News Archive January 2010

Sonic Booms And Busts: Paul And Gene On KISS Albums
From: Sun UK
by Matt Silk
Posted: January 12, 2010

Gene and Paul's memories of some classic KISS albums:

KISS (1974) - Gene: I no longer had to work for a living. I went on salary, I became the richest person in the world. Not only was I in a band, doing everything I wanted - I was getting $75 a week! Favourite track: Deuce.

HOTTER THAN HELL (1974) - Paul: Difficult second album? No, we were all piss and vinegar - "If you didn't like the first album, here's another!" We were releasing them every eight months. Favourite track: Hotter Than Hell.

DRESSED TO KILL (1975) - Gene: It was produced by Neil Bogart, our record company president, who couldn't produce. We started attracting lots of groupies. Mostly, I remember lots of girls. Favourite track: Two Timer.

ALIVE! (1975) - Paul: A sonic souvenir of the live show. Was it enhanced? You bet! Who wants to hear a guitar string break every time they put on a song? One week it was gold, the next platinum. Our rollercoaster ride had begun.

DESTROYER (1976) - Gene: A coming of age, or perhaps just a coming. (Renowned producer) Bob Ezrin kicked us in the butt and made us do a record we couldn't do on our own. They were our songs and performances, but he brought it out of us. Favourite track: God Of Thunder.

ROCK AND ROLL OVER (1976) - Paul: Many said Destroyer wasn't raunchy enough for them. So we decided to go back to something a little more basic. It's a great album but, sonically, the songs did''t sound like they should have. Favourite track: I Want You.

LOVE GUN (1977) - Gene: Eddie Kramer produced but he was more an engineer so we took more control for this one. Ace and Peter started to become very difficult as alcohol and drugs began to take over. Favourite track: Love Gun.

CREATURES OF THE NIGHT (1982) - Gene: The (huge!) drum sound was my insistence. If any track led to that huge sound, which was recorded in a hall with doors open and the mics on a slight delay, it was I Love It Loud. I love the title track too. Favourite track: I Love It Loud.

LICK IT UP (1983) - Paul: Creatures was better, but we finally took the make-up off and Lick It Up sold three or four times as many copies. The first step in establishing another persona for the band. Touring without make-up was invigorating. An exciting time. Favourite track: A Million To One.

ANIMALIZE (1984) - Gene: I like a lot of the record but I was pre-occupied with Hollywood, doing my first movie, Runaway, for Michael Crichton. My songs weren't stellar. Favourite track: Heaven's On Fire.

REVENGE (1992)- Gene: One of my favourites. We reunited with Bob Ezrin, and it's a very different time from Destroyer. I finally felt comfortable in my own skin. I stopped playing the Paul game, trying to look pretty with nice hair - I was never very good at that. Favourite track: Unholy.

SONIC BOOM (2009) - Paul: A culmination of everything, good and bad that went before it. It's a pure, honest album and I couldn't be more proud of it. We found our way home. Favourite tracks: Modern Day Delilah and Say Yeah.

SONIC BUSTS

And here the pair recall some, er, not so classic ones:

UNMASKED (1980) - Gene: My fault. It was a strange period, with pop and dance dominating, and we lost our way. It was also the end for Peter Criss. Anton Fig's playing drums and the main memory is of protecting the fans from the news Peter was gone. Favourite track: You're All That I Want.

MUSIC FROM 'THE ELDER' (1981) - Paul: We all bought into Stonehenge and truly thought we were making a masterpiece, but we weren't - we were masturbating. A bloated, overblown, pompous piece of pap. Favourite track: I - because that's the last one and the album's over.

CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1997) - Paul: Tuning down to D and singing about the darkness of the world while living in mansions in Beverly Hills was a little absurd. We were no more from Seattle than from Saturn. Favourite track: I Will Be There.