KISS ASYLUM: Alternative Album Focus

Alternate Album Focus - The Hottest Parody Of The Group, KISS!
Alternate Album Focus © 2000 Rich Hund / KISS ASYLUM

The insatiable appetite of KISS fans for news on their favorite group has never been fed as much as it has been in the last few years. Many long-term KISS fans learned the band's history slowly and in patches, first through their music and album covers, then magazine articles and rumors from classmates in school, and finally through the KISSTORY book, various biographies, and the Internet. These fans now know more than ever about the personalities, studio musicians, mindsets of members throughout the years. And yet so much mystery remains. So many stories, facts and tidbits remain shrouded in secrecy. The Alternate Album Focus rips off this veil and exposes KISS for who they really were and are.

These articles are being written after 7 years of indepth research and interviews with sources close to the band, including former Casablanca and Polygram employees who not only were behind-the-scenes with KISS but were able to access the KISS wastebaskets. I have compiled the most revealing information relating to kisstory. This revised kisstory, based on album, movie, and video releases, is not intended as an all-encompassing analysis of each KISS work; there is no need to repeat the commonly known "secrets" that so many fans know (Dick Wagner's work on "Destroyer," the reworked vocals on "Alive II" and "YWTB, YGTB," etc.). I set out to shed some light on the relationships of the band members during each album release, the origin and original lyrics of songs, clues on the band from album packaging, original set lists from certain concerts, and more. It is meant to supplement and in some case replace the lore we have all been led to believe.

This series of articles focuses on specific areas, including the following:

1. The rivalry between Gene and Paul -- While well documented in the pre-KISS days and in their first encounters, this rivalry has been rarely explored during the past 25+ years. Until now.

2. Paul's relationship with Peter -- This secret relationship was another constant that directed KISS throughout its early, and surprisingly its later, years. This naturally was kept as quiet as possible, but Paul apparently felt the need to help Peter out and take Peter under his wing from the very beginning. Was Peter being used as a pawn in Paul's ongoing feud with Gene, or was something more intense happening? The evidence and stories will shock you.

3. Clues in songs and packaging, only clear on retrospect, indicate what was happening to the group at the time.

4. Not only are songs and original lyrics explored, but each album receives special observations and awards, such as "Worst attempt at rhyming."

Beware, KISS fans. If you like KISS as you know them now, go back to the KISS ASYLUM Bulletin Boards and voice your opinion on which member had the best cape on the Dynasty tour, which solo album has the coolest poster, or which song has the best intro ("Radioactive" vs. "Detroit Rock City"). To read this series of articles may change your view of the band forever. -- Rich Hund

You Wanted The Rest, You Got The Rest. The Hottest Parody Of The Group, KISS!
1) KISS
2) Hotter Than Hell
3) Dressed To Kill
4) Alive
5) Destroyer
6) Rock & Roll Over
7) Love Gun

KISS ASYLUM NOTE: For those who might not be entirely clear about the purpose of the "Alternate Album Focus" even after reading Rich's intro to the series, THIS IS A PARODY! Rich is NOT suggesting the events about which he writes actually occurred, but is merely taking a very clever and light hearted look at KISStory with the tongue in cheek kind of humor only a true fan of the band could do.

KISS ASYLUM --

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