KISS - DESTROYER

I understand that what I am about to say will be considered blasphemous and I am going to step on many a KISS fans toes but I have to admit…I do not like this album. Of the entire KISS catalog, DESTROYER is probably the least played. I would even bet that ANIMALYZE hits the CD player with higher frequency. So, that being said this review (post) may be slightly ‘off’ and therefore I must apologize. When it all boils down as a KISS fan I feel nothing for DESTROYER and even less for producer Bob Ezrin.
Most KISS fans believe that Bob Ezrin is responsible for ultimate KISS glory (DESTROYER) and the ultimate KISS failure (MUSIC FROM THE ELDER). It is my opinion that Bob Ezrin not only led KISS in the wrong direction once, but also did it a second and third time when you include the very confused (REVENGE).
Now, before you pull out your bats and chains and throw me against the fence for my final beating hear me out that I do not ‘hate’ Bob Ezrin as a producer…I dislike him as a KISS producer. I love his work with Alice Cooper but with KISS…he somewhat misses the mark.
Now, with my Mr. Ezrin disgust aside I will be the first to admit that his works with KISS were phenomenal achievements for the band. I understand that without DESTROYER there would have never been a LOVE GUN. Without an ELDER we would have no CREATURES OF THE NIGHT. Without REVENGE there would have be no PSYCHO CIRCUS…and a world without ‘these’ albums would be a sad world to live in.
I first saw the album DESTROYER in the Hall School music room in 1981. It was one of those special days when each kid was allowed to bring in one album or 45” record and play his or her favorite cut. Mandy Stockman brought in her brothers beat up copy of DESTROYER and played “Beth”. I didn’t know it at the time I just remember it being a slow song…the kind my sister would like. I remember staring at the cover and being equally scared/thrilled/intrigued by the contrast of the silver and black superhero costumes and face paint against the deep purple and orange background.
“These guys look like they are from Hell,” I though to myself (my mother obviously speaking through me). That night I made a horrible child like scribble drawing of Gene Simmons face in my Big Chief tablet and my mom asked me who it was. I told her and was immediately warned not to think about or draw that ‘bad man’ (if you need more back story please see my post MEETING THE DEVIL IN THE WOODS).
When I finally picked up this (actual) album from a vintage vinyl store in the high school years I was amazed at how much I remembered the cover down to the minuet details of the burning buildings on the back cover. It just goes to show you…when you run across something that cool as a kid, it is forever burned into your memory. KISS just so happens to be ‘one’ of those cool things.

KISS - ALIVE!

I have never understood the appeal of the ‘live’ album. I have always felt that unless the album contains rare performances or extra tracks you could not find on an artist’s catalog, what was the point? Sonically they don’t stand up to studio records and if you are that much of a fan that you would consider purchasing a ‘live’ record, more than likely you already have all the cuts from the live album on other records. Like I said before, this is my general feeling about ‘live’ albums for every artist except KISS.
A ‘live’ record from KISS is a necessity. The true essence of the band can only be captured ‘live’. This is more than likely the reason the first three catalog KISS albums sold very poorly from 74’-75’. Record buying kids hadn’t a clue of the absolute rock and roll power the band could project. Thank the maker for Neil Bogart and Bill Aucoin.
Now, I understand we can get into a whole debate regarding the actual ‘recording’ and ‘re-touching’ of KISS-ALIVE! and we could talk until we are blue in the face regarding the fact that every track may have been stripped down to the drums and re-recorded at Electric Lady Studios with layer upon layer of ‘crowd cheering’ added to cover up the ‘in-studio’ sound…but for nostalgia sake, we won’t.
We’ll keep it pure. We’ll keep it happy.
KISS-ALIVE! may be the one album in your collection that rarely gets touched but that doesn’t mean that when she’s dusted off she doesn’t shine like a diamond in the cold black night. Listening to it right now takes me back to those simple days of discovery. A 14-year-old kid simply blown away by the “Cold Gin” breakdown not to mention Ace’s choppy feedback guitar during the intro. That’s the stuff the moves teenagers. Plain and simple...rock and roll.
Much later, we’ll discuss the gem of all gem’s…KISS ALIVE II…but until then as you lay your head down to sleep, quietly imagine what it would have been like if KISS were to release ALIVE! the way it had originally been planned out - A new album of three sides of ‘live’ material and one side of brand new studio cuts? The ALIVE II sessions are mind-blowing, imagine what the 75’ session would have sounded like? Now if that thought doesn’t put a smile on your face, I don’t know what will. Sweet dreams…

