I thought it was going to be a hard rocking album after Is That You, but then I heard the rest of it and….well…. Not bad pop rock but nothing special 🤷🏻♂️
@@SirManfly This never felt like a real KISS album. It just showed up at the record store one day with no foreknowledge, no fanfare. And I was disappointed n confused by it.. summer of 1980.. The next album extended the confusion :(
Is That You was also my favorite song of the album. The rest were bad. Some of the beats and riffs were okay, but the names of the songs and the lyrics... yuck.
Anton Fig together with Ace is totally killing it on this album. In my opinion Fig's drumming is impressively masterful and perfectly suited to every track. So glad Vini voted for Fig in 79 and 80 as a gost drummer for KISS, perfect match.
Anton never played a bad note on anything KISS...a songwriter's dream. He gets to stretch a bit on Ace's solo. That little break he does in Rip it Out is still possibly my favourite drum break.
Unmasked is in my top 3 favorite Kiss albums. 1 of the few albums that i never get tired of listening to. Every song is well written and so damn catchy.
In addition, Ace had great chops in playing on the album. I just wish he never quit when he did. I think if KISS was more easy going in terms of meeting album deadlines by Casablanca and took some time off before and during tours, Ace would have stayed. He needed breathing room but Bill (Aucoin) just kept pushing the band very hard and demanding. I don't blame Ace for his decisions. I'd have done the same.
@@opaque4742 I agree. I like Gene's and Paul's songs more on Unmasked but Ace's songs are better on Dynasty. But I like Talk to me more than all 3 of his tunes on Dynasty so I like Unmasked a bit more. Dynasty is still in my top 5 favorite Kiss albums though
The record did great in Europe and Australia, a definite international hit, so it's not an album to be tossed aside. Kiss fans love Shandi, and it should have sailed up the charts, along with the punchy Tomorrow. Hard working NY band showcasing rhythmic, medolic tunes...
yeah, I like a couple songs, too, but it aint KISS.. It's a vini poncia album this album was the 1st confusing album they made- the album cover didnt help things either
I was 9 when I got Unmasked and just figured Peter was getting to be a better drummer. Same as when I got Dynasty. It was obvious to me the drumming was different, but I NEVER would've guessed it wasn't Peter. As far as the music...I was a 9 year old KISS fan, I couldn't be disappointed. Is That You is still my favourite song...regardless of the songwriter. Something about that tune was naughty to me at 9. lol
I was born in 1971. As a kid in the 70s, KISS was my band. I had the albums, the posters, lunchbox, etc. As a fan, because of my age, I was losing interest in KISS around 1979 (Dynasty). By The Elder, I had moved on to Van Halen Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, etc. I did come back to KISS around Lick it Up. And then lost interest again in 1988 (Crazy Nights).
@@kevinchandler179 Agreed and when 1 member is taken away it changes the whole band chemistry . "Guns N' Roses" is another example with their reunion tour without Steven Adler or Izzy Stradlin.
Love kiss huge part of my life growing up like everybody else it's hard to listen to Paul and Gene talk about Peter and Ace it's really grading ...unmasked was the end of an era
The best songs on "Unmasked" are Ace's. Peter was obviously completely whacked-out by 1980, and he got himself thrown out. They tried everything to keep him for the sake of continuity.
Unmasked has really grown on me. I remember having an original copy with the poster in my early 20s, around 15 years ago, and selling it because I thought it sucked then. Big mistake obviously. You never know how your tastes change.
@@josephprice4095 That is why it feels one sided and not true group KISS, such as Rock and Roll Over, Love Gun and before. Others got in the mix and ruined it. Typical Hollywood - they ruin the kids. Always have.
@@ValThor-g2c Can't really blame them when they have a contract obligation and half the band doesn't show up. It's survival. Get someone to fill in or loose the recording contract. No-brainer there.
Ageed Count,Naked City ,Is that you? Are very very good also some other pretty strong tracks but to my ears those are the head and rest are shoulder material my opinion .love the chronicles/diaries wish there were a in order download able version somewhere in its interest though KISS forever!love the community all the fans all love albums and ALL the members past and current and im saddened we will never get another Kiss record release new material ,and my favorite lineup is the creatures/elder /lick-it /eras..
The "Dynasty" tour had such poor ticket sales that they had to end that tour early. So it surprises me that they went back to "Vini Poncia" who produced "Dynasty, Peter Criss" solo album, then was asked to produce "Unmasked" where they had him not only Produce "Unmasked" but he co-wrote almost all of its tracks. "Kiss" had lost so much of their fan base that Ace Frehley considered quitting. Then they hired "Bob Ezrin" to come in and record the album "Music From The Elder" Ace once stated that after first hearing that album, he threw in across the room, and smashed it against the wall, and said "I quit!" So, I'm in the frame of mind as think Vini Poncia and Bob Ezrin were a huge reason for Ace Frehley leaving "Kiss" Kiss never recovered fully again, Until the reunion tour. "Psycho Circus" sucked ass IMO. It did have a couple good tunes, but over all it was trash. Kiss hasn't worked together as a band since the mid 70's. I liked "Dynasty, but that was the last album they did that I liked. I love several tunes after that album, but I can't say any of their albums after "Dynasty" were great.
@@centralpete6044 Yes, and "You Wanted The Best" was a decent tune. But not a single song on that album could compete with "Unholy" or "Domino" off the "Revenge" album. And I thought 90% of that was trash too. I wish I could have heard Ace's lyrics on the original take of that song. But Into The Void was the best song on that album IMO.
Gene and paul have been the core of kiss. You cant have kiss without them however Kiss's foundation no matter what was with Ace and Peter. Thats the sound. Yes some albums were better than others. Now Eric carr and Vinnie were the rebirth foundations of kiss. Their sound was their sound of the 80s along with Bruce kulick. All 3 played an important piece in kiss. Now Eric singer to me is a phenomenal drummer and kiss's most refined drummer. All members are vital
i remember my local radio station WCOZ FM boston playing unmasked in it's entirety then talking to the only kid i knew who liked them in school... (sophomore year)...... and saying...wow.. peter's finally using ALL his drums !....i was impressed 😂 only years later I learned he didn't even play on it ! 🤪
I like “Shandi” the way it is. Though when I first heard it, not knowing Peter had been fired, I remember thinking how much better the band, particularly “Peter “ sounded on that song. Except for Paul’s vocals and guitar, there isn’t a single KISS member on it. Gene’s material was the weakest. Ace had more songs than Gene on “Unmasked “.
