...And You Could Call It KISSCO

The end of the seventies brought KISS to a curve in the road no one would have ever expected. KISS had lightened their sound, glorified their uniforms and taken their stage show to new heights attracting a much younger audience. This of course turned off many die-hard fans. But, as time went on it became increasingly apparent. The KISS of yesterday was history. A new more polished and accessible KISS was being marketed.
What could have caused this drastic change? Many point the finger to disco…and of that lot a good many raised their middle finger as well. Call it crazy…but I have never considered myself part of this particular breed. Perhaps it is my love for the album, DYNASTY? Maybe it was the thrill I received, watching bootleg copies of the 79’ Largo show on VHS as a kid? Whatever the cause…I enjoy ‘disco-KISS’.
It happens to me every year. Around Thanksgiving when a frigid chill hits the air…out come my copies of DYNASTY and UNMASKED and for a few weeks I indulge in the late 70’s excess of KISS. As a harsh winter wind pounds against my window and the bass beat of "Sure Know Something" pumps from my stereo my love for ‘disco-KISS’ grows and grows. In fact in recent years the fever has reached an all time high all thanks in part to a bootleg CD I received as a gift from fellow KISS fans after buying a HOT IN THE SHADE concert-tee off of Ebay.
The CD was a collection of unreleased bootleg demos called DEADLY DEMOS and among the loot was a killer disco remix of DYNASTY’S "Dirty Livin’". It had the beat, the hook, and the decadent excess of a disco roller rink classic only it was KISS and it was spread out for 10 long minutes, giving a nostalgic KISS fan a grin from ear to ear as if it truly were 1979 all over again.
Recently, during one of my (1979-1980 KISS-binge weekends) I began to develop a grand idea… Why not a compilation devoted to ‘disco-KISS’? The templates are already there? You have two complete albums to pull material from with DYNASTY and UNMASKED combined? Just add some bumping bass beats, an experienced DJ and you could whip up some heavy 12-Inch dance re-mixes that would make the cheesiest of K-Tel collection green with envy. Now, does that sound like a gem or what?
Granted, the average fan would scoff at this idea and yes it would be a novelty item at best, however, I would gladly throw down my $14.99…besides look at all the crappy tribute albums that circulate everywhere? At least this would actually be a REAL KISS performance…only slightly spun through a 1979 disco-ball blender.
It would simply be the rock and roll of KISS with the glitter and glamour of Studio 54. Rock and Roll Disco Re-mixes…to keep your Saturday night pumping throughout the darkness of the night. KISSCO…hard and heavy, catchy and melodic…and in pure KISS fashion…completely over the top.