Rating: 
Summary: where's paul's book
Review: Just finished this book and enjoyed it very much,as I was reading the writing style was very similar to howard sterns private parts(another biography i enjoyed). It gave me an insite to gene who was my favorite member when I was a kid. It seemed like a honest perspective and help me understand why they seem like the commercial whores sometimes (because they are!!) and even if Gene hated Ace and Peter and thought they were pain in the asses I still love this band (in every incarnation). The biggest question is when is Pauls book comming out??!!
Rating:
Summary: Good story
Review: I actually am not a KISS fan whatsoever -- I have never bought one of their records, nor seen them perform in concert. Yet to me, Gene Simmons has always been a fascinating character, and his autobiography only enhances my fascination. It is very frank, very non-literary. It is almost like reading a recipe book -- take two dedicated rock stars, throw in two slacker drug addicts, mix with various women, producers, and other famous music stars, and you've got a pretty damn good story.
Rating: 
Summary: Comes close, but misses the mark...
Review: The God of Thunder, Gene Simmons, tries to hit the mark with this biography, but falls a bit short. As a KISS fan, I have read many of the urban legends surrounding the band, and this book fails to go into the kind of detail that it should. For instance, Gene still insists on retelling the story of how the KISS Army was formed, although the story is false. Eric Carr is touched on, but I felt that (as did Eric) at the time of his death, KISS was considering replacing him, as evidenced by Gene's statement of "Although Eric had not played on the song (God gave Rock N Roll to you II) he begged us to be in the video." Well, if he was still in the band, why did he have to beg??? I just felt that Gene wasnt as honest as he could have been. Still, the reading moved you along, and kept you eagerly turning the pages. It would have been a much stronger book had it been a bit more detailed.
Rating:
Summary: $immon$ tell all shows the real Gene
Review: While I read Kiss and Makeup cover to cover, I was disappointed in the lack of Kiss hazing and road stories. Gene reflects on his life as an "egomaniac" and admits he is a very difficult person to work, coexist and share the spotlight with. What disappointed me is that the character development and enhancement of Paul, Peter, Ace, Eric, Bruce, Vinnie, Mark and Eric Singer, are little to none. Frehley and Criss are described as chaotic and misunderstood, while $immon$ expresses his frustration with their habits, lifestyles and addictions, he also states that Kiss would not be Kiss without them. You see a side of Gene, that you would not. His maternal instincts take over with the birth of his son... and you understand why his mother beat another woman over the head with a banana tree..... Gene becomes the entrapment of his mother, who is a role model for single parents. She worked hard and had nothing, but gave all to Gene as a child. I was disappointed in the lack of overall KISS stories and I had hoped Gene would shed light on a lot of the battles between himself and the "excised band members". In the end, Gene almost becomes domesticated and to read how he speaks of his children and partner (Shannon Tweed) is to realize that the stage persona of the "demon" and Gene Simmons the human being are two different personalities entirely. My only question would be, did the 4,600 women who slept with Gene get him or the Demon?
Rating:
Summary: Gene Simmons' Opus worth a look
Review: Well it wasn't quite as sleazy as the Motley Crue book THE DIRT, but this long-anticipated autobiography of the demonic Simmons is well worth a look all the same. I have to agree with other reviewers opinion that the book is more suited to the casual fan rather than the hardcore follower, who would know most of the stories herein already. Still, Simmons comes across a lot better than I had thought he would and doesn't indulge in TOO MANY bloated claims as to the historical significance of KISS or record sales of same.
I still think the definitive documentary and book on KISS is still to come out.But you could do a lot worse than put this on your shopping list.
I hope that Stanley, Frehley and Criss have books in the works too. Between the four memebers of the band maybe the entire true story will come out.
Rating:
Summary: Gene Tells All......Sort of
Review: Not as informative as KISS AND SELL or KISS AND TELL but a good overall Bio on KISS Bassist Gene Simmons,His early life,Pre-KISS Days with mom in Israel are the most informative,and interesting,When Gene gets to KISS he is Brief,a little skimpy on some details,but enjoyable and interesting,Wish he went more into detail but I enjoyed it,Die hard KISS fans might be clammor for more info though,A Quick And lively read
Rating: 
Summary: From Rags to Riche$
Review: Following in the commercial footsteps of Motley Crue's The Dirt, Gene Simmons delivers a very personal and warm account of his life, almost unexpected of The Demon. Tales of his entrepreneurial endeavors and amorous pursuits leap off the pages. This is a genuine treasury for any KISS/Ace Frehley fan, since this book is the only account of its kind to disclose details of the KISS members' personalities, (and personality disorders) drug problems, etc. I was most interested by the account of the Reunion tour, which most fans perceived as truce between Ace, Peter, and Gene and Paul, and which in reality turned out to be a play on the same personality disorders that split the band in the late 70's. In addition, this book is an invaluable source of music industry knowledge for wannabe $immon$ clones everywhere. "When you wish upon a star..." Cheers, Gene!
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Summary: THE MAN of a THOUSAND FACES.
Review: My best friend Janice (who was in the Feb.75 issue of Cream magazine with her Kiss tatoo on her rear end to try to promote the band) and myself were two of the original Kiss fans starting from the days at the Coventry to backstage at the Spectrum. Keeping a journal and memorobilia from nights when Joey Ramone sat beside us watching Kiss play the clubs to sharing some of the hotel highlights with the Band and the road crew. Gene gives Credit to some of the OLD guys that were there from the start. "The man of a thousand faces" continues to have that one big heart. ITs a must read for those Kiss fans who loved them from the start. THE BOOK IS HOTTER THAN HELL. hugs and KISSes. CIN
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but glosses over a lot of stuff...
Review: I read this book in one sitting and that says volumes about its readability. It's informative, interesting and well-written. If you've been into Kiss as long as I have, you'll get a kick out of reading Mr. Simmons' views of the inner workings of the band. My only quibble with the book is that is glosses over a lot of the later years of Kiss. For example, Kiss hired Paul Stanley's therapist as a financial manager for a time. Only one brief mention of this is made in the book and it's only a glancing remark that, unless you know what Mr. Simmons is talking about, seems out-of-place. Simmons also likes to name-drop and sometimes goes out of his way to mention who was at certain affairs and events, even when they play no part in the encompassing story. Still, this book has a charm to it that made me respect Gene Simmons more than I have in the past. Kiss fans will undoubtedly read it without listening to anyone's review, but non-Kiss fans should read it as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Megalomaniac's diary for those with more money than brains.
Review: Gene Simmons, who's spent the better part of his existence milking his simple-minded fans out of hard-earned cash as CEO of the capitalist venture known as KISS, has now graced us with his autobiography. Hey, it's o.k. to think that KISS are a great band, if you're a clown-loving six year old. My review: a great book for egomaniacs in training. Complete poop.
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