<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When was the first time you became aware of KISS?\u00a0 Did you hear them on the radio?\u00a0 Perhaps their (kind of) ghoulish make-up staring off the cover of their first album (released February 18, 1974) caught your attention.\u00a0 Maybe you were one of those in the MTV generation who heard and saw them on that network (when MTV still showed music videos).\u00a0 No matter when, where, or how KISS came to your attention, I am pretty sure nobody was thinking about them ending a fifty year run as a highly lucrative touring band at the end of 2023.\u00a0 The <\/span>End of the Road World Tour <\/span><\/i>officially pulled the curtain down on the band at Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2023 with a show that was live streamed on Pay-per-view.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Having observed the past history of bands and artists \u2018retiring\u2019, people are naturally thinking, \u201cReally?\u00a0 That is it?\u00a0 I bet they do a Motley Crue!\u201d\u00a0 For the record, Motley Crue actually signed a legal document saying that they were done, kaput, finished . . . and yet they came back with another tour (minus original guitarist Mick Mars) that will carry on in the new year.\u00a0 One can not blame the KISS Army for being a) hopeful, b) skeptical, or c) both hopeful and skeptical that the band is done.\u00a0 Okay, the final song of the final MSG show featured the band rocking out in front of a big screen displaying avatars of themselves rocking out, but I am not counting this as an \u2018untretirement\u2019.\u00a0 Remember the buzz 3-D movies created?\u00a0 Everyone was sure that all movies would be done in 3-D but after the initial burst of enthusiasm about them (not to mention the cost of producing them), things cooled down on that front.\u00a0 The jury is still out on avatar bands replacing real people as a concert draw and we won\u2019t know the score for a while.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0My first brush with KISS came courtesy of my good friend Mitch.\u00a0 He and a work buddy picked me up after they finished work at the Marquette Red Owl store in Jon\u2019s car.\u00a0 Jon loved his Barracuda and his music.\u00a0 As the music blasted out of the speakers in the back where I was sitting, I started looking through his 8-track tapes.\u00a0 The \u20188-track\u2019 part should give you a clue – it was sometime in the spring of 1974 and the two that caught my attention were <\/span>Queen II <\/span><\/i>(released in March 1974) and the self-titled <\/span>KISS <\/span><\/i>mentioned earlier.\u00a0 Handing <\/span>KISS <\/span><\/i>to the front seat, I asked Jon, \u201cWhat in the heck is this?\u201d\u00a0 He replied, \u201cThey are a new band from New York.\u00a0 Everybody hated their first albums but bought them anyway because their live show is so over the top.\u00a0 I think they are going to be huge!.\u201d\u00a0 When he plugged the cassette into the player, I remember thinking, \u201cOkay, I have heard worse,\u201d but I still couldn\u2019t quite wrap my head around the album cover.\u00a0 When I asked Jon if they really wore the make up when they performed, Jon said, \u201cYeah, that is part of what everybody loves about them.\u00a0 They are different!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The eponymous first album didn\u2019t have that necessary hit single to help it chart.\u00a0 The 1974 follow up (<\/span>Hotter than Hell<\/span><\/i>) was even more disappointing as it peaked at 100 on the charts before dropping out of sight.\u00a0 The third LP, 1975\u2019s <\/span>Dressed to Kill<\/span><\/i> finally broke them into the Top 40, but their future was unclear.\u00a0 Casablanca Records, KISS\u2019s label, was near bankruptcy and had they closed their doors, the band\u2019s future would have been murky at best.\u00a0 Casablanca\u2019s CEO Neil Bogard decided to cast his fortunes on the future by releasing the first live album by KISS in a last ditch effort to rescue his floundering label.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fortunately for both the band and the label, their next release produced the No. 12 smash hit, <\/span>Rock and Roll All Night<\/span><\/i> and suddenly, nobody could get enough of KISS.\u00a0 Amazingly, this first entry near the top of the charts was taken off of their <\/span>Alive! <\/span><\/i>Album (released Sept 10, 1975).