Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding! This is a MUST-HAVE for the KISS fan!
Review: This is the BEST KISS book I have ever read, and I have read them all. The book was written with both the hard-core KISS fan and the casual reader in mind. You won't be disappointed.This is the definitive back-story of the "Hottest Band In The World". The book chronicles the early formative years of Kiss. Yes, you've read their story before, but this book offers a lot of behind-the-scenes stories that I had never read before and found fascinating. The authors had unprecedented access to the band and their work shows. There are two things that made this book exceptional for me. ONE is the extensive research that went into it. The authors put in the time. Conducted countless interviews -- not only with the band -- with friends, relatives, road crew, managers...and KISS' contemporary music peers. TWO, without question, the biggest selling point for me was the Album-By-Album / Song-By-Song commentary, covering the entire recording history of the band...INCLUDING WICKED LESTER! From Wicked Lester to their debut album "KISS" to "Psycho Circus", every album, every song is covered by the band and their inner circle. This alone was worth the price of the book! Last, this book had some really cool outtakes and alternate shots from famous photo sessions! I can't recommend this book higher. Buy this book. Buy it NOW!
Rating:
Summary: ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!
Review: This is the book all KISS fans have been waiting for! I just couldn't put it down. Ken Sharp and David Leaf have combined to write one of the best books on a rock band ever published. There's so much great information and detail packed into its almost 600 pages (along with some cool photos as well). It's the closest you'll get to KISS Heaven aside from seeing them live!
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, 3 1/2 to 4 stars
Review: What makes this book a must-get for Kiss fans is the first section. During this segment, a never-before-released text from 1979 reveals an incredible amount of commaraderie and friendship among the members of Kiss, even during their most difficult era. It actually illustrates the sweeter side of the band and how much they genuinely cared for one another as individuals. It was also refreshing to be able to read quotes from Gene Simmons that were not practiced hype intended to promote the Cult of Simmons to the market. This first segment was written before Gene became GENE SIMMONS INC. and is a poignant snapshot of what the man - hopefully - is really like. But also, the vulnerability of a young Paul Stanley, the wit, charm and intelligence of a young Ace Frehley and the sentimentality of a young Peter Criss shine in the opening of the book. To their credit, the band,in authorizing this bio, have allowed the inclusion of a number of credible sources from outside the realm of the band's influence that add an authenticity to the book. The quotes and stories from Bill Aucoin, Sean Delaney, Joyce Bogart, Bob Kulick and others dispute many myths surrounding the band and help clarify many hazy aspects of the band's history. It is clear that Kiss is not the House That Simmons Built. Rather, it was - and has always been - a group effort, culling from the talents of dozens of people at a time. The second section has the band members and various insiders quoting on thoughts about almost every Kiss song and album recorded. I say almost because many details about Peter Criss' and Ace Frehley's 1978 solo albums were excluded - from the onset, a minor flaw, but one that becomes a tragic omission when bearing in mind that every song from "Hot in the Shade" is covered. A better biography would have paid particular attention to those two solo albums, since their releases were the catalysts to the band's eventual split. Ace Frehley's was the most successful of the four - clarifying the idea that he did not need Kiss - while Peter Criss', possibly the most melodic and creative - was the least successful - clarifying that Kiss was keeping him from a wider audience. But all of this is ingnored while the drummer from Gene's solo album is allowed to wax philisophic about the sessions in England. Among other things this book shows the brilliance of Bill Aucoin. Indeed, until Doc McGhee took over as manager, Kiss floundered after Aucoin's dismissal. So paying homage to Aucoin earns this book one star. Giving Peter Criss and Ace Frehley a fair amount of the spotlight earns it two stars. Dispelling the many concocted myths created by the Simmons Propoganda Machine earn it one and a half more. While Kiss is gradually become more and more of a band comfortable release newer compilation albums, this book may be arriving at just the right time. With Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley both working on solo albums and Kiss reduced to nothing more than a touring act (we can hardly call them a band anymore, with anyone able to be replaced - it's more like the best circus you've ever seen. And why not?), we may have seen the last of any new material from the band. If that's the case, and even if it isn't, this is a book that's worth it's price and then some.
Rating:
Summary: For All the Spacebears and Curly fans out there!! BUY IT!!!