I noticed that in the early 80s some rock bands went through an identity crisis of sorts. Kiss during the Fox and Ankh years is a good example. Post Ozzy Black Sabbath with Dio trying to find their new way. Alice Cooper was in his blackout period then There were others as well. The same thing happened 10 years later to hair metal bands when the scene imploded.
In America unmasked was pushed of as a flop but it was an album for Australian fans and did amazing down under kiss was met with a Beatles like welcome
Just had a KISS moment with my youngest daughter, she came down the stairs. Just as Shandi came on here, i wrapped her in a hug. And sang Shandi to her 😁❤️
Gene says that they made up a typical rock n roll excuse to explain why Peter was no longer a member,They didn't want to expose him as a drug addict. They wanted to protect his reputation. So at what point did he and Paul decide that it was ok to air Peter's dirty laundry? And why?
Buying Codeine Syrup together on the road! Haha, they got into some crazy $hit. I have a feeling it was the South African accent they weren't into, but I could be wrong. One thing about Peter and Carr was that they were both great singers. Peter Criss coulda been a solo artist (if he had his $hit together) because his voice is just awesome. I don't know if Anton is much of a singer?
@@Redhotlugnut- You think that's insane? One time Ace was with his friend hanging out drinking. The hotel room had a jacuzzi. Ace's friend went downstairs to the bar. He managed to find two women that wanted to party. When they found out Ace Frehley of KISS was there, they jumped onto the invitation. Ace wanted the blonde. They were all in the jacuzzi drinking champagne and snorting cocaine. Ace poured pine scent into the water. As they were in the jacuzzi the girls went underwater to give them blowjobs. Turns out the one girl was a bottle blonde and her hair turned green! She freaked out and left. I'm sure Ace and his friend were laughing all night. Ace was definitely the party animal and fun to be with. He reminds me a lot like Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. He loved to party, but was always the most fun to hang around with.
Like Ace said later on he would've stayed in the band if he wasn't out-voted 2-1 and they skipped doing "The Elder" and did another hard rock album like 'Creatures Of The Nite" which would've saved the band too.
Naked city was also a hell of a song. Too bad they never incorporated into the show. I always felt they should have replaced Rock and Roll all night with... I, from The Elder or at least start playing it live 🔥💋
Gene: he got a cavity search Paul: he played piano and they let him go I don’t think I have ever seen a piano at any airport I’ve been in and I’ve been to several. On the other hand I never had cavity search either.
It's no wonder that Paul and Gene never mention bill aucouin involvement . 100 mil in kiss merchandise, every thing from programs, t shirts to dolls and lunchboxes and bill kept 97 % and the remaining kiss members 3%. Once paul and gene figured that out, they killed their management deal will bill and took control of the business side of kiss
The Unmasked Album was the last KISS record 😮I bought and was a diehard KISS fan since 77. That album was horrible and I couldn't even stand to play it...maybe a couple songs..maybe. That was it for me and was very saddening to me and seeing where the band was negatively heading and then Ace and Peter departing , yeah I was fine. But when the reunited I went to the first two shows with center floor tickets one in the 7th row center floor. Fucking awesome and I was creaming my jeans..7th heaven. I could stand in my seat and almost touch their boots. They gave me some spectacular camera shots.
"A music stand".....lol You know I get the "Peter Loyalty"......Kiss was a huge influence in my life starting in 1976, ended up having a Gibson Les Paul/Marshall Amp addiction because of them......Peter flat drug this band down! His skills and health were way too diminished as were Ace's in this period of time. So many hates for Gene and Paul, but if wasn't for them it would have been completely over in 1979.
John the reality is paul And Genes Egos Can’t Take they didn’t know what they were doing either yes gene and paul kept kids going but kiss was bankrupt by 1987
@Coogan Kiss Was Bankrupt Read Kiss and Sell by Ck Lendt the Bands Money Manager from Destroyer on All the Original members Filed for Bankruptcy by the Time Of 1995 and the Reunion They Were Operating on Credit After Crazy Nights and not much and were Bankrupt its why the 1996 reunion Happened
The books, by Paul and Gene, tell me the story of KISS from a sober person perspective. It is clear and smooth and sometimes boring. Ace Frehley did depart the band but he made a huge difference. His music and writing were amazing and some of the most important riffs in the KISS catalog. Unfortunately he let aspects outside the band ruin his decision making and almost ended his life. Some of the material Ace Frehley wrote and played with his solo band, Frehley's Comet, was some of his strongest and better than some of the KisS material.p
As a drummer myself,I knew it wasn't Peter. There were certain fills,licks that Anton played,and I knew Peter couldn't pull that off. He wasn't that kind of drummer. He wanted to replicate Gene Krupa,and play like Ringo/Charlie Watts. Plus he had other stuff going on at the time...
Nope, not till the reunion tour in 96' BUT after the Farewell Tour they got Er8c the scab Singer to sing it and later on he faked playing the piano while pretending to be Peter while singng it ..blasphamous
Hearing the same stories from both P n G is cool.. It's like hearing stories about Jesus from luke n john- u get a little different perspective slightly from both
I was impressed with the love and kind words that Gene said about Eric. Paul just seemed so I'm better than each one of you and will tell the world all you're flaws and diseases. Very unkind most of his book of course the parts about him being superior and a Rockstar. The fans want the Original band no matter the cost of money or bickering we are the fans its what we want. Always saying it's for the fans. Bullshit Kiss. It's about the unbelievable amount of money. 500 dollar tickets. 1000 dollar for meet and greet. Thats hypocritical. Sign for poor people give them meet and greet. Lower ticket cost. Remember it's all about the fans.
Paul does come across as very bitter and petty and he doesn’t need to: fantastic songwriter and vocalist. He seems to vent the most at Peter. I can understand him being pissed off around this time as Peter was next to useless, but Paul bashes him now from the beginning saying he was never a very good drummer and he couldn’t sing. Why didn’t he say anything at the time? And why did he agree to get the band back together in 96? Peter could have a very valid point that Paul was jealous he wrote their biggest hit, Beth, and Paul never really got over it.