\u00a0 The title <\/span>Alive! <\/span><\/i>was a homage to <\/span>Slade Alive! <\/span><\/i>by the English band Slade, one of KISS\u2019s big influences.\u00a0 <\/span>Alive!<\/span><\/i> featured songs from their first three studio albums and spanned a double disk LP.\u00a0 Tracks for this LP were recorded at concerts held May 16 (Cobo Arena, Detroit), June 21 (Cleveland Music Hall), July 20 (RKO Orpheum Theater, Davenport, Iowa), and July 23, 1975 (at the Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwoods, New Jersey).\u00a0 Cassablanca\u2019s money troubles prevented them from supporting the <\/span>Dressed to Kill<\/span><\/i> tour.\u00a0 Bogart arranged a quick tour for the live recordings (which also saved money because live albums were cheaper to record) but KISS manager Bill Aucoin put up $300,000 out of his own pockets to pay for it.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cheap or not, the <\/span>Alive! <\/span><\/i>record did not capture KISS at its best (as Bogart and Aucoin had hoped it would).\u00a0 Their energetic stage show was a great spectacle live, but in the pre-MTV years, it did not translate well to an LP.\u00a0 Several miscues by Simmonds and Stanley (playing wrong cords, knocking over mic stands, not singing directly into the mic, etc) had to be buffed up in the studio by producer Eddie Kramer.\u00a0 The band denied any dubbing took place, at least until Gene admitted as much in his 2001 autobiography <\/span>Kiss and Make-up:\u00a0 A Memoir.\u00a0 <\/span><\/i>Simmons wrote, \u201cThere have always been rumors that the <\/span>Alive! <\/span><\/i>record was substantially reworked in the studio.\u00a0 It\u2019s not true.\u00a0 We did touch up the vocal parts and fix some of the guitar solos, but we didn\u2019t have the time or the money to completely rework the recordings.\u00a0 What we wanted, and what we got, was proof of the band\u2019s rawness and power.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In a 2003 interview for <\/span>Ultimate Albums, <\/span><\/i>Paul Stanley concurred with Simmond\u2019s earlier remarks:\u00a0 \u201c[Overdubbing] we felt was necessary to capture the energy of the performance, not necessarily having it note for note of what actually happened.\u201d\u00a0 Simmon\u2019s added, \u201cMost people assumed it was all live.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0 According to drummer Peter Criss, \u201cWe touched up what we had to do and I think it only made it better.\u201d\u00a0 Years later, Kramer summed up the album by simply stating, \u201cWho cares if it was overdubbed?\u00a0 The energy still comes through.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Interestingly enough, so much work was done remastering the recordings at Electric LadyLand Studios, Criss\u2019s drum tracks were about the only thing that weren\u2019t touched up.\u00a0 Even the crowd noises heard were patched together by Kramer from the best screams and cheers at the various shows.\u00a0 The way the album sold and how quickly the band ascended to the top of the heap (in terms of income from their album sales and shows), no one would have thought less of them had they simply admitted this when the issue was first raised.\u00a0 After all, kids were buying their records based on what they saw at KISS shows even though the initial recordings they sold at early shows were not great.\u00a0 No true KISS fan would have blinked an eye at such a revelation.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Five days after <\/span>Alive! <\/span><\/i>was released, Aucoin informed Casablanca that KISS were going to leave the label.\u00a0 Bogart showed what the band meant to them by promptly signing a check for two million dollars to retain the band.\u00a0 The album was subsequently re-released as part of the <\/span>Alive! 1975-2000 <\/span><\/i>box set (2006), on CD, again on vinyl in 2014, and once again as part of the 45th anniversary of the album (this time on colored vinyl) in 2020.\u00a0 As was typical of their \u2018we are the taste-makers of the music industry\u2019 standard, <\/span>Rolling Stone <\/span><\/i>critic Alan Niester described the band\u2019s music as, \u201cawful, criminally repetitive, thuddingly monotonous\u2026and mildly entertaining for about ten minutes.\u201d\u00a0 Robert Christgau confessed to \u2018bemused curiosity\u2019 about the album in <\/span>Village Voice<\/span><\/i> but stated many considered the album to be, \u201csludge – a de facto best-of album,\u201d while noting, \u201cthe multimillion kids who are buying it don\u2019t care.