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Useless Things Need Love Too

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Tag Archives: MTV

Sounds-ish Like Saturday or: Radioactively Licking Like Crazy

18 Saturday Sep 2021

Posted by TGBII in KISS, Video

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KISS, MTV, Music, Video

Salutations™!!

Today is a big day in Kisstory. In 1978, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, and Paul Stanley each released their solo albums as a means to satisfy egos. Within four years Ace and Peter were gone. In 1987, Crazy Nights was released which is possibly the slickest of all KISS albums. It’s a polarizing albums as some people love it or hate it. I am a lover of it. In 1983, KISS released Lick It Up, the first album that actually acknowledged Ace’s departure and the first album the band released without makeup. To commemorate this, they appeared on MTV on Sunday, September 18, 1983. The same day of the album release, which is weird to me because i don’t see albums released on Sundays. But, instead of posting a cover or whatever, I’m going to show the reveal. I hope you enjoy it.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I didn’t want you, did not need you, sure wouldn’t mean to kick you down. You know I love you, I’m thinkin’ of you, sure do wish you’d come around. ‘Cause you’re the kind of sugar papa likes.” – That’s the Kind of Sugar Papa Likes (Penridge/Criss)


Now Normal Chronicles or: The Switch

31 Friday Jul 2020

Posted by TGBII in Sounds Like Saturday, Video

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Buggles, MTV, Music, Postmodern Jukebox, Sounds Like Saturday, Video

Salutations™!!

So, here’s the deal. I am traveling today and don’t know when I’ll have any WiFi to create a post, so I’m going to do the “Sounds Like Saturday” for tomorrow, which is August 1. August 1, 1981, MTV premiered and changed music promotion and airplay forever. MTV, in its true form, has gone the way of the dinosaur, with the “M” no longer standing for “music” but “miscellaneous.” But, this was the first song played on the channel and it was fitting and true. Ask Christopher Cross. I love Postmodern Jukebox, too, so this fits. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I heard you on the wireless back in fifty-two. Lying awake intent at tuning in on you. If I was young it didn’t stop you coming through. They took the credit for your second symphony. Rewritten by machine on new technology. And now I understand the problems you can see. I met your children. What did you tell them? Video killed the radio star…” – “Video Killed the Radio Star” (Downes/Horn/Woolley)

The Anniversary to Never Forget or: RIP

25 Monday Nov 2019

Posted by TGBII in KISS, Life as We Know It

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Eric Carr, Freddie Mercury, KISS, MTV

Salutations™!!

Yesterday was the 28th anniversary of not one but two major rock stars (at least in my mind). Let’s get the big elephant out of the way, first. Usually, I wait for this one and focus on the other and I will, still. The big one was Freddie Mercury, the first major music star to pass away from HIV/AIDS. Not long after there was a huge benefit/memorial concert that featured a star-studded lineup paying tribute to Freddie. It was a great show and he deserved it.

Eric-Carr-1982-kiss-38469480-514-678

Eric Carr (©unkown)

But, the one that meant more to me was the passing on the same exact day of Eric Carr, the drummer (still my favorite) of (again, still my favorite) KISS. I had had the flu on my birthday, four days prior and I took Nyquil and while I did “sleep” it was like I was in a comatose, half-awake state. I dreamt in green. I dreamt that Eric Carr had passed away. I had read that he had been sick but I didn’t know that he was that sick. He died of an aneurysm and complications of brain cancer.

The news had swirled around all day on MTV about Freddie’s passing. I had gone to the liquor store, as again, I had the flu on my birthday. It was my 21st birthday. So, I hadn’t yet felt like going to legally purchase alcohol for the first time. I didn’t know what to buy as I had never been to a liquor store before. I recognized the name Wild Turkey, so I bought that. I also went to the grocery store and bought a 2 liter of Moutain Dew.

I was settled in my bedroom/living room (still at Ma Rents’ house, much to their chagrin, I’m sure) and watching MTV when it came through that Eric had passed away. I stared at the TV and didn’t think about the dreaming until the next day. I pushed the Mt Dew out of the way and started taking huge chugs of Turkey.

Somehow, I ended up in my bathtub and the girlfriend I had at the time found me there. It was bad. I didn’t have a hangover. I’ve never had one.

