KISS - THE ALIVES...

When anyone discusses ‘live albums‘, one of the records that is always mentioned, even for non-KISS fans, is 1975‘s, KISS ALIVE!, which could very well be considered the best ‘live’ record of all time.  Granted, a lot of what is actually ‘live’ on these records is up for debate, however, for our purposes here this evening, we will disregard that and just concentrate on three pivotal albums in the KISS catalog, ALIVE, ALIVE II, and ALIVE III.

KISS - ALIVE:
    Without a doubt, its no wonder that kids around the globe suddenly became interested in playing guitar and forming garage bands after hearing this album.  I have to rate this album of the bands ‘classic’ albums.  The track listing was pulled from the first three albums (which were the classic originals), and the band was simply on fire.  The comforts of success and money had yet to creep in, and ALIVE! proved to be a raw, violent, live capturing of the band that was dead set on taking over the world. The greatest ‘live’ record of all time? In my book…yes.

• Would you consider KISS - ALIVE to be the greatest ‘live‘ record from a rock and roll band?  (If not than what is?) 

RH - I would have to say ALIVE!, and ALIVE II are my top favorite live albums.  Growing up, I loved Metallica’s LIVE SHIT, BINGE & PURGE, however, as time goes on, I find myself going to ALIVE and ALIVE II more than LIVE SHIT.  There have been a few scattered Bryan Adams live CD’s, I love, but those are more personal favorites.  Thus, when the 12 year old inside of me wants to play ’living room rock star’, ALIVE!, and ALIVE II are my go-to records.  

• ALIVE! Is the first album to contain additional packaging.  How does the extra packaging compare to the other ‘extras’ in the KISS Catalog?

RH - ALIVE!, was the first record to contain a gatefold and ‘extra’ insert items within the album.  This is a pretty sweet idea, and a great way to increase public interest.  Compared to the other ‘extras’ included in KISS albums, the ALIVE!, inserts are very grass roots.  The special notes from the band members, wonderfully nudge the record buying public into having ‘a favorite member’, a marketing technique The Beatles made popular, and the notes only reinforce the fact that the members of KISS are four individuals with distinct (and quite bizarre) personalities.  The booklet contained in ALIVE!, is a genius idea, as it simply serves as a tour book, for a concert you are able to enjoy from the comfort of your own home, and also reinforces the fact that this is a concert you will not want to miss, the next time the band comes to your town.  On a personal note, the NOTES within the ALIVE!, record have had an impact on my life, as I have always included Gene’s Ellipses in my writings from the first day I ever held ALIVE!, in my own hands and dove into the album.  I had no idea what they were, or what purpose they served the English language, however, I thought they were cool, and continue to use them to the day…  

 
KISS - ALIVE II:
    After KISS ALIVE! blew KISS into the stratosphere, what followed was a slew of huge sellers, money, fame, and everything that comes along with being a rock star (pressure, envy, etc…)  ALIVE II, in a way captures all of that perfectly.  It‘s a little faster paced than ALIVE, more energetic, and more frantic.  The audience seems to be going more nuts (which in 1977 they would have been), and KISS seems to be feeding off of that energy wonderfully. 
    One reason I loved ALIVE II, more than any other record of the ALIVE series, is single handedly the fourth side. Now, I can’t recall if the 4th side was completed to prevent KISS from repeating songs that had been included on ALIVE!, or it was just a marketing ploy to get kids to buy yet another ‘live’ record from the band they had just purchased a ‘live’ record from two years prior?  Whatever the case…it worked.  God bless them.  The fourth side of ALIVE II is amazing.  Simply powerful.  Some of the greatest songs KISS has ever put on record.  Not to mention, the album cover and gatefold, make it clear to any kid holding the record, you are in love with the greatest rock and roll band to ever live. 

• What are your favorite tracks from the fourth side? 

RH - “All American Man”.  Paul Stanley swagger at it’s finest. 

• What do you think would have happened if KISS would NOT have recorded the Solo Albums, and the fourth side would have been a Side 1 of a brand new KISS album?

RH - I daydream about this often.  I think KISS would have lasted well into the 80’s with the lineup in tact (for a little while at least).  Had this happened, I don’t think we would have ever received a DYNASTY or a MUSIC FROM THE ELDER.  I still think problems with Peter would have arose, but I do not think they would have been as bad.  I think the lack of success of the Peter Criss Solo LP had a lot to do with his sudden decline in enthusiasm during the writing, recording and touring for DYNASTY.  I think we would have seen a completely different history of KISS.  However, I’m happy the way things turned out.  But, my, oh my, I would love to have heard what this untitled (4th Side - ALIVE II) would have sounded like as a full length album.  
 

