Thursday, September 28, 2006
KISSology
I promised you all some KISS news, so here it is. In addition to the long-awaited release of Paul Stanley's solo effort, "Live To Win," later this month, there is also a new DVD that looks to be absolutley outstanding. The following comes straight from kissonline.com:
"For the KISS Army, the release this Halloween of "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1977" marks the arrival of nothing less than a Holy Grail: 6 solid hours of vintage KISS going all the way back to the deep early roots of the band's classic line-up -- Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss -- captured and re-mastered on 2 state-of-the-art DVDs featuring more than 70 live performances and four full concerts bundled along with unreleased tracks and never-before-seen footage. The mind-boggling first volume of a definitive three part collection (Volumes Two and Three are being readied for release in 2007) presented by VH1 Classic, "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1977" is a showcase of pristine digitally-restored video coupled with a 5.1 audio mix to provide both stunning visual quality and powerhouse finely-detailed sound designed to meet the approval of the most demanding KISSmaniac. "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1977" goes all the way back one of the band's earliest live performances in the New York pre-punk glam rock bar scene of the early 1970s before tracing the rocket-paced transformation of KISS into international rock gods who filled the world's largest arenas as the undisputed hottest band in the land by 1977. A dream come true for the KISS Army, "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1977," contains seldom seen high points of KISStory including significant never- before-available material drawn from the band's own personal video vaults. In addition to four full concerts from the peak of the band's first golden era, the DVD set also features notorious television interviews, early KISS music videos and rare unreleased tracks. Included in the lavish "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1977" package are spell-binding eyewitness liner notes penned by the members of KISS themselves. Disc One of "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1976" takes a look back at an early bar-band KISS (freshly risen from the shards of Wicked Lester) already thinking much bigger than any of their contemporaries. 1974 is covered with a live concert in Long Beach as well as KISS's televised appearances on ABC's "In Concert" and an interview/performance on "The Mike Douglas Show." By 1975, KISS was playing San Francisco's fabled Winterland, headlining NBC's "Midnight Special" and making videos for "C'mon & Love Me" and their signature "Rock and Roll All Night," all included on "KISSology." In 1976, KISS came to Detroit for an incendiary concert at the Motor City's Cobo Hall, captured on Disc One of "KISSology." Disc Two of "KISSology" picks up the threads of 1976 with the band's interview and performance of "Black Diamond" on "So It Goes," a must-see and much-discussed interview and performance of "King of the Nighttime World" on "The Paul Lynde Halloween Special," and personal band footage from May 1976. The 1977 material on Disc Two captures the band at the pinnacle of its international fame, performing to tens of thousands of fans at the legendary Budokan Hall in Tokyo in April '77 and, a little more than a month later, headlining "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert." Disc Two closes with scorching concert footage from The Summit in Houston, Texas on September 2, 1977, showing KISS laying down the creed that still beats at the heart of the band: Rock & Roll All Night and Party Every Day!!!"
Needless to say, this looks like a can't-miss item. I'm sure I will be getting it as soon as it comes out and will share my thoughts here.
"For the KISS Army, the release this Halloween of "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1977" marks the arrival of nothing less than a Holy Grail: 6 solid hours of vintage KISS going all the way back to the deep early roots of the band's classic line-up -- Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss -- captured and re-mastered on 2 state-of-the-art DVDs featuring more than 70 live performances and four full concerts bundled along with unreleased tracks and never-before-seen footage. The mind-boggling first volume of a definitive three part collection (Volumes Two and Three are being readied for release in 2007) presented by VH1 Classic, "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1977" is a showcase of pristine digitally-restored video coupled with a 5.1 audio mix to provide both stunning visual quality and powerhouse finely-detailed sound designed to meet the approval of the most demanding KISSmaniac. "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1977" goes all the way back one of the band's earliest live performances in the New York pre-punk glam rock bar scene of the early 1970s before tracing the rocket-paced transformation of KISS into international rock gods who filled the world's largest arenas as the undisputed hottest band in the land by 1977. A dream come true for the KISS Army, "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1977," contains seldom seen high points of KISStory including significant never- before-available material drawn from the band's own personal video vaults. In addition to four full concerts from the peak of the band's first golden era, the DVD set also features notorious television interviews, early KISS music videos and rare unreleased tracks. Included in the lavish "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1977" package are spell-binding eyewitness liner notes penned by the members of KISS themselves. Disc One of "KISSology: Volume One 1974-1976" takes a look back at an early bar-band KISS (freshly risen from the shards of Wicked Lester) already thinking much bigger than any of their contemporaries. 1974 is covered with a live concert in Long Beach as well as KISS's televised appearances on ABC's "In Concert" and an interview/performance on "The Mike Douglas Show." By 1975, KISS was playing San Francisco's fabled Winterland, headlining NBC's "Midnight Special" and making videos for "C'mon & Love Me" and their signature "Rock and Roll All Night," all included on "KISSology." In 1976, KISS came to Detroit for an incendiary concert at the Motor City's Cobo Hall, captured on Disc One of "KISSology." Disc Two of "KISSology" picks up the threads of 1976 with the band's interview and performance of "Black Diamond" on "So It Goes," a must-see and much-discussed interview and performance of "King of the Nighttime World" on "The Paul Lynde Halloween Special," and personal band footage from May 1976. The 1977 material on Disc Two captures the band at the pinnacle of its international fame, performing to tens of thousands of fans at the legendary Budokan Hall in Tokyo in April '77 and, a little more than a month later, headlining "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert." Disc Two closes with scorching concert footage from The Summit in Houston, Texas on September 2, 1977, showing KISS laying down the creed that still beats at the heart of the band: Rock & Roll All Night and Party Every Day!!!"
