Rating: 
Summary: Great book - excellent insight on KISS - the "band"
Review: KISS: BEHIND THE MASK rocks. It's up there as one of my all-time favorite KISS book. It's a great to fill in the blanks on the "real" story of KISS.
KISS: BEHIND THE MASK is a great read along with Gene's KISS & Make Up and my absolute all-time favorite "guilty pleasure" book, KISS & Tell by Gordon Gebert and Bob McAdams.
Read them ALL and put the KISS puzzle together to TRULY KNOW KISS!
Rating: 
Summary: KISS: Behind the Mask
Review: Quite simply put, KISS Behind the Mask is the greatest publication ever written for a KISS fan of any level. This book is stocked with rare insider information and contains amazingly candid honesty from all the band's legendary lineup. Ken Sharp's accute research traces every album on a song-per-song basis and uncovers never-before-read quotes from managers, producers, photographers, as well as KISS members. No one could ever be disappointed in reading this brilliantly researched volume. Also, David Leaf's original authorized biography provides unique insight into the band's formative years. I cannot strongly recommend this book for anyone who calls himself or herself a fan of KISS or rock music, in general. A must have!dean truitt
Rating:
Summary: KISS: Behind the Mask
Review: Quite simply put, KISS Behind the Mask is the greatest publication ever written for a KISS fan of any level. This book is stocked with rare insider information and contains amazingly candid honesty from all the band's legendary lineup. Ken Sharp's accute research traces every album on a song-per-song basis and uncovers never-before-read quotes from managers, producers, photographers, as well as KISS members. No one could ever be disappointed in reading this brilliantly researched volume. Also, David Leaf's original authorized biography provides unique insight into the band's formative years. I cannot strongly recommend this book for anyone who calls himself or herself a fan of KISS or rock music, in general. A must have! dean truitt
Rating:
Summary: A treasure for KISS fans.
Review: The key factor of the success of this book is that the first half was written in 1979. KISS was the biggest band on the planet, had peaked in their popularity, and was just about to start a tremendous career slump. The manuscript lay dormant fro a few decades until renewed interest sparked it's release. The second half of the book consists of edited comments from band members, producers and sundry musicians, regarding all of their albums, songs and career choices. This half is fairly dry and clinical, but for those of you unfamiliar with their later phases, indispensible. Let me return to the first portion of the book. What struck me was the singlemindedness displayed by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons from day ONE.
These guys had a plan and despite all odds, took themselves to the top. They were driven. I found their biographies to be fascinating...how they got be who they are. I was the perfect age to be a KISS fan in the seventies. I loved comics. I was in junior high. My father took me to the L.A. concert that was recorded for "Alive II"
I still have the "I Was There" button.
I am the person this book was written for. Having said that, I loved following the development of their "act".
Wanting only to "rock". Wanting only to entertain. Wanting to do something that no one had ever seen. I was impressed by their dedication to the concept of KISS.
I was also impressed by their candid comments. When they screw up, they're the first to speak up. When they got a bit too full of themselves, they tell you exactly when that happened.
The tensions between the two "factions" within the group, Paul/Gene vs. Ace/Peter is well described, and all of them are brutally about the faults of their bandmates as well as themselves. Business ruthlessness or substance abuse, everybody's vice is on display here. Not in any tabloid sensationalistic fashion, but as clear sober history. The album-by-album, track-by-track notes section is awesome for fans like myself. I joined the "KISS Army" between the "Alive" albums. "Destroyer", "Rock and Roll Over" and "Love Gun" were albums I knew inside and out. Played them 'til they were grooveless. I've developed a new appreciation for that era of their music. There's stuff here I didn't know or hadn't considered. I enjoyed this book far more that I anticipated, and I anticipated that I was gonna like it a lot.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding candid account
Review: There have been some decent books written about Kiss, some coming with a slanted subjective view from Gene and Paul (Kisstory, Gene's autobiog), from people who were associated with the band (Kiss and Sell), and others from Kissheads (Black Diamond). This book is a combination of the above but what it has over all of the others is that the reader gets not only great new insider anecdotes about those wild, heady days of the band's heyday (73-79) but you also get serious frank input from Peter and Ace. None of the four original members is edited or left out. Record producers, the Casablanca family, roadies, managers, Wicked Lester members- everyone gets a say and it is a very refreshing way of telling the story. The first third of the book is actually an original manuscript of an officially commissioned bio from 1979 that was put on ice, most likely due to Peter's leaving the band as well as the fact that the band was perhaps a little too revealing in their comments at a time when little kids were their biggest fans.
