KISS - Happy 40th Anniversary

Jan 30, 2013 marks the 40th Anniversary of KISS' first gig at The Popcorn Pub in Queens, NY. The gig was originally booked under the Wicked Lester moniker but by the time the actual club date arrived they had officially changed their name to KISS.

In honor of that momentious occasion, you can send Gene an officially liscensed KISS 40th anniversary e-card for only $29.99. Enter the code "F*CKPETERANDACE" to receive a .05% discount.

KISSecard

MetalGuy71 wrote:

In honor of that momentious occasion, you can send Gene an officially liscensed KISS 40th anniversary e-card for only $29.99. Enter the code "F*CKPETERANDACE" to receive a .05% discount.

KISSecard

Spurred on by this I decided to listen to the debut KISS album this morning. The songwriting was there (except for a couple clunkers) but the performances definitely weren't. Every one of those songs is infinitely better represented on Alive.

trivia: The instrumental "Love Theme From Kiss" was used in Sofia Coppola's film Somewhere (2010).

S.D. wrote:

Spurred on by this I decided to listen to the debut KISS album this morning. The songwriting was there (except for a couple clunkers) but the performances definitely weren't. Every one of those songs is infinitely better represented on Alive.

trivia: The instrumental "Love Theme From Kiss" was used in Sofia Coppola's film Somewhere (2010).

One thing that struck me when I really paid attention to the first 4 or 5 KISS albums...the prevalent influence of The Beatles. Being a huge Beatles fan, I really noticed it when I was listening to those albums earlier in 2012 (I was grabbing the $5 remasters from Walmart). When they said they wanted to be a hard rock version of The Beatles, they weren't kidding.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

In honor of that momentious occasion, you can send Gene an officially liscensed KISS 40th anniversary e-card for only $29.99. Enter the code "F*CKPETERANDACE" to receive a .05% discount.

KISSecard

MetalGuy71 wrote:

In honor of that momentious occasion, you can send Gene an officially liscensed KISS 40th anniversary e-card for only $29.99. Enter the code "F*CKPETERANDACE" to receive a .05% discount.

KISSecard

S.D. wrote:

Spurred on by this I decided to listen to the debut KISS album this morning. The songwriting was there (except for a couple clunkers) but the performances definitely weren't. Every one of those songs is infinitely better represented on Alive.

trivia: The instrumental "Love Theme From Kiss" was used in Sofia Coppola's film Somewhere (2010).

Agree with you - the performances are 100 times better on Alive! I didn't know that track was used in a recent film.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

S.D. wrote:

Spurred on by this I decided to listen to the debut KISS album this morning. The songwriting was there (except for a couple clunkers) but the performances definitely weren't. Every one of those songs is infinitely better represented on Alive.

trivia: The instrumental "Love Theme From Kiss" was used in Sofia Coppola's film Somewhere (2010).

One thing that struck me when I really paid attention to the first 4 or 5 KISS albums...the prevalent influence of The Beatles. Being a huge Beatles fan, I really noticed it when I was listening to those albums earlier in 2012 (I was grabbing the $5 remasters from Walmart). When they said they wanted to be a hard rock version of The Beatles, they weren't kidding.

Especially Gene's songs, and he still does iton Monster. His solo stuff is full of Beatles-influences as well.

Had to run to Best Buy earlier and they had a box set on display for $20 called 5 Classic KISS albums and it included:

KISS, Dressed To Kill, Destroyer, Rock & Roll Over..

AND

Millennium Collection - 20th Century Masters, which I don't even consider a KISS album much less a "Classic" KISS album

Loose performances is part of the charm of rock and roll.

ultmetal wrote:

Loose performances is part of the charm of rock and roll.

Well, the performances on Alive aren't "perfect" either, but they are WAY more energetic and much better recorded than the stiff studio albums. The first time I heard any of that material was on Alive, never did warm up to the first 3 records because they just can't even come close to capturing the power that Eddie Kramer harnessed (whether live or not) on Alive!

The demos for the 1rst KISS lp (Produced By Eddie Kramer) that are on Disc One of the box set sound ALOT better than what appeared on the actual debut. IMHO They have more swagger, attitude and crunch. The lil variances in the arrangements give the songs way more character.

Another thing about early Kiss is that Gene was a really good bass player at that point. I don't know that he ever got much better, but some of the bass lines are really pretty good.

As for the Beatles influence, it was there, but they didn't copy them, but you could hear it if you listened... They did it while maintaining their originality, I guess is what I am trying to say...

As good as the Kramer demos are, I like the Bell Studios Demos even more...

The first KISS record is one of those albums ya just can't throw sh*t at. It's raw 'n' clunky and a little klutzy in spots but I still think it holds up well today.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

S.D. wrote:

Spurred on by this I decided to listen to the debut KISS album this morning. The songwriting was there (except for a couple clunkers) but the performances definitely weren't. Every one of those songs is infinitely better represented on Alive.

trivia: The instrumental "Love Theme From Kiss" was used in Sofia Coppola's film Somewhere (2010).