Needless to say, this looks like a can't-miss item. I'm sure I will be getting it as soon as it comes out and will share my thoughts here.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Moving In
I haven't updated in a couple of weeks, but a lot has been going on. In addition to recently going back to college after a 15-year (!) absence, I also have moved into a new apartment AND taken custody of my daughter from my ex-wife. So, yeah, I've had a pretty full plate. But now all my boxes are unpacked and I'm starting to get into a daily routine, so I should be back to updating more frequently.
In keeping with the theme of my last few posts, and in honor of the impending new fall TV season that is kicking off as we speak, I will give you my thoughts on what I'm looking forward to on TV this year.
I'm definitely going to be checking out "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," Aaron Sorkin's latest brainchild. It looks incredibly promising, although I hope it doesn't grow to be as tiresome as Sorkin's last NBC show, "The West Wing," which I loved initially and grew to become severely disinterested in after 2 seasons. NBC's other show about the inner workings of a sketch comedy show is also at the top of my list. "30 Rock" with Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, and Rachel Dratch, is a can't-miss proposition in my book. I'm also intrigued by "Heroes," although I'm not entirely sold yet. I honestly haven't decided yet whether or not to watch, mostly because it's occupying the same time slot that "24" will be on when it returns in January. If I get hooked, I'm screwed when "24" comes back. My DVR can only record two things at once (Monday Night Raw also occupies this spot, folks).
As for returning shows, two have already started. "The Simpsons" kicked off its 18th season last week with an amazingly strong episode. It certainly didn't hurt that I noticed these words in the opening credits: "Written by Bob Odenkirk." Great way to start off the season. The all-new racially-charged "Survivor" also started this past week. Despite all the media attention the show has received in recent weeks, it still looked like the same old "Survivor" to me. I'm also looking forward to the impending season premieres of "The Amazing Race," "How I Met Your Mother," "My Name is Earl," and "The Office." Of course, the one I am waiting for most anxiously, "Lost," is premiering the latest, on October 4.
That's all for today, kids. Tune in next time for some exciting news in the world of KISS!
In keeping with the theme of my last few posts, and in honor of the impending new fall TV season that is kicking off as we speak, I will give you my thoughts on what I'm looking forward to on TV this year.
I'm definitely going to be checking out "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," Aaron Sorkin's latest brainchild. It looks incredibly promising, although I hope it doesn't grow to be as tiresome as Sorkin's last NBC show, "The West Wing," which I loved initially and grew to become severely disinterested in after 2 seasons. NBC's other show about the inner workings of a sketch comedy show is also at the top of my list. "30 Rock" with Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, and Rachel Dratch, is a can't-miss proposition in my book. I'm also intrigued by "Heroes," although I'm not entirely sold yet. I honestly haven't decided yet whether or not to watch, mostly because it's occupying the same time slot that "24" will be on when it returns in January. If I get hooked, I'm screwed when "24" comes back. My DVR can only record two things at once (Monday Night Raw also occupies this spot, folks).
As for returning shows, two have already started. "The Simpsons" kicked off its 18th season last week with an amazingly strong episode. It certainly didn't hurt that I noticed these words in the opening credits: "Written by Bob Odenkirk." Great way to start off the season. The all-new racially-charged "Survivor" also started this past week. Despite all the media attention the show has received in recent weeks, it still looked like the same old "Survivor" to me. I'm also looking forward to the impending season premieres of "The Amazing Race," "How I Met Your Mother," "My Name is Earl," and "The Office." Of course, the one I am waiting for most anxiously, "Lost," is premiering the latest, on October 4.
That's all for today, kids. Tune in next time for some exciting news in the world of KISS!
