Available at Amazon.com
The interesting thing about going to see KISS in concert has always been the diverse age range of people there. Young and old all show up in droves to see the band, including parents with their children. In over three decades of seemingly non-stop tours and merchandising opportunities, the band has remained a phenomenon that somehow manages to make money hand over fist and remain a headliner nearly 30 years after their peak and in an era where some of its contemporaries play county fairs for cuts of the liquor sales. And while the band is famous for its ability to merchandise nearly anything, as Gene Simmons has said, “If it can have a KISS logo on it, it should,” they have also been strong in terms of how they treat their hardcore fans. And in KISS: KISSology Volume II, the band once again rewards the faithful members of the “KISS Army” with another release of hard to find material from the band through the bulk of their peak years and beyond.
Following the band from 1978 to 1991, this collection features the band at their peak through their days following the glory years of the mid 70s to their days as a hair metal band in the 1980s, finishing up in 1991 with their attempt at staying relevant with the ascension of grunge.
With lots of footage covering interviews with various members of the band, several music videos and live concert footage, this is not an anthology for the casual or semi-interested fan of the band. This anthology is for the fan who wants the full, uncut version of the band’s ill-fated film KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park, the penultimate symbol of their excess and success. That’s been remastered from the cut that was shown in European theatres as opposed to the one shown on television in America. Also included are some seminal moments from the band, including the special where the band was “unmasked” so to speak from their makeup.
What makes this anthology special, however, are that some of the bands top concerts are included, some in their entirety. Footage of the band in Australia (1980), their show at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro in 1983, at the Spectrum in Philadelphia (1987) and at the Palace At Auburn Hills in Detroit in 1990 is included. It’s interesting to see the band over the span of a decade as they go from being one of the biggest bands of their era to their reinvention into relevance in multiple eras.
For hardcore fans of the band this is an absolute must have. Just the remastered cut of KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park alone, as opposed to old copies of the film on VHS, makes this anthology special. The sheer amount of things provided, from interviews to MTV specials, makes KISS: KISSology Volume II a valuable enhancement for any member of the KISS Army.
A/V QUALITY CONTROL
Considering the pieces collected are from several decades, the audio and visual components are a bit erratic in terms of their styles as well as their quality. What’s here has been cleaned up for the most part, though there is some noticeable wear on both sides of the A/V situation. It’s been cleaned up as well as it could’ve but age has played a factor in it. It still is a better release than what’s out there, however.
