KISS
Who Are The Top 20 Metal Bands Of All Time?
Depends who you ask and how they define who is metal or just hard rock. For example, many agree that Metalica, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest are metal, but KISS, AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses are not metal.
That is how the authors of the new book ‘The Merciless Book of Metal Lists‘ see it in one of several indexes they compiled for this release set for April 9, 2013 by Abrams Image.
Howie Abrams and Sacha Jenkins’ book features numerous compilations of bests (songs, guitarists, album covers featuring goats) and worsts (embarrassing metal videos, metal fashion faux pas’).
80′s metal fans will also surely appreciate unconventional lists such as: ’10 Reasons Why EVERYONE Loves Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood” and ’10 Accomplishments Iron Maiden Would Never Have Achieved had Paul Di’Anno Remained Their Singer’.
One of the lists sure to spark some debate is ’20 of the Greatest Metal Voices.’ They nailed the top three (my opinion) and Queensryche’s Geoff Tate certainly deserves a top five appearance:
1. Ronnie James Dio (Black Sabbath, Dio)
2. Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
3. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)
4. Eric Adams (Manowar)
5. Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche)
6. King Diamond (Mercyful Fate, King Diamond)
7. Tom Araya (Slayer)
8. John Bush (Armored Saint/Anthrax)
9. James Hetfield (Metallica)
10. Max Cavalera (Sepultura, Soulfly)
In an interview with the New York Times, Abrams said Dio was the unanimous choice for the top spot because he had a virtuosity that set him far apart from other top metal vocalists.
“If he needed to apply darkness, he could do it,” said Abrams. “If he needed to belt and go to a higher range, he could. He replaced Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath, and I’m not sure there was a taller task for a vocalist. He did it with ease and grace, and he may have improved on what Oz did in the first place.”
‘The Merciless Book of Metal Lists’ is a fun read. I especially enjoyed viewing the artwork from ’200 Embarrassingly Bad Album Covers’… Anthrax took the top two spots with ‘State of Euphoria’ and number one ‘Fistful of Metal.’
From the 1987 Hysteria ‘In The Round’ World Tour, the Def Leppard concert book below is slightly over-sized (Approx: 12″ x 10″), but in good condition (slight wear on the cover). Beautiful full-color photographs.
From the 1996-1997 KISS ALIVE WORLD TOUR, the first with the original members (Gene, Paul, Peter, Ace) since 1979, the KISS concert book above is over-sized (Approx: 14″ x 11″), but in good condition (slight tear at the bottom of the cover). Awesome full-color photographs.
November 24, 1991: Eric Carr (Paul Charles Caravello) of KISS died of heart cancer at age 41.
He replaced Peter Criss in 1980, choosing the stage name “Eric Carr” and taking up the “Fox” persona.
Eric gave KISS a new sound with his energetic and “heavy” drumming, especially on the album ‘Creatures of the Night‘ (1982).
If KISS’ Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley could go back in time and do it all again, they most likely would choose to replace original guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss with current members Tommy Thayer (guitar) and Eric Singer (drums). In a recent interview with Revolver magazine, Gene said, “”I want to go on record: Eric and Tommy have revitalized the band, made Paul and myself realize what lucky bastards we are to be in KISS and to have each other. And this should have been the lineup of KISS from the beginning.”
Gene was later asked if he hears any complaints about Ace and Peter being out of the band. “When you have 3-year-old and 5-year-old fans showing up to our concerts — or even 30-year-old fans — they don’t know about Ace and Peter,” he said. “I mean, next year is going to be our 40th year. We’ve been touring longer than most of the people who come see us live have been alive. Who’s Ace and Peter? By the way, bless ‘em both — what I just said doesn’t mean that Ace and Peter weren’t every bit as important as Paul and myself in the beginning of the band, but not everybody has the same DNA. Some people shouldn’t be in a marathon race. They’re just not designed for it. Some people are good for short runs.”
Added Paul, “I’ve said it before. I’ll say it again — we couldn’t be here today without what Ace and Peter did in the beginning, and we couldn’t be here today if they were still in the band.”
With laser lights, huge explosions and a massive amount of pyro, KISS and Mötley Crüe left the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, California on August 14, 2012 looking like a war zone.
Mötley Crüe was first to perform and kicked ass on a set that included ‘Wild Side’, ‘Dr. Feelgood’, ‘Girls Girls Girls’ and ‘Kickstart My Heart’. After seeing them last summer at the Sunset Street Music Festival, I started to notice that it was almost the same setlist and the pyro did not change, which was not necessarily a bad thing… pyro is always good 
. Tommy Lee did his roller coaster drum solo and Mick Mars still looks like he is about to fall over his guitar. Mötley Crüe still brings it full blast with a high-energy, rockin’ show fans have come to expect.
This was my first time seeing KISS play live and I have to admit, I was kind skeptical of what they would bring to the tour as I have always considered them a gimmick band, but after seeing them play live they sure know how to put on a great show and I have been converted to be a full on KISS fan. As the show began, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer made their entrance via a platform that lowered them down to the stage from the top of the amphitheater. KISS opened with ‘Detroit Rock City’ then blasted through ‘Lick It Up’, ‘Love Gun’ and ‘Shout It Out Loud’. Watching them perform all theses hits and seeing the kids faces light up as did their parents, made the drive out to Irvine and the fist of cuffs, well worth it. Now time to watch Detroit Rock City (the Movie).
The KISS and Mötley Crüe tour rolls on to Northern California and Washington State before returning to the Eastern U.S.
Click Here for photos.
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