The bonus (3rd) DVD included in my Kissology package was a December 20, 1977 concert at the old Capital Centre in Largo, Maryland. I saw some of the best concerts of my life at this former home of the Washington Bullets and Capitals, including Rush's incredible Counterparts tour. This disk is really just a bit of overkill, as it is essentially an abbreviated version of the Houston Summit show, with even poorer production quality.
The only audio mix provided is Dolby stereo and it sounds horrible. The menu screen on this disk is labeled "Love Gun Tour", but by December of 1977 KISS were already in the middle of the Alive II tour. They were essentially the same tour though. Kissology comes with a choice of three bonus disks, depending on where they are purchased: the Capital Centre, Largo, MD 1977, Madison Square Garden, New York 1977, and Cobo Hall, Detroit 1976. None of the DVDs include the complete concert, and the Largo show is the longest at 56 minutes.
Kissology Vol. 1 is an extraordinary DVD package containing enough material to keep you entertained for days. Sure the video quality is generally terrible, and most of the 5.1 surround tracks sound like they are coming from a cheap boombox, but hell, these recordings are 30 years old. I just think they could have been remastered much better than this.
There is an audio commentary track supplied for most of the material, which features Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. There are extremely long periods of silence, and what you do get is not overly insightful. The disks are housed in a quadruple gatefold sleeve that includes a 20-page, color, booklet containing vintage photos and recollections by the band of all of the events contained within. It also includes a reproduction of an early KISS backstage pass.
This is what I have been asking for for the last twenty years, and KISS has finally come through. Although last year's Rock The Nation Live was an incredibly nostalgic feast of sights and sounds from their 2004 tour, and with brilliant production quality, it does not compare to the meat and potatoes performances you get on Kissology Vol. 1. This one proves that KISS was indeed once The Hottest Band InThe World!
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.