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is funny how time (and massive record and ticket sales) can alter a band\u2019s legacy.\u00a0 Of late, even the critics have softened their view.\u00a0 <\/span>The New Rolling Stones Album Guide <\/span><\/i>still chides <\/span>Alive! <\/span><\/i>for, \u201cfake-sounding crowd noise, and inspirational chitchat,\u201d but adds the album is, \u201cthe next best thing to being there, clearly.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>Pitchfork\u2019s<\/span><\/i> Jason Josephes calls KISS out for using, \u201cevery arena rock cliche in the book,\u201d but citing the album as, \u201ctotal sonic proof of KISS climbing their apex.\u201d\u00a0 Canadian journalist Martin Popoff credited <\/span>Alive! <\/span><\/i>with, \u201cturning KISS into an insane rock\u2019n\u2019roll phenomenon.\u201d\u00a0 Popoff says the album elevated the band\u2019s songs from, \u201cEconomical, low-key hard rock ditties for kiddies into \u2018larger-than-life\u2019 status – each now a bombastic track enveloped in fire-breathing mayhem, exploding smoke bombs, and screaming,m hysterical crowds (although he feels the crowd noise is too high in the mix).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At this point we can hit the fast forward button to the present.\u00a0 To cover the animosities that broke up the original lineup seems to be pointless.\u00a0 Yes, there were a couple of new members who replaced Ace and Peter.\u00a0 Then there was the \u2018unmasked\u2019 period where KISS reinvented itself as a band without the make-up gimmick.\u00a0 Their record sales were down at that stage, but they still managed to attract a new generation of fans via MTV.\u00a0 The whole \u2018let\u2019s put the make-up back on and do a reunion tour\u2019 thing was inevitable, and they guys proved they could still bring it and make massive money (again) with the classic lineup.\u00a0 Sadly, and perhaps predictably, the old problems derailed the reunion of the \u2018old band\u2019 but didn\u2019t kill the band.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Drummer Erik Singer adopted the \u2018Cat\u2019 role (replete with a wig and Peter Criss\u2019s face job) and Tommy Thayer did likewise with Ace\u2019s \u2018Spaceman\u2019.\u00a0 Sometime ago, Gene had pondered if it would be possible for four other talented musicians to don the stage garb of the classic band members and carry on without any original members.\u00a0 Knowing Simmon\u2019s penchant for marketing all things KISS, I thought at the time, \u201cYou know, I can almost see him trying to make that work.\u201d\u00a0 When the <\/span>End of the Road <\/span><\/i>tour kicked off in 2019, the end was in sight, yet everyone had different opinions on whether or not \u2018the end\u2019 would really be \u2018THE END\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Naturally, there had to be one more \u2018drama\u2019 inserted into the celebration of KISS at 50.\u00a0 Would Ace and Peter be part of it?\u00a0 One side said they were invited, but only on certain terms.\u00a0 The other side claimed they were not invited under any terms.\u00a0 In the end, it was pretty clear that the script was being written by Simmons and Stanley and they were going to finish off KISS in true KISS fashion without their original drummer and guitarist.\u00a0 This is KISS, remember, and nothing they did in their fifty years was done without a certain amount of drama.\u00a0 The final tour kicked off in 2019, was interrupted by the COVID pandemic, was extended and rerouted as needed, but the end at Madison Square Garden on December 2, 2023 was carved in stone.\u00a0 No more drama, right?<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0During the first part of the tour, some fans accused the band, particularly Stanley, of using backing tracks and lip syncing during their live performances.\u00a0 Of course the best defense to a charge like this would be . . . to not confirm or deny the accusations.\u00a0 We all know what this brings – more suspicion.\u00a0 It came to a head in Belgium when there was a slip up with the drum and fireworks cues at the end of the set opener, <\/span>Detroit Rock City.\u00a0 <\/span><\/i>Stanley obviously was not singing yet his vocal was there prompting manager Doc McGhee to confirm that Stanley DOES sing during shows.