One thing that struck me when I really paid attention to the first 4 or 5 KISS albums...the prevalent influence of The Beatles. Being a huge Beatles fan, I really noticed it when I was listening to those albums earlier in 2012 (I was grabbing the $5 remasters from Walmart). When they said they wanted to be a hard rock version of The Beatles, they weren't kidding.

Its funny as a kid I never noticed that til I got older, also recently noticed that the boys seemed to have been heavily influenced by Slade, maybe I am wrong, but I can hear Slade in spots in some of the tunes.

To my ears the most Beatle-esque KISS tunes are "Let Me Know", "Great Expectations". "Comin Home" and half of Dressed To Kill.

S.D. wrote:

Jan 30, 2013 marks the 40th Anniversary of KISS' first gig at The Popcorn Pub in Queens, NY. The gig was originally booked under the Wicked Lester moniker but by the time the actual club date arrived they had officially changed their name to KISS.

I think you owe Gene $10 for this post

exact33 wrote:

S.D. wrote:

Jan 30, 2013 marks the 40th Anniversary of KISS' first gig at The Popcorn Pub in Queens, NY. The gig was originally booked under the Wicked Lester moniker but by the time the actual club date arrived they had officially changed their name to KISS.

I think you owe Gene $10 for this post

The flyers I've seen and old 70's magazine interviews refered to the place as The Coventry ?

Just did a lil research and they changed the name with the new year (1973)

Happy Anniversary, KISS! Like many of you, they (along with my older brother's Aerosmith "Get Your Wings") were my introduction to all things metal. "Love Gun" was my first album of theirs and I played the grooves off of that LP! I still think "Shock Me" is one of the best guitar songs ever, though it may be nostalgia...

James B. wrote:

To my ears the most Beatle-esque KISS tunes are "Let Me Know", "Great Expectations". "Comin Home" and half of Dressed To Kill.

Goin' Blind is another one, imo.

kmorg wrote:

James B. wrote:

To my ears the most Beatle-esque KISS tunes are "Let Me Know", "Great Expectations". "Comin Home" and half of Dressed To Kill.

Goin' Blind is another one, imo.

yes it is, there are probably more. When I listened to Gene Simmos solo lp way back in 1978 I seem to remember he wore that influence on his sleeve quite a bit.

This just sounds wrong:

KISS Popsicles To Be Released In Australia

http://www.bravewords.com/news/198311

The ice cream brand is Peters!
Lick. KISS. Peters. The joke almost writes itself!

Poor Ace...

Ace Frehley (nee Paul), who played guitar for KISS in the 80s and late 90s, is on the hook for $735,000 worth of missed mortgage payments on his Yorktown, N.Y. home, the The Journal News reports.

The news surfaced after his bank, U.S. Bank National Association, filed a foreclosure claim on feb. 15.

And the mortgage issue is just the beginning.

Frehley has neglected nearly two years' worth of unpaid property taxes, according to the Journal News. That includes a "2011 lien of $5,131.61 for town and county taxes, as well as $13,425.94 for unpaid 2012 county, school and town taxes."

If Frehley can't come up with the cash, chances are the bank (or the county) will wind up selling the home at auction. And from what little information we have on his case, we're willing to bet that's exactly what Frehley wants.

Frehley reportedly stopped paying on the home two years ago, just a few years after he took over the title on the 3-acre, 2,441 sq. ft. pad back in 2006. Many underwater homeowners –– those who owe more on their homes than they are actually worth –– choose to cut their losses, stop making mortgage payments and simply wait for their mortgage lender to foreclose.

In the meantime, they can start putting their resources into a smaller home or apartment they can afford.

The foreclosure process can take anywhere from under a year to more than two years to complete, so it makes sense we're only hearing of Frehley's foreclosure notice now.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Poor Ace...

Ace Frehley (nee Paul), who played guitar for KISS in the 80s and late 90s, is on the hook for $735,000 worth of missed mortgage payments on his Yorktown, N.Y. home, the The Journal News reports.

The news surfaced after his bank, U.S. Bank National Association, filed a foreclosure claim on feb. 15.

And the mortgage issue is just the beginning.

Frehley has neglected nearly two years' worth of unpaid property taxes, according to the Journal News. That includes a "2011 lien of $5,131.61 for town and county taxes, as well as $13,425.94 for unpaid 2012 county, school and town taxes."

If Frehley can't come up with the cash, chances are the bank (or the county) will wind up selling the home at auction. And from what little information we have on his case, we're willing to bet that's exactly what Frehley wants.

Frehley reportedly stopped paying on the home two years ago, just a few years after he took over the title on the 3-acre, 2,441 sq. ft. pad back in 2006. Many underwater homeowners –– those who owe more on their homes than they are actually worth –– choose to cut their losses, stop making mortgage payments and simply wait for their mortgage lender to foreclose.

In the meantime, they can start putting their resources into a smaller home or apartment they can afford.

The foreclosure process can take anywhere from under a year to more than two years to complete, so it makes sense we're only hearing of Frehley's foreclosure notice now.

Who is this man's accountant? He should be a millionere after those reunion tours with KISS!!!!