sings about sex, but hey, he's not gonna change now. What I really love is his bass tone here. And his playing is pretty aggressive. Grade - A</p>
<p></p>
<p>Paul Stanley - Starchild. Paul has always been my favorite member of Kiss. He's always shined a little brighter than Gene as far as I'm concerned. But not this time. I'm really disappointed in his songwriting for Monster. He has five and a half songs vocally, and another that he wrote just for Eric to sing. Seriously, with only two better than average songs, this is some of his worst writing ever for a whole album. His vocals are good. He can't hit the high notes as well as back in the day, but he still sounds like Paul Stanley. He also sat in the producer's chair for this album, and I'll say he broke even there. But overall, I'm just disappointed. Grade - C</p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span class="font-size-3">C. Overall Album Rating </span></strong></span></p>
<p></p>
<p>The average song rating for the album is 7.3 (out of 10). All of the individual ratings average out to a B, so I'm gonna bump up my overall album rating to 7.5/10 stars. Quite honestly, that's better than I thought it would be. It still puts Monster in the bottom quarter of Kiss albums, but it has grown on me enough to say that it's not nearly as terrible as I originally thought. And as far as the album cover goes, I don't care for it. I would have preferred another painted album cover of the band looking like....monsters.</p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span class="font-size-3">D. What's Right Or Wrong About Kiss Today And How I Would Fix It</span></strong></span></p>
<p></p>
<p>I think the main thing is that Paul and Gene are happy and they are once again interested in making new music. Tommy and Eric catch a lot of grief from the die hard fans because of the characters that they play. But is it really any different that a different actor playing James Bond? Who knows, they may stick around long enough to make a couple more albums, and if they do what I say next, those albums will just get better.</p>
<p></p>
<p>As far as what I think is wrong with Kiss, it starts with the producer. Almost all classic, huge albums have had an outside producer, not a member of the band. Now I know this can sometimes backfire production wise, as it did for Kiss early in their career (think Hotter Than Hell and Music From The Elder). In the former's case, although the songs were great, many fans say the album could have been produced much better. As for the latter, Ezrin's drug filled production and ideas just about destroyed the band. I think in Paul Stanley's case, he doesn't want someone telling him what to do. He wants all-in work from every member of the band. But if the band is gelling so well, what would be the harm in having an outside producer? Everybody should be on the same page, so it shouldn't be a problem.</p>
<p></p>
<p>And only songs from band members. I think this is a mistake. You are putting yourself in a box. </p>
<p></p>
<p>Well, short of taking the makeup back off and bringing Bruce Kulick back into the band, which we know is not gonna happen, here's what I think would fix Kiss from my standpoint. Hire an outside producer. Like I said, everybody within the band is happy and they are gonna show up and do what needs to be done. An outside voice will help. And don't strap yourself down to just band collaborations. Especially Paul. Some of his greatest songs have been with co-writers. Call Desmond Child. Just don't write a ballad with him. Slow ballads probably aren't gonna work, but something like Tears Are Falling or Who Wants To Be Lonely would be awesome.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Don't force yourself (Paul) to write a song specifically for another band member. Write a good freakin' song that you like, then let Eric sing that. Or let him sing one of Gene's songs. Or let him write his own song. If it sucks, don't record it. Remember Eric Carr? He couldn't get a song on a Kiss album to save his life. Why should Eric Singer be any different. If his songs don't cut it, don't record 'em. Just don't force it. And Tommy, you can write a song about something other than outer space. It's okay. Don't overdo the character that you did not create. And Paul needs to be unhappy in his personal life (not really, but better songs come from that). And please, for the love of God, quit recycling lyrics. Please. </p>
<p></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span class="font-size-3">E. The Proper Title For Monster</span></strong></span></p>
<p></p>
