I've seen some of these performances before via the worn out VHS copies of a friend's bootleg collection, or from watching the TV appearances as a little kid. I remember nearly exploding with anticipation waiting for KISS Meets The Phantom of the Park to first air in 1978. I wonder if that will show up on Vol. 2? I am old enough to remember the release of KISS' self-titled debut album in 1974, and those of you from my generation will probably remember just how rare it was to see an actual live performance by a real rock band on TV, when compared to the abundance you get today.
Back in 1974, you didn't have cable TV or DVDs to rent. You were hostage to the six or seven channels that your 15 inch, mono, black & white television set would provide. If you were lucky you might catch the occasional ABC In Concert special, or your parents would let you stay up late to see your favorite band lip-sync on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert. Remember, there were no TiVo's or DVRs back then - hell, VCRs were still something you might only find on a Star Trek episode. That would explain how as a nine-year old, budding, KISS fanatic, I completely missed out on most of those early TV appearances that show up on these DVDs. To me, they are worth the price of the package alone.
The official KISS videology has been rather disappointing up until now, especially when it comes to the classic 1970s material by the original lineup. That injustice has finally been taken care of with the release of Kissology Vol. 1, a sprawling three-disk (including the bonus DVD) set containing multiple full-length concerts, along with several TV appearances and documentaries. KISS is finally opening up the vaults.
Unfortunately, the production quality of the material only varies between pretty horrible and pretty decent. Don't be expecting some Led Zeppelin DVD-quality remastering of these 30-year old recordings. Jimmy Page may have sold his soul to get that ancient Zeppelin footage to look and sound like it was recorded yesterday, but Gene and the boys must have ran out of favors. There is really no significant improvements from the VHS recordings of this material, other than some mediocre Dolby 5.1 surround audio mixes, which generally sound thin and compressed.
Disk one starts off with a February 1974 performance of the previously unreleased "Acrobat", which only a KISS completeist could love, due to the very poor quality source material, and the fact that the first half of the song is missing. The recording is a mix of silent film footage and a radio broadcast, and it is possibly the oldest KISS concert footage available. The following month, KISS showed up on ABC's In Concert TV show, and provided an amazing early glimpse into the band's soul. Watch Ace blow Gene a playful kiss, as they share a microphone near the end of "Nothing to Lose", and Gene reciprocate with a sinister flick of his serpentine tongue.
Article comments
1 - tink
Just when I thought I had all the KISS in my collection that I needed, partially due in fact to their constant 'final' tours and repackaging, this review made me change my mind. Even if it's just to see them on that Paul Lynde special!!!
I like the idea that the production values weren't tweaked via the technology available today. Makes it seem like what it would have been like to actually see these performances in the time/space that they originally came from.
I remember the Phantom of the Park vividly. They used the Magic Mountain theme park in Valencia, Ca for filming the live sequences and I was there as part of the audience. It was the first time that I saw them live...but certainly not the last.
Nice work!!!
2 - Vern Halen
I took them seriously until Destroyer - it sounded like a disco pop album to me - what happened to all that great rock and roll from the first three studio albums plus Alive!? Replaced with screaming babies, glockenspiels, youth anthems, and - gasp! a ballad!! good thing I stumbled onto the MC5, the Dolls, Television etc etc etc to restore my faith in r'n'r.
I'd be alright, though, with Kiss doing one more butt kicking rock album before calling it a day. Sometimes the old foxes still have a few more tricks to play.
3 - Timmy
When I was young, I was as ate up with Kiss as you still appear to be. I even got a thank you in the Dynasty tour book for all the fan mail I sent them over the years. It wasn't until about a couple of years after their first reunion tour that I realized they aren't that great. In fact, as a band they are mediocre. It was a profit deal all along. The music was just a tool, and a secondary one at that. That's not to say it's all bad. I still enjoy Dynasty and Unmasked, Peter Criss (solo), Kiss (self-titled), and some songs not on those albums, including "Comin' Home," "Rock Bottom," "Mr. Speed," and "Larger Than Life."
4 - Paul Roy
Don't forget the car crash in "Detroit Rock City". I'm with you Vern. Kiss lost me after Destroyer, and REALLY lost me with "The Elder". I wonder if they will put their "Friday's" TV appearance on Vol. 2? And Timmy, I am certainly not "ate up with Kiss". You sound like a scorned lover. This DVD was just a great nostalgic trip for me.
5 - Vern Halen
I posted this months ago, but I still think it's funny - back when I was a lad, when Kiss first came out, a friend said to me, "Kiss? How's any band gonna make it with a name like that???"
6 - Devin
I got this DVD boxset for christmas and i was really amazed on how much rare footage they bunched up into these dvd's. The 4 concerts in the 2 dvd's were incredible also, but i'd have to say the Tokyo one was my favourite.
7 - Curly
I don't know if you still read this review's comments, or if you've been clued in to this yet but, there are 2 fantastic "easter eggs" - as I believe they're called - on these discs. On each of the 2 main discs, in the main menu screen, if you highlight and 'PLAY' on the KISS logo, you will be treated to: (Disc 1) a 4-5 minute video clip w/sound of the earliest known live footage of the band, playing "Deuce" at their 2nd to last show as a club band 12/21/73 at Coventry in NYC. (Disc 2) a 6-7 minute home movie w/sound of the guys' impromptu performance at Ace's wedding in May '76, complete in tuxedos and with the hired bands' instruments.
8 - Paul Roy
Thanks for bringing that up Curly, since I didn't mention it in my review. That's some pretty cool stuff to watch if you are a big Kiss fan.