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Title: KISS and Make-up by Gene Simmons ISBN: 0-609-60855-X Publisher: Crown Pub. Date: 04 December, 2001 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.45 (109 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Decent book, but ...
Comment: Gene Simmons' autobiography certainly pulls no punches. He is brutally and brazenly honest about his humble Jewish upbringing, constant lust, lack of talent as a bass player, eschewment of marriage and drive to make as much money as possible. I enjoyed many of the anecdotes and photos scattered throughout the book, particularly the details about the beginning and end of Wicked Lester and the birth of Kiss. The writing style is fine, it makes the book an easy, quick read. And while I thoroughly enjoyed the first half, I was very disappointed and at times even angry at Gene's decision to constantly hurl insults at Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, and Vinnie Vincent.
He seemingly refuses to pass on an opportunity to slam those who were pivotal in the band's success. The unending insults were as laborious to wade through as they were unnecessary. If they are so awful musically, drugged-out and incompetent, why rehire them for Unplugged? For Psycho Circus? For the Reunion and Farewell tours?
As a lifelong fan of the band, I really didn't want to read page after page of Gene turning the gun on his bandmates, and I would have hoped one of the people whom I admire most would have had much more to say in a 250-page book about one of the greatest, most prolific bands ever and his role in it.
Two other criticisms - there is very, very little in the book about the music itself. Everything's about the groupies, the stage show, the merchandising, the bickering, living in L.A. and New York, and his time with Cher and Diana Ross. There's virtually nothing about the inspiration for or genesis of their songs. The knock on Kiss has always been the music is simple, lacks substance and is simply not very good. The book only reinforces that. What was going through his mind when he wrote "Deuce"? I have to buy the $175 box set to find out!
Lastly, Gene goes on endlessly about all the merchandizing, at one point mentioning the SPIN Magazine covers before the Reunion tour and how it was his idea to print four different versions, one with a picture of each bandmember. He suggest this to Bob Guccione Jr. because "The KISS fans will want to buy all four of them." Geez Gene, thanks for pimping out your fans so you can get some free advertising from a magazine! Create new and interesting music we'd want to buy, not marketing gimmics designed at prying more money out of our pockets!
Rating: 2
Summary: Worth a Buy for the Fan
Comment: No Ghost ? Really....
The KISSfaq.com states that this book was "Ghost-written by Ben Greenman, editor of "The New Yorker"..."
the Kissfaq.com has rarely been wrong, not ever as far as I know.
And Yes, I did Purchase the HardBack, as well as the Paperbacks.
Rating: 3
Summary: ENTERTAINING BUT NOTHING NEW
Comment: If you're a Kiss fan like me, you've probably heard many of the stories that appear in this book. It's a good read but all it did was confirm what I already knew; Simmons is intelligent, an egomaniac, has slept with thousands of women, he loves money, will do anything to make a $ off the KISS name, Ace and Peter are both dead weight...you get the picture. I'm waiting for Paul Stanley's biography.
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Title: Sex Money Kiss by Gene Simmons ISBN: 1893224864 Publisher: New Millenium Pr Pub. Date: June, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: KISS: The Early Years by Paul Stanley, Waring Abbott, Gene Simmons ISBN: 0609810286 Publisher: Three Rivers Press Pub. Date: 26 November, 2002 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: KISS: Behind the Mask: The Official Authorized Biography by Ken Sharp, David Leaf ISBN: 0446530735 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: November, 2003 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
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Title:Symphony: Alive IV [Limited Deluxe Edition] ASIN: B0000A1REK Publisher: Sanctuary Pub. Date: 22 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $27.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $24.99 |
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Title: The Dirt : Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band by Tommy Lee, Vince Neil ISBN: 0060989157 Publisher: Regan Books Pub. Date: 09 July, 2002 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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