@@nickgodfrey1148 Paul wrote dozens of better songs than Beth, which was barely played by Peter. Bottom line is Peter is a lost cause and the only reason he got back in '96 was because of the oldschool feel. He never changed never wanted to, same old useless and bitchy catman.
@@InspiredFortunes oh I agree with you about Paul’s songwriting abilities - I say that at the top of my post - and he has written some fantastic songs, much better than Beth (Sure Know Something is one of my favourites - brilliant) but my post was more about his constant bitching about Peter. Saying that he could never keep time - that definitely isn’t true. He was pretty solid in the early days, especially when Paul and Gene were hitting the wrong chords and If Criss was that shit from the beginning, surely they would have replaced him???? That’s more what my post was about.
Both Gene and Paul were stars and owners of KISS, had all the money in the world, yet neither had a single friend nor a female companion that wasn’t there for the sex, money and limousines. Poor, sad, bastards.
@@dwightrenfield2241 You got to be mentally retarded to think that Asylum, Animalize, Lick it up, Crazy Nights and Hot in the Shade consists of better drumming and background singing than Love Gun, Rock and Roll Over, Alive, Alive 2, Destroyer, the first records etc.
😮 How can a guy be a drummer for 6 years with a famous band ! Then all of a sudden he just cant play anymore ??? I mean unless he was paralyzed its impossible
Especially, without Ace and to a large extent Peter, Kiss would not not have made it. I saw Kiss live in 75 and 76 ,,, Ace was incredible. And Peter played the only drum solos that I have ever enjoyed. Really sad that Paul and Gene continue to denigrate Ace an Peter. In addition muther'fing Eric Carr.
The Dynasty tour was a financial disaster and Unmasked was so unpopular, the band didn't even tour the states on it, save for one local concert to break in Eric Carr. After they made that TV movie, they completely rebranded themselves and that tanked their national appeal. Promoters weren't calling and demand was cratering. These records can hold their appeal with fans of today because their impact at the time are decades behind now, so these projects can be cherry picked for purely subjective reasons. History shows that when the original four fractured, the band was never the same nor were their public appeal. Anyone who filled in for any band member did nothing to change the trajectory of the bands fate at that point. All of the internal breakdowns in the band were a result of bad decisions and no one having each other's backs anymore. Bill Aucoin was reaping the majority sum of the merchandising revenue, so he changed them to create more product and appeal to kids to enrich himself and his coke problem. For anyone in the band, especially Gene and Paul, who were supposed to be "together and lucid", this was a major oversight to not address, so their eyes were anything but wide open. Blaming band members with their own vices illustrates their lack of accountability even to this day.
You just laid out every Kiss album. Don’t get me wrong - I love and have them all, but sometimes you gotta wonder what they were thinking with some songs.
Unmasked was the 1st very confusing KISS album Easy as it Seems n Shandi were as bad as Hold Me, Touch Me n Peter n Genes solo lps ugh Shandi aint bad but very confusing for KISS fans at the time 1980
Peter was soooo full of shit in that first interview he gave "after leaving KISS" 😿 Beth...a number one hit?? Up for two Grammy's....?? Ya...whatever catman. He must've sniffed too much catnip that day 😛
The condescending way Gene and Paul talk about Peter and others is nauseating to me. I can't stand people who act like that. 😕 Gene especially talks in a way that makes it seem like he's looking down at you. Like he's more important than you. Like if a fire suddenly started in the building you were in, he'd expect you to let him leave first... and for you to hold the door open for him too!
The Only reason Any woman has been with Gene Including Shannon Tweed is as Gene has said Yes, I'm one ugly Man but it doesn't matter because I'm one really rich bastard.
With all respect and compared to their past, it's a pretty lame album. Just way too poppy and goofy. They were reaching way too deep into the pop and disco crowd. They should have let Dynasty have it's success (or whatever it did) and moved on to the hard rock they were good at. It's just a weak soft album that a lot of fans saw as the downfall.
Am I the only red blooded American male kiss fan that finds the ace freely comments about making out with the guys a little disturbing especially if you have read Peter Chris’s comments about Ace making out with hisBuddy like it’s a joke where I grew up kissing A dude is no joke it’s disgusting. Having said all of that. I love kiss and I love ace. He may be straight but the kissing guy thing got admit kind of weird. Ironically he’s not the one we thought was a little light in the loafers anyway I wonder which one of the three I’m referring to.?But go figure I’m still reeling from the fact Rob Halford’s not a lover of the ladies apparently can’t say that I dig that but the dude can sing
Gene and Paul telling their story. YAWN!!!! Haven't we all heard enough about how Gene and Paul trashtalk and put down Peter and Ace? Well, I certainly have. We got it already: Gene and Paul were the big heroes in Kiss and Peter and Ace were the slobs, the junkies and the 2 bandmembers who never contributed to the band. I wonder where the people are that have the guts and the honesty to post videos on the power- and moneyhungry Gene and the totally selfcentered Paul. And for the love of God, why do we have to praise Anton Fig or Eric Singer? Or Tommy Thayer? They were and are JUST substitudes. NOTHING MORE. Peter in his prime was a hell of a drummer that fitted Kiss perfectly. That goes for Ace and his guitar playing as well. As for playing in Kiss, in my opinion Peter and Ace were better musicians than Gene and Paul. I say: there's a lot that can be said about Peter and Ace's bad behaviour in the band, but the way Gene and Paul treated them and how they were as bandmembers themselves is JUST AS BAD. It just doesn't get the attention as much. And that is just not fair. Peter and Ace, i salute you. Fuck you Gene and Paul!
The first 5 songs on “Unmasked “ are good, but on side B, the following 6 are all crap. Really shit. Half baked, back burner material that should have never been recorded. Too weak to even be the B side of a single.
I like the album but I gotta agree with you. I do like Tomorrow and Easy as it Seems but the rest on side 2 are not that good. You're all that I Want is listenable but weak . The demo is 10 times better. Torpedo Girl is an odd song but a fun 1 if you're a musician playing it. Side 1 is great and sounds like a continuation from side 2 of Dynasty. Anton Fig has stated most of the songs were written while they were recording the album. It definitely shows but Figs drumming is 1 reason why the album is listenable to me.
