Take It Off: KISS Truly Unmasked
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-04-07 14:54:56
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Greg Prato
- ISBN：1911036572
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Summary
There is a common misconception about KISS， one of the greatest hard-rock/heavy metal-bands of all-time: that their ‘non-makeup’ era of 1983-1996 is not as enduring as the period when they stalked stages as the Starchild， the Demon， the Spaceman， and the Cat。
This is untrue。 In fact， this period helped resuscitate KISS’s career， as they reestablished themselves in arenas， on the charts， and via MTV， and yielded some of their most popular songs – including Lick It Up， Heaven’s On Fire， Tears Are Falling， Crazy Crazy Nights， Hide Your Heart， Forever， Unholy， and more – many of which consistently found their way into the band’s set lists。
While the majority of KISS books are focused on the glitz and glamour of the iconic makeup era， the non-makeup years are ripe to be explored in book form， and Take It Off does just that， zeroing in on the eleven albums KISS issued during this period – including such gold- and platinum-certified hits as Lick It Up， Animalize， Revenge， and Alive III – as well the resulting tours， videos， and other escapades。
Take It Off draws on all-new interviews with KISS experts and associates， including the band’s lead guitarist throughout most of this period， Bruce Kulick， plus Crazy Nights producer Ron Nevison and video director Paul Rachman （Unholy/I Just Wanna/Domino）。 Among the other contributors are Charlie Benante （Anthrax）， K。K。 Downing （ex-Judas Priest）， Derek Sherinan （ex-Dream Theater）， and rock music experts Eddie Trunk， Katherine Turman， and Lonn Friend。 The book also includes a foreword by Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho and an afterword by acclaimed producer Andreas Carlsson， as well as rare photographs and memorabilia from the period。
With KISS currently in the midst of their last ever tour， now is the time to get Truly Unmasked。
This is untrue。 In fact， this period helped resuscitate KISS’s career， as they reestablished themselves in arenas， on the charts， and via MTV， and yielded some of their most popular songs – including Lick It Up， Heaven’s On Fire， Tears Are Falling， Crazy Crazy Nights， Hide Your Heart， Forever， Unholy， and more – many of which consistently found their way into the band’s set lists。
While the majority of KISS books are focused on the glitz and glamour of the iconic makeup era， the non-makeup years are ripe to be explored in book form， and Take It Off does just that， zeroing in on the eleven albums KISS issued during this period – including such gold- and platinum-certified hits as Lick It Up， Animalize， Revenge， and Alive III – as well the resulting tours， videos， and other escapades。
Take It Off draws on all-new interviews with KISS experts and associates， including the band’s lead guitarist throughout most of this period， Bruce Kulick， plus Crazy Nights producer Ron Nevison and video director Paul Rachman （Unholy/I Just Wanna/Domino）。 Among the other contributors are Charlie Benante （Anthrax）， K。K。 Downing （ex-Judas Priest）， Derek Sherinan （ex-Dream Theater）， and rock music experts Eddie Trunk， Katherine Turman， and Lonn Friend。 The book also includes a foreword by Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho and an afterword by acclaimed producer Andreas Carlsson， as well as rare photographs and memorabilia from the period。
With KISS currently in the midst of their last ever tour， now is the time to get Truly Unmasked。
Reviews
Gord Alexander
，
Overall a very good read。 Definitely tailor-made for a Kiss geek。 To enjoy this book you'd likely need to a diehard fan， which I am so I enjoyed it。 I was really hoping for more of a narrative/memoir style book about Kiss in this era。 This book is more of a collection of interviews and a play-by-play of what the band was up to in the non-makeup era。 So the format was a bit of a let down for me。 But once I realized what it was， it was a great read。 Overall a very good read。 Definitely tailor-made for a Kiss geek。 To enjoy this book you'd likely need to a diehard fan， which I am so I enjoyed it。 I was really hoping for more of a narrative/memoir style book about Kiss in this era。 This book is more of a collection of interviews and a play-by-play of what the band was up to in the non-makeup era。 So the format was a bit of a let down for me。 But once I realized what it was， it was a great read。 。。。more
Bookwraiths
，
I’m not a card carrying member of the KISS Army， but I’ve always enjoyed this band’s music and showmanship。 I first took notice of them when just a little kid during their late 1970s glory years where KISS in full makeup was HUGE。 Honestly， you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing them on magazine covers， hearing their songs on the radio， or being bombarded with KISS products to buy。 Hell， there were some Halloweens when almost everyone was dressed up as KISS for trick or treating。 My mom wouldn’ I’m not a card carrying member of the KISS Army， but I’ve always enjoyed this band’s music and showmanship。 I first took notice of them when just a little kid during their late 1970s glory years where KISS in full makeup was HUGE。 Honestly， you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing them on magazine covers， hearing their songs on the radio， or being bombarded with KISS products to buy。 Hell， there were some Halloweens when almost everyone was dressed up as KISS for trick or treating。 