Text written by Nina Shimazumi
This past weekend, the A&E broadcast the premiere of the documentary Kisstory in Brazil.
Kisstory , which was divided into two parts, shows the history of Kiss from its original formation to the present day, on The End of The Road Tour. At almost 3 hours long, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley openly discuss their points of view on all the events in the band's history over the years.
Kiss had many highs and lows, as they themselves say in the documentary: a career and fame are like a rollercoaster; one moment you're fawned over and feel like the center of the world, the next you're forgotten or criticized the moment you try to reinvent yourself.
Ace Frehley and Peter Criss did not want to participate and did not agree with the portrayal of the band in the documentary. However, many interviews they gave were used at different points in the film.
Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons shared their life stories before Kiss, why they became " The Starchild " and " The Demon ," and their strong brotherly bond – even amidst ups and downs in a long ego battle.
As Simmons himself says, some people, when they achieve fame, sink into drugs and alcohol; for him, it was ego and superiority. Stanley, on the other hand, always had a need to assert himself, and with some childhood traumas, felt it was time for him to have his space and shine. And indeed, he shone.
Amidst the comings and goings of drummers and guitarists, Simmons and Stanley recall in the documentary their insecurities about moving forward with the band, especially after the reunion tour with Peter Criss and Ace Frehley , and until Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer definitively took their current places in the band.
I believe that after all these years, through mistakes and successes, Kiss has managed to reinvent itself and stay relevant. The band has had its lows, like in the 80s with the disco and glam , but it has managed to create a strong brand and its own identity. I only disagree with Stanley about the makeup created by Criss and Frehley, which was based on their personalities, being used by Singer and Thayer. In my opinion, even though it's a Kiss trademark, and despite changes when Eric Carr and Vinnie Vincent lost some of the band's identity, nothing prevents them from creating their own identities while still following the Kiss brand.
It's worth checking out Kisstory , not only to see footage of Stanley and Simmons' lives, but also to see the behind-the-scenes moments, feelings, and history of one of the world's greatest bands. And also to understand that Kiss is a band for the people, which is why they were so acclaimed by the public, even after being heavily criticized at the beginning. After winning over fans with their phenomenal shows, the Kiss Army , an army of passionate fans whose love is passed down from generation to generation.
I already have a ticket for The End of The Road Tour , and even though it's not the original lineup, I'm really excited. Especially because I've never seen the band live and I know it's going to be one of those unforgettable shows. After all, I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day . Who else is going? To the Kiss Army, see you there!
