KISSology 2 Award And Volume III Sneak Peak
From: KISSOnline
Ken Gullic (Sr. Vice President, Fontana Distribution)

Yesterday, thanks to Alex and Roger Coletti (KISSology producers), I was able to drop by the Doc McGhee offices and get a sneak peek at KISSology 3 footage and do a special award presentation (on behalf of Fontana distribution) for KISSology 2.

Gene and Paul were slated to arrive at any given moment, but Alex and Roger had already cued up footage of Volume 3 for the commentary session they were about to do with the band. BRUCE KULICK, a long time friend (whom I had recorded with on the Boot Camp "As You Were" release [available on iTunes!]) was already on hand, and it immediately turned into quite the experience as I was able to sneak a peak at one of the easter eggs for Volume 3! Yes, it’s true folks, the often rumored (but never before seen) Carnival of Souls studio footage exists, and the 5 or 6 minute montage that Alex and Roger had put together was stunning. Bruce was seeing this footage for the first time, and you could see (hear) all of the memories come back to him. It was quite the thrill to see footage of Bruce firing up a completely different (but altogether smokin’!) solo for ‘Hate’, and to watch Paul record his 12 string parts for "I Will Be There"; but one of the most amazing moments was to watch Gene coach the children’s choir for "Childhood’s End" in the studio as Paul remains in the control booth and decides to pull the rug out from everyone with an elaborate prank designed to scare the kids (by growling into the control booth mic "DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING!") There’s also a segment of the band shooting photos for what turned out to be the album cover... not to forget the awe inspiring sounds and sights of Gene and Paul standing at a studio mic together doing elaborate Beatle-esque harmonies that later never made the album. And that’s just 6 minutes of Volume 3, folks!

Expect an even larger package of content than either of the previous volumes, spanning 1992 thru 2001, to be precise. It’s too early to give any other details away, but I’m confident one and all will be immensely satisfied. All involved are targeting a late December KISSmass 2007 release!

Above you can see a photo taken just prior to the commentary session for Volume 3. Holding their own trophies commemorating the #1 debut of KISSology Vol. 2 are: Roger Coletti, Alex Coletti, BRUCE KULICK, PAUL STANLEY, TOMMY THAYER, GENE SIMMONS and yours truly: Ken Gullic. See you in the stores at KISSmas!



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XPU53E/?tag=imwan-20

Volume III already?? For this Christmas?? Gene and Paul are riding this gravy train for all its worth, fer sure!! I figgered it'd be out maybe by next spring or summer.

AND NOW, THE COMPLAINTS BEGIN...already

Five or six minutes of the COS sessions is very cool, but why don't they give us a half hour or hour documentary to see a little more of the creative process.

I'm hoping we'll see

The full Alive III show from Detroit, 1992
A full reunion tour show
and hopefully the KISS convention skits, interviews and acoustic performance from Conan O' Brien's show in 1995.

If it's coming out for this December, details should be forthcoming hopefully soon.

Hey Chris,

They said there will be more on this volume than the other 2...which can only be a good thing. They have probably been working on this stuff for years and have it all together by now. They just have to add commentary and break it out into volumes to maximize profit...I'm an accountant what can I say.

Mark

A photo from the commentary sessions.



I just barely had time to digest this one and it's time for the third course already.

I'm glad it's not going beyond 2001, because KISS truly ended in 2000 with the "Farewell Tour." Anything beyond this period is the work of a well-qualified tribute band...IMO.

I couldn't agree more Chris. Unless they continued on with Ace and Peter, or at least one of them, they should have ended it then in 2000.


Jeff

How can the Knights In Satan's Services be a tribute band if two of the original four members are still involved, and have continued to be involved throughout their entire history?

Obviously, they are not a tribute band as Chris has stated but it "feels" like a tribute band because of the loss of key members. I'm sure if Gene or Paul decided to not play, the band would no longer continue.

Mark

The role of "The Spaceman" is now played by Tommy Thayer, who played Ace previously in a KISS cover band named "Cold Gin" back in the early nineties.