Review: Where do I even begin to start in my review of this book? This is my first venture into reviewing books so bare with me. Kiss - Behind The Mask is simply the be all, end all of books out on the market talking about the real history of the band. This isn't KISSTORY where Paul And Gene are the ones basically telling you their side of the story. This book has some of the best quotes ever seen in a KISS book. Put it this way, the small entry in part 2 of the book about Bob Kulicks recording experience with Paul and Gene on KILLERS had me laughing and clamoring for more info. The book is broken into two parts. The first part, an unreleased piece done by David Leaf circa 1979. It's not explained as to why this wasn't released in 1980 but after reading it I can tell why this wasn't released to the public back then. This would've damaged KISS at a time where they were basically marketing themselves to a younger audience. The Quotes about the band by great bands such as THE WHO, THE RAMONES, THE REPLACEMENTS and OZZY were very cool additions to a book that was a classic upon page 1 being read. Someone mentioned Gene Simmons's quotes not being contrived and planned out diatribes and this is very true indeed. Peter Criss is let loose in this portion of the book as well as Ace. The background stories of the original 4 band members from this perspective is the best pre-KISSTORY document I've ever read. It's more interesting coming from the original band members themselves rather than from some ghost author attempting to tell their stories. It's nice to see Gene Simmons And Paul Stanley shown in a completely different light than what we're used to seeing lately. Thankfully, Ken Sharp convinced David Leaf to unearth this Gem because KISS fans finally get what they've wanted for a long time. A truthful document on the story of the band without Gene Simmons and Paul Stanleys mitts all over it (ie: KISSTORY, Gene Simmons 2 books) The second part of the book is where you think to yourself, "As if it wasn't enough reading the first part of the book, now I get THIS!!?". This is because you get an incomplete but 95% complete history of KISS's studio/Live and Complilation albums (with the exception of KISS MY ASS, GREATEST KISS and ALIVE 4). Only on a few of the albums are songs left out. Most likely due to the lack of information about albums such as Peter Criss's solo album and Ace's Solo album as well. I doubt this was intentional at all but this is a moot point. In this section of the book you get quotes from Producers, band members, Session musicians, management, you name it, they're in this book. This was hands down my favorite part of the book because there is so much info thrown out there for the first time. stuff that Gene and Paul would rather have kept behind closed doors, studio doors that is. This was great and disappointing at times. Disappointing only in that once you read certain things about certain albums you felt betrayed in a way. KISS fans have always known that since Dressed To Kill the members of KISS wouldn't always play on the records but what Part two of this book reveals is simply amazing at times. You'll lose count as to who played on what for who and where it was done. This extensive coverage is as amazing as it gets. Ken Sharp should be given awards for this piece that he offered to the book. I can only imagine the amount of work that went into the writing of this book. No Matter what the price is on this book here on Amazon, this is a MUST BUY for all fans but especially DIE HARD Kiss fans like myself. This will make you see the band differently than you've ever seen them before and alot of times make you laugh out loud. This is a brilliant and well written book that's destined to become the Must own book about the band. I don't know who's going to top this but his name starts with BILL and ends with AUCOIN. That's not likely to happen anytime soon so this will serve as the BOOK to own about KISS. My top 3 Favorite Books about KISS:
1. KISS - BEHIND THE MASK
2. KISS - ALIVE FOREVER - The Complete Touring History
3. KISS N SELL by C.K. Lendt
Rating:
Summary: This Book Is Priceless - Behind the scenes of every song!!!
Review: With tons of books swirling around regarding the now legendary KISS, it becomes very difficult to separate fact from fiction (for example, Gene & Paul really care about the fan$).
This book sheds away a lot of the bull and leaves the reader with a very objective & realistic picture of the band. Of all the books I have read on KISS, this one & Gordon G.G. Gebert's "Kiss & Tell" are far away the best. If the hardcover seems a little pricey, just search it out at your local library like I did. (Use the extra money to buy the remastered version of Ace's solo album). A must have read for anyone who had the orignal album posters from "Alive" on their bedroom wall. "Ace Frehley Lead Gee-tar!"
Rating: 
Summary: hope you feel good
Review: yeah you guys that bought this drivel..well Gen's got your money...too bad.
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