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by Ian Carroll (Author)
Back in the 1970's I was still at school. A child of the sixties, growing up in the crazy seventies, a floppy fringe and very naff 'ill fitting' clothing. For a few years previously the UK - where I live - was awash with the phenomenon that was 'Glam Rock'. British bands like Slade, The Sweet and Gary Glitter lead the 'Glam Revolution' in England and a similar movement was beginning to form, develop and rapidly evolve in the USA and it was taking off in a very big way; a flashy, brash and glitzy way.I was a massive fan of US comics and 'Hammer Horror' movies and there was an American band on the horizon, which was an amalgamation of it all. My parents regularly bought me 'Monster Mag', a horror poster magazine and Hammer House of Horror - both were supposed to be for slightly older children and aimed at late teens and adults - and comics such as the Hulk, Daredevil and the Silver Surfer. I lapped up the glossy magazines and the comics of the time and spent most of my pocket money on them; I was in a world of my own, indulging myself in the realms of 'comic-fantasy'.Then I came across KISS...I was walking past Virgin Records, our biggest and best record shop in March '79 and there in the window was an album that stood out from all the surrounding 'blandness' and it appealed to me and my 'horror/comics' fixations.The album was 'Destroyer'- which had already been out for three years - and there were no other thoughts in my mind, I HAD to have it. At the time I had never listened to KISS or even heard of them - I was only 13, nearly 14, years old and my life, as I previously mentioned, revolved around horror movies and comic book heroes, but the band on the cover of this album appeared to encompass both elements.Looking like 'superheroes' coming over a mountain, the painting on the cover of 'Destroyer' was what caught my eye most. With fists punching the smoke filled air, the four 'stack-heeled' behemoths looked like a force to be reckoned with and I would later discover what a musical 'tour de force' they were.The album was bought as soon as I could get the cash saved and from that day on there was no looking back. I took the record home, played it to death on my fathers record player - as I had none at the time - and that was it, I was hooked, KISS were my favourite band and even now, 38yrs later, they still are.I have all the albums, on CD, many t-shirts and I've seen them eight times and it will be at least once on this coming tour as well; I've also seen Ace Frehley live three times as well, which is always an amazing experience.I have met Gene Simmons, nearly met Ace Frehley at the 'interview that never happened', corresponded with Bruce Kulick, been to a press conference for KISS - with them in full make-up for the whole twenty minutes - and even been to see them in the USA on the 'Monster' tour with Motley Crue; I do consider myself to have been extremely lucky in these events and more of these details will be revealed in more depth in the latter pages of this book.So there we have it, KISS - Rock 'n' Roll LEGENDS - superheroes that changed, and continue to change, the face of rock 'n' roll!All we need now is another Original Line-up Reunion Tour...
