Customer Ratings & Reviews

This review is not meant for die hard fans, who know all this and have their own opinions; but the casual fan may find the info useful in deciding which installment of the KISSOLOGY series to buy. PARENT ALERT: The profanity was non-existent in the KISSOLOGY I, edited out of KISSOLOGY II, but is here in some song introductions, plus there's a quick topless girl mixed in the crowd at the very beginning of "The Last KISS" show from New Jersey, 2000. Kids might not notice it. This is the third installment of the KISSOLOGY DVD series. The first editions of each installment included Bonus DVDs in cardboard sleeves inside the package. (Each bonus disc was a single concert, some complete, some only most of the show). Each installment had three seperate bonus discs - one for our friends from Arkansas, one for Best Buy (hardest to get generally), and one for all other retailers. That means 9 bonus discs for the entire series. All three KISSOLOGY DVDs have audio commentary from Gene and Paul (plus a small bit from Bruce Kulick) -- and none from Ace and Peter. There is no commentary on the bonus discs. (Select the "Audio" button on your remote, and go to track #3 for this feature. Some commentary pops back up during performanes after long gaps of silence, especially on the Unplugged show when Ace & Peter are called out on stage). The KISSOLOGY editions now in stores are mostly the Second editions without the bonus discs, although some are still available, either new or used. Check carefully as they must have a sticker on the front that will say INCLUDES BONUS DISC OF (specific concert). You can find the Bonus discs online of course. The Second editions are identical to the first except these bonus DVDs. The bonus concerts are listed here at the end. This KISSOLOGY (four discs not counting the bonus ones) has Revenge, Unplugged, and Reunion era shows, plus two really cool small TV appearences which give you KISS at their 1990s best -- 5 songs performed under the Brooklyn Bridge for the 1996 MTV Awards, and the Detroit, Rock City movie Premier show in LA for VH-1, both with extra pyro and outstanding musical performanes. This also has a full (30 minutes) set from KISS' 1973 club days in NYC. The 1998 Dodger Stadium Show has two classic songs only performed one time during the Reunion era, Nothin' To Lose and She, both done superbly. (These songs do appear on the first KISSOLOGY DVD from the 1970s). This show also has two songs from 1998's Psycho Circus CD not available on any other KISS DVD, Within and Into The Void. "The Last KISS" pay-per-view concert in New Jersey from the 2000 Farewell Tour (the last tour with all for original members together) is really well done, and the band is in top, top form musically. Standouts include Let Me Go Rock n' Roll and Detroit, Rock City. The last group photo in the booklet is from this song in this show. A great Easter Egg (click on the KISS logo in the menu) is of Ace Frehley performing 2000 man from KISS' Millenium show in Vancouver just as the year 2000 rolls in. Another shows KISS rehearsing for the MTV Awards Show at the Fulton Ferry Landing under the Brooklyn Bridge without make-up or costumes in the early evening light, so you can see the NYC skyline clearly behind the stage set. A really striking backdrop for them. Out of the bonus discs for this third installment, the Irvine Meadows, CA show (the first true reunion concert, before Tiger Stadium) is the best, even with all the costume & effects mishaps. The Madison Square Garden bonus disc is okay, and the Brazil bonus disc is great, but pre-reunion (still, some REALLY good performances of classic KISS material). The final disc is worth the price of the DVD by itself. A thirty minute set by KISS in December, 1973 in the club they incubated in for their first year together, Coventry, in Queens, NY. Look for Peter Criss' flaming drum sticks! Coventry shows how tight and together KISS were musically. It's a single camera from the back of the room, more documentive than pro-shot, but it's very watchable and has a rare performance of Let Me Know, the first tune Paul Stanley played for Gene Simmons when they first met and compared notes of what each was capable of. Great song, good performance. The only time this song has been on DVD, I think. This 1973 show is not available anywhere else. The Tiger Stadium performance and video direction are disappointing; the colors are muddy and weak and the editing is boring. This show does not compare to the quality of the Los Angeles and New Jersey concerts both in KISS' performance, and the video crews'. The Los Angeles concert was re-edited from all the master cameras (the camera on Peter Criss did not record its feed, although concert goers could see it on the screen live) specifically for this DVD by the Coletti brothers of VH-1 (who also produced this DVD), and the result is spectacular. The Unplugged show will really appeal to some and really turn off others. It's hard to say whether a casual fan would like it; KISS look aweful, but do songs you never hear them play, like the excellent See You Tonight, a Beatles sounding ballad from Gene Simmons' solo record, as well as Goin' Blind, a great song off 1974's Hotter Than Hell. Nothin' To Lose is also a standout track. Musically, Unplugged is very good, but not as much energy as the full arena shows later in this disc set. The inside packaging has great photos under the jewel case, and includes a 20 page booklet with photos from Mansfield, MA, Providence, RI , East Rutherford, NJ, and Los Angeles, accompanied by interview text taken from the audio commentary. The photo of Ace in red is from Dodger Stadium, and the group shot at the end is from the New Jersey show, both on this DVD. The opening Paul picture with sparks behind him is from Mansfield, MA (Boston) 2000, and the Peter shot behind his kit in blue is from Providence, RI, 2000. I know -- Who cares, right? -- but I thought if you were at those shows you might. This third in the series is less diverse than the first two, mostly KISS in concert, with many of the same songs being performed the same way (except for the Unplugged versions, of course). Still, most performances and visuals are strong, and you do get the 90s KISS Show in all full glory. No follow up from VH-1 records is planned.

This set has got to be the best of the 3. The Revenge/Alive 3 show is great andhas got to be one of Paul's best performances. The MTV Unplugged Show is almost worth the price alone. It is just a great show with all the guys playing new and old stuff. The Tiger Stadium Show isn't concert footage shot witha camera. It's The fooage from the jumbotron which makes i very odd half the time. Mouths aren' sync'ed up and the guys turn weird colors. The LA concert and the last Kiss concert with the original 4 is also good. This set has the best easter eggs oo. The 4th disc is from Kiss's first show in 1973, for a die-hard fan it's cool to see them so early in their career but the audio is not too good and the footage was shot frm the back of the room-it's pretty terrible. Overall great 5/5.

Who could ask for more? I wish they could've put more Eric Carr in the last one and added some on this one but, It still rocks! The concerts and music are able to take advantage of the existing technology that wasn't available back in the 70's and early 80's. The music and visual content sizzles. I have enjoyed this series with my favorite band. The MTV Unplugged concert is a gift all by itself and should prove to the nay sayers that these guys are musicians and very proficient showmen as well. One favor guys, Please release the Animalized concert on dvd, huh?

This music DVD starts out with the 1992 performance at Detroit. The last performance in this DVD is in New Jersey. Awesome DVD by the way. Best performance in this set is at dodger stadium in halloween of 1998

Very pleased with Kissologies so far, more to follow? Underated band, besides family members, heroes all the way!