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Wearing make up in rock ‘n’ roll means you better be
able to shake the walls with your music otherwise you’ll
be consigned to the dustbins of history. Luckily whatever
else their flaws as a band were, Kiss has managed to continue
to rock out for more than 30 years. This collection of Kiss
movies, concerts and interviews will be essential for the
Kiss Army of fans that might still be able to get around
without a walker. ***
Disc One consists of “Land of Hype and Glory” a report
done by reporter Edwin Newman from 1978 on the band. We
get a few brief clips of the classic line up in all their
kabuki glory. I have to say that Newman’s assessment of
the band is surprisingly right on target given that he was
from a different generation AND that this was done at the
time of the band’s early popularity. ***
We also get “Kiss In Attack of The Phantoms” which
is the theatrical cut released in Europe of the more familiar
TV movie “Kiss Meets The Phantom Of The Park” a vapid movie
that tried to capitalize on the band’s popularity and turn
them into The Monkees of the glam generation. The plot makes
you want to laugh (although the humorous bits are few and
far between); an evil scientist makes cyborgs of the band
that cause mayhem at an amusement park. It should be noted
that the music is different here than on the TV movie version
using different songs from their then concurrent four solo
albums in addition to the more familiar songs that appeared
in the TV movie version. ***
The late, great Tom Synder speaks with the band in
a 1979 segment of his classic late night interview series
from NBC. Snyder is at his best in this interview segment
both having fun and asking some pointed intelligent questions
(some of the response of which are less than intelligent).
***
Disc Two features music videos, more interviews and
concert footage shown on TV in Europe. We start with a CNN
Interview With Peter Criss from 1980. Criss discusses his
decision to leave Kiss, start a solo career and the success
of “Beth” his hit single recorded with the band. ***
“Countdown” is from Australian TV and introduces new
member Eric Carr to the public. Carr gives a brief interview
as well. ***
“Rockpop” features two songs lip synched by the band;
“She’s So European” and “Talk To Me” from their current
album of the time. We also get the music video “Shandi”
from 1980 included as well which was (if memory serves)
a promo video. ***
“Kiss Invades Australia” is drawn from a November 1980
concert that the band did Down Under. We get 17 live performances
from early hits such as “Calling Dr. Love” to their current
material such as “Shandi” a mid-temp bland ballad. Also
included is an interview with the band at a press conference
appearance. ***
We get three live tracks performed on the ABC-TV “Saturday
Night Live” knock off “Fridays” from 1982. “The Oath”, “A
World Without Heroes” and “I” all drawn from their current
album “Elder”. The band rock. ***
These are rounded up on disc two with an appearance
where the band play “I Love It Loud” which appears as if
it is lip-synched. ***
Disc Three opens with a concert appearance from 1983
shot at Maracana Stadium in Brazil. We get eight tracks
in total. This version of the band features original members
Stanley and Simmons with original guitarist Ace Freley replaced
by the late Vinnie Vincent. It’s a nice performance. ***
“Kiss Unmasking” is an MTV special produced in 1983
for their then current album “Kiss Unmasked”. It goes to
show that make up certainly enhanced the band as they look
bland without it and it robs them of much of their stage
charisma making them just another hard rock band. ***
After this we get a variety of live performances shot
on everything from camcorders to professional equipment.
The “Cascais Hall” is from 1983 and was shot in Portugal.
It features two songs “Creatures of the Night” and “Detroit
Rock City”. ***
“The Spectrum: Philadelphia” from 1987 features new
member Bruce Kulick replacing Vinnie Vincent. Five songs
appear—“Love Gun”, “Bang Bang You”, “Crazy Crazy Nights”,
“Reason To Live” and “No No No” . No interviews sadly because
I’d want to know why they kept repeating the same words
in several song titles. Maybe its because they had reached
the limit of their vocabulary. ***
“The Palace at Auburn Hills” from 1990 which looks better
than just about everything else here. Featuring one of Eric
Carr’s last shows with the band, the band sound terrific.
We get 21 songs covering their entire career in this set.
***
This are rounded up with “The Day In Rock” from an
MTV TV report reporting Carr’s death from cancer. “God Gave
Rock ‘N’ Roll To You II” is a promo video for the song that
was on MTV. ---
Image & Sound:
Quality varies depending on the source (video vs. film)
and age (some of the footage here is nearly 30 years old)
but overall the presentation is quite good. Audio varies
as well depending on the source but overall sounds quite
good. ---
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