As KISSology - Vol. 1 (1974-1977) announces loudly, all the chutzpah and bombast that made KISS so huge--the fire-breathing, the blood-dripping, the kabuki-mask make-up and platform shoes, the synchronized head-bobs--were in place from the very beginning. KISS's 1974 concert in San Francisco is virtually identical to their 1977 concerts in Japan and Houston, at the peak of their popularity. For hardcore fans, this opportunity to bask in the nuances of five performances of "Black Diamond" and six performances of "Firehouse" is essential viewing, but for the less committed the pleasures of KISSology lie in the bizarre collisions pop culture is heir to: Gene Simmons, in full costume, declaring himself "evil incarnate" on The Mike Douglas Show;
Practical Effects
Fire-breathing, blood-spitting, platform boots—zero CGI
Production
Mike Douglas Show collision of suburban TV and demonic kabuki
Costume
The makeup evolution that launched a million Halloween regrets
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The Mike Douglas appearance happened in 1974 when KISS was still opening for Slade and Argent—Douglas's audience had no warning.
This collection preserves the original lineup before the 1980s unmasking and 1996 reunion tour rebooted their mythology.
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