Published on Aug 11, 2003
Tell me again why KISS didn’t call this
Destroyer and Symphony 2003? They should have.
KISS pulls 7 of the 9 songs on their 1976 release in a fit of
nostalgia that is a dream come true for KISS fans. Destroyer has
stood the test of time as being a pinnacle of the band’s career, a
treasure that some question . And that’s not all. Recorded in
Melbourne, Australia, on February 28, 2003, KISS, the ultimate
party band, is playing alongside a symphony. KISS ramps up to
playing with their additional band members by playing 6 songs as a
quartet to start out the evening. They then introduce a wind
ensemble and play 5 songs. Finally, they play 11 songs with the
Melbourne Symphony Ensemble.
If you discovered KISS in the 80s, you’re basically out of luck.
The band wants you to forget the hype they created when they
unmasked in 1983 and took off their makeup, much in the same way
they wanted you to forget that they used to wear makeup after they
no longer wore makeup. It’s one thing to discount an entire CD when
it is a truly awful CD, but to neglect the years that now-deceased
drummer Eric Carr and guitarist Bruce Kulick contributed to the
band <not to mention drummer Eric Singer and guitarists Vinnie
Vincent and Mark St. John> is a crime. Missing from this release
are stellar tracks like “Rise to It” from
Hot in the Shade, “No No No” and “Bang Bang You” from
Crazy Nights, or “God Gave Rock and Roll to You,” “Take it
Off,” “Domino,” or “Spit” from
Revenge. Hell, even “Burn Bitch Burn” from
Animalize is missing.
But none of those songs from the 80s have maintained their
popularity like the tracks they have included. KISS is smart to
recognize that their 70s success has made them rich and that fans
at a KISS show, as demonstrated by demanding outrageous prices
during their not-so-farewell farewell tour. People want to hear
“Strutter” again. They salivate at the idea of hearing “Deuce.”
KISS could have easily excluded “Psycho Circus” from this release,
substituting it with another gem from the 70s like “Hotter than
Hell” or “Firehouse” during the band’s ‘solo’ opening set.
The second set, where the Melbourne Symphony Ensemble joins the
band on stage is the strongest set of the evening. “Beth” kicks off
this set and finally, the song gets performed as it was recorded,
strings and piano contrasting the rest of the band’s material.
Launching immediately into
Hot in the Shade’s “Forever,” the band is smoking.
Substitute lead guitarist Tommy Thayer nails the solo on this song
that would make original soloist on this song, Bruce Kulick, smile.
Pulling from the
Hotter than Hell release, “Goin’ Blind” On the other hand,
the inclusion of “Shandi” from
Unmasked is well-deserved. The song is a mid-tempo ballad
and the symphonic arrangement goes along with the riff of the song.
The trumpets during the song’s introduction are a nice touch. The
funk bass intro of Dynasty’s “Sure Know Something” spotlights the
Simmons/Criss rhythm section.
The final set, rich in
Destroyer-era material, is a long haul. “Detroit Rock City”
followed by its usual follow-up “King of the Night Time World”
launch the band into its final hurrah on this release. The steady
backbeat of drummer Peter Criss introduces “Do You Love Me.”
Perhaps the most satisfying orchestral arrangement, this version
features interesting string arrangements that compliment the
performance, offering additional melody lines during the verse. It
is not just KISS and a symphony on the same stage – this song is
the two elements playing together. Pity the song barely cracks four
minutes.
As you may expect, this release ends with two of KISS’ biggest
commercial successes: “I was Made for Loving You” and “Rock and
Roll All Nite.” For a song that the band once distanced themselves
from because of the disco beat, this song sounds like it should
have always had an orchestra. “Rock and Roll All Nite,” the
unmistakable anthem of all parties, features an extended crowd
participation section during which the crowd is encouraged by
guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley to spit back the title of the song
until it’s coming out of your ears. This is not a great release,
but it is a great KISS release – meaning that if you are a fan of
the band, you will be able to latch onto these versions of your
favorites. Gems like “Love Gun” and “Shout it Out Loud” in addition
to the entire set with the Symphony Ensemble make this a worthy
release. If you are looking for an example of great symphonic
music, remember who you are dealing with. KISS is a party band –
make no mistake that partying and having fun is the focus of this
release.