\u00a0 At times, McGhee said, backing tracks of Paul\u2019s vocals were run and he would sing along with himself to \u2018bolster the sound\u2019.\u00a0 Naturally, this only fueled further speculation that perhaps there was more than just his vocals being played through the PA system.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I was asked by a fan who had seen KISS on a recent date in Wisconsin if the drummer was actually playing the piano and singing when the band performed <\/span>Beth.\u00a0 <\/span><\/i>I did some internet snooping and found some clips of Singer \/ Cat-man singing in concert and it certainly did not sound like Peter Criss\u2019s vocals.\u00a0 There are other clips of Singer performing the song acoustically on the KISS package cruise outings so no doubt he can sing.\u00a0 I never saw a close enough shot of him playing the piano so maybe he does, maybe he doesn\u2019t actually play, but KISS would not be the only band out there that uses backing tracks to buff up their stage performance.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Go back to the heyday of MTV and look up some videos by The Outfield.\u00a0 Their line-up always featured a full band with a keyboard player.\u00a0 When we caught them performing a MTU in the early 2000s, they played as a trio.\u00a0 Our former WOAS computer whiz Mark Szaroletta confirmed they used \u2018tons of backing tracks\u2019 the band members cued using foot switches on stage.\u00a0 Were they cheating their audience or simply using the tools available to give the best performance possible?\u00a0 If KISS uses extra tracks to do the former, shame on them.\u00a0 If KISS uses the tools available to do the latter, then give them props for NOT wanting to cheat their fans to a sub-par show.\u00a0 While you are at it, check out some of the chatter about the controversy following Motley Crue around on their latest tour.\u00a0 I think you will find the practice of using backing tracks is more widespread than most would suspect.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I have seen snippets of the final KISS shows and find them to be just what they have always been – over the top, bombastic, and spectacular.\u00a0 They have trod the road for fifty years and made a conscious decision to hang up the grease paint before they can not longer carry a show.\u00a0 With that said, I will say I am less enthusiastic about their plan to carry on as performing avatars.\u00a0 When Simmons discussed the band continuing without any of the original members, he certainly didn\u2019t have this in mind.\u00a0 Maybe they got the idea from ABBA\u2019s attempt to use computer generated images of their younger selves performing rather than show their age.\u00a0 Personally, I would rather see both groups simply let it go and retire gracefully ala Neil Diamond.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In what can only be called a \u2018cringe worthy moment\u2019 (for me anyway), Paul Stanley introduced the avatar segment of their last show with some claptrap about how the fans have now made the band \u2018immortal\u2019. \u00a0 Hmmm.\u00a0 Pardon me, but I would just as soon remember what they WERE like than watch the \u2018new improved superhero characters portrayed by the avatars.\u00a0 Thanks KISS – you had better than a good run, but it is time to let it go!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Top Piece Video – KISS perform\u00a0Strutter\u00a0<\/em>on the\u00a0David Letterman Show<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When was the first time you became aware of KISS?\u00a0 Did you hear them on the radio?\u00a0 Perhaps their (kind of) ghoulish make-up staring off the cover of their first album (released February 18, 1974) caught your attention.\u00a0 Maybe you were one of those in the MTV generation who heard and saw them on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,8,6,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bands-musicians","category-from-the-vaults","category-new-music","category-woas"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3055"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3055\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3058,"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3055\/revisions\/3058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.woas-fm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}