Got the books, folks! And it’s up to the high standards Quarto has done for me with my recent AC/DC at 50 and Bowie @ 75 books.

As the publisher’s hype text expounds:

With this beautifully produced book, relive the extraordinary history of the of the hottest band in the land through 50 milestone events.

Formed in New York City in 1973, Kiss became one of the most popular and best-selling bands in rock history with their inventive stage presence and heavy, hook-filled catalog, both ideally suited for packing hockey arenas and football stadiums. This richly illustrated book from prolific rock journalist Martin Popoff pays tribute to the band on the occasion of their 50th anniversary by curating and examining the 50 most significant milestones. This exquisite volume features:

• Sturdy hardcover format
• Stunning concert and candid offstage photography, much of it never before published
• Images of memorabilia, including gig posters, 7-inch picture sleeves, ticket stubs, and more
• Gatefold Kiss timeline

Popoff covers everything down through the decades, including the band’s formation on the New York club scene, their fortuitous signing to the Casablanca label, infamous TV appearances, including Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park, the formation of the famous Kiss Army fan club, mega tours undertaken in support of the LPs, band conflicts and personnel changes, the band’s 1980s “unmasking,” innovative marketing such as comic books and the Kiss Convention and, of course, each of the landmark studio LPs. The result is an epic tribute to one of the most influential and admired bands in rock history.

Here’s the Table of Contents, which pretty much spells out what I did with it:

Part 1: Kiss Major

• “Rock and Roll All Nite”: Kiss form, in New York City.
• “Sweet Pain”: Kiss sign with Casablanca Records.
• “Kissin’ Time”: Kiss issue their self-titled debut album.
• “See You in Your Dreams”: Kiss appear on ABC’s In Concert.
• Recording Kiss
• “C’mon and Love Me”: Gene Simmons is interviewed on The Mike Douglas Show.
• “Two Timer”: Kiss issue Hotter Than Hell, their second album.
• “A Million to One”: Two fans unofficially form the Kiss Army
• “Great Expectations”: Kiss issue Dressed to Kill, their third album.
• “Hotter Than Hell”: Kiss issue Alive!, a double live album.
• “Baby Driver”: Kiss take over Cadillac, Michigan.
• “Strutter”: Alive! goes gold, representing the band’s first RIAA certification.
• “Heaven’s on Fire”: Kiss issue Destroyer.
• “Creatures of the Night”: Kiss appear on The Paul Lynde Halloween Special.
• “Rockin’ in the USA”: Kiss issue Rock and Roll Over.
• “A World Without Heroes”: Kiss and Marvel Comics collaborate on a comic book.
• “Love’s a Deadly Weapon”: Kiss issue Love Gun.
• “Deuce”: Kiss issue Alive II.

Part 2: Kiss Minor

• “Got to Chose”: Each member of Kiss issues a solo album.
• “Is That You?”: NBC airs a feature film called Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park.
• Ace for the Win
• “I Was Made for Lovin’ You”: Kiss issue Dynasty.
• “When Your Walls Come Down”: Kiss’ appearance on the Tomorrow show doesn’t go well.
• “Two Sides of the Coin”: Kiss issue Unmasked.
• “Fits Like a Glove”: Eric Carr plays his first show with Kiss.
• “Dark Light”: Kiss issue a concept album called Music from The Elder.
• “I Love It Loud”: Kiss issue Creatures of the Night.

Part 3: MTV, Hair Metal and Kiss

• “Naked City”: Kiss issue Lick It Up, featuring new guitarist Vinnie Vincent.
• “Turn on the Night”: Kiss issue Animalize, featuring new guitarist Mark St. John.
• From Kiss to Disco: Larry Harris on Casablanca
• “Trial by Fire”: Kiss issue Asylum, featuring new guitarist Bruce Kulick.
• “While the City Sleeps”: Kiss issue Crazy Nights.
• “Firehouse”: Kiss issue Hot in the Shade.
• “Comin’ Home”: Long-time Kiss drummer Eric Carr succumbs to cancer.
• “Bang Bang You”: Kiss issue Revenge, featuring new drummer Eric Singer.
• “Shout It Out Loud”: Kiss issue Alive III.

Part 4: Reunion

• “Get All You Can Take”: Kiss execute their first Official Worldwide Kiss Convention.
• “Any Way You Want It”: Kiss perform on MTV Unplugged.
• “Unholy”: Kiss issue Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions.
• “I Still Love You”: The classic-era Kiss lineup issues a reunion album called Psycho Circus.
• Bill Aucoin: A Kiss Goodbye from Head Office
• “Outta This World”: Kiss perform at Super Bowl XXXIII.
• “Cadillac Dreams”: New Line Cinema issue a Kiss-themed feature film called Detroit Rock City.
• “You Wanted the Best”: Kiss issue The Box Set.
• “Raise Your Glasses”: Kiss issue Kiss Symphony: Alive IV.
• “Hooligan”: Peter Criss tours for the last time as part of Kiss.

Part 5: Legacy

• “King of the Night Time World”: Kiss are honored at the first VH1 Rock Honors show, held in Las Vegas.
• “Black Diamond”: Gene Simmons Family Jewels premiers on A&E.
• “Rocket Ride”: Kiss issue Sonic Boom, featuring new guitarist Tommy Thayer.
• “Getaway”: Kiss launch their first Kiss Kruise.
• Paul Stanley: Reflections on the Kiss Kast
• “Almost Human”: Kiss issue Monster, their last album to date.
• “All the Way”: Kiss are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
• “When Lightning Strikes”: Kiss set the record for most gold records by any American band.
• “100,000 Years”: Kiss embark on their final tour, entitled the End of the Road World Tour.

Price including shipping:

Book will be signed to you from me, so let me know if it is a present for someone else, or you don’t want it signed.

For orders outside the US and Canada, please email me your phone number. The new rule is I can’t buy postage without it, and it goes on the postal form If you would like a PayPal invoice, please indicate what country you are in and give me the email address you use at PayPal. Or just do yer usual and direct funds to [email protected]

Or mail payment (personal check in US funds, cash, or INTERNATIONAL money order), to:

Martin Popoff
P.O. Box 65208, 358 Danforth Ave.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M4K 2Z2