But that was a huge day in KISStory and not one of the good ones. I have thought a lot about Eric and what would have happened over time if he had lived. Would the original lineup have gotten back together? I don’t think they would have. Perhaps with Ace, probably not with the makeup. I don’t know this for sure, but no one does. We never got to that point.

RIP Eric and Freddie. We miss the heck out of you both.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I can’t wait to get out. It’s been much too long, I don’t like being home. I’d rather play. This tour is going to be really big. We’re gonna have the biggest show we can have. It’s gonna be different not like the old KISS shows.” – Eric Carr

The Day It All Changed or: Lift Off!

01 Thursday Aug 2019

Posted by TGBII in Life as We Know It

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Alan Hunter, JJ Jackson, Mark Goodman, Martha Quinn, MTV, Music, Nina Blackwood

Salutations™!!

Today is August 1st and on this date 38 years ago, the face of music changed. Mainly because you could actually see the faces. It wasn’t the beginning of music videos but it was the beginning of the “music video era.” August 1, 1981, is the day that MTV launched.

Now, for you young folks, this is not the same MTV you watch, now. Well, it is, but isn’t. As this video states, it was the first 24-hour, stereo video music channel. I was still in WV and we had 4 channels so I didn’t have MTV. My grandparents who lived in a larger town in the state had it and every time we went up there, I was glued to the television. You couldn’t pull me away. Where I was, we had TBS and it had Night Tracks that came on at 7pm and went off at 7am each Friday and Saturday night but that wasn’t until around 1983 or so.

So, when we moved to WSNC, the part that Ma ‘Rents got me to accept that we were moving was that we would have a lot of channels and most importantly, we were going to have MTV. I would run home from school (even in the 10th grade) in time to see Hard 30 (or 60) and just see what was the next vid.

Remote Control, Half Hour Comedy Hour, Liquid Television and The Real World is what set the wheels in motion to not only show videos but add other programming. I never wanted that. Turns out, it changed it to what it would eventually become. But, it also did a lot to make stars and also did away with some artists’ careers. Think of Madonna and Christopher Cross respectively.

John, Alan, Nina and Martha all look so young. RIP JJ!

Until tomorrow, I want my (old) MTV!
Scorp out!

—
“And starting right now, you will never look at music the same again…” – Mark Goodman

Sounds Like Saturday or: QRIII

06 Saturday Jul 2019

Posted by TGBII in Sounds Like Saturday

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Chuck Wright, MTV, Quiet Riot, Rudy Sarzo, Sounds Like Saturday

Salutations™!!

Today is the anniversary of several albums, good ones, but this one I picked just because it hit me hard when I was a kid. I had just moved to WSNC (two weeks in) when QRIII from Quiet Riot came out. I was a big fan of the band’s previous two albums, Metal Health and Condition Critical. I understand this didn’t have the same impact on most people and it really didn’t for me, but this one song, being one to have just gotten MTV two weeks prior, I loved this. I love hard rock with keyboards and this was there in abundance. I didn’t even bother looking for a cover as the video rocked my socks. I always loved Rudy Sarzo, but he was gone at this point and Chuck Wright was in. So, happy 33rd-anniversary QRIII. Enjoy!!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“The wild and the young. They all have their dreams. The wild and the young. They’ve got to be free. The sun never sets for souls on the run. The wild and the young.” – “The Wild and the Young” (Dubrow/Cavazo/Wright/Banali/Proffer)

Ragecore or: High Cost of Living

09 Thursday May 2019

Posted by TGBII in Life as We Know It, Sounds Like Saturday

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120 Minutes, Babes in Toyland, MTV, Music, Sounds Like Saturday

Salutations™!!

Today is the 24th anniversary of ragecore band Babes in Toyland’s Nemesisters album. Here’s a performance from MTV’s 120 Minutes Live. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
”

I live it, high cost of livin’ tell me why give it all. Inside you gotta head high one size fits all. Head ride, you decide. Sweet, sweet ride. Sweet sweet ride. 1969.” – “Sweet ’69” (Bjelland/Barbero/Herman)

Remembering or: 27 Years Gone

28 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by TGBII in KISS, Life as We Know It, Records

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Ace Frehley, Eric Carr, Freddie Mercury, Gene Simmons, KISS, Mick Fleetwood, Mountain Dew, MTV, Music, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, Tabitha Soren, Wild Turkey

Salutations™!!