• Do you believe KISS would have self destructed as quickly as they had in the years following ALIVE II (had the Solo Albums been avoided)? 

RH - I definitely think the Solo LP’s led to the demise of the original KISS lineup.  The ACE FREHLEY SOLO LP made him a star.  Gene’s record thrust him further into his ‘Hollywood’ life, and Peter, (not being able to recreate a “Beth” type hit), drove him further and further away from the band. Although, the Solo LP’s are an amazing thing, I do believe, without a doubt, KISS would have lasted longer recording a KISS record after ALIVE II vs. the Solo LPs.  

KISS - ALIVE III
    ALIVE III was amazing, as enough time had passed that it became very refreshing to hear the band ‘live’ again and kicking ass on record.  Essentially, at the time of its release, the band was a brand new band, new songs could be added, and KISS had released, REVENGE, which was possibly the heaviest album they have recorded since 1982’s CREATURES OF THE NIGHTS. 
    Even more amazing, for we St. Joseph boys, was that KISS had just came to our town.  Let me repeat that…KISS came to OUR TOWN.  Crummy little St. Joseph, Missouri got a KISS concert!  WOW!  Words cannot express how cool this was for my friends and myself.  It was a gift from the rock and roll heavens.  Looking back, it is painfully obvious to see that financial reasons, and an ever changing record industry had forced KISS to play smaller markets, but forget that…For this moment in time, KISS was ours, and our little town was on the map. 
Although ALIVE III, is not my favorite of the ‘live’ albums, I have to say it has a special piece of my heart.  I see it as a memento of a time when my favorite rock and roll band came to my hometown, at a time, when I was very much dreaming my own rock and roll dreams of one day conquering the world. 
    Cheers to the innocence of youth…

• What is your favorite track from the album? 

RH - “I Was Made For Loving You”.  Amazing to hear this on record, with a ‘heavy’ lineup of the band.  One of my ‘go-to’ tracks from the record. 

• How do you feel ALIVE III measures up to it‘s predecessors? 

RH - If I was to rank the ‘ALIVES’ from my favorite to my least favorite (1 being the most favorite), I would list them as, ALIVE II (1), ALIVE! (2) and ALIVE III (3).  ALIVE II is just so much more cool than the rest.  The cover, the gatefold, the tattoo’s, all amazing!  ALIVE had the personal NOTES inside, which was a very cool touch, however ALIVE III lacked any goody inside.  For a time being there were rumors the album was to include tiny drumsticks and guitar picks.  Then, there were rumors the album would contain COUPONS for upcoming KISS CONVENTIONS to be scheduled sporadically around the country.  However, the album ended up, a simple release, followed by a VHS release, KISS KONFINDENTIAL.  End to end, packaging to track list, ALIVE II has my heart.  The best of the “Alives”…

KISS MEETS THE PHANTOM OF THE PARK, YESTERDAY AND TODAY....

Simply put, KISS MEETS THE PHANTOM OF THE PARK had EVERYTHING to do with myself becoming a KISS fan.  It embodies everything I love about the band.  The era, the outfits, the tour, the songs, the fun.  To me it defines the spectacle and enjoyment of KISS.  Dan used KMTP to entice me into the world of KISS, and a few years later I used KMTP to entice David into the world of KISS.  I no few other people in the world that know, recite, and celebrate the film as much as our crew of nerds, including myself, Dan Thompson, Mike Jackson, Todd Cooper and David Westhoff.  It has become a way of life during the summer months.  If a trip to an amusement park is planned, LOVE GUN and ALIVE II are taken to supply the soundtrack for the car ride there.  If the weather makes for a perfect summer afternoon, someone will surely comment,  "This is a PHANTOM kind of day..." and lastly when the moment arises and we are actually present at a KISS concert, low and behold, before they take he stage, Dan (never missing a beat) will quote Calvin, and hesitantly ask,
"KISS where are you?"
It doesn't get any nerdier than that, but we wouldn't have it any other way.
As my love for all things KMTP grew, I added a trip to MAGIC MOUNTAIN to my bucket list, and held on to the dream for all it was worth.  My love for amusement park rivals my love for KISS, and to me nothing captured the fun of the 1970's like amusement parks.  Amusement parks were (and still remain) huge, excessive, and the kind of place, that if your family has planned on taking a trip to one, the day becomes an EVENT, magical, memorable, and ever lasting.
In the Spring of 2011, finally my day had come.  A trip to MAGIC MOUNTAIN was planned.  I was finally going to the holy land, it was a day to put in the record books.

