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.
This 3 DVD set (over 7 hours!) has it all, right from the band’s beginnings. Gene Simmons, in full costume, declaring himself "evil incarnate" on The Mike Douglas Show; Margaret Hamilton, done up in her Wizard of Oz Wicked Witch Of The West garb, introducing KISS to the ever-cackling Paul Lynde on Lynde's 1976 Halloween special and the truly surreal incident where KISS went to Cadillac, Michigan, and had breakfast with the entire city council wearing full KISS makeup before the band made a spectacular exit by helicopter.
Rock & roll is full of strange phenomena, but KISS is one of the most inexplicable: An adolescent fever dream of superheroic hedonism that achieved world-wide stardom, and has entertained for over 30 years.
Kissology is the ultimate visual Kiss collection. Presented in chronological order it combines never before seen footage, full length concerts and rare TV appearances from the Kiss archives. Volume 1 covers the band’s early years from 1974 to 1977 and is superbly packaged in a slipcased 3 DVD set, featuring material (aside form that mentioned above) that includes: Shows from Long Beach, CA (Feb 1974), San Francisco, CA (Jan 1975), Budokan, Japan (April 1977) and much more, featured tracks incl. ’Strutter’, ’Firehouse’, ’Black Diamond’, ’Cold Gin’, ’Rock & Roll All Nite’, ’God Of Thunder’, ’Love Gun’, ’Detroit Rock City’ and many more. The 3rd disc is housed in a card sleeve in the package, and is a complete gig from the Capitol Centre in Largo, Maryland (20/12/77). Bonus feature commentary by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley on selected sections.
The set is completed by a lavishly illustrated 20 page booklet featuring notes on the performances from Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley.