This past Saturday was the 27th anniversary of the passing of Paul Charles Caravello. You may not know who Paul Caravello is by name, at least that name. Most of the world, even I, knew him as Eric Carr. He was the second drummer for my favorite band, my musical lifeline, KISS. I didn’t find out until November 25, though.

Carr-promo

©(unknown – not owned by me)

I remember finding out all-to-well. But first…

Four days before, I turned 21 years old. Those same four days before, I came down with the flu. My 21st birthday, I had the flu. I was excited to get to go purchase alcohol for the first time and I was unable to. I was sick. I was throwing up. I was lightheaded, feverish and all around icky. I had a full-motion waterbed at the time and with that, I wasn’t going to get into bed and get even sicker from trying to rest.

I spent my birthday night and the following three nights sleeping on Ma ‘Rents’ couch and on the second night, I took NyQuil for the first time ever. It was the green gel-tab kind. When I slept that night, I never felt like I was asleep, but I dreamt weird stuff and everything was in green. It was so surreal. The only thing that I remember dreaming about was that Eric Carr died. I awoke the next morning sweating — partially from the flu and partially because that was an awful dream — and felt weird all day. Another two nights passed and I was better.

On the 25th, I made my way to the liquor store and was overwhelmed by what I saw. I had never been in a liquor store before. I didn’t know what to buy, didn’t know what anything was, didn’t know anything about drinkin’ no liquor. I saw something that I recognized which was Wild Turkey. I had never imbibed any liquor so I just grabbed some of “The Dirty Bird” and made my way to Food Lion to buy a 2 liter of Mountain Dew to drink with it. “Chase it,” whatever that meant.

To my mother and father, if you are reading this part, please forgive me. I know it’s no surprise (because my dad found my stuff later), but I settled on my couch, in my room, in the basement of my parents’ house and took a swig of Turkey and followed that with a swig of Dew. Turkey. Dew. Turkey. Dew. Turkey… oh, MTV News is coming on.

Tabitha Soren told us the news that Eric Carr, the drummer for KISS had passed away at the age of 41. I stared at the screen for a long time. I was starting to buzz a little at this point. I stared a while longer. I turned to my coffee table within a few feet from me and stared at the Wild Turkey and its citrusy companion. I pushed the Dew to the side and turned up the bottle of Turkey.

I drank almost a whole fifth right then. I got plastered. I ended up on the bed, talking to a friend of mine when my girlfriend at the time came over and I somehow found myself suddenly in the shower, clothed, dry and drunk. I slept it off.

But, the next day I started looking in the newspaper about Eric’s passing. I was glued to MTV for more news. But, not a lot of details came. As devastating as that was to me, as a KISS fan, as an Eric Carr fan, the news of his passing was mostly overshadowed by the passing of another, higher profile figure, Farrokh Bulsara, known to the world as Freddie Mercury. Freddie was the first major music star to succumb to the plague of AIDS, only one day after confirming what the media had been hypothesizing for almost a year.

I get it, Freddie’s death was high profile, for sure. I hated that either one of them had to die, but I thought it was extra sad that Eric passed on the same day, or same week as Freddie. I would have liked to have had a little more coverage of his passing, but then again, maybe it wouldn’t have been any different. Everyone knows Freddie’s story, heck it’s now a major biopic. But, to me, there was a lot to love about Eric.

When Peter Criss left KISS (however you want to say he left – fired, quit, etc.) in 1980, a search went out for a new drummer. Big name drummers (even Mick Fleetwood, so was the rumor) auditioned for the part. But, Gene, Paul and Ace, for the most part, wanted someone who wasn’t known. They wanted to keep up the mystique of identity. Paul Caravello was one of the auditionees and really, wasn’t the best. But, he asked for their autograph, so the story goes, and that endeared the rest of the band to give him a shot.

There was already a Paul in the band, so he chose Eric Carr as his new name and after some tweaking, he became the character The Fox, replacing Peter’s green motif with an autumnal orange/yellow/brown motif. Eric brought a harder-edged drumming style and while he technically debuted at one show in the US, made his true debut on the World Tour, specifically Australia. The fans took to him immediately. At least, most of them did. I did. I didn’t care one way or another about Peter at that time.

So, it was time for KISS to go back to the studio. The result was Music from ‘The Elder.’ I am pretty sure that’s not what Eric thought he was signing up for. There were some rockin’ parts, yes, but for the most part, this was not a “rockin'” album. He even played a little acoustic guitar on “Under the Rose” which he got a writing credit for. They didn’t really tour for that because it was such a “disaster” (I don’t agree).