@@CrazyLG72 I remember back in 1980, when I first heard the album on vinyl, 2 things popped into my head: (1) WOW, KISS really got better at playing their instruments, especially Peter!! (2) The songs sound a bit light, and not as satisfying as the previous albums.... Let me see... "Produced by Vini Poncia"... Isn't that the same guy from Peter's album?... Dynasty too? ... Why did they get him and not... Eddie Kramer?....Wow, no wonder it sounds "light"....I'm trying to like this album but it's not as easy as the previous one.... or maybe the songs are not that good to begin with?... No... NO MY KISS....Shit....And I spent $8.98 on this?.....
@@manolokonosko2868 haha. Naked city and Is that You were the heaviest songs on the album. Tomorrow sounds like a Rick Springfield song, Your al that I want sounds unfinished and What makes the world go round sounds like a Motown song but I actually like it lol. Yep , thank Poncia for Pop Kiss
@@CrazyLG72 The flood of KISS merch, "Kissing Time", hiring Peter Criss, Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise - then Neil Bogart - as KISS album producers, "Destroyer" over-produced by Bob Ezrin, "KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park", Vini Poncia for "Dynasty", "I was Made For Loving You", Vini Poncia for "Unmasked" (1980).... Just a short list of major fuckups by KISS from 1973-1980. Some of them - particularly the record producers for the first 3 albums, is not their fault. If you boil it down to only 2 key major problems faced by the band, I'd say (1) Wrong album producers (2) Hiring Peter Criss as a drummer. I cannot say that "Gene and Paul were innocent and inexperienced" when they had already recorded an album and been in bands. By then they should have realized, particularly at the Chinese restaurant ("I've got a 9 inch dick", "if you don't like it, I'm quitting the band!"), that Peter was and still is, an unstable man and someone impossible to work with. Gene and Paul should have auditioned and interviewed, tried out, other drummers instead of just falling for that Rolling Stone ad.
I absolutely love what you’ve done with these episodes!! Thank you :-) you really bought their books to life
Thanks a lot for your kind words, highly appreciated!
To me „Naked City“ is a gem
Definitely.
I really love Ace's playing on the last song of the album, I Found Out (What Makes The World Go Round). Gene and Ace had the best songs on the album.
I agree. My favorite song on the record.
Naked city should of been released as a single. They should of atleast tried to play it live in my opinion.
if gene did play bass on naked city then..... he's got my respect 🤟😝
I love the first song "Is That You?" that Paul sings. Its a pretty hard rocking song. The album is pretty poppy but I still like a lot of it.
I thought it was going to be a hard rocking album after Is That You, but then I heard the rest of it and….well…. Not bad pop rock but nothing special 🤷🏻♂️
Is That You is cool, agreed
And he didn't even write it.... It's a cover!!!
@@SirManfly This never felt like a real KISS album. It just showed up at the record store one day with no foreknowledge, no fanfare. And I was disappointed n confused by it.. summer of 1980.. The next album extended the confusion :(
Is That You was also my favorite song of the album. The rest were bad. Some of the beats and riffs were okay, but the names of the songs and the lyrics... yuck.
Anton Fig together with Ace is totally killing it on this album. In my opinion Fig's drumming is impressively masterful and perfectly suited to every track. So glad Vini voted for Fig in 79 and 80 as a gost drummer for KISS, perfect match.
What's cool is that Anton is still in demand. I see that he is playing with Joe Bonamassa.
always wondered how people didnt know that it wasnt Peter on this album......
@@peartfaldo that drum fill on hard times is a dead give way haha totally not Peter's style
I think Ace only played on his own 3 songs
my opinion
Anton never played a bad note on anything KISS...a songwriter's dream.
He gets to stretch a bit on Ace's solo. That little break he does in Rip it Out
is still possibly my favourite drum break.
Eric carr was a monster drummer!
Eric Carr was KISS's version of John Bonham.
I think peters fills were much better than Eric's rip
Unmasked is obviously a more Pop oriented album than the earlier ones, but I have always liked the songs on here.
Unmasked is in my top 3 favorite Kiss albums. 1 of the few albums that i never get tired of listening to. Every song is well written and so damn catchy.
Appreciate the work you have done on these diaries!
Thank you, nice to hear you are enjoying it!
such a good album! No bad song on it.
In addition, Ace had great chops in playing on the album. I just wish he never quit when he did. I think if KISS was more easy going in terms of meeting album deadlines by Casablanca and took some time off before and during tours, Ace would have stayed. He needed breathing room but Bill (Aucoin) just kept pushing the band very hard and demanding. I don't blame Ace for his decisions. I'd have done the same.
I prefer it to Dynasty.
@@opaque4742 I agree. I like Gene's and Paul's songs more on Unmasked but Ace's songs are better on Dynasty. But I like Talk to me more than all 3 of his tunes on Dynasty so I like Unmasked a bit more. Dynasty is still in my top 5 favorite Kiss albums though
Unmasked is one of my top 5 KISS albums. Creatures is definitely close to the top.
The record did great in Europe and Australia, a definite international hit, so it's not an album to be tossed aside. Kiss fans love Shandi, and it should have sailed up the charts, along with the punchy Tomorrow. Hard working NY band showcasing rhythmic, medolic tunes...
I actually like some of the album . Especially Aces songs. Two Sides of the coin, Talk to Me, and Torpedo girl are great songs 🤘😎
I liked it all, maybe cuz I was 9 at the time, tomorrow is especially good
yeah, I like a couple songs, too, but it aint KISS.. It's a vini poncia album
this album was the 1st confusing album they made- the album cover didnt help things either
Back in the day I thought it sucked. Now I like it and think its underrated.
Fucking terrible songs wat r U smoking?
@@seangiuliani2552 nothing. I prefer to snort my drugs or take them rectally
I was 9 when I got Unmasked and just figured Peter was getting to be a better drummer.
Same as when I got Dynasty. It was obvious to me the drumming was different, but I NEVER would've
guessed it wasn't Peter.
As far as the music...I was a 9 year old KISS fan, I couldn't be disappointed.
Is That You is still my favourite song...regardless of the songwriter.