The Thrill of the Hunt

17 years ago at a record store in the East Hills mall I held a KISS-BEST OF THE SOLO ALBUMS vinyl LP German Import. It was $14.99 and I knew my mom would shit her pants if I spent my hard-earned allowance on a ‘record’ when our family no longer even owned a turntable (at this time Cassette Singles were all the rage). So, I left the store with my tail between my legs, forever longing for the day I could call that album my own. That day was Saturday. After a quick oil change I hit the local record shops and was fortunate to happen upon a newly sold KISS record collection. It contained the same ol’-same ol’, but among the loot was the German Import BEST OF THE SOLO ALBUMS LP. I literally shook with excitement. 17 years…man that’s a long time. Days like this make me glad I grew up in an age before EBAY. Sometimes it’s the hunt of the kill that is the most rewarding. Now, if I could just find the version pictured above…maybe in another 17 years.

A Piece of History

One of the coolest things I have ever received in my entire life I got for my 30th birthday. I was working as a Promotions Assistant for an Oldies radio station and had always heard the afternoon DJ, Bobby Day spin tales of meeting old rockers from the 1970’s. One day I decided to bend his ear about KISS. Low and behold he had met them. In fact he had the opportunity to meet and interview Gene in Fall of 1978 during the KISS Solo Album Promotional Tour. Now that is pretty damn cool. He said that Gene was a constant professional and one of the best interviews he had ever given. He signed a few items and even posed for a picture (without makeup) hiding behind Bobby’s long strangely hair. (To picture this guy just remember the ‘mad scientist’ engineer from the Weird Al movie, UHF). I pleaded and pleaded for him to bring in the photo, begging him for a copy, but unfortunately it never surfaced. "It’s probably stuffed in a shoebox somewhere…I have tons of that crap" he replied. So, I simply dreamed about that day until one day my phone rang from the studio. "Hey, this is Bobby…open your bottom desk drawer…happy birthday," was all the person on the other line said before hanging up. Inside my desk was a signed copy of GENE SIMMONS solo KISS LP and a Solo album belt buckle. The records cover was signed neatly in black permanent marker, ‘Gene Simmons – Radioactive’ while the solo album buckle looked as if it had never been touched and was as shiny as I’m sure it was on that day in 1978. In fact, it still had the 1978 Aucoin Management sticker on the back as it does to this day. After thanking him over and over he explained that he could not locate the picture but hoped to someday so I could have a copy, but in my eyes receiving an actual piece of the most important era of KISSTORY was the coolest thing anyone could have ever done for me. I have not forgotten that day, and am grateful for ever meeting such a thoughtful and talented guy as Bobby Day. – Thanks again...from one fan to another.

Color Me Happy

As a kid in the spring of 1979 nothing would have made me happier than a KISS coloring book. I have made mention of this before and the standard comeback has always been, “the only colors of KISS are Black and White”. Not so true, there is silver, the gorgeous orange glow of the LOVE GUN/ALIVE II stairs, the red of Gene’s almighty blood, the blue, green, red, and purple shimmer of the DYNASTY costumes…the list goes on and on. Imagine entering your local Woolworth department store and finding a KISS MEETS THE PHANTOM OF THE PARK coloring/adventure book. The excitement that would run through your veins as your mother places your very own, THE RETURN OF KISS 1979 WORLD TOUR coloring and connect the dots magazine on the cash register counter. The smiles would be almost impossible to scrape off from our faces.