They came back with a vengeance on the next album, Creatures of the Night and then took off their makeup for Lick It Up. Animalize, Asylum, Crazy Nights, Smashes Thrashes and Hits (in which he recut the lead vox for “Beth” and, in my opinion, did a better job of) and Hot in the Shade followed. I got to see him on the HITS tour and he did a wild drum solo. I loved it. That was my first concert and I was amazed by his drumming.

About six months after I saw that show, Eric got sick. Eventually, he was diagnosed with heart cancer in April 1991. He begged Paul and Gene to let him do stuff with them but they made sure that he got the treatment he needed. He wasn’t doing well. He did get Paul and Gene to let him shoot the video for “God Gave Rock and Roll To You.” He wore a wig as his hair had fallen out from the chemo.

In September 1991, KISS was on the MTV Video Music Awards. Eric played with them for that. It was his last performance with the band.  He had an aneurysm not long after that. Several days later he suffered a brain hemorrhage and never woke up. He then passed away on November 24.

I still miss Eric. I love his era with the band the best, even though it’s not my favorite music, at least all the time. He brought something to the band they had been missing. He fought and scratched with Gene and (especially) Paul. He had a great relationship with Ace, although he only played on one album with him. I have always wondered, which I’m sure most KISS fans have, what would the band have done had he lived? Would they have gone back to makeup? Would they have kept him instead of Peter with the reunion? How would the music evolve over time? Many things pop through my head on that subject.

And, I still think about that day in November 1991 when I heard the news; the emptiness I felt and the sadness, as well. Not only sadness that he was gone and that Freddie was gone, but that they died on the same day. Freddie got the glory and he deserved it, but Eric should have gotten more than he did. I don’t blame anyone for that, just “well darns.” Play on Little Caesar and know that we still miss you down here!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Ten million stories in the city. Ten million backs against the wall. Desperation’s out tonight, you can cut it with a knife. Everybody wants to have it all. Well, they tell you that the world is rough. But, they never rocked it hard enough. Hey, little Caesar! Nobody messing with you. Hey, little Caesar! Go show ’em what you can do!” – “Little Caesar” (Simmons/Carr/Mitchell)

Carnival of Dark Souls or: Many KISSes

31 Wednesday Oct 2018

Posted by TGBII in KISS, Music Review

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Ace Frehley, Arthur C Clarke, Billboard, Black N Blue, Bobby Richardson, Bruce Kulick, Carnival of Souls, Curtis Cuomo, David Barker, Eric Singer, Evan Stanley, Gene Simmons, Heavens Sake, Jaime St. James, Ken Tamplin, KISS, Metal Edge, MTV, Music, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, Sammy Hagar, Scott Van Zen, Tommy Thayer, Vinnie Vincent

Salutations™!!

Happy Halloween, first of all. And, now, let’s talk about an album that was the last before the makeup came back for KISS. Almost as polarizing as Music from ‘The Elder’ was but for slightly different reasons. True Long-Time KISS fans have always been on the fence about it, some think it’s a great departure while others feel it had nothing to do with KISS. KISS fans who kind of kept themselves in the perimeter mostly gave it nary a thought and newer KISS fans thought that it was groovy but probably didn’t get that it was KISS. This album, of course, is Carnival of Souls.

Carnival_of_Souls_KISS

©Mercury

Gene, Paul, Eric and Bruce went back to the studio in 1995 after their successful release from 1991, Revenge. KISS started off as a trend-setter but after Dynasty and on, really, they were really followers. They did show some folks how to still party whilst creepin’ on their turf, though. Grunge and heavier rock was the thing at the time, so KISS decided it was their turn to do that, too. Really, Gene was already there with “Unholy” and “Spit” from Revenge. (which included some Vinnie Vincent songwriting).

I’ll be honest, here. I like this album, a lot, but I really don’t know much about it. I have listened to it only slightly more than Sonic Boom and Monster. I am listening to it as I write this to refresh my memory.

I’d say first, that there are a lot of “drop D” tunings on this album, even further if you consider that KISS (except on Dynasty and Unmasked) did almost everything a half-step down. It’s heavy, the heaviest they ever did. It certainly is the darkest-themed they have ever done; almost Black Sabbath-like. It also has a lot of odd time signatures. It’s “grown-up” songs, too. Not a lot of sex and party. It’s probably their most intellectually advanced album. Does that make for a good album? Probably not to most KISS fans. Someone once said, “where’s the f—ing!?” So, again, probably not to most KISS fans.

