KISS: The Early Years
by Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Waring Abbott

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Book Reviews of KISS: The Early Years

Book Review: Good stuff - the best so far
Summary: 4 Stars

Most of the photos are from the band's earliest years, before they broke into the mainstream. You get to see a lot of backstage and pre-concert stuff, like the band applying makeup and suiting up for a performance. These days, we see Kiss and it's just "seeing Kiss" again, but looking at the pictures from around 1974 of the band strolling around the streets of New York City, you are reminded of how shocking they were in full regalia back then. And that's what made them great. The early tour footage and the Cadillac High School footage are impressive as well.

The big treat for me were the pages of photos from the "Elder" era. This was, for me, one of the band's most visually interesting periods, though because the band treats the period with such disfavor, not many photos seem to exist. Here, finally, are a number of great photos of the band in their most streamlined look - including rare performance footage, a video shoot for "World Without Heroes," and some of the Studio 54 footage.

I give it four stars instead of five for two reasons. One, through no fault of the photographer - whose work is absolutely excellent - there are no samples of the band's "Dynasty" era, their MOST visually stunning. I'm still anxiously waiting for a full book with this kind of quality, but with some Dynasty photos. The other slight drawback is that the photo selections seem to favor - what a shock - Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. I would've liked to have seen a little more of Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.

That said, this is the best book of Kiss photos that's ever been published. Get it now.

Summary of KISS: The Early Years

History & Criticism Books

• Subjects > Arts & Photography > Music > History & Criticism
• Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Composers & Musicians > Rock