KISS Paperback – February 26, 2014

I think I might be reading this time capsule at the perfect moment, with Paul Stanley about to turn 70 and Peter Criss just turned 76!This book takes you back in time, to 1977, when KISS ruled the world. The fact that the author was 24 and writing for CREEM at the time makes it that much better. But YES, he should have corrected the errors when he mentioned the incorrect lead vocalist for a song. I still wish the book included the old photos or at least didn’t have the ugly cover — but I’m not going to knock off one star because of it!The amazing thing is that, somehow, the whole crew is still alive at this point — even Lydia and Jeanette, the veteran first wives of KISS. The best part of the book is when he delves into the real live faces under the greasepaint (which, back then, everyone knew was not generic character makeup but in fact indelibly linked to each of the original four). The author was one of the very few who interviewed the band without makeup back then. Ace’s and Peter’s multiple chemical dependencies at the time are barely hinted at. And the handwriting analysis is positively brilliant — and accurate, based on what’s happened over the last nearly half century!Duncan does not tip his hand about his “fave” member of the band but spends the most time trying to discern Ace. He has a hard time describing Ace, both physically and personality-wise. There is no sign of Ace the joker, no mention of the cackle of a laugh — this is still Ace on guard, laid back, not talking much. We now know that, despite Ace’s record of three decades of substance abuse — ending in sobriety in late middle age — the author’s statement that, without Ace, KISS would not have been a great band remains absolutely true.Duncan was a bit misled by Peter’s mature years (over 30!) at the time and did not discern him as the most emotionally volatile member of the band. But he has Paul down to a T in this book, which documents the beginning of Gene and Paul as a business (still ongoing today). The description of Paul as the most open and also the most openly vain, even while jostling with the other three egos in the band — it is all still on display today, as he approaches his 70th birthday.The chapter on Gene has an observation that’s as relevant now as it was then — if Ace is the (now 70-year-old!) punk, and Peter the wise old cat, and Paul the beauty with some brains, then Gene is the smoldering black soul of Kiss.The last part of the book expands on the band’s yearning for Arena Love — a unique love which explains many things about Kiss, including why three of the four are, as of this writing, still trying to play and sing for audiences when they should have stopped during nostalgic middle age. The author’s description of the band after their Madison Square Garden show in 1977 describes them even today: Peter looks very tired; Ace looks his usual spaced-out self; Gene and Paul are in exuberant spirits. And way back then, the author marked Madison Square Garden in 1977 as the end of the Kiss era. We know now that it was the end of the band, the beginning of the business. When Paul is quoted as saying, “We have not yet peaked, by any means” — we can now say YES, you really have peaked already, in 76-77, and it’s ok.It’s also fun to look at the author’s predictions about Kiss and to make those predictions accurate (below are my corrections), now that we know how the story goes:- Peter, Ace, and Gene have all done bit parts in film / tv. Peter’s effort is considered the best, Gene’s the worst. Paul’s greatest success outside of KISS was a stint in the lead role of “Phantom of the Opera”.- Peter married his second wife within 18 months.- Ace and Jeanette had a daughter within 3 years.- All four wrote memoirs — Gene’s was published a decade before the rest. Peter’s effort is considered the juiciest, Gene’s the worst.- Gene has a failed film production company and has also released recordings of some bands that became unknowns.- Ace’s solo album featured him on lead and bass guitar and vocals, and one of the songs was a hit — the only hit from a Kiss solo album. Of the four Kiss solo albums, Ace’s is considered the best, Peter’s the worst.- Paul has exhibited his art in a New Jersey gallery (Gene also has enough of his art for an exhibit).And I love the way the book ends, because until recently I also thought Kiss was a joke — then I discovered the NYC backgrounds of the four members and how they emerged out of the proto-punk scene of the 1970s, and I haven’t looked back. My interest in Kiss is also a journey back and forth through the ages of man — while trying to avoid looking too much at the horrific addictions and greed, a cautionary tale for anyone. But you listen to the early recordings, you see the early photo shoots of the band, you watch the early concert footage — and you fall in love, it’s undeniable. Pick up this book and go back to one unique pop culture phenomenon which we will never see again!

Fun book to read. It's kind of like the old stuff you read about KISS in the 70's and that was always fun. It wasn't all the stuff we now know, it was just the fluff. Good to read that again made me nostalgic.

Had this book growing up and lost it. I'm so happy it was back out to buy. Great read takes me back in time.

A nice reprint of an old classic! No Pics though...

GREAT BOOK. ENJOYED THE ORIGINAL SO MUCH, I HAD TO GET THE UPDATED VERSION. WELL DONE.

I bought this book back upon its release in the Summer of 1978 and quite frankly, there is no reason for anyone to give consideration to buying it. The history is shallow and incomplete, some of the information is flat out incorrect and the writing is terrible. The album reviews carry no merit or insight whatsoever. It reads like a product that was rushed to print in order to capitalize on the bands immense popularity in 1977-78, which is exactly what it was. There are several instances where the author assigns the vocals of an album cut to the wrong singer, a sure sign that the author wasn't quite the authority that he claimed to be on the subject, and a perfect example of what you're getting here. If the subject matter is of interest to you, check out Paul's, Peter's, and Ace's autobiographies in that order. Skip Gene's. As for this offering, if you must read it, at least track down an original copy, perhaps it has some value as a collectible being that it was the first book released on the subject.