Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Kiss and Sell: The Making of a Supergroup by C. K. Lendt ISBN: 0-8230-7551-6 Publisher: Billboard Books Pub. Date: 01 April, 1997 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.85 (34 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: "Kiss and Sell" is a MUST for past or present KISS fans.
Comment: An amusing, lively, and not all-together complimentary look at the rise and fall of the rock band that helped define the American music scene for a generation.
As a former business manager for KISS, author C.K. Lendt presents an entirely credible recollection of the dizzying amounts of money earned, then lost by the band. Long time fans will find Lendt's book filled with confirmation of oft-told stories of the group's sometimes lurid personal excesses; but perhaps more interesting is the author's observation of the varying degrees of insecurity and self doubt that plagued certain members of KISS during the course of their meteoric rise.
Though well pace and skillfully written, "KISS and Sell" is likely to appeal only to die hard devotees of the band. It's major flaw is a baffling detour (of over a dozen pages) to the author's memories of handling the business affairs of Diana Ross, a former romantic interest of KISS bassist Gene Simmons. Other celebrity ladyfriends are given much more digestible page allotments. A few more behind the scenes photos of the band in its heydey would also have been appreciated.
In the end, C.K. Lendt manages to tell a story that keeps the reader engaged and entertained, and waxes just nostalgic enough. It's a solid read.
Rating: 5
Summary: Unflinching Look at showBUSINESS!
Comment: **This is an updated and edited review**
The author pulls no punches in describing KISS's up-and-down financial turmoils during their storied career. Very meticulously detailed, it certainly sounds credible. Chris Lendt spent the better part of 12 years as an employee (of sorts) of the KISS organization -- he was a highly placed employee of one of the business firms that managed the band's financial affairs. Lendt even tosses in a few road stories of his own -- part of the perks of touring with the biggest band in the world. It reads as if you are standing backstage or offstage during a KISS tour, and like you are sitting in the boardroom with them during meetings. Lendt takes you inside the organization and lets you inspect it, warts and all. Absolutely fascinating!! You don't have to be a KISS fan to enjoy this book, but if you are already a fan then this book will be an indispensible part of your collection. Read about the minutae, the tiniest of the thousands upon thousands of details of life with a touring rock band. Follow the author and KISS as they skyrocket from hard-working club band to the previously-unexplored heights of international superstardom, and all the pitfalls, trappings and ego stroking that goes with it.
Kiss had some great years when they were raking in obscene amounts of money. But as Lendt points out in lavish detail, the money went out as quickly as it came in. The Kiss tours were often financial black holes, due either to the outrageous...production costs of touring their larger-than-life stage show, several tours where the ticket buyers stayed home, shady promoters stiffing them out of their guarantees and gate receipts, or a combination of the three. Gene and Paul knew all along that in rock and roll, image is everything. They had to always live and spend like kings to maintain the public image that their reputation as rock and roll gods was built on. But when the lean years set in, and there were plenty of them, their spending habits came back to haunt them over and over and over again. Lesser bands would have packed up their tents and called it a day, but Gene and Paul refused. So they took their financial lumps again and again. The Reunion Tour of 1996-1997 may well have been the only thing to keep them off food stamps in their retirement years.
Chris Lendt's book gives a far more honest look at the inner workings of the "business of KISS" than any other source I've seen or heard of. Peter Criss was essentially paid to leave the band. Ace Frehley's departure was unfortunately timed for KISS, as it left them in such a precarious position with their new record company contract that the whole thing could have collapsed on them and left them penniless and in debt for heaven knows how long. South American and Mexican promoters dangled big payday carrots in front of them so rich that KISS couldn't afford to turn them down, at a time when the band's financial situation was extremely dire, only to have the deals collapse time after time in spectacular fashion. KISS spent years playing to half-filled houses, releasing poor-performing records, and still pouring untold [amount] into touring to maintain the public image of what was termed in-house as SuperKiss. Kiss was borrowing money from any source they could, leveraging themselves to the hilt, all the while shutting their ears to the more practical financial advice that came from their business managers. Kiss had become a cautionary tale.
Chris Lendt saw his ties to KISS rather unceremoniously severed when the band fired their business managers (Lendt's employers) over a decade ago. But Lendt appears to carry no grudges. He always spoke lovingly of the band members and of his 12 year association with the group, even after being dismissed.
Lendt's unique "insider" position makes for a fascinating education about the business of show business!
Rating: 1
Summary: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Comment: Skip this book unless you want to replace sleeping pills! The reading is belaboring.
The much better Kiss related book is KISS & Tell by Gordon Gebert and Bob McAdams. I found myself literally laughing out loud reading it. Bound to be a classic years to come.
 |
Title: Kiss Alive Forever: The Complete Touring History by Curt Gooch, Jeff Suhs ISBN: 0823083225 Publisher: Billboard Books Pub. Date: 01 September, 2002 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
 |
Title: Black Diamond: The Unauthorized Biography of Kiss by Dale Sherman ISBN: 1896522351 Publisher: Collectors Guide Publishing Inc Pub. Date: 01 April, 1997 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
 |
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 |
 |
Title: Kiss and Make-Up by Gene Simmons ISBN: 0609810022 Publisher: Three Rivers Press (CA) Pub. Date: 22 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
 |
Title: Kiss: The Early Years by Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Waring Abbott ISBN: 0609810286 Publisher: Three Rivers Press (CA) Pub. Date: 26 November, 2002 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