There were rumors of this album right after it started. This was right when everyday folks were starting to get and get onto the internet. BBSs were dedicated to KISS. Online chat boards were, too. I was part of a few of those. It was also about this time that I got hooked up with David and Bobby from Heavens Sake. David was a collector of KISS bootlegs and when the “leaked” bootlegs of this album dropped, David and I sat in my office above where the band rehearsed and listened to it. We weren’t quite sure what to make of it. But, I don’t think either of us disliked it. I don’t remember what Bobby thought when he showed up as we listened. The bootlegs didn’t really sound all that great and there was stuff missed with some of the songs misnamed.

The album starts with “Hate,” a Gene song. So, that makes three KISS albums (this being the last) where he gets to go first. I don’t know why I’m so hung up about that. Anyway, it was co-written by Gene with Bruce and Scott Van Zen, a commercial songwriter. Gene uses his “Unholy” voice here. A great, heavy groove sets this song on fire.

The only thing I don’t like about “Rain” is the lack of any effect on Paul’s voice. The whole thing is really dry which, I am not sure that it brings it out as dark as they wanted. But, it could be that it highlights the songs, but the vocals part is dry. Bruce played bass on this.

“Tell Me” is next. That’s not true. It’s actually called “Master and Slave” but the internet folks called it “Tell Me” probably because it sounds like it would be in the chorus. Oddly enough, this is the only non-Gene song on which Gene plays bass. I don’t know if he and Paul were having a spat or if he just didn’t do a good job (he’s not the most prolific bassist alive) or was he off doing something else? Who knows, I just find it interesting.

The next two are more melodic and ballad-like. “Childhood’s End” is named after a book by Arthur C. Clarke. It’s not autobiographical as many folks have said. The song is basically talking about when we’re born we don’t know hate; we haven’t killed anything or know a lot of bad. We grow into it and are taught those things. The subject matter, according to the box set’s liner notes, is “Two friends, one of whom died before his time, and the other one who lived and reminisced about his missing friend.” It was co-written by Tommy Thayer (who is now Spaceman in the band) and songwriter Curtis Cuomo who collaborates with Paul and Gene throughout the album.

“I Will Be There” is an acoustical ballad with heavy orchestration and allows Bruce to show off some serious acoustic guitar/classical-riffed solos. It’s dedicated to Paul’s son, Evan.

The only song to really be considered a single was “Jungle.” It did reach #8 on the Billboard US Mainstream Rock charts (not to be confused with the Hot 200 where the Top 40 comes from) beating the previous best, which was “Heavens on Fire.” That’s a heavy-hitter, too. It also won Metal Edge Readers’ Choice Award for Song of the Year for 1997. It’s probably one of my least favorite tunes on the album but I still like it.

Gene recruited help from Van Zen and Black ‘N Blue’s Jaime St. James for “In My Head.” It’s heavy and mean. It’s weird but I feel that fits the scene for Gene’s head, indeed.

“It Never Goes Away” is Paul’s dragging tune. I like it but it drags on at like 4 beats a minute. Not really, but it seems like it. It’s more around 88 BPM. Continuing on the “kind of crazy train” that this album’s lyrical content provides, in, from what I can tell was a podcast called KISSaholics (#13), Paul says “(“It Never Goes Away”) Is a pretty cool song that says basically there’s all kinds of evil stuff that goes on and misery in the world but there’s really not a whole lot I can do about it. It never changes.” Well, okay, then. Bottom of the list for me.

I love the exotic beat happening in “Seduction of the Innocent.” It’s one of the more laid back Gene songs on the album and I dig it. Gene had announced this was being worked on as a follow up to Revenge. Co-written by Van Zen, who co-wrote seven of the tunes (out of 12) on the album.

My favorite tune on the album is “I Confess” which was co-written by Sammy Hagar’s cousin and Christian songwriter (how’s that for contrast?), Ken Tamplin. I love the deep darkness that the song puts forward, both musically and lyrically. The reverse swells and orchestration, along with the melody are amazing. I love this song.

“In the Mirror” is still grungy but still is kind of previous-KISS-like. Another thing this and other songs from COS have going on are some great vocal harmonies. That’s really all I have for this song.

Bruce finally gets his vocal moment. He sings the closing track, “I Walk Alone.” I think it’s interesting that both he and Eric Carr were in the band for a long time and both of them finally got their vocal debuts on their last album with the band. Now, I don’t think Bruce has a great voice, but I think Bruce’s voice was great on this song. It fit perfectly, in my opinion. This song is also the second longest song on the album, over six minutes. I’m a fan of this song, too.

So, the recording of this whole album, as I said, started in 1995. It was also in 1995 that KISS did MTV Unplugged and that led to the original lineup getting back together. That roller coaster hit a crest and was on its way, which we’re still experiencing. The monster (no pun intended) that thing became put COS on hold. It was released on October 28, 1997 which means it turned 19 this past Monday. Next year… wow, 20 years! Jeez.

Overall, I think it’s a great album. I just don’t think it is a great KISS album. Just like ‘The Elder,’ and Unmasked before it, if you take it out of the KISS context or at least what you expect from a KISS album, it can stand on its own. Okay, I’ll admit it, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it’s not a great album, but I think it’s a really good album. It has many fantastic songs. Songs that I feel Gene outdid Paul on. These songs fit Gene’s voice and musical mindset better than it did Paul’s. If you listen to Gene’s solo album, Asshole, you’ll hear more evidence of his heavier styles.

If you decide to give COS a listen, again, keep in mind that it’s not what you’d think a KISS album would be, but it’s experimental and I think worth listening to, more than once. I’ve listened to it three times whilst writing this post. Happy listening!

Until tomorrow, Keep KISSin’…
Scorp out!

—
“When I look into the mirror, just can’t believe, what do I see. There’s no wakin’ from this nightmare and you’re lost in your reality. So you tell me all your secrets. And you tell me that you’re innocent. There’s something in your eyes I can see and my face keeps looking back at me. You Confess. You can’t help yourself. This living lie that you can’t go on. You’re possessed. You can’t fool yourself. You’re the crime and you can’t go on.” – “I Confess” (Simmons/Tamplin)

Late Late Late or: Crazy Maniacal Anniversary

26 Friday Oct 2018

Posted by TGBII in Life as We Know It

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10000 Maniacs, MTV, Music

Salutations™!!

I had a long day, Dear Reader. I have had such a long day that I had almost forgotten to write something today. And, here it is 11:30pm and I don’t know what to write. You know what that means, right? Yep. A video. And, yep, you’ll get one tomorrow, too.

Since today is the 25th anniversary of the MTV Unplugged album from 10,000 Maniacs, here’s the album’s biggest tune.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Come on now, try and understand, the way I feel under your command. Take my hand, as the sun descends. They can’t hurt you now. Can’t hurt you now. Can’t hurt you now.” – “Because the Night” (Springsteen)

Heavens on Fire or: Animal Eyes?

13 Thursday Sep 2018

Posted by TGBII in Music Review

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Ace Frehley, Animalize, Bruce Kulick, Clay Howard, Desmond Child, Eric Carr, Gene Simmons, Jean Beavoir, Jon Lowder, KISS, Mark St. John, Mitch Weissman, MTV, Music, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, PMRC, Tom Sholtz, Vinnie Vincent

Salutations™!!

34 years ago today, one of KISS’ best-selling 80s albums was released. That would be Animalize. It’s not my favorite of that era, but it isn’t my least favorite, either. It has some good songs that carried over to the live concert video they put out on this tour.

By the time KISS was putting this out, Gene was pretty much a ghost in the band. He was still very much a member because, hey, it’s Gene Simmons. But, he had gotten really into other projects that he was afforded both because he now had money and he wasn’t restricted by keeping his identity cloaked. During the recording of this album, he was starring in Runaway (1984) and producing or managing bands like House of Lords and Black N Blue (which, incidentally had future KISS member, Tommy Thayer). So, being the loyalist, perhaps sometimes to a fault, that he is to the KISS brand, Paul Stanley took over the whole deal and produced this album. I think he did a pretty good job.

Animalize.jpg

©Mercury Records

It had been two years since an album was released as a “makeup” album and only a year (almost to the day) of the unmasking of the band on MTV, which also was the release date for Lick It Up. KISS fans were still riding the high that was the return of the hard rock KISS that they had loved as a kid before the disco-ing down and artification of the band. Don’t hear me wrong, I loved that stuff, too. But, they lost a big part of their “Army” with those things. I recognize that. This album came out and it was still punchy, still heavy and still cool.

The song “Heavens on Fire” was a huge hit for the band and was on heavy rotation on MTV. For anyone under the age of 30, MTV was a channel that played music videos 24/7. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it or not. There’s some other channel now that calls itself MTV but it’s nothing like that MTV. Anywhat! They debuted new videos at 5-minutes past each hour. The “world-wide” debut of “Heavens on Fire” was at 1:05am on a Saturday night. In 1984, I lived in WV and we had 7 channels, MTV wasn’t one of them. However, for whatever reason, I was staying at my grandmother’s house in a larger town that did have REAL cable television and had MTV. I fought dozing off and once the video came on, I was jarred up and ready to fight someone. I loved it. One of the funniest parts is when Eric Carr runs up behind Paul and sings a line with him. That wasn’t planned and Paul’s reaction was genuine. It’s cool.

This was the only album that “featured” Mark St. John on guitar. He replaced Vinnie Vincent who had replaced Ace Frehley. Mark was a talented player but really unreMARKable (see what I did there?). I remember looking at the album cover (on LP) and thinking who the heck is that guy? Of course, because I read all the rags and stuff, I knew his name but he looked like a big block of a guy, broad-shouldered and stiff. Looking at it now, it looks like he took Peter Criss’ Dynasty costume, painted it all black from the green it was and was wearing that. He wasn’t really, but he seemed like a piece of stone. And, in the video, he looked uncomfortable. He also used Rockman gear to record the album, which we know is the invention of Boston guitarist, Tom Sholtz. Paul had to do a lot of EQing to get that Boston out of it. St. John left the band just after the tour started because of Reiter’s syndrome, now called reactive arthritis. He was replaced by Bruce Kulick. Who you’ll hear about in a few days and next week.

Eric Carr’s drumming on this album was great! I loved it. Solid and heavy.

Paul’s songs were the best on the album, bar none. Three of the songs, “I’ve Had Enough (Into the Fire),” “Under the Gun” (co-written with Eric Carr), and “Heavens on Fire” were co-written with recurring collaborator, Desmond Child. “Thrills in the Night” was co-written by ex-Plasmatics bassist, Jean Beauvoir who also played bass on this album for “Get All You Can Take”, “Thrills In The Night” and “Under the Gun.”

Gene, while mostly absent, was there for some of it. He wrote “Burn Bitch Burn” and “Lonely is the Hunter” solo and co-wrote “While the City Sleeps” and “Murder in High Heels” with Paul McCartney look-alike Mitch Weissman, who co-wrote “Get All You Can Take” with Paul. Gene’s songs are cool for the fact that he’s a little tongue-in-cheek but Paul wins this album.

The story I always tell about this album is this: In 1984, the PMRC and its ridiculousness were in full-force (and no, I don’t mean Lisa-Lisa & Cult Jam with…) and Ma Mère fell for it hook, line, and sinker. She didn’t want me listening to “that rock and roll devil’s music.” Which, she herself did when she was younger. Anti-authority, satan, drugs, alcohol, etc. That’s what we kids were getting too much of. Anyhow, I wanted this album, really, really badly. I stood in front of the cassette case, you know, the old kind with holes in the plexiglass so you could hold the tapes and look at them but couldn’t get them out and steal them?  I stood there and begged to get both this album and Prince’s Purple Rain. She made me promise that I wouldn’t worship the devil if I got them. It didn’t help that one of the songs was called “Heavens on Fire” and another one “Burn Bitch Burn.” I promised. I did her one better. Not only do I not believe in or worship the devil, I don’t go the other way either. I’m non-Prophet when it comes to my religion. But, I got them and wore them both out!

I still love the album to this day. Both, of them, as I’ve mentioned before.

I do want to also wish my two great pals, Clay Howard and Jon Lowder a very happy birthday. I love you guys! You mean a lot to me and my family.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“My eggs in one basket, but she threw me a bone. She was dealt a full deck, but she likes to live alone. Ain’t just talkin’ to myself, need a reason to stop (oh yeah). With a flower in her teeth, she drained the last drop. I said girls love money like bees the honey. But lonely is the hunter, you’re my one and only, and lonely is the hunter.” – “Lonely is the Hunter” (Simmons)

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