Psycho Circus - Kiss
Well, after Revenge, the guys went into the studio and recorded an album. Then the famed MTV Kiss unplugged where every member of Kiss (except for the late Eric Carr) got together at once and played a set. From that came the "Let's put the makeup back on" reunion of the original 4. That displaced Eric Singer & Bruce Kulick and the album they made together (Carnival of Souls). Souls was shelved (along with it's non original members) in favor of the reunion and Psycho Circus. At the time it really pissed me off, because I thought the band was great again, after all the years of plodding along in mediocrity. Then they shelved the album (which was great) in favor of this, which was just "OK" at best. After this I really lost interest in Kiss - mostly because of the treatment of the former members and the lost Souls album. It's also turned out to be the last album that Kiss would release, they've done a few Greatest Hits & live albums since then, but no new studio work, and I doubt I'll pick it up if there is any more anyway, the Souls thing really left a bad taste in my mouth.
Funny KISS leaves a mark that gives everyone a bad taste. As far as the non-makeup group, the only guy who got the shaft out of the deal was Bruce Kulick, who after the band decided it'd be in their best interest to persue the reunion. (He's only done independent gigs and hasn't gotten much fanfare out of it).
Then the other people shafted in the deal is Ace and Peter, who Gene and Paul basically disown now, and cannot keep their reasons why consistent. I recall emailing Peter about some comments Gene said and a few hours later a post went up on his site about how he "thought of Mr. Simmons."
KISS has bitten every hand that has fed them over 35 years, Gene went as far as saying that the few that care about the original line up means nothing to them (when he commented on the status of possibly having other people fill Gene and Pauls' boots). I still think they are thinking that they have to make up for the tons of money they pissed away during the beginning of the early 80s and the time they let Paul's shrink run the finances. Sad shit indeed, I was a fan since I was five, and I couldn't be bothered to buy anything made after psycho circus.
as far as this album, it pissed me off that Paul came out during the tour with Aerosmith and said that all lead work was done by Tommy Thayer (aka the imposter Ace). I have a hard time believing that was by group decision, as Ace and Peter had to fight tooth and nail just to get a song each on the album (Peter got shafted as it had to be a Paul written song, not one of his contributions).
KISS has shown they care more about money than fans, and that's fine, I know quite a few people who don't like that (VH1 Classics VJ & Radio DJ Eddie Trunk included). They say KISS is a marketing thing over a band, well everything they've tried to branch off with has failed. The McFarlane comics, gone. KISS Figures, as far as I know he won't do anymore and the things left are 12 inch figures of Gene that have been marked down to 14 bucks at Spencer's).
I agree with you, My time and money now goes to bands who are more worthy of it.
I liked this album. But Patrick, youre wrong about one thing, Paul cares about Peter and Chris. Gene $immon$ basicly bought the band and has the largest say in everything. I agree though, Kiss has gone down the shitter. I used to like Gene, but now hes just a Money Sucker.
Carnival Of Souls was released though :S