<p>Finally, a much better title for Monster would have been "Yeah". If you don't believe me, count the number of times that word was used lyrically on the album. Look at the number in parenthesis beside each song title and the song writers names above. The grand total is 96. Just sayin'.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Finally, the iTunes version of Monster has a bonus track on it. I don't own that version, so I didn't include it in this review. However, here is the track from youtube in case you haven't heard it. It's okay. It could have easily replaced Take Me Down Below. <object width="560" height="315" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="false"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"></param><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/csMM3io9mzk?hl=en_US&version=3"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="false"></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param><embed wmode="opaque" width="560" height="315" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/csMM3io9mzk?hl=en_US&version=3" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="false"></embed> </object>
</p>
<p></p>
<p></p> KISS ODDS & ENDS # 5tag:classic-rock-bottom.ning.com,2011-09-19:6060463:Topic:443322011-09-19T14:36:29.116ZRJhog (Admin)https://classic-rock-bottom.ning.com/profile/JeffHogland
<h1>Report: The Unmasking Of KISS, 28 Years On</h1>
<h2>Rarities</h2>
Posted on Monday, September 19, 2011 at 09:48:56 EST<br />
<br />
<div class="content">Geeks Of Doom reports:
28 years ago on this day in KISStory (September 18th), a bewildering moment arrived for rock and metal fans that for many seemed to have come out of nowhere. KISS had announced they were unmasking, dropping the make-up, costumes, and personae they had previously “worn” for ten years, and moving forward as an “unmasked”…</div>
<h1>Report: The Unmasking Of KISS, 28 Years On</h1>
<h2>Rarities</h2>
Posted on Monday, September 19, 2011 at 09:48:56 EST<br />
<br />
<div class="content">Geeks Of Doom reports:
<br />
28 years ago on this day in KISStory (September 18th), a bewildering moment arrived for rock and metal fans that for many seemed to have come out of nowhere. KISS had announced they were unmasking, dropping the make-up, costumes, and personae they had previously “worn” for ten years, and moving forward as an “unmasked” band.<br />
<br />
The band officially unmasked on MTV (see <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bravewords.com/news/169222#" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; padding-bottom: 1px; color: lightgreen; border-bottom: lightgreen 0.07em solid; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: underline;" id="itxthook0" class="itxtrst itxtrsta itxthook" name="itxthook0"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; color: lightgreen; font-color: inherit;" id="itxthook0w0" class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan">video</span></a> below), and the announcement sent shockwaves through the metalhead communities at the time, which was the beginning that this decision was a good move by the band. Up until this stage, KISS enjoyed the height of their career in the 1970s, and as they journeyed into the earlier 1980s, things were beginning to look somewhat dire for the band.<br />
<br />
<center><img src="http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv219/Metaltim/AugustBWBK/2011-09-18-kiss.jpg"/></center>
<br />
<br />
In the space of two years, from 1980 to 1982, KISS lost two of their original members, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bravewords.com/news/169222#" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; padding-bottom: 1px; color: lightgreen; border-bottom: lightgreen 0.07em solid; background-color: transparent; text-decoration: underline;" id="itxthook1" class="itxtrst itxtrsta itxthook" name="itxthook1"><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; color: lightgreen; font-color: inherit;" id="itxthook1w0" class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan">ACE</span> <span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; color: lightgreen; font-color: inherit;" id="itxthook1w1" class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan"></span><span style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; color: lightgreen; font-color: inherit;" id="itxthook1w2" class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan">FREHLEY</span></a> and PETER CRISS, who stepped down from KISS or were fired depending upon whose side of the story you wish to believe. Drummer Eric Carr was a solid addition to their line-up, and consolidated the hard rock foundation of the band right up until his passing in 1991.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, Vinnie Vincent stepped in to replace Ace Frehley with prodigious guitar talent of his own, but with an ego problem that would cause mayhem for KISS and spawn a sliding turnstile of guitarists and changing line-ups for years to come.<br />
<br />
Read more at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2011/09/18/this-day-in-kisstory-the-unmasking-of-kiss-28-years-on/">Geeks Of Doom</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="390" width="640" frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9_zsqTqgBTk?wmode=opaque"></iframe>
