Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful KISS book
Review: It's obvious that an enormous amount of effort & research went into this book, and it will undoubtedly answer many questions KISS fans might have about the band's touring history (dates / setlists etc.). Tons of cool/rare pictures and quotes from the KISS crew make this book a wonderful read and great value for money. Get this and the authorized book "KISS-Behind The Mask" and you'll have the most detailed, comprehensive, accurate KISStory currently on the market. Don't pass this off as a book with just dates and setlists - it really is much more than that. I own just about every book ever released about the band, and "KISS Alive Forever" was one of the best additions to that collection. The authors are currently working on a follow up - "KISS Out on the Streets 1973-1976" and even if that one turns out only half as well as "KISS Alive Forever", I'd still consider it a worthwile purchase. Since this book's content spans the entire history of the band (well, at least up until 2002) I'd highly recommended it to *all* KISS fans out there - this is one cool book.
Rating:
Summary: KISS Rocked the World
Review: KISS
Alive Forever -
The Complete Touring History - By Curt Gooch and Jeff Suhs /Billboard Books
Book Review By Mitch Lafon Gene Simmons has often spoken about KISS as being something above and beyond an ordinary rock band. He's equaled Kiss to a religion, KISS-tianity. Finally, the believers, AKA The Kiss Army, have their "bible". Alive Forever - The Complete Touring History is the cliche-ed "must have" book for any Kiss fan. It serves both to perpetuate the Kiss legend and demystify the Kiss myth. Over six years of research went into making this book and it traces the Kiss story through every show and tour. Adding to the book's allure is that the story is told by Kiss' closest allies during those years (roadies, tour managers, accountants, friends, etc.). Gone is the Kiss image that Gene and Paul have invented over the years and in is a truer version of a band going from playing New York City sidewalks for loose change to a merchandising behemoth where music has become secondary if not tertiary. Through the years, we discover that even in the band's heyday it was always more about the hype than the music. Even in their prime KISS was not selling out or making millions. A favorite story in the book is told by Eddie Balandas (the band's 'security man') who had the pleasure of introducing the band (You Wanted The Best You Got The Best...) starting on the Destroyer tour. He was immortalized on Kiss Alive II album saying that now ubiquitous phrase with one exception -- he didn't actually say all of it. Displeased with his pronouncing of 'Kiss', Gene actually overdubbed it in the studio. In fact, as Chuck Ellias recounts, the entire album was re-recorded/overdubbed in the studio. The band had booked a week at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey to ensure the album would be musically perfect. As a long time fan, it blows my mind and, of course, knowing what state Ace was in at the time, one can only wonder did he even play guitar on the overdubs? Is Ace at all on Alive II? (On a side note -- take a closer look at any and all pictures from Kiss in their 'infamous' Cadillac High PR stunt. Methinks, it wasn't Ace in Michigan.) This is just an example of the information contained in this book. Is it all accurate? Who knows? It is a great read... YES!! It is worth buying... YES! So, if you're a casual Kiss fan, a KISS freak or just like to read about Americana, this book is a must. ... ***** (five stars) Mitch Lafon Thank you.....Mitch Lafon
Senior Writer -- Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles ...
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Rating:
Summary: Best KISS book ever written
Review: Let me first say that I loved KISSTORY. I bought mine in New Orleans during one of the Farewell Tours and it's autographed by all four band members. But this book is outstanding. Anyone will tell you that 'official' biographies never tell the whole story and I believe that these guys have really done their research. The sources are credible and the stories are sometimes outrageous, sometimes insightful, sometimes revealing. This book gives you more than just a run-down of Kiss mythology. It shows how much effort and dedication it took to make Kiss a great rock and roll band - and it puts the breakdown in greater clarity. These guys were on the road constantly. Stories are told by people who were there. It's all firsthand knowledge and it will appeal greatly to not only Kiss fans, but anyone with an interest in life on the road. It's just a good read. I like the format, there are some great photos and - best of all - it was done just beyond the reach of anyone who could edit away the 'warts.' This book proves something I've always suspected - The Kiss story is far more interesting than Simmons' ego will allow to be revealed. Buy this book today.
Rating: 
Summary: A great look at the band's history
Review: Let me first say that I loved KISSTORY. I bought mine in New Orleans during one of the Farewell Tours and it's autographed by all four band members. But this book is outstanding. Anyone will tell you that 'official' biographies never tell the whole story and I believe that these guys have really done their research. The sources are credible and the stories are sometimes outrageous, sometimes insightful, sometimes revealing. This book gives you more than just a run-down of Kiss mythology. It shows how much effort and dedication it took to make Kiss a great rock and roll band - and it puts the breakdown in greater clarity. These guys were on the road constantly. Stories are told by people who were there. It's all firsthand knowledge and it will appeal greatly to not only Kiss fans, but anyone with an interest in life on the road. It's just a good read. I like the format, there are some great photos and - best of all - it was done just beyond the reach of anyone who could edit away the 'warts.' This book proves something I've always suspected - The Kiss story is far more interesting than Simmons' ego will allow to be revealed. Buy this book today.