The role of "The Catman" is now played by Eric Singer.

Eric Carr and Vinnie Vincent never had to wear anyone else's makeup.

I don't begrudge anyone who goes to a KISS show and enjoys it - but it stopped truly being KISS once they began having Ace and Peter impostors in the band.

You're right, this isn't a KISS tribute band - it's a KISS broadway revue show.

I agree too but I could have dealt with Tommy and Eric but without makeup. They are both excellent musicians. It's sad that Gene $immons and to a lesser extent Paul $tanley have put dead presidents ahead of KISStory with these stupid decisions. I saw them in 1996 and 2000 and that is the way I prefer to remember them.

I'm glad it's not going beyond 2001, because KISS truly ended in 2000 with the "Farewell Tour." Anything beyond this period is the work of a well-qualified tribute band...IMO.



I understand CBK, but I disagree about the tribute band comment. Gene and Paul are there and it's still KISS to me. How this is any different than when Mark St. John and Eric Carr were there is beyond me-you still had only 2 original members. Where I DO agree with you is the lame idea of having Tommy and Eric wear Ace and Peter's costumes/makeup.
That of course, was only done to show Ace and Peter how easily replacable they were. That's Gene and Paul flexing their muscles and being dicks.
KISS is always thought of as the original 4 members as it should be, but Eric Carr and Vinnie were awesome too. The later stuff wasn't even KISS to me-it was just bad, unoriginal Hair Metal that absolutely anyone could've (and did) record at the time.
I saw KISS in 2004 and they were awesome. Tribute band or not. They played stuff they could never play with Ace and Peter and that's a fact.
However, I'd prefer the original 4 get back together and do a real Farewell Tour. I believe it will happen at some point.

Another Kissology could cover 2001-2007. Among the things it could include would be:
-Gene's appearance on Conan in Nov. 2001 hawking his book and KISS coffins
-The odd performance at the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002 with olympic skaters all around the band as they performed on ice-I believe this was Ace's last appearance with the band
-The appearance on American Bandstand's 40th anniversary show in 2002 which was Tommy's first time with the band when Ace didn't show up
-The 2002 music video for "Rock And Roll All Nite" with the cast of That 70's show
-The excellent VH1 special "Kiss:Beyond The Makeup" from 2002 (?) that was 2 hours long
-The 2003 Symphonic show in Australia where Peter was back (this is already on DVD but I'm sure they could find more footage or just do highlights)
-The 2003 tour with Aerosmith
-The 2004 "Rock The Nation" tour (they used 2 show for the Rock The Nation DVD, I'm sure they have more footage)
-The 2006 gig in Saitama, Japan which was pro-shot and full-length (I have this, but it's not been officially released)
-The 2006 VH1 Rock Honors performance
-The 2007 show without Paul (fan footage only I believe)
-highlights of Paul and Gene's solo excursions
This would easily make up another collection-I'd buy it and Gene and Paul will probably have no problem doing another one!

Invisible Pedestrian wrote:

Eric Carr and Vinnie were awesome too. The later stuff wasn't even KISS to me-it was just bad, unoriginal Hair Metal that absolutely anyone could've (and did) record at the time.



I also agree with this and I will go a little further and say I liked Eric's drumming a little better than Peter's. Eric gave the band a little more punch IMO. He seemed to be more of a pure hard rock drummer than Peter. NOT TO DISCOUNT Peter IN ANY WAY as he was darn good in his time with KISS and I still like that era WAY more. And Ace beyond the makeup is vastly underrated IMO as a guitar player the best one KISS ever had.

Excellent points, and ones I've thought of myself at times. I dont think I'd have a problem with it if Singer and Thayer had thier own makeup/costumes. It's as if they're being passed off to the uninformed casual fan, that these are the original four members.
The other thing to is, when Criss and Frehley were in the band, they also sang lead vocals. As far as I know I've never heard if Singer and Thayer are. Thats why I didnt care for the eighties albums. All Gene and Paul, there was no variety, and there was a "sameness" to all the material. In fact, I tried listening to "Crazy nights", and "Animalize" the other day, and couldn't even get through them all the way. I then put "The Elder" on, and even preferred THAT to those two other albums...