</div> TOP 10: WORST KISS SONGStag:classic-rock-bottom.ning.com,2011-08-30:6060463:Topic:419382011-08-30T18:53:13.103ZRJhog (Admin)https://classic-rock-bottom.ning.com/profile/JeffHogland
<p>The thread title is self-explanatory for the most part, but there are a few rules:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>1. No solo material (yes, that includes the '78 solo albums).</strong></p>
<p><strong>2. No covers, only original Kiss tunes (outside co-writes are okay).</strong></p>
<p><strong>3. No live material, only studio recordings that made an official album.</strong></p>
<p><strong>4. Studio recordings that are on live or greatest hits albums are okay (stuff from Killers,…</strong></p>
<p>The thread title is self-explanatory for the most part, but there are a few rules:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>1. No solo material (yes, that includes the '78 solo albums).</strong></p>
<p><strong>2. No covers, only original Kiss tunes (outside co-writes are okay).</strong></p>
<p><strong>3. No live material, only studio recordings that made an official album.</strong></p>
<p><strong>4. Studio recordings that are on live or greatest hits albums are okay (stuff from Killers, Alive</strong></p>
<p><strong> II and Smashes, Thrashes and Hits).</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>I think that's all of the rules. These songs basically represent the material that you could easily do without ever having heard on a Kiss album. Don't include stuff just because you may be tired of it, only if you think it's a crappy song (like for me, Beth and RARAN are two songs I'm pretty tired of, but I'm very glad Kiss wrote them and put 'em on an album). Here's my Top 10:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>1. Bang Bang You (Crazy Nights)</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>2. Little Caesar (Hot In The Shade)</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>3. (You Make Me) Rock Hard (Smashes, Thrashes and Hits)</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>4. I Finally Found My Way (Psycho Circus)</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>5. Read My Body (Hot In The Shade)</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>6. Every Time I Look At You (Revenge)</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>7. Down On Your Knees (Killers)</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>8. Get All You Can Take (Animalize)</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>9. My Way (Crazy Nights)</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>10. You Wanted The Best (Psycho Circus)</strong></em></p> ULTIMATE CLASSIC ROCK'S 5 WORST KISS ALBUM COVERStag:classic-rock-bottom.ning.com,2011-08-25:6060463:Topic:405902011-08-25T16:55:02.251ZRJhog (Admin)https://classic-rock-bottom.ning.com/profile/JeffHogland
<div class="title_content_wrap"><br></br><div class="post_meta alt_color bold" id="single_meta"><span class="the_author"><span class="alt_color">by:</span> <a href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/author/mwilkening/" title="Matthew Wilkening">Matthew Wilkening</a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="tsl_header"><div class="hdr_image hdr_image_center"><img align="middle" border="0" src="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/ultimateclassicrock.com/files/2011/08/KissWorst.jpg"></img></div>
<p>The worst <a href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/tags/kiss">Kiss</a> album covers usually get created when whoever's in charge forgets…</p>
</div>
<div class="title_content_wrap"><br/><div id="single_meta" class="post_meta alt_color bold"><span class="the_author"><span class="alt_color">by:</span> <a href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/author/mwilkening/" title="Matthew Wilkening">Matthew Wilkening</a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="tsl_header"><div class="hdr_image hdr_image_center"><img src="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/ultimateclassicrock.com/files/2011/08/KissWorst.jpg" align="middle" border="0"/></div>
<p>The worst <a href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/tags/kiss">Kiss</a> album covers usually get created when whoever's in charge forgets the acronym that ties in so well with the band's name – Keep it Simple, Stupid. As you can see from our list of the <a href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/best-kiss-album-covers">10 Best Kiss Album Covers</a>, the group's famous facial makeup lends itself very well to a variety of settings and poses, but when Kiss or their creative team try to get too complicated or forget who the stars of the show should be, well, things can go wrong pretty quickly. Here's our list of the 5 Worst Kiss Album Covers:</p>
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<div class="tsl_item tsl_item_1"><div class="tsl_right tsl_right_full"><div><div class="tsl_item_hdr tsl_item_hdr_full"><div class="tsl_title tsl_title_middle"><h3>'Hot in the Shade' (1989)</h3>