There is some great info on the band members' early years pre-Kiss as well as the start of the band. The last few pages of this section betray its vintage, and are unintentionally revealing. Dynasty is described by the band as an album where the band are branching out and growing musically, and their listeners' are growing too--when in fact, it would ultimately be the start of alienating their fanbase. Peter is also quoted rather cryptically as saying that "there was a rumor going around that I was leaving the band", which he denies and states he never wants to leave, there is a lot of music left to be played. This at a time when he was becoming a major problem, playing poorly in concert, missing recording sessions, shooting guns and locking himself in hotel rooms in a cocaine paranoia stupor. As we find out, it seems he was sacked because he was uncontrollable, and he did not want to leave. The second part discusses important events in Kiss history in great anecdotal detail, for example, the surreal, hilarious, but ultimately touching and inspirational Kiss Day in Cadillac, Michigan. Plus the music song to song, album to album, with great historical input and insider details on the songs' and albums' creations from the creators and producers. The frankness of the whole thing, revealing secrets on the hype, the promotion, the partying, the sexual escapades. The struggles of the band to make it and Casablanca's dedication to a fault to make the Kiss jet get off the ground.... Truly inspirational. The humanness of the book is what really sets it apart. The dedication of the late Neil Bogart and Bill Aucoin, who both believed in the dream, when people laughed at them, is really touching. Peter, Ace, Gene and Paul are not maestros, they are entertainers and they wanted to entertain. To rock our world, and by golly they sure have done that! These guys are all very different, even Gene and Paul. Even if there are two obvious opposing sides- the business like and even-keeled Gene and Paul and the party animal happy-go-lucky, slighty dangerous and spontaneous Ace and Peter- that is the secret to their enduring chemistry and success. A balance that offsets each sides less flattering qualities. And believe me, these guys have had issues with each other- it's in here. But at the end of the day, they are all bowing together in front of a huge crowd. And we are grateful for it! Interspersed are numerous great photos (I would have had even more but Kisstory fills that job well) as well as comments from other popular musicians on what they think about Kiss. Get this book. It lives up to its name and is truly Kiss Behind The Mask.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT READ ..EVEN FOR THOSE WITH JADED HEARTS
Review: There would have been a time when I would have bought this off the shelf day one. Why not this time? Well firstly there is a lot of Kiss product thrown out there these days and secondly not all of it is any where near essential. So I overlooked this book for quite sometime only picking it up a couple of weeks back. Although this book certainly isn't gonna tell you a whole lot new, it is a great casual read and seems a little more balanced than Gene and Paul telling us how only "two people can drive the car from the front seats" although funnily enough I think that line is in there someplace. I particularly like the recall of every song they have written and either the bands personal memory or somebody on the fringes of Kiss and their memory of the writing or recording process. The Carmen Appice recall versus everyone else in the studio for Paul's solo album is a classic example of how different people see the same thing a different way and is very amusing. The biop-styled piece on each member of the band at the peak of their career shows the fractures that were always there and how different they all were personality wise and work ethic wise. Clearly all four gentleman's heads were always off in the clouds either in ego, self dellusion or drugs. As we now know is the case, holding the original four together for as long as they did was no mean feat indeed. In my heart I believe original line up or no, the turmoil and line up changes (whether appreciated at the time or not) are what have kept the band fresh and appealing in the long haul. Buy when able for your coffee table.
Rating: 
Summary: It's an ordinary book and the Kiss fans deserve better
Review: This book is pretty much basic info about Kiss more aimed at newer fans or those mildly familiar with the band. Knowledgeable fans should avoid it. The flow of the book doesn't work for me as the comments by band members and others in the book gives it a confusing touch. Other reviewers have well detailed the flaws of this book but let me say it is average and adds little to understanding the Kiss legacy. By far the best book on Kiss is "Kiss and Sell" by C.K. Lendt who was a former Kiss employee during their 70's heyday. This is the ultimate Kiss book and a fantastic rock book in and of itself. Buy this and I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Best KISS book yet!!
Review: This book, with material assembled from as far back as the late 1970's, is the best band bio book yet! Alliteration and hyperbole aside, this book is more "gloves off" and "curtain pulled back" than any other KISS book out there, and each original band member get his turn (several, in fact) detailing the highlights and lowlights of this band's storied career. Also contributing MANY anecdotes and opinions are the multiple producers, session players, KISS Organization staffers, management team members, former band members, and peripheral players that had a part in this band's history. Stuff that Gene and the boys would NEVER publicly admit to in the past are de rigeur confessions here. Absolutely and highly recommended for ALL KISS FANS! You won't be able to put this book down!
Rating:
Summary: The story behind the band
Review: This is a very detailed book. It's so detailed, in fact, that I was exhausted after reading it. The first section makes it clear that the two masterminds behind the band, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, wanted to be pop stars, not respected musicians. That's great, of course, especially when they make it clear that their gimmicks are just a little more honest than other rock stars. Stanley and Simmons, two Jewish New Yorkers who grew up on television and British bands, joined together to form Wicked Lester. They got a record contract and recorded an album, but the deal fell through. Then they met Ace and Peter, two guys with a little more interest in music (and getting really loaded). They changed their name to Kiss and started experimenting with makeup. The decision to disguise themselves and create four alter egos was a stroke of genius. Even if you never buy a Kiss album, you know Kiss and you'll never forget them. But they needed songs to go with the image --- products to sell and music to play in concert. When you get into the third section, an album-by-album (and, at times, track-by-track) review of the entire output of the band, you see how Ace and Peter complimented (and frustrated) the two masterminds. This section is a long list of co-writers for the songs, album producers, and new band members who replaced Ace and Peter. By the end of the book, your head is spinning with names. Gene and Paul are at the center of it all, trying to keep their entertainment empire going. Even if you have no interest in Kiss, you'll learn a lot from this book. It's as much about the music business as it is about the band. Even for those who don't care for Kiss' music, the phenomenon is worth reading about. You'll learn about overdubbing live albums, following trends to stay on the charts, and paying radio to play your songs and turn them into 'hits.' If you like Kiss, you have to read this book. There's so much information here, you'll have trouble putting it down.
Rating:
Summary: From Wicked Lester to world domination
Review: This is an excellent book which covers the entire KISStory of "The hottest band in the world". It's fascinating to read about life before KISS was born, and to get an idea of where these guys came from. Amazing to think that at one time, these larger than life gods of thunder were just regular guys trying to make it in NYC. At times the book gives 4 different points of view on the same events. And it's interesting to compare how each of them remembers things differently. KISS has always been a band that I could never read or learn enough about. This book justs adds to the legend. Kudos to David Leaf & "Killer" Ken Sharp.
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