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KISS: The Early Years
More than 150 full-color and black-and-white photographs, many never before published, highlight an official, insider's history of the legendary rock band, looking at the lives of the band members onstage and off during their early days and chronicling the evolution of KISS and their music during a pivotal time in rock history. Original. 100,000 first printing.
- GenresMusic
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
123 people want to read
About the author
Gene Simmons
58 books68 followersLibrarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
From genesimmons.com
Gene Simmons was born in Haifa, Israel in 1949, and is the only child of his mother, a German Nazi Concentration Camp survivor. He has always attributed his ethics, morals and drive to his mother's notion's about life. "Every day above ground, is a good day," his mother is apt to say.
He came to America at eight and a half years of age. He graduated State University (NYSU) and City University (CUNY) and got a Bachelor of Education degree. He taught sixth grade in Spanish Harlem in New York City.
He then became the Assistant to the Director of the Puerto Rican InterAgency Council, a government funded research and demonstration project. He worked at Glamour and then at Vogue, as the assistant to the editor, Kate Lloyd.
Gene speaks a few languages: English, Hungarian, Hebrew, German and is getting better at Japanese every day.
Gene Simmons has never been married.He has had live in relationships with Cher and Diana Ross. He has been happily unmarried for 25 years to Shannon Tweed, the mother of his two beautiful children.*
*Simmons and Tweed finally wed on October 1, 2011
From genesimmons.com
Gene Simmons was born in Haifa, Israel in 1949, and is the only child of his mother, a German Nazi Concentration Camp survivor. He has always attributed his ethics, morals and drive to his mother's notion's about life. "Every day above ground, is a good day," his mother is apt to say.
He came to America at eight and a half years of age. He graduated State University (NYSU) and City University (CUNY) and got a Bachelor of Education degree. He taught sixth grade in Spanish Harlem in New York City.
He then became the Assistant to the Director of the Puerto Rican InterAgency Council, a government funded research and demonstration project. He worked at Glamour and then at Vogue, as the assistant to the editor, Kate Lloyd.
Gene speaks a few languages: English, Hungarian, Hebrew, German and is getting better at Japanese every day.
Gene Simmons has never been married.He has had live in relationships with Cher and Diana Ross. He has been happily unmarried for 25 years to Shannon Tweed, the mother of his two beautiful children.*
*Simmons and Tweed finally wed on October 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 2, 2022
For a time the Canadian prog rock band Rush was touring with Kiss. In an interview, Geddy Lee stated he'd never seen a band work so hard to please their fans than Kiss did. This book is the other side of that coin. Penned by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, it's obvious the pair are wearing rose tinted glasses looking in hindsight. "I wasn't a ham; I was the pig!" states Stanley in the book. Stanley writes, "Although I was a fan of many of the bands we played with, I believed that the friendship ended when we hit the stage: only one band should be left standing."
It's a wonder these guys' egos fit on the stage with them. They were loud and proud and not ashamed of it. These aren't necessarily bad attributes, but they could have exuded a bit more humility. Perhaps they did when they discussed the album, The Elder, in the book. The album was a major disappointment, both to Kiss and the critics.
Still, as a kid when the band was hitting it big, they were like a troupe of superheroes to me, and this book took me back to that time.
It's a wonder these guys' egos fit on the stage with them. They were loud and proud and not ashamed of it. These aren't necessarily bad attributes, but they could have exuded a bit more humility. Perhaps they did when they discussed the album, The Elder, in the book. The album was a major disappointment, both to Kiss and the critics.
Still, as a kid when the band was hitting it big, they were like a troupe of superheroes to me, and this book took me back to that time.
March 21, 2018
Photos are cool. Just wish there was more text.