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<div class="tsl_iGap"> </div>
<div class="tsl_descr">As you'll see, a quick way to get yourself onto our list of worst Kiss album covers is by making the focal point of your art something besides the band's famous faces. It's not that we don't think you could make a good cover without having Paul Stanley or Gene Simmons' mugs plastered all over it, it's just that nobody has really done it yet. Take the sunglasses-wearing sphinx featured on the cover of 'Hot in the Shade,' which would look more at home hanging on the wall of some wacky fun-time themed family restaurant.</div>
</div>
<div class="tsl_clear"> </div>
<div class="tsl_below"><div class="tsl_thumb"><div class="tsl_image"><img src="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/ultimateclassicrock.com/files/2011/08/cover_hits_large.jpg" alt="Kiss Hot In The Shade" border="0" width="625"/></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="tsl_item tsl_item_2"><div class="tsl_right tsl_right_full"><div><div class="tsl_item_hdr tsl_item_hdr_full"><div class="tsl_title tsl_title_middle"><h3>'Music From the Elder' (1981)</h3>
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<div class="tsl_clear"> </div>
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<div class="tsl_iGap"> </div>
<div class="tsl_descr">Well, technically Kiss <i>is</i> on the cover of this album — that's Paul Stanley's hand about to use the world's most ornate door-knocker. The band wanted a suitably epic visual calling card for their flop of a 1981 concept album about a young warrior's mythical quest for manhood. What they ended up with was a largely brown mass that caused music store owners some trouble. See, most record bins were brown or black, making this record hard to notice even for those dedicated few fans who would have been interested in buying it.</div>
</div>
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<div class="tsl_below"><div class="tsl_thumb"><div class="tsl_image"><img src="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/ultimateclassicrock.com/files/2011/08/cover_elder_large.jpg" alt="Kiss Music From The Elder" border="0" width="625"/></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="tsl_item tsl_item_3"><div class="tsl_right tsl_right_full"><div><div class="tsl_item_hdr tsl_item_hdr_full"><div class="tsl_title tsl_title_middle"><h3>'Unmasked' (1980)</h3>
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<div class="tsl_clear"> </div>
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<div class="tsl_iGap"> </div>
<div class="tsl_descr">As their late-'70s popularity waned, Kiss did little to counter the arguments of critics who accused their music of being cartoonish with this, well, cartoon strip of a cover. The title indicates it's finally going to be time for the band to take off their omnipresent makeup and reveal their true faces. But, when the strip's nagging reporter finally does manage to get them to do so, they reveal — gasp? — more makeup under the makeup. It was a ruse! <i>(Editor's confession: this record is pretty damn catchy. Check out '<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR2eZahdxdU" target="_blank">Torpedo Girl</a>.')</i></div>
</div>
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<div class="tsl_below"><div class="tsl_thumb"><div class="tsl_image"><img src="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/ultimateclassicrock.com/files/2011/08/Un.jpg" alt="Kiss Unmasked" border="0" width="625"/></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="tsl_item tsl_item_4"><div class="tsl_right tsl_right_full"><div><div class="tsl_item_hdr tsl_item_hdr_full"><div class="tsl_title tsl_title_middle"><h3>'Carnival of Souls' (1997)</h3>
</div>
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<div class="tsl_iGap"> </div>
<div class="tsl_descr">When Kiss reunited with their original lineup in 1996, it was natural that the album they had just completed with the non-makeup version of the group would fall by the wayside. Similarly, when bootleg copies and fan demand caused they band to belatedly issue the record, it's understandable that they didn't break the bank working on the cover art. But…c'mon. Bruce Kulick could have at least shaven for the photo session.</div>
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<div class="tsl_below"><div class="tsl_thumb"><div class="tsl_image"><img src="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/ultimateclassicrock.com/files/2011/08/Kiss-Carnival_Of_Souls-Frontal.jpg" alt="Kiss Carnival of Souls" border="0" width="625"/></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="tsl_right tsl_right_full"><div><div class="tsl_item_hdr tsl_item_hdr_full"><div class="tsl_title tsl_title_middle"><h3>'Psycho Circus' (1998)</h3>
</div>
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<div class="tsl_iGap"> </div>