My mom wouldn’t let me buy any KISS records or merchandise sadly because of the whole “Knights In Satan Service” stuff that circulated back then， but I vividly remember watching their 1978 superhero made-for-television movie “Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park”， which I thought was damn cool at the time。 Fast forward to the 1980s and the non makeup era KISS。 This was when I was finally able to buy KISS cassettes and consume as much of their hair metal flavored rock as I wanted。 Yeah， most of their 80s music might seem corny， misogynistic and overproduced to some ears today， but it was a hell of a lot of fun for me and my friends back then， still brings back a lot of good memories to me now。 And so this book about the non makeup era of KISS from 1983-1996 was right up my alley。After finishing the book， I really don’t have any serious complaints。 It was a fun read， chronologically detailing each album and the subsequent tours， and the book was filled with lots of interviews with people who were around the band at the time and shared their firsthand knowledge of what was going on， which lent the narrative an authentic touch。 Plus， this wasn’t a tell all， trash everyone kind of book。 Yeah， there were things critical to the band mentioned， but the author didn’t wallow in the negativity， which I personally found refreshing。 Just a good entertaining read。 I would only recommend this book to fans of KISS though， especially fans of the non makeup era band， but since I think such is pretty self evident the book is written for that specific target audience probably there isn’t any reason for me to even say such。 。。。more
Patrik Hamberg
，
Happy to read a book about the sans make up years （Lick It Up through Carnival of Souls）。 Unfortunately for Prato I'm getting a bit tired of these QA-type of books。 Especially when a large chunk of the interviewees are so loosely related to the subject。 This is by no means a definitive book om the 80's / early 90's Kiss。 This is more of a: "do you remember when Kiss didn't wear their iconic kabuki style make up and what did you think of them at the time" type of book。 It's a decent read， but not Happy to read a book about the sans make up years （Lick It Up through Carnival of Souls）。 Unfortunately for Prato I'm getting a bit tired of these QA-type of books。 Especially when a large chunk of the interviewees are so loosely related to the subject。 This is by no means a definitive book om the 80's / early 90's Kiss。 This is more of a: "do you remember when Kiss didn't wear their iconic kabuki style make up and what did you think of them at the time" type of book。 It's a decent read， but not more。 。。。more
Andrew
，
My favourite KISS song？ "Hide Your Heart。"My favourite KISS album？ "Creatures of the Night" - re-released in the unmasked era， so it kinda counts， right？Anyway， it stands to reason that the unmasked era of KISS fascinates me， and this book covers each album and all the surrounding events in minute detail。 A great time capsule of an interesting time in the band's extensive history。 If you're a fan， you'll appreciate this。 My favourite KISS song？ "Hide Your Heart。"My favourite KISS album？ "Creatures of the Night" - re-released in the unmasked era， so it kinda counts， right？Anyway， it stands to reason that the unmasked era of KISS fascinates me， and this book covers each album and all the surrounding events in minute detail。 A great time capsule of an interesting time in the band's extensive history。 If you're a fan， you'll appreciate this。 。。。more
Lance Lumley
，
Most KISS book， when discussing the non-makeup years， tend to be making fun of the era， and dismissing it。 In Fact Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley at times have done in the past。 Being a huge fan of the non-makeup years， this book shows respect and class to my favorite KISS era。 Each album is covered （the years 1983-1997） with stories from album producers， songwriters， journalists， and Bruce Kulick himself。 There are dispelled rumors， and new tales that some may not have heard， along with in depth Most KISS book， when discussing the non-makeup years， tend to be making fun of the era， and dismissing it。 In Fact Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley at times have done in the past。 Being a huge fan of the non-makeup years， this book shows respect and class to my favorite KISS era。 Each album is covered （the years 1983-1997） with stories from album producers， songwriters， journalists， and Bruce Kulick himself。 There are dispelled rumors， and new tales that some may not have heard， along with in depth coverage of all the videos， Tv appearances， and concerts。This is a great book for KISS fans to own。 For an In depth review， visit my page at : https://lancewrites。wordpress。com/202。。。 。。。more
Michael Costa
，
80's-90's KISS holds a special place in KISStory。 Really enjoyed this Chronicle of those times。 80's-90's KISS holds a special place in KISStory。 Really enjoyed this Chronicle of those times。 。。。more
Terry Kruse
，
This was an ok book。 I don't consider myself to be a huge KISS fan so there is that， but， on the other hand， it was fun to learn a bit of KISS history。 My problem with this book was it was a bit overwritten。 It wasn't a long read， but I think parts of the chapters could have been excluded。 Also， I wish there were more pictures！ This was an ok book。 I don't consider myself to be a huge KISS fan so there is that， but， on the other hand， it was fun to learn a bit of KISS history。 My problem with this book was it was a bit overwritten。 It wasn't a long read， but I think parts of the chapters could have been excluded。 Also， I wish there were more pictures！ 。。。more