Jeff

I also agree with this and I will go a little further and say I liked Eric's drumming a little better than Peter's. Eric gave the band a little more punch IMO. He seemed to be more of a pure hard rock drummer than Peter. NOT TO DISCOUNT Peter IN ANY WAY as he was darn good in his time with KISS and I still like that era WAY more. And Ace beyond the makeup is vastly underrated IMO as a guitar player the best one KISS ever had.


First off-yes, you are correct, Eric Carr was a fantastic drummer and KISS became 100% more musical with his arrival. But I also agree Peter was very important to KISS and it was only from 1998 on that his drumming started sucking.
Vinnie was way better tehcnically than Ace as a player, but that does not take away from Ace at all-Ace rules and is so underrated. An arrogant guitar player, although a nice guy, stated that Ace was a joke and that he knew at age 10 he could play guitar because KISS were popular and he was already better than Ace. This guy is a damn good guitar player, but I laughed at his statement and informed him, that while he can play Classical and Jazz, etc.-Ace wrote some of the catchiest guitar riffs ever and that when he could do the same to get back to me! After all, this clown is a guitar teacher and nothing more.
See-Ace doesn't get the respect he deserves, but most guitarists out there (and I'm one of many) know Ace is the real deal.

[quote="Invisible Pedestrian"]


First off-yes, you are correct, Eric Carr was a fantastic drummer and KISS became 100% more musical with his arrival. But I also agree Peter was very important to KISS and it was only from 1998 on that his drumming started sucking.
Vinnie was way better tehcnically than Ace as a player, but that does not take away from Ace at all-Ace rules and is so underrated. quote]

Thanks for backing me up. It is too bad what is going on now.

"P&L statement?! I'll give ya a P&L statement!!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOYmLj2wVk4

Sorry...I couldn't resist. Now I want some Dunkin' Donuts coffee.

Just donuts...hold the coffee. Mmmmm....donuts...

I think Herr Jimbo's comment really says it all.

Basically put, Ace is the Spaceman and Peter is the Catman. End of story. I could deal with Eric and Tommy if KISS were back out of makeup like in the '80s.

IP,

You just disagreed with me, yet agreed with me. How you managed to pull that off is a mind boggler.

Mark St. John never had to wear Vinnie Vincent's makeup and costume.

Eric Carr never had to wear Peter Criss's makeup and costume.

I had no problem with the replacement members back then because no one was trying to pass them off as "characters" from the previous incarnation of the band.

KISS is half a tribute band and that's not opinion, that's fact. Eric Singer is a great drummer, but has to scale back his technique to play like Peter Criss and Tommy Thayer has been nothing but an Ace impersonator from day one. He does a very good simulation of Ace's style, but he'll never be the real thing.

I saw KISS on their "Farewell" tour in 2000 myself and that's how I prefer to remember them.

IP,

You just disagreed with me, yet agreed with me. How you managed to pull that off is a mind boggler.

Mark St. John never had to wear Vinnie Vincent's makeup and costume.

Eric Carr never had to wear Peter Criss's makeup and costume.

I had no problem with the replacement members back then because no one was trying to pass them off as "characters" from the previous incarnation of the band.

KISS is half a tribute band and that's not opinion, that's fact. Eric Singer is a great drummer, but has to scale back his technique to play like Peter Criss and Tommy Thayer has been nothing but an Ace impersonator from day one. He does a very good simulation of Ace's style, but he'll never be the real thing.

I saw KISS on their "Farewell" tour in 2000 myself and that's how I prefer to remember them.