<div class="tsl_descr">After nearly two decades, in 1996 the original members of Kiss got together, in full makeup, for an ultra-successful reunion tour, then headed into the studio to make a brand new original record. They announce a circus-themed title for the project, which sounds very promising. But as the (admittedly very clever) lenticular cover reveals a stage curtain being drawn back, we get the big, glorious front and center painted face of…. a clown? That's right, the four famous faces we all wanted to see on an album cover again are reduced to framed quarter-sized images in favor of Captain Howdy's big brother.</div>
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<div class="tsl_image"><img src="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/ultimateclassicrock.com/files/2011/08/Psycho.jpg" border="0" width="625"/></div> KISS ON LAST.FMtag:classic-rock-bottom.ning.com,2011-08-25:6060463:Topic:414082011-08-25T15:35:23.717ZRJhog (Admin)https://classic-rock-bottom.ning.com/profile/JeffHogland
<p>Is anybody here familiar with Last.FM? It's kind of like Pandora, you put in a band's name and you can listen to a "radio" station based on that style of music. I gave it a shot yesterday, and after typing in Kiss, here are the first 10 songs that were played:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>1. Almost Human - Kiss</strong></p>
<p><strong>2. Kiss The Girl Goodbye - Peter Criss</strong></p>
<p><strong>3. Round And Round - Ratt</strong></p>
<p><strong>4. Rip It Out - Ace…</strong></p>
<p>Is anybody here familiar with Last.FM? It's kind of like Pandora, you put in a band's name and you can listen to a "radio" station based on that style of music. I gave it a shot yesterday, and after typing in Kiss, here are the first 10 songs that were played:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>1. Almost Human - Kiss</strong></p>
<p><strong>2. Kiss The Girl Goodbye - Peter Criss</strong></p>
<p><strong>3. Round And Round - Ratt</strong></p>
<p><strong>4. Rip It Out - Ace Frehley</strong></p>
<p><strong>5. We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister</strong></p>
<p><strong>6. Too Young To Fall In Love (Live) - Motley Crue</strong></p>
<p><strong>7. Second To None - Paul Stanley</strong></p>
<p><strong>8. House Of Fire - Alice Cooper</strong></p>
<p><strong>9. Wild Child - Vinnie Vincent Invasion</strong></p>
<p><strong>10. Every Rose Has It's Thorn - Poison</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>That's not too bad. Five Kiss or Kiss related songs out of 10. And Almost Human was a surprise to me. But then again so was Kiss The Girl Goodbye. I find it interesting that the five remaining non-Kiss related songs are all from the 80's. Nothing from the 70's.</p> ULTIMATE CLASSIC ROCK: 10 BEST KISS ALBUM COVERStag:classic-rock-bottom.ning.com,2011-08-25:6060463:Topic:405842011-08-25T15:11:13.709ZRJhog (Admin)https://classic-rock-bottom.ning.com/profile/JeffHogland
<h3 class="first"><a href="http://www.kissfaq.com/forum11/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=64463#p1365148">Ultimate Classic Rock: 10 Best KISS Album Covers</a></h3>
<div class="content"><span style="color: #ff8000;">Ultimate Classic Rock: 10 Best KISS Album Covers</span><br></br><br></br><a class="postlink" href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/worst-kiss-album-covers/">Ultimate Classic Rock</a><br></br>Matthew Wilkening<br></br><br></br>The best Kiss album covers demonstrate how important visuals have always been to the…</div>
<h3 class="first"><a href="http://www.kissfaq.com/forum11/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=64463#p1365148">Ultimate Classic Rock: 10 Best KISS Album Covers</a></h3>
<div class="content"><span style="color: #ff8000;">Ultimate Classic Rock: 10 Best KISS Album Covers</span><br/><br/><a href="http://ultimateclassicrock.com/worst-kiss-album-covers/" class="postlink">Ultimate Classic Rock</a><br/>Matthew Wilkening<br/><br/>The best Kiss album covers demonstrate how important visuals have always been to the band's image. Whether they're casting the group as larger-than-life icons in otherworldly settings, or conveying the excitement of the band's explosive live shows, these covers serve as an important introduction to the music inside each record. <br/><br/>Kiss has released over three dozen studio, live and greatest hits compilations over the years, and some have been clunkers for sure — check out our list of the 5 Worst Kiss Album Covers. But first, you wanted the best, you got the best! The 10 Best Kiss Album Covers, that is: <br/><br/>10. Sonic Boom (2009) <br/><br/>For what was, shockingly, only the second studio album since the band put their makeup back on way back in 1996, the masked marvels reunited with the man responsible for one of the best Kiss album covers of all time, Michael Doret. (He previously created the circular art for 'Rock and Roll Over,' which we'll get to later, as you can imagine.) Doret tied the band's iconic faces to the album's title nicely with a speaker-based design that's sure to join its older brothers on an endless parade of t-shirts, coffee