Something about that tune was naughty to me at 9. lol
From what I understand, on the Unmasked tour, one of my favorite bands opened - The Plasmatics. Their shows were similar to KISS in certain ways.
I was born in 1971. As a kid in the 70s, KISS was my band. I had the albums, the posters, lunchbox, etc. As a fan, because of my age, I was losing interest in KISS around 1979 (Dynasty). By The Elder, I had moved on to Van Halen Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, etc. I did come back to KISS around Lick it Up. And then lost interest again in 1988 (Crazy Nights).
Ace Always Kept The Band Alive . Best Musician In The History Of The Band
Best musician? No. Most rock and roll person in the band? Absolutely!
Peter and Ace were the best, in the early days, Peter was one of the 5 best drummers on the planet, fact!!!!
@@kevinchandler179
Agreed and when 1 member is taken away it changes the whole band chemistry .
"Guns N' Roses" is another example with their reunion tour without Steven Adler or Izzy Stradlin.
from the day i got when it came out to this moment, i LOVE this album.
Love kiss huge part of my life growing up like everybody else it's hard to listen to Paul and Gene talk about Peter and Ace it's really grading ...unmasked was the end of an era
The best songs on "Unmasked" are Ace's. Peter was obviously completely whacked-out by 1980, and he got himself thrown out. They tried everything to keep him for the sake of continuity.
Ace's were the WORST
@@arthurhall8238 Cool. That's why they say opinions are like azzholes....everybody has one.
@@joeanthony7759 exactly...we didn't need to hear yours...
Ace is my favorite member but those songs, like an asshole, are ass.
@@arthurhall8238 oh you got me. But we really needed to hear yours, I guess, right pal?
Unmasked has really grown on me. I remember having an original copy with the poster in my early 20s, around 15 years ago, and selling it because I thought it sucked then. Big mistake obviously. You never know how your tastes change.
Paul always carried the band. He IS KISS
Gene is his other half. Hard to say either ONE is ALL. Ace is the Secret Sauce too. KISS is best on KISS ALIVE!
@@ValThor-g2c From Creatures to Revenge it's all Paul. Gene admits it.
@@josephprice4095 That is why it feels one sided and not true group KISS, such as Rock and Roll Over, Love Gun and before. Others got in the mix and ruined it. Typical Hollywood - they ruin the kids. Always have.
@@ValThor-g2c Can't really blame them when they have a contract obligation and half the band doesn't show up. It's survival. Get someone to fill in or loose the recording contract. No-brainer there.
I couldn't agree more. Paul Stanley is the glue that's kept this band going. Without Psul Stanley, there is no Kiss, as we know it!
Naked City my Favorit Kiss Song
this album was one of my 1st cassette tapes :)
Is that you is my favorite Kiss Song.
Haven’t listened to this to much …Naked City is My Favorite
Ageed Count,Naked City ,Is that you? Are very very good also some other pretty strong tracks but to my ears those are the head and rest are shoulder material my opinion .love the chronicles/diaries wish there were a in order download able version somewhere in its interest though KISS forever!love the community all the fans all love albums and ALL the members past and current and im saddened we will never get another Kiss record release new material ,and my favorite lineup is the creatures/elder /lick-it /eras..
Shandi is such a great song. Paul always came through w songs that were versatile and well crafted. Pity all that changed after Animalize.
Unmasked was my fav album ...sounded like they had fun in every song ...2, would b Love Gun.
Anton Figg was the best KISS drummer
You're joking aren't you? I hope so.
@spaceace1006- And even on the gatefold album poster, you didn't see Anton Figg in Peter's makeup.
No matter what Gene remembers, Iron Maiden opened for KISS in Germany on the 1980 Tour (with the first album freshly released.)
Erinnere mich daran
"When I wrote Beth..." Really? You alone wrote that tune, Peter Cryptomnesiac?
I love Unmasked.
Is that yoooouoouu … crawling up my stairs … is that you ?
Is that you crawling up my stairs ?
Stanley Eisen taking every opportunity to play the poor victim. 109 times
I only counted 108 times I must have missed one 'LoL'
The "Dynasty" tour had such poor ticket sales that they had to end that tour early. So it surprises me that they went back to "Vini Poncia" who produced "Dynasty, Peter Criss" solo album, then was asked to produce "Unmasked" where they had him not only Produce "Unmasked" but he co-wrote almost all of its tracks.
"Kiss" had lost so much of their fan base that Ace Frehley considered quitting. Then they hired "Bob Ezrin" to come in and record the album "Music From The Elder" Ace once stated that after first hearing that album, he threw in across the room, and smashed it against the wall, and said "I quit!"
So, I'm in the frame of mind as think Vini Poncia and Bob Ezrin were a huge reason for Ace Frehley leaving "Kiss" Kiss never recovered fully again, Until the reunion tour. "Psycho Circus" sucked ass IMO. It did have a couple good tunes, but over all it was trash. Kiss hasn't worked together as a band since the mid 70's. I liked "Dynasty, but that was the last album they did that I liked. I love several tunes after that album, but I can't say any of their albums after "Dynasty" were great.
I liked “Into the Void”
@@centralpete6044 Yes, and "You Wanted The Best" was a decent tune. But not a single song on that album could compete with "Unholy" or "Domino" off the "Revenge" album. And I thought 90% of that was trash too.
I wish I could have heard Ace's lyrics on the original take of that song. But Into The Void was the best song on that album IMO.
Gene and paul have been the core of kiss. You cant have kiss without them however Kiss's foundation no matter what was with Ace and Peter. Thats the sound. Yes some albums were better than others. Now Eric carr and Vinnie were the rebirth foundations of kiss. Their sound was their sound of the 80s along with Bruce kulick. All 3 played an important piece in kiss.
Now Eric singer to me is a phenomenal drummer and kiss's most refined drummer.
All members are vital
i remember my local radio station WCOZ FM boston playing unmasked in it's entirety then talking to the only kid i knew who liked them in school... (sophomore year)...... and saying...wow.. peter's finally using ALL his drums !....i was impressed 😂 only years later I learned he didn't even play on it ! 🤪
A Great Album
A fantastic album... Very melodic on Pauls' side, street rnr from ace, and well, gene.. always loved it...
This album had some decent songs I deem it OK.
Yeah, it is. But compared to the other stuff coming out in 1980, it just couldn’t compete.
I like “Shandi” the way it is. Though when I first heard it, not knowing Peter had been fired, I remember thinking how much better the band, particularly “Peter “ sounded on that song. Except for Paul’s vocals and guitar, there isn’t a single KISS member on it. Gene’s material was the weakest. Ace had more songs than Gene on “Unmasked “.
Ace and Gene each had 3 songs on Unmasked. Ace had more songs than Gene on Dynasty.
@@dougalmeida4807 And, amazingly, even Ace's bad songs were still better than Gene's.
I noticed that in the early 80s some rock bands went through an identity crisis of sorts. Kiss during the Fox and Ankh years is a good example.
Post Ozzy Black Sabbath with Dio trying to find their new way.
Alice Cooper was in his blackout period then
There were others as well. The same thing happened 10 years later to hair metal bands when the scene imploded.
I like most of Unmasked , standout tracks for me being Naked City and Is That You ?
Tomorrow?
Tomorrow is great too.
In America unmasked was pushed of as a flop but it was an album for Australian fans and did amazing down under kiss was met with a Beatles like welcome
Just had a KISS moment with my youngest daughter, she came down the stairs. Just as Shandi came on here, i wrapped her in a hug. And sang Shandi to her 😁❤️
🥰
Gene says that they made up a typical rock n roll excuse to explain why Peter was no longer a member,They didn't want to expose him as a drug addict. They wanted to protect his reputation. So at what point did he and Paul decide that it was ok to air Peter's dirty laundry? And why?
Anton shouldve been in the band.. Ace wouldve stayed forever if Anton did.. They wouldve been great
Buying Codeine Syrup together on the road! Haha, they got into some crazy $hit. I have a feeling it was the South African accent they weren't into, but I could be wrong.
One thing about Peter and Carr was that they were both great singers. Peter Criss coulda been a solo artist (if he had his $hit together) because his voice is just awesome. I don't know if Anton is much of a singer?
@@Redhotlugnut- You think that's insane? One time Ace was with his friend hanging out drinking. The hotel room had a jacuzzi. Ace's friend went downstairs to the bar. He managed to find two women that wanted to party. When they found out Ace Frehley of KISS was there, they jumped onto the invitation. Ace wanted the blonde. They were all in the jacuzzi drinking champagne and snorting cocaine. Ace poured pine scent into the water. As they were in the jacuzzi the girls went underwater to give them blowjobs. Turns out the one girl was a bottle blonde and her hair turned green! She freaked out and left. I'm sure Ace and his friend were laughing all night. Ace was definitely the party animal and fun to be with. He reminds me a lot like Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. He loved to party, but was always the most fun to hang around with.
Like Ace said later on
he would've stayed in the band if he wasn't out-voted 2-1 and they skipped doing "The Elder" and did another hard rock album like 'Creatures Of The Nite" which would've saved the band too.
Ace totally carried this album.
You got that right
You must need hearing aids....
Naked city was also a hell of a song. Too bad they never incorporated into the show. I always felt they should have replaced Rock and Roll all night with... I, from The Elder or at least start playing it live 🔥💋
it would sound a little thin live... without the keyboards in the background 😒
@@butters395 are you kidding, they finished their careers using backing tracks 🤭
Paul is a professional victim. It just amazes me.
It's a good thing Pam Divorced Paul Stanley
He is a insecure whiny little wimp.
I really liked unmasked ❤
Gene: he got a cavity search
Paul: he played piano and they let him go
I don’t think I have ever seen a piano at any airport I’ve been in and I’ve been to several. On the other hand I never had cavity search either.
It's no wonder that Paul and Gene never mention bill aucouin involvement . 100 mil in kiss merchandise, every thing from programs, t shirts to dolls and lunchboxes and bill kept 97 % and the remaining kiss members 3%. Once paul and gene figured that out, they killed their management deal will bill and took control of the business side of kiss
I didn't like a mask at all but I'm a kiss fan every band has his great good albums and bad albums
The Unmasked Album was the last KISS record 😮I bought and was a diehard KISS fan since 77. That album was horrible and I couldn't even stand to play it...maybe a couple songs..maybe. That was it for me and was very saddening to me and seeing where the band was negatively heading and then Ace and Peter departing , yeah I was fine. But when the reunited I went to the first two shows with center floor tickets one in the 7th row center floor. Fucking awesome and I was creaming my jeans..7th heaven. I could stand in my seat and almost touch their boots. They gave me some spectacular camera shots.
"A music stand".....lol You know I get the "Peter Loyalty"......Kiss was a huge influence in my life starting in 1976, ended up having a Gibson Les Paul/Marshall Amp addiction because of them......Peter flat drug this band down! His skills and health were way too diminished as were Ace's in this period of time. So many hates for Gene and Paul, but if wasn't for them it would have been completely over in 1979.
They actually were by then, but that's my opinion. '79 was the last year for me.
@SpaceAce100 I had a Lawsuit LP identical to Randy Rhoads' LP. It was a 'Cortez'. I still wish I had it too.
John the reality is paul And Genes Egos Can’t Take they didn’t know what they were doing either yes gene and paul kept kids going but kiss was bankrupt by 1987
@Coogan Kiss Was Bankrupt Read Kiss and Sell by Ck Lendt the Bands Money Manager from Destroyer on All the Original members Filed for Bankruptcy by the Time Of 1995 and the Reunion They Were Operating on Credit After Crazy Nights and not much and were Bankrupt its why the 1996 reunion Happened
John Your right However the Band wasn't the same after 1977 If were Honest
My absolute favorite!!! Oh Joy of Joys !!!! Shandi might be the greatest piece of crap ever !!!! Lol
Yes I get that....😅😅🤘🇦🇺
Dynasty was bad enough, but this album was the nail in the coffin for me with Kiss.
I agree totally
Dynasty is pretty damn good
Didn't Peter do a solo album with Gene producing and Ace playing guitar on it
Howd that solo Career go ? 😝😝😝
The books, by Paul and Gene, tell me the story of KISS from a sober person perspective. It is clear and smooth and sometimes boring. Ace Frehley did depart the band but he made a huge difference. His music and writing were amazing and some of the most important riffs in the KISS catalog. Unfortunately he let aspects outside the band ruin his decision making and almost ended his life. Some of the material Ace Frehley wrote and played with his solo band, Frehley's Comet, was some of his strongest and better than some of the KisS material.p
Tnx
Welcome ;)
"Wadda ya talkin' about? I'm from White Plains" - Eric Carr (R.I.P.) !!!!!
As a drummer myself,I knew it wasn't Peter. There were certain fills,licks that Anton played,and I knew Peter couldn't pull that off. He wasn't that kind of drummer. He wanted to replicate Gene Krupa,and play like Ringo/Charlie Watts. Plus he had other stuff going on at the time...
I liked the Unmasked album, wasnt old enough to see the good old band though. But the songs are good anyway, not only Aces.
😮 Ace had the best songs on this album anyway! Man your battle stations
Amateur question probably, did they continue to play 'Beth' after Peter left? If yes, who sang it?
Nope, not till the reunion tour in 96' BUT after the Farewell Tour they got Er8c the scab Singer to sing it and later on he faked playing the piano while pretending to be Peter while singng it ..blasphamous
There is being honest about something that happened and then there is reveling in that honesty because you think it makes you looks better.
Mr Klein, the best bass riff was Detroit Rock City
@SpaceAce100 Chaim Witz?
Peter doesn't get credit he deserves Kiss was better with him.
Hearing the same stories from both P n G is cool.. It's like hearing stories about Jesus from luke n john- u get a little different perspective slightly from both
I was impressed with the love and kind words that Gene said about Eric. Paul just seemed so I'm better than each one of you and will tell the world all you're flaws and diseases. Very unkind most of his book of course the parts about him being superior and a Rockstar. The fans want the Original band no matter the cost of money or bickering we are the fans its what we want. Always saying it's for the fans. Bullshit Kiss. It's about the unbelievable amount of money. 500 dollar tickets. 1000 dollar for meet and greet. Thats hypocritical. Sign for poor people give them meet and greet. Lower ticket cost. Remember it's all about the fans.
Paul does come across as very bitter and petty and he doesn’t need to: fantastic songwriter and vocalist. He seems to vent the most at Peter. I can understand him being pissed off around this time as Peter was next to useless, but Paul bashes him now from the beginning saying he was never a very good drummer and he couldn’t sing. Why didn’t he say anything at the time? And why did he agree to get the band back together in 96? Peter could have a very valid point that Paul was jealous he wrote their biggest hit, Beth, and Paul never really got over it.
@@nickgodfrey1148 Paul wrote dozens of better songs than Beth, which was barely played by Peter. Bottom line is Peter is a lost cause and the only reason he got back in '96 was because of the oldschool feel. He never changed never wanted to, same old useless and bitchy catman.
@@InspiredFortunes oh I agree with you about Paul’s songwriting abilities - I say that at the top of my post - and he has written some fantastic songs, much better than Beth (Sure Know Something is one of my favourites - brilliant) but my post was more about his constant bitching about Peter. Saying that he could never keep time - that definitely isn’t true. He was pretty solid in the early days, especially when Paul and Gene were hitting the wrong chords and If Criss was that shit from the beginning, surely they would have replaced him???? That’s more what my post was about.
Both Gene and Paul were stars and owners of KISS, had all the money in the world, yet neither had a single friend nor a female companion that wasn’t there for the sex, money and limousines. Poor, sad, bastards.
But at the end of the day they are rich and you are not lol
@@geoffreyholliday1971 you’re absolutely right. So the lesson is…. ( please do the honors)
Haha, my favorite word. You know they're sad Bastards because they whine about it, especially Paul. 😆
Oh please......
Poor bastards? I don't think so buddy., they are filthy rich since 1979 unlike you eating frozen microwaved food on your couch on a daily.
Without Peter KISS was never the same.
BWAA HA HA........
You’re right. They got better.
@@dwightrenfield2241 You got to be mentally retarded to think that Asylum, Animalize, Lick it up, Crazy Nights and Hot in the Shade consists of better drumming and background singing than Love Gun, Rock and Roll Over, Alive, Alive 2, Destroyer, the first records etc.
Without Ace Peter it's never Kiss it's just a circus side Show.
@@dwightrenfield2241 how so?
😮 How can a guy be a drummer for 6 years with a famous band ! Then all of a sudden he just cant play anymore ??? I mean unless he was paralyzed its impossible
Especially, without Ace and to a large extent Peter, Kiss would not not have made it. I saw Kiss live in 75 and 76 ,,, Ace was incredible. And Peter played the only drum solos that I have ever enjoyed. Really sad that Paul and Gene continue to denigrate Ace an Peter. In addition muther'fing Eric Carr.
I read Peter's book. I love him and he's a favorite drummer. But he must have been hard to work with. Lots of drugs
Unmasked is a vini poncia album, not a KISS album
:(
The Dynasty tour was a financial disaster and Unmasked was so unpopular, the band didn't even tour the states on it, save for one local concert to break in Eric Carr. After they made that TV movie, they completely rebranded themselves and that tanked their national appeal. Promoters weren't calling and demand was cratering. These records can hold their appeal with fans of today because their impact at the time are decades behind now, so these projects can be cherry picked for purely subjective reasons. History shows that when the original four fractured, the band was never the same nor were their public appeal. Anyone who filled in for any band member did nothing to change the trajectory of the bands fate at that point. All of the internal breakdowns in the band were a result of bad decisions and no one having each other's backs anymore. Bill Aucoin was reaping the majority sum of the merchandising revenue, so he changed them to create more product and appeal to kids to enrich himself and his coke problem. For anyone in the band, especially Gene and Paul, who were supposed to be "together and lucid", this was a major oversight to not address, so their eyes were anything but wide open. Blaming band members with their own vices illustrates their lack of accountability even to this day.
Wait Gene said they voted him out and then Paul makes it sound like he left to be a better musical talent than KISS
No, that's what they wanted the press to believe. They didn't want the press to believe he was fired.
It had some good songs but some terrible ones at the same time.
You just laid out every Kiss album.
Don’t get me wrong - I love and have them all, but sometimes you gotta wonder what they were thinking with some songs.