I'll be polite here, because I'm not sure if you were being a wise-ass or not when you claimed to be "boggled" by my statements. I'm hoping you weren't .
Musically as I obviously was saying, Mark St. John and Eric Carr were not original members and the music was awful. Even worse with Bruce Kulick who was a great player.
What is the difference personnel-wise between then and now? None. I agreed that having the same costumes/makeup sucks and I don't why I have to repeat myself. I agreed on one point and disagreed on another-not very difficult to follow.
I'm glad you've stated a fact that KISS is a tribute band, I wasn't aware they were billing themselves as such. Seriously, I get your point, but it's not like plunking down money to see Cold Gin or Black Diamond or even Mini-KISS!
Also, Eric Singer did not scale back on the '04 tour which you said yourself you never saw. He kicked ass on many rarely played tunes like "Love Her All I Can", "She" and "War Machine". There was no scaling back. I saw it and heard it-that's a fact.
Also, that KISS farewell tour in 2000 pretty much sucked. The playing was poor and the performances were phoned in-the "Alive IV" live disc that was never released (for good reason) is proof. I choose not to remember KISS that way because the tour blew.
Look, we're both diehard fans and we obviously see some things the same way and others not. Many fans are pissed at what Gene and Paul did, and I'm still baffled as to why they didn't create new characters which would've been a cash cow. It was all about power and belittling Ace and Peter, who let's face it haven't helped themselves very much by being fuck-ups.
It's no big deal-I think I've explained my side if you have anything else to add-go for it, and I'll gladly read it!

IP,

You're right. KISS isn't half a tribute band, it's a cabaret act. Can't wait for Gene and Paul's eventual replacements and they've even hinted that such a thing could happen.

I like '80s KISS - Animalize is a bit dated lyrically and musically, but it's still one of the better '80s albums.

Ace and Peter created their characters. For two other guys to be standing in their proverbial shoes and going out there as KISS...well, it aint KISS.

And I have heard a live CD from the 2004 tour and quite frankly, they sounded stale. Not bad, but they're a band living off their name and images with no new music. I'm sure if I saw them live today, I'd probably enjoy it, but the point is that Gene and Paul shouldn't be allowing two other guys to be posing as the Catman and Spaceman.

Now, if this was a non-makeup KISS, I wouldn't be calling it a tribute band. But I would rather see Bruce Kulick back if KISS were to go that route, which they won't because they aren't marketable without their iconic images.

If I'm paying today's over-inflated ticket prices for KISS in makeup, it better damn well be the original four. Now, I will admit, having seen the KISS Symphony and the Tokyo 2001 DVDs, I could live with the fake Catman (Eric Singer) if Ace was back on guitar.

I'm a thirty-year veteran of the KISS Army who's put Nick Simmons through at least one semester of private school, so dammit, I'm entitled to my opinion!

I'm a thirty-year veteran of the KISS Army who's put Nick Simmons through at least one semester of private school, so dammit, I'm entitled to my opinion!

Well, me too. I even bought the Elder three times on vinyl (after smashing it twice and then realizing I really did like it-I still have that last copy in mint condition with the original lyric sheet-it's worth a bit. Shame I don't have all three copies, but I was a high school idiot!).
I hope for one final go-around for the original lineup, but the playing was so bad on that 2000 tour, I don't see how it could be any good musically.
If Eric Carr hadn't passed on, a reunion with Eric and Vinnie in makeup-now that I'd see in a heartbeat as to me that was both musically viable and visually with 4 different characters/costumes. Not the original lineup but damn close to it, in terms of excellence!

Oh yeah, well I bought The Elder three times on CD alone -- Japanese version, first US version and the remaster!! Hah!!

Well, considering that Vinnie Vincent is persona non grata with Gene and Paul to this day, that KISS reunion aint gonna happen. But I do think a makeup lineup with Vinnie would have more integrity than what KISS is doing now.

Of course, Gene doesn't care about integrity, just $$$$, so that's fine. I actually thought they played better on the "farewell" tour then on the "reunion" tour (I never got to see the Psycho Circus tour), so my last live memory of them is a good one.

I know JohnG and Jimbo have seen the current version of KISS and enjoyed it very well - Jimbo was even kind enough to send me an Instant Live CD of the Jones Beach 2004 show for Xmas a few years back, which was a very pleasant surprise. I had already bought one from the Great Woods show in Mansfield, MA, so yes I'm a bit of a hypocrite with my current KISS bashing. Couldn't help it!!