Brett buckner
，
Full disclosure: this was my car book。 It’s what I’d read while waiting in the school car line， still 。。。 I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the ‘80s version of KISS， sans makeup。 But this book was something of a let down featuring interviews with side characters， save for contributions from Bruce Kulick， an under appreciated player， there wasn’t much Behind the Music type insight。
Alex Dimaio
，
A little too much filler。 But a fun read for those who grew up without the makeup。
Zachary
，
The 80s was my era for KISS。 The first KISS album I owned was Smashes， Thrashes， and Hits in 88。 I got to see the band on the Hot in the Shade tour in 1990。 Obviously KISS is an iconic 1970s pop culture phenomenon， but there are plenty of fans like me who really love the 80s records。 I'm guessing this book is going to appeal to exactly zero people who don't already love this era， but for those of us who do， pick it up。 It's a great journey through some。。。 crazy nights。 （I'll let myself out。） The 80s was my era for KISS。 The first KISS album I owned was Smashes， Thrashes， and Hits in 88。 I got to see the band on the Hot in the Shade tour in 1990。 Obviously KISS is an iconic 1970s pop culture phenomenon， but there are plenty of fans like me who really love the 80s records。 I'm guessing this book is going to appeal to exactly zero people who don't already love this era， but for those of us who do， pick it up。 It's a great journey through some。。。 crazy nights。 （I'll let myself out。） 。。。more
Norbert
，
This was a very interesting & enjoyable read。 I grew up listening to Kiss and once the grease paint came off， the appeal disappeared for a little while。 However I quickly learned that albums such as Animalize and Lick it up are excellent efforts。Greg translates this into a book from with interesting interviews from a lot of those involved。 I really appreciate Bruce's take on a lot of things him being so close to the fire。 The book is cleverly built up with little bits of info here & there and I This was a very interesting & enjoyable read。 I grew up listening to Kiss and once the grease paint came off， the appeal disappeared for a little while。 However I quickly learned that albums such as Animalize and Lick it up are excellent efforts。Greg translates this into a book from with interesting interviews from a lot of those involved。 I really appreciate Bruce's take on a lot of things him being so close to the fire。 The book is cleverly built up with little bits of info here & there and I would highly recommend it for any Kiss fan not that knowledgeable on the non make up era of the band。 It certainly re-sparked my interest in this period！（although Crazy Nights - I'll never get over that one I'm afraid。。:-） 。。。more
Daniel Westman
，
I grew up on 80's Kiss and enjoyed Greg Prato's book on Eric Carr， therefore I had high expectations for this one。 Unfortunately， my high expectations weren't met and the book felt like a mishmash of interviews。 Especially the latter part of the book failed to deliver。 Still， as a fan， I enjoyed parts of it。 I grew up on 80's Kiss and enjoyed Greg Prato's book on Eric Carr， therefore I had high expectations for this one。 Unfortunately， my high expectations weren't met and the book felt like a mishmash of interviews。 Especially the latter part of the book failed to deliver。 Still， as a fan， I enjoyed parts of it。 。。。more
Roney Lundell
，
It is an interesting chapter in Kiss history that is the focus of this book - the unmasked years of 1983-1995。The author introduces each chapter about a record with a 2-3 page run through of the times it was recorded。 There is very little new facts in these introductions and sometimes faults like when it is claimed that Killers was an Europe only release， both Japan and Australia had releases of this compilation。 There is even more of this in the interviews that is the main party of each chapter It is an interesting chapter in Kiss history that is the focus of this book - the unmasked years of 1983-1995。The author introduces each chapter about a record with a 2-3 page run through of the times it was recorded。 There is very little new facts in these introductions and sometimes faults like when it is claimed that Killers was an Europe only release， both Japan and Australia had releases of this compilation。 There is even more of this in the interviews that is the main party of each chapter。 Unfortunately many pages feels like fillers。 Like when Bruce with a sentence or two comments all the music videos from that era or a list of Eddie Trunks top 20 songs from that era （they are numbered 1-20 but at the same time it is specified that they are not presented in a particular order。。。 haha）。A major part of the book is interviews with key players from that era， like Bruce or producers， but also high profile fans like Julian Gill or Curt Gooch。 Often I felt like I was reading a transcript of a radio show or podcast because there was a lot of guessing and unsure memories being put forward。 One of the qualities that a book has it that it isn’t a product of the moment and therefore fact， uncertainties etc can be checked and double checked before the final text is put to paper。 This has not been done in the capacity that it should have。 。。。more
Pat Pettite
，
great stuff
Randy
，