mugs and shot glasses for years to come. <br/>Watch the 'Sonic Boom' Tour Commercial <br/><br/>9. Creatures Of The Night (1982) <br/><br/>After a string of ill-conceived disco, pop and mystic concept-themed albums had eroded much of their audience, Kiss wisely returned to straight-up hard rock for 1982's 'Creatures of the Night.' They needed a cover with a similar back-to-basics appeal, and this Bernard Vidal photograph did the trick perfectly. It also introduced new drummer Eric Carr's makeup design to the record-buying public, while obscuring the fact that Ace Frehley does not actually appear anywhere on this album, having privately quit the group already. <br/>Watch the 'Creatures of the Night' Commercial <br/><br/>8. Kiss (1974) <br/><br/>Kiss's trademark makeup designs hadn't fully settled into their familiar forms when the Control Group snapped this famous photograph for the band's debut album cover — check out Peter Criss' extremely complex extra lines, for example. Nevertheless, this cover did a great job at introducing the band to the world as something truly unique. <br/><br/>7. Love Gun (1977) <br/><br/>One of the best things about getting your portrait painted has got to be the fact that you can portrayed as “ripped” as you want for all of time. Let's face it, other than Paul Stanley, none of the members of Kiss were ever quite as buff as they were immortalized here by designer Dennis Woloch and painter Ken Kelly. The cover finds the band holding court amidst a sea of what looks like half just-satisfied and half about-to-be-satisfied women. <br/><br/>6. Dressed to Kill (1975) <br/><br/>The Demon, Cat, Spaceman and Starchild try, and fail gloriously, at fitting into corporate America on this, one of the best Kiss album covers ever. This Bob Gruen photograph required the band (except for Peter Criss) to all borrow suits from manager Bill Aucoin. It is nearly impossible to attend a Kiss concert nowadays without finding at least one foursome of friends decked out in thrift-store suits and greasepaint, which in our opinion is one more reason why this country is so great. <br/>Watch the 'Dressed to Kill' Tour Commercial <br/><br/>5. Lick It Up (1983)<br/><br/>OK we know we're gonna catch some flak for including this one, but hear us out: The removal of Kiss' makeup was one of the most game-changing moments in the band's history. It ultimately helped the group to re-establish themselves in the mainstream rock scene, and this photograph by Bernard Vidal captures their new image perfectly. Of course, the stark white background and “take your best shot” poses of the band members (hmmm…which one is Gene?) wouldn't have carried as much weight if the record inside wasn't as good as 'Lick it Up' turned out to be. <br/><br/>4. Hotter Than Hell (1974)<br/><br/>Photographer Norman Seeff and designer John Van Hamersveld looked to Japanese culture for inspiration when it came time to design the second Kiss album cover, which makes good sense given the band's kabuki-like makeup. What made slightly less sense was getting the typically non-drinking Paul Stanley so soused during the photo session that he reportedly had to be locked inside a car to keep from driving everybody crazy. <br/><br/>3. Destroyer (1976) <br/><br/>Creating the artwork for the studio follow up to the unexpected mega-success of 1975's 'Alive!' was an important task for Kiss. The cover image needed to represent the artistic growth the band had undergone while making this record with legendary producer Bob Ezrin, and this painting by Ken Kelly (with design help once again from Dennis Woloch) did the job perfectly. The cover shows the band standing tall amid an burned-out city like a gang of futuristic marauders. <br/><br/>2. Rock And Roll Over (1976) <br/><br/>Our vote for best Kiss studio album cover goes to this Michael Doret-designed masterpiece-in-the-round. The band is pictured as a four-headed monster, each with a background quadrant (space, fire, heaven, the jungle) designed to match their personas. The unique layout probably helped ensure there would be no squabbles among the band members as to who got to be on top, since there was no top! <br/>Watch the 'Rock and Roll Over' Commercial <br/><br/>1. Alive! (1975) <br/><br/>The cover for Kiss' double-live masterpiece 'Alive!' was not shot at an actual concert. Instead, the band posed for photographer Fin Costello at a nearby empty arena following their Detroit gig. Nevertheless, the “Status Quo” pose, as Gene Simmons labeled it, conveyed the energy found within the record perfectly. The album helped Kiss break through to a mainstream record buying audience for the first time.</div> KISS - MONSTERtag:classic-rock-bottom.ning.com,2011-08-22:6060463:Topic:405352011-08-22T11:09:37.482ZRJhog (Admin)https://classic-rock-bottom.ning.com/profile/JeffHogland
<h3 class="first"><a href="http://www.kissfaq.com/forum11/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=64337#p1362524">KISS To Unleash A "Monster"</a></h3>