December 8, 2011
When it comes to KISS, I expect certain things, especially when it comes to images that will high-lite the formation of the 4 guys from New York who would rewrite the book on how to create self-made publicity for themselves. For a band that made it's name on the image it was presenting I was expecting a lot from KISS: The Early Years. Although there are a lot of never-before seen pics that were new even for me, this book wasn't perfect. I have some minor issues with the construction of the book itself. When you think of KISS, you think of larger-than-life characters, explosions, blood and fire. So a book should capture this in a oversize coffee-table size book. Sadly, we don't get that here as the book itself is your basic size. Also, making the book a soft cover doesn't make it feel like a keepsake. All books like this, and especially this one in particular deserves a Hardcover bound book.
Another issue I had with the book is that only Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, along with Photographer Waring Abbott contribute any of the text. Although it was cool to get insight from them on every image in the book, it would have been so much better to get the input of both Peter Criss and Ace Frehley on some of their own photos within.
The book isn't all bad. There are some pretty cool images from the early years when they were still wet behind the ears. But this wasn't the best stuff actually. It's what comes near the end of the book that made me sit up and take notice. Even though I am prone to ragging on The Elder from time to time, this is where this book truly shines. Until I got a chance to look through this book, I had hardly seen much in the way of promotional images when they were promoting the album of the same name. There are some really cool and fascinating images here, especially those of Eric Carr.
This book is definitely a Rent for sure. Only die-hard KISS fans with extra cash laying around should buy this one. But if someone that already has the book wants to give it to me because they need to clean up their room I wouldn't object to keeping it for myself.
Rating: 3 1/2 Stars out of 5
You can find more of my Book, DVD, TV and Movie reviews at my Forum (Penny Can) at...
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Another issue I had with the book is that only Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, along with Photographer Waring Abbott contribute any of the text. Although it was cool to get insight from them on every image in the book, it would have been so much better to get the input of both Peter Criss and Ace Frehley on some of their own photos within.
The book isn't all bad. There are some pretty cool images from the early years when they were still wet behind the ears. But this wasn't the best stuff actually. It's what comes near the end of the book that made me sit up and take notice. Even though I am prone to ragging on The Elder from time to time, this is where this book truly shines. Until I got a chance to look through this book, I had hardly seen much in the way of promotional images when they were promoting the album of the same name. There are some really cool and fascinating images here, especially those of Eric Carr.
This book is definitely a Rent for sure. Only die-hard KISS fans with extra cash laying around should buy this one. But if someone that already has the book wants to give it to me because they need to clean up their room I wouldn't object to keeping it for myself.
Rating: 3 1/2 Stars out of 5
You can find more of my Book, DVD, TV and Movie reviews at my Forum (Penny Can) at...
http://pennycan.createaforum.com/inde...
Feel free to stop by and contribute your 2 cents.
March 13, 2012
I disagree with other reviewers saying this doesn't live up to the KISS standards... get a copy of KISSTORY or KISSTORY2...
This account is just another in a long line of GREAT items from the Hottest Band in the World and it has it's rightful place in any collection. For one, it is that much more affordable specifically due to it's layout and presentation.
There is simply no other band that spends the time and money to churn out the highest quality keepsakes and matters of record for their fans, period and there never will be so i say love it, hate it but appreciate that we have some people that we have placed in their top positions that have truly EARNED it...and continue to do so.
This account is just another in a long line of GREAT items from the Hottest Band in the World and it has it's rightful place in any collection. For one, it is that much more affordable specifically due to it's layout and presentation.
There is simply no other band that spends the time and money to churn out the highest quality keepsakes and matters of record for their fans, period and there never will be so i say love it, hate it but appreciate that we have some people that we have placed in their top positions that have truly EARNED it...and continue to do so.
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May 5, 2008interesting KISS facts !
November 30, 2016
Awesome book packed full of never before seen photos of KISS with back stories straight from the band.
January 30, 2016
A very awesome inside book on the early years of KISS. I loved the backstage pics and the commentary. Very recommended
April 11, 2017
Growing up my favorite Kiss member was Ace but the more I read about him and the more I get to know about him, though he is a very gifted guitarist he apparently is not a very nice person. this book certainly bring outs the best of band but we only get comments and memories from Paul and Gene. The Pics are great and bring back so many memories. The book was a fun walk down memory lane.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews