One word describes this DVD set: WOW!
Many accuse Kiss of being a money machine, but the truth is they give you value for your buck.
The "Kissology" DVD series is a perfect example. In Europe "Vol. 3" is just released spanning from 1992 till 2000. You get 4 DVDs with a total playing time of 9 hours and 28 minutes plus a 59 minute bonus disc. WOW again!
Kiss has always been closely related to Detroit since the first "Alive" was recorded in Cobo Hall, Detroit. The "Revenge" tour passed by "The Palace of Auburn Hills" in Detroit on November 27 1992, which is captured on film. Musically this is the best show on the DVD. Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer are strong opponents to Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. Personally I favor the setlist since it features songs from Kiss' 80's album "Animalize" and "Lick it Up" plus the superior songs from "Revenge".
The band looks really good without the make up and sounds fantastic. Especially Paul Stanley delivers a top notch vocal performance. The second part of DVD 1 is the highlight of the entire boxset; "MTV unplugged".
The unplugged concert is magical. It is mostly remembered for Ace Frehley and Peter Criss joining Gene and Paul. I admit Peter Criss singing
Beth gives you goose bumps but it is Gene, Paul, Eric and Bruce that shines on the performance.
Coming Home,
Sure Know Something and
World Without Heroes are amazing acoustic. The vibe is unique and Gene screws up
Domino, but the band starts all over again in a friendly and warm atmosphere. Simmons even gets to play
See U Tonite from his solo album, which again sounds amazing acoustically.
The band fools around while the technicians prepares the stage for the return of Ace and Peter playing loose versions of
Heavens on Fire,
Spit,
C'Mon and Love Me plus a country version of
God of Thunder. Kiss anno 1992 is characterized by a special calmness and balance.
Disc 2 starts with the first reunion show from Tiger Stadium 1996 - you guessed the city correct: Detroit Rock city. The excitement of the historic reunion overshadows the few musical mistakes. Seeing the original 4 back together in original make up and costumes is cool. Ace performs his classic solo where his Les Paul is set on fire and Gene Spits blood etc. Old gimmicks from old geezers. The disc ends with a "Psycho Circus" show from Dodgers Stadium L.A.
Disc 3 contains part 2 of the "Psycho Circus" show from LA and also the last Kiss show from New Jersey. Watching the NJ concert it is obvious that the magic has gone and Kiss in the new millennium shouldn't involve Peter Criss and Ace Frehley. Disc 3 is good for historical reasons but musically Kiss moved on to better times.
Disc 4 completes the circle. The show is the original Kiss filmed in December 1973 in their hometown New York. Even back in 1973 it was obvious that Gene and Paul were the leaders of Kiss. Ace is very anonymous on stage. The footage is black and white but pretty cool for historical reasons.
The DVD set comes with a booklet where Bruce Kulick, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley comments on the content. Bruce Kulick agrees with me regarding that Kiss was at their musical peak during the "Revenge" tour. Gene $immon$ surprises by saying that he was against the reuinion and looking back both Paul and Gene are frustrated about the reunion concerts and apparently there was all sort of thing going on behind the scenes. The performances are quite good though but lack the same vibe as the "Revenge" and unplugged show.
A bonus disc containing a live reunion show from 1996 is also enclosed. Talk about value for money, since the box is priced as a regular DVD. Wow!
Complete tracklist:
Disc 1The Palace Of Auburn Hills, Detroit, USA - 27 Nov 1992
1) Creatures Of The Night
2) Deuce
3) I Just Wanna
4) Unholy
5) Parasite
6) Heaven's On Fire
7) Domino
8) Watchin' You
9) War Machine
10) Rock And Roll All Nite
11) Lick It Up
12) Take It Off
13) I Love It Loud
14) Detroit Rock City
15) God Gave Rock And Roll To You II
16) Love Gun
17) Star Spangled Banner
18) MTV Unplugged 'Behind The Scenes' 1995
MTV Unplugged, Sony Studios, New York, USA - 09 Aug 1995
19) Comin' Home
20) Plaster Caster
21) Goin' Blind
22) Do You Love Me
23) Domino
24) Got To Choose
25) Sure Know Something
26) A World Without Heroes
27) Hard Luck Woman
28) Rock Bottom
29) See You Tonite
30) I Still Love You
31) Everytime I Look At You
32) Heaven's On Fire
33) Spit
34) C'mon And Love Me
35) God Of Thunder
36) 2000 Man
37) Beth
38) Nothin' To Lose
39) Rock And Roll All Nite
Disc 2Tiger Stadium, Detroit, USA - 28 Jun 1996 - The Reunion Tour
1) Deuce
2) King Of The Night Time World
3) Do You Love Me
4) Calling Dr Love
5) Cold Gin
6) Christine Sixteen
7) Love Gun
8) Shout It Out Loud
9) Watchin' You
10) Firehouse
11) Strutter
12) Shock Me
13) Rock Bottom
14) God Of Thunder
15) Let Me Go, Rock `n' Roll
16) 100,000 Years
17) Rock And Roll All Nite
MTV VMA Performance, Brooklyn Bridge, USA 04 Sep 1996
18) Rock And Roll All Nite
19) New York Groove
20) Deuce
21) Calling Dr Love
22) Love Gun
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, USA - 31 Oct 1998 - Part One
23) Psycho Circus
24) Shout It Out Loud
25) Let Me Go, Rock `n' Roll
26) Shock Me
27) Do You Love Me
28) Calling Dr Love
29) Firehouse
30) Cold Gin
31) Nothin' To Lose
32) She
33) I Was Made For Lovin' You
Disc 3Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, USA - 31 Oct 1998 - Part Two
1) Into The Void
2) Love Gun
3) Within
4) 100,000 Years
5) King Of The Night Time World
6) God Of Thunder
7) Deuce
8) Detroit Rock City
9) Beth
10) Black Diamond
11) Rock And Roll All Nite
'Detroit Rock City' Premiere Party, Los Angeles, USA - 09 Aug 1999
12) Detroit Rock City
13) Shout It Out Loud
14) Cold Gin
15) Rock And Roll All Nite
'The Last Kiss', Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, USA - 27 Jun 2000
16) Detroit Rock City
17) Deuce
18) Shout It Out Loud
19) Firehouse
20) Heaven's On Fire
21) Let Me Go, Rock `n' Roll
22) Shock Me
23) Psycho Circus
24) God Of Thunder
25) 100,000 Years
26) Love Gun
27) Black Diamond
28) Beth
29) Rock And Roll All Nite
Disc 4: Coventry, Queens, NY, USA - 22 Dec 19731) Deuce
2) Cold Gin
3) Nothin' To Lose
4) Strutter
5) Firehouse
6) Let Me Know
7) 100,000 Years
8) Black Diamond
9) Let Me Go, Rock `n' Roll
+ Bonus disc Rating: 8/10Written by
Michael Friday, March 19, 2010