Rating:
Summary: Paul Stanley has to read this!
Review: Mr. Stanley dismissed this book as not being the definitive Kiss book, and although it may not be the ultimate Kiss book, it is by far one of the best - if not the best - written today.
This book chronicles more than 5 years of research by the authors who stormed the Internet, chat clubs, fan forums, libraries, ect. All to get the latest info on the more than 1800 concerts that Kiss has played to date. Written in very easy english, the book is more like a reference guide to all the concerts the band has played, but under most dates you will find little text add-ons that are delightful. The authors interviewed tour managers, roadies, pyro techs, wardrobe ladies, managers, producers, and muscicians who tell great stories from the early and not so early days. To top it up, there's more than 200 amazing shots of the band, some we have seen, some rather obscure.
In all, a great book.
Rating:
Summary: Best KISS book ever!
Review: Mssrs. Gooch and Suhs have done it! A exhaustive, objective, informative and endlessly entertaining account of the tours of the world's most visual and theatrical rock band. Being a KISS fan since circa-1977, this is the sort of book I've been wanting for a long time. Anyone who is a Grateful Dead devotee would be familiar with DEADBASE; this is a KISS version of that book: comprehensive setlists, tour dates, even canceled dates. Fantastic anecdotes from roadies, tour personnel etc. The authors, while obviously huge KISS fans, don't shy away from telling the story of KISS, warts and all. This book and former business manager Chris Lendt's "KISS and Sell" are the two books any hardcore KISS fan cannot do without.
Forget the gospel according to Gene and Paul - this lays it out factually, as it really happened. Buy this book, KISS Army troops! Stephen Gurr
Athens, Ga.
Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate KISS Book
Review: Over the years, there have been various books written about KISS. Some by journalists, some by those close to the band, and some by the band themselves. This book is by far the best book yet about KISS. The amount of work and research put into this book is just mindblowing. They manage to track down and have stats on nearly every single KISS live show ever performed. If you're a fan and have never read a book about the band, start here. If you've ever considered getting a book about the band, this is the only book you'll ever need.
Rating:
Summary: The BEST KISS book EVER, PERIOD!
Review: The 2 people that posted negative reviews of this book must be INSANE! First off, this is truly the holy grail of all KISS books for all KISS fans. Never before has such a complete look at the live history of KISS been done. You get rare set lists, incredibly rare and amazing photos and fantastic stories from the people that were there! Not the fake nonsense that Gene and Paul spout but REAL stories, good or bad! Its a wonderful read that takes you along for the ride in the KISS world. Its too bad KISS themselves couldnt put out a quality product like this. For the gentlemen that felt the book lacked info or was factually incorrect, please do a little research. The Australian/Police issue has been well documented in newspaper reports and even TV reports which are widely available among real KISS fans. As for the photo quality. If you look carefully, many of the photos are not there for quality but for the simple fact that they are RARE photos. Some good examples are Ace on the platform in 1977 and Gene in his RARE Dynasty costume. These are photos that prove or disprove KISS myths that have festered over the years. They also relate to a specific account or detail contained within the associated chapter. Any real KISS fan would realize that. If you are happy with incomplete and revisionist KISSTORY, then settle for the official publications and tell all rags that have been published in the recent past. If you want THE book on THE band, then pick this up. I promise you a better KISS book will not be found. Kudos to the authors!
Rating:
Summary: A PIECE OF KISStory
Review: This book is a wealth of information (and pictures) for any KISS fan. It was cool to look up the shows that I've been to and see who the opening band was, the set list, and any other notes about that particular gig. Team this book up with KISS/The Early Years and you've got a one/two punch of KISStory. I had no sooner received these 2 books when I had to order a second set as a birthday present for a friend whose 1st concert was KISS. He was extremely happy and so could you. Don't wait.
Rating:
Summary: Sets the standard for others to follow
Review: This book is essential for any KISS fan, plus anyone ever interested in the goings-on behind that band. Almost anyone will learn a ton of things about their various tours from 1973 through 2000. This is the type of book you pick up just to read something specific, and end up looking at it for an hour even if you have already read it straight through. I myself have only seen KISS twice, in 1996 and 2000, having been too young to see them back in the 1970s, but even then, like many, I have my favorite periods of the band, and each period's tours are given equal coverage (although 1983-1989 tends to be kind of a blur, with very similar itineraries). I still think the ultimate KISS book has yet to be written, although this one, CK Lendt's book, and Behind the Mask are the best so far.
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