@@dwightrenfield2241 she's so European, complete trash🤭
Omg....the story of Peter Criss and pretending to read sheet music is so 2nd hand cringe!!! 😂😂😂
peter should have sung shandi
Great Idea
Unmasked was the 1st very confusing KISS album
Easy as it Seems n Shandi were as bad as Hold Me, Touch Me n Peter n Genes solo lps ugh
Shandi aint bad but very confusing for KISS fans at the time 1980
Peter and Ace lost their fkng minds
Gene only plays bass on 5 of the 11 songs. Yet Peter was the problem…
40:37 Ace makes out with Eric Carr
Ace is weird af.. He lost his mind, like Peter
Peter was soooo full of shit in that first interview he gave "after leaving KISS" 😿 Beth...a number one hit?? Up for two Grammy's....?? Ya...whatever catman. He must've sniffed too much catnip that day 😛
And he blamed Kiss for the failure of his solo albums after Kiss. Definitely delusional.
The condescending way Gene and Paul talk about Peter and others is nauseating to me. I can't stand people who act like that. 😕
Gene especially talks in a way that makes it seem like he's looking down at you. Like he's more important than you. Like if a fire suddenly started in the building you were in, he'd expect you to let him leave first... and for you to hold the door open for him too!
So Gene thinks that PERHAPS the reason he got laid was because he was in Kiss 18:03
The Only reason Any woman has been with Gene
Including Shannon Tweed is as Gene has said
Yes, I'm one ugly Man but it doesn't matter because I'm one really rich bastard.
This Album wasn't thought thru
The guys were scattered. They were rich and comfortable - no longer hungry.
You can’t hide the hook
With all respect and compared to their past, it's a pretty lame album. Just way too poppy and goofy. They were reaching way too deep into the pop and disco crowd. They should have let Dynasty have it's success (or whatever it did) and moved on to the hard rock they were good at. It's just a weak soft album that a lot of fans saw as the downfall.
My Eisen give me one of your Guitars
Am I the only red blooded American male kiss fan that finds the ace freely comments about making out with the guys a little disturbing especially if you have read Peter Chris’s comments about Ace making out with hisBuddy like it’s a joke where I grew up kissing A dude is no joke it’s disgusting. Having said all of that. I love kiss and I love ace. He may be straight but the kissing guy thing got admit kind of weird. Ironically he’s not the one we thought was a little light in the loafers anyway I wonder which one of the three I’m referring to.?But go figure I’m still reeling from the fact Rob Halford’s not a lover of the ladies apparently can’t say that I dig that but the dude can sing
924 Porsche.......yuck
Gene and Paul telling their story. YAWN!!!! Haven't we all heard enough about how Gene and Paul trashtalk and put down Peter and Ace? Well, I certainly have. We got it already: Gene and Paul were the big heroes in Kiss and Peter and Ace were the slobs, the junkies and the 2 bandmembers who never contributed to the band. I wonder where the people are that have the guts and the honesty to post videos on the power- and moneyhungry Gene and the totally selfcentered Paul. And for the love of God, why do we have to praise Anton Fig or Eric Singer? Or Tommy Thayer? They were and are JUST substitudes. NOTHING MORE. Peter in his prime was a hell of a drummer that fitted Kiss perfectly. That goes for Ace and his guitar playing as well. As for playing in Kiss, in my opinion Peter and Ace were better musicians than Gene and Paul. I say: there's a lot that can be said about Peter and Ace's bad behaviour in the band, but the way Gene and Paul treated them and how they were as bandmembers themselves is JUST AS BAD. It just doesn't get the attention as much. And that is just not fair. Peter and Ace, i salute you. Fuck you Gene and Paul!
Check out my latest Episodes with Ace and Peter, maybe your gonna enjoy those more.
The first 5 songs on “Unmasked “ are good, but on side B, the following 6 are all crap. Really shit. Half baked, back burner material that should have never been recorded. Too weak to even be the B side of a single.
I like the album but I gotta agree with you. I do like Tomorrow and Easy as it Seems but the rest on side 2 are not that good. You're all that I Want is listenable but weak . The demo is 10 times better. Torpedo Girl is an odd song but a fun 1 if you're a musician playing it. Side 1 is great and sounds like a continuation from side 2 of Dynasty. Anton Fig has stated most of the songs were written while they were recording the album. It definitely shows but Figs drumming is 1 reason why the album is listenable to me.
@@CrazyLG72 I remember back in 1980, when I first heard the album on vinyl, 2 things popped into my head: (1) WOW, KISS really got better at playing their instruments, especially Peter!! (2) The songs sound a bit light, and not as satisfying as the previous albums.... Let me see... "Produced by Vini Poncia"... Isn't that the same guy from Peter's album?... Dynasty too? ... Why did they get him and not... Eddie Kramer?....Wow, no wonder it sounds "light"....I'm trying to like this album but it's not as easy as the previous one.... or maybe the songs are not that good to begin with?... No... NO MY KISS....Shit....And I spent $8.98 on this?.....
@@manolokonosko2868 haha. Naked city and Is that You were the heaviest songs on the album. Tomorrow sounds like a Rick Springfield song, Your al that I want sounds unfinished and What makes the world go round sounds like a Motown song but I actually like it lol. Yep , thank Poncia for Pop Kiss
@@CrazyLG72 The flood of KISS merch, "Kissing Time", hiring Peter Criss, Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise - then Neil Bogart - as KISS album producers, "Destroyer" over-produced by Bob Ezrin, "KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park", Vini Poncia for "Dynasty", "I was Made For Loving You", Vini Poncia for "Unmasked" (1980).... Just a short list of major fuckups by KISS from 1973-1980. Some of them - particularly the record producers for the first 3 albums, is not their fault. If you boil it down to only 2 key major problems faced by the band, I'd say (1) Wrong album producers (2) Hiring Peter Criss as a drummer. I cannot say that "Gene and Paul were innocent and inexperienced" when they had already recorded an album and been in bands. By then they should have realized, particularly at the Chinese restaurant ("I've got a 9 inch dick", "if you don't like it, I'm quitting the band!"), that Peter was and still is, an unstable man and someone impossible to work with. Gene and Paul should have auditioned and interviewed, tried out, other drummers instead of just falling for that Rolling Stone ad.
A Baton is useless
Shandi is a ripoff of a Joe Walsh song called Tomorrow.
I wonder if Joe got paid.