<div class="content"><span style="color: #bf4000;">KISS To Unleash A "Monster"</span><br></br><br></br><span class="reimg-zoom"><img alt="Zoom in (real dimensions: 666 x 304)" class="reimg-zoom" src="http://www.kissfaq.com/forum11/images/spacer.gif" title="Zoom in (real dimensions: 666 x 304)"></img></span> <img alt="Image" class="reimg-width reimg-link" height="228" src="http://cdn.kissonline.com/non_secure/images/20110821/news/kissrivetlogo/medium.jpg" title="Zoom in (real dimensions: 666 x 304)" width="500"></img> <br></br><br></br>KISSOnline.com<br></br><br></br>KISS' follow-up to the critically acclaimed "Sonic Boom" album will be called "Monster." The band is currently working on the album in Los Angeles for a 2012 release. KISS is…</div>
<h3 class="first"><a href="http://www.kissfaq.com/forum11/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=64337#p1362524">KISS To Unleash A "Monster"</a></h3>
<div class="content"><span style="color: #bf4000;">KISS To Unleash A "Monster"</span><br/><br/><span class="reimg-zoom"><img class="reimg-zoom" alt="Zoom in (real dimensions: 666 x 304)" title="Zoom in (real dimensions: 666 x 304)" src="http://www.kissfaq.com/forum11/images/spacer.gif"/></span><img title="Zoom in (real dimensions: 666 x 304)" src="http://cdn.kissonline.com/non_secure/images/20110821/news/kissrivetlogo/medium.jpg" alt="Image" class="reimg-width reimg-link" height="228" width="500"/><br/><br/>KISSOnline.com<br/><br/>KISS' follow-up to the critically acclaimed "Sonic Boom" album will be called "Monster." The band is currently working on the album in Los Angeles for a 2012 release. KISS is planning a massive 2012-2013 "Monster" world tour which will take the band around the globe.<br/><br/>Read a recent report on the new album <a href="http://www.kissfaq.com/forum11/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=64282" class="postlink">HERE</a>.</div> MICHAEL JACKSON Fans Revolt Against KISS Being Part Of Tribute Showtag:classic-rock-bottom.ning.com,2011-08-16:6060463:Topic:401042011-08-16T14:09:54.172ZRJhog (Admin)https://classic-rock-bottom.ning.com/profile/JeffHogland
<p>from bravewords.com</p>
<p> </p>
Posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 07:56:21 EST <br></br><br></br>
<div class="content">According to <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/08/16/jackson.tribute.controversy/" target="_blank">CNN</a>, MICHAEL JACKSON fan clubs appeared in open revolt against a tribute show for the late pop star after promoters added the rock band KISS to the concert lineup on Monday. <br></br><br></br><center><img src="http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv219/Metaltim/AugustBWBK/medium-1.jpg"></img></center>
<br></br><br></br>Fan objected because of…</div>
<p>from bravewords.com</p>
<p> </p>
Posted on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 07:56:21 EST <br/><br/>
<div class="content">According to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/08/16/jackson.tribute.controversy/">CNN</a>, MICHAEL JACKSON fan clubs appeared in open revolt against a tribute show for the late pop star after promoters added the rock band KISS to the concert lineup on Monday. <br/><br/><center><img src="http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv219/Metaltim/AugustBWBK/medium-1.jpg"/></center>
<br/><br/>Fan objected because of negative comments KISS leader Gene Simmons made about Jackson in interviews the days and weeks after his death two years ago. Simmons spoke about his suspicions that Jackson, who was acquitted of child molestation in 2005, was a pedophile. <br/><br/>"In the days following Michael Jackson's death, Gene Simmons has made slanderous, derogatory comments about Michael and his children," the fan site United For Michael Jackson's Legacy said. "It is quite ironic that Simmons has now agreed to himself pay tribute to the man he called a child predator." <br/><br/>Promoters, who had hoped the addition of the legendary group would bolster their lineup, said they were unaware of Simmons' statements when they booked KISS for the show. <br/><br/>The fan website MJ4Justice was one of several calling for a boycott of "Michael Forever: The Tribute Concert" scheduled for October 8 in Cardiff, Wales. <br/><br/><center><img src="http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv219/Metaltim/AugustBWBK/tumblr_lpv8o2HXXE1qbt34uo1_500.png"/></center>
<br/><br/>"Either they don't have access to computers, telephones or do not know how to use GOOGLE," MJ4Justice said in an online statement. "But, There is NO excuse for the Tribute organizers NOT to know Gene Simmons should not be part of any Michael Jackson Tribute Event." <br/><br/>Global Live Events executives appeared with Jackson matriarch Katherine Jackson on CNN Monday to announce the signing of KISS. <br/><br/>"I know he would be very excited about KISS," Michael Jackson's mother said. <br/><br/>Read more <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/08/16/jackson.tribute.controversy/">here</a>.</div>