(AMUSEMENT PARK SIDE NOTE) - Prior to visiting MAGIC MOUNTAIN, I had visited to 2 other Six Flags amusement parks.  Sadly, my review of Six Flags is the same.  Six Flags simply falls short in 'creating' that amusement park EVENT vibe. Granted, hardly any amusement parks still contain that magical 70's vibe, but of all the amusement parks I have visited over the last 8 years, Cedar Fair parks (WORLDS OF FUN - Kansas City, MO, CEDAR POINT - Sandusky Ohio) stay true to the "park vibe".  Both have a theme to all of their attractions, not to mention the wonderful aroma of freshly tarred pavement.  Six Flags?  It's all bland and very corporate.  The parks seem to be all about Looney Tunes and Warner Brothers versus the "great American theme park adventure" of wild roller coasters and fun.  Not to mention the mapping of Six Flags seems to just be scattered throughout the park, whereas Cedar Fair parks have a sectional (geographical) theme carrying the patron through the park and on to their next adventure.  None the less, as a park my thoughts were so-so, as a pilgrimage to the holy KISS land, I was quite pleased.

The first sight I had my heart set on seeing was a roller coaster called REVOLUTION. Historically, this roller coaster was the first ever to feature a loop, and still contains the warning to "hold on the safety bar" prior to venturing on the loop itself.  However, I could not wait to ride this coaster as it is the first coaster seen in the (European Release) KISS IN ATTACK OF THE PHANTOMS, and the coaster Sam and Melissa ride prior to Sam's abduction.

Below are some shots from KMTP and what REVOLUTION looks like today:

REVOLUTION as seen in KMTP:

REVOLUTION today...

Next up on my journey was to find the place in which Calvin took down Alister The Walrus and Freddy The Fox and put up a grotesque KISS cut-out.  The journey to find this was not as impossible as I had originally thought, as if you review KMTP you can easily see the tracks of REVOLUTION in the background as Calvin and Sam argue.  Here are a few shots from the film, and the location today:

Grotesque KISS Cut-out from the film:

The locations today...essentially the cutout was placed diagonally between the REVOLUTION tracks  and in front of the Carousel.  Below are both locations today. 

Mentioning the Carousel...today there is no evidence of the Carousel KISS rode on, questioning if "something was wrong?".  The main entrance carousel (featured above) only contains 'horses' no seats as Gene is sitting in, and the Children's Carousel (which may be the one KISS uses, given how they enter the attraction from the side) is now adorned with all Looney Tunes characters, and contains no visible way to determine if it was the one used in the film.  For reference, please see shot below:

Some shots from the opening scene, including the Jet Stream:

The Jet Stream from the film, 

The Jet Stream today, 

Sadly, a must see from the opening of the film, THE JOLLY MONSTER (The Octopus) was removed in 1981.  Apparently things were malfunctioning and even breaking down.

One main attraction from the film, and even mentioned in the film as a spot marker for Devereaux's laboratory is the SKYTOWER, which is still in use today as a museum.  Devereaux's actual laboratory was THE MAGIC PAGODA (the shiny structure to the right-below) which was removed from the park in 1984.  Below are some photos of the SKYTOWER as it exist today (notice some of the Japanese architecture from the film that still exist in the area):

The Skytower, Japanese architecture and Devereaux's Lab from the film, 

As it exist today, 

Another point of attraction, was where a distraught Melissa wetted her thirst as she searched for Sam. Again, I have no real evidence this is the exact spot, however by the woodwork of the ceiling and look of the tables, I can only assume this may be the same spot.  You be the judge...

Melissa at the snack bar in the film, 

The (assumed) snack bar today, 

Lastly on the journey of all things PHANTOM OF THE PARK, were the Fountains and COLOSSUS.  The fountains are seen at the beginning of the film, during the "Rock and Roll All Nite" opening intro.  COLOSSUS, of course is seen during the main fight between KISS and the android robots.  When actually at the park it becomes very apparent that low angles were used for shooting to make the (at the time, yet to be completed coaster) seem monstrous, when in reality it is rather small.  Below are some photos of both attractions yesterday and today:

The Fountains as seen in the film, 

The fountains today, 

COLOSSUS from the film, 

COLOSSUS today, 

COLOSSUS and the parking lot which held the KISS concert, and the spot where Devereaux was handed his walking papers,

Overall, the excitement of getting to see some of these attractions in real life was fantastic.  Although, they do not exist today as they did on film in 1978 it was still a joy and very cool to walk the streets of that park.  Had I made this trek many years earlier I might had been able to enjoy some of the cooler delights such as the CRAZY BARRELS or the JOLLY MONSTER (both seen in the movies opening), however thanks to a willingness to be a geek and a Magic Mountain Flash Pass, I was able to ride every roller coaster during my 7 1/2 hour day at the park...although I was never able to locate Sam...maybe next time...