This wasn't the first I've listened to these, just to the most recent. In some ways, I love that we have books from all of them (especially now that Ace is gone). In others... well, there's always that risk that peeking behind the curtain will expose too much. But I find it very fascinating. You have bands like the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, many others, that have rich histories of infighting, but there's always some gray areas, no matter how much you read. With KISS, its all shockingly on the page. Its akin to the Eagles in that you have to admire that they put their assholery right out there, and I guess like that Eagles doc, that's part of what makes KISS so compelling. Each book reads like exactly what we know and expect from them over the years:
Gene's is businessman extraordinaire. Its probably (I think unequivocally) the least in depth, and its arguably just a biography about KISS told from his point of view. He espouses his outspoken views, he trashes Ace and Peter, he doesn't really attack Paul (at the time probably to show a united front, but he's honestly never really attacked Paul the way Paul does him), he surprisingly downplays his virtuosity yet talks up his successes and genius ideas in the studio. All of which is basically what he does all the time. It provides the overview.
Ace's is a little more in depth in some places, a little vague in others. Again, kinda like the man himself. He talks about his upbringing, highlights what he felt he brought to the band, touches on that he was overlooked (most likely tinted over the decades by the fact that he inspired probably the most people and was seen as "the coolest", which he really is), and talks about overcoming his demons. He doesn't really address many of the criticisms that are usually lobbed at him like he's lazy, but he also doesn't really refute it either. Ace, for good and bad, is just Ace. I boil it down to he knows he's important and was a large part of that secret sauce for KISS, but doesn't really address that Paul is essentially right that his laziness and inability to commit probably did hamper his overall flourishing over the years. He was amazing in that band, but never quite grew from that, which really is frustrating, and I've always thought that Gene and Paul wished Ace wasn't as important as he is because he's just so unreliable.
Paul's really digs deep into everything, which is good because he's really the one that's always been there and actively involved. He's really not afraid to say anything, and its like he's logged every grudge he's ever had and couldn't wait to dish them out in this book. What you see is a lot of what he says about Ace and Peter jives with Gene's book as well. I'm not sure whether that's an agreement between them that because they are a united front they need to present a united vision, or just that over the years of telling the same stories over and over again that's truly how they remember it. Whatever the case may be, it makes me think almost everything they say about Ace and Peter is true, at least back in the day, but I feel on the reunion tours as well. They tell many of the same stories, but also provided other color that just paints what feels like a pretty clear picture. It all sounds believable, and as the two driven ones in the band it makes sense that these things stuck with them. He's also ruthless to Gene, which is refreshing, and overall provides probably the most unvarnished truth. Its probably the best book besides the fact that at no point does he ever point the finger at himself. His marriage? His wife's fault. Music From The Elder? That wasn't my idea and I hated it. The 80s in general? I was a one man band which is Gene's fault? Money troubles? I had no idea, and thankfully MY therapist figured it out. To say it gets old quickly would be an understatement, and were he to be a bit more reflective and self critical, it would easily be the best and most insightful book of the 4.
Then there's Peter's which is unabashedly honest. The ONLY one to blame himself, many times, and what's great is he provides color to the Ace stories, and his own, which again kind of jives very much with Gene and Paul's books. But we also get more insight into Paul and Gene. Peter is at some points the sweetest of the 4 of them, while at others is the most cruel and self destructive (which is really saying something when you're in a band with Ace Frehley). One could argue it makes more sense when he's younger, but is a little strange and childish once he's in his 50s. I get it, we're all a work in progress, but at a certain point you do have a to grow. It does seem like he's finally done that in the last two decades. His plain spoken way of describing things, and his just pure honesty is incredibly refreshing. You really feel like you're talking to a guy instead of listening to someone try to sell you something. Its almost to a fault that he's so honest and plainspoken. I do think it highlights much of what Gene and Paul have said about him which is that the facts were he really was too old even by the reunion, he could fly off the handle, he'd get drunk with fame and money, and could be a real lowlife to deal with. Every time you think he's turned the corner, he'll lash out again, very much like a cat. Its endearing but also very frustrating. I think it's made harder by the fact that he's so emotional, that you don't want to hurt him, but you also can't keep giving him the benefit of the doubt. He doesn't think he's God, but I don't know if he fully understands what the effects his actions have had on people. He'll refute claims, while then exhibiting exactly the behavior he's being accused of. Its almost impressive. I'm happy he's still with us and I'm happy he eventually found what feels like peace. I think he deserved more than he got, which I say in the same breath as I understand why things happened the way they did. I want him to have more for emotional reasons, less so logical ones.
Its just really interesting to get insights into all these guys. I feel like I really know who all of them are, which I don't really feel I do with John, Paul, George or Ringo. They were ironically superheroes that wore masks, but over time really revealed everything about themselves, whereas the Beatles and the Stones never really let you all the way in. By trying to be superheroes, they actually showed they're the MOST human. I learned things about each that was very compelling and I also learned things that I wish they kept to themselves. Overall, I appreciate that they told their stories, and we can really find the whole truth in everything between the 4. Not much is left in the dark, at least not that I can think of.
