Take It Off: KISS Truly Unmasked

I attempted to read many books utilizing oral history over the years and never get too far before losing interest. The author of this book does a good job setting up each chapter to give background and details about the recording of each album or associated subject in advance of the oral history portions. The only thing I did not like was the input from Richard Christy...that guy is a dope.

Great book. Well written about a era of Kiss that's gets ignored for the most part

I'm a lifelong Kiss fan and at 52 years old, the non makeup years is my "era" of the band. "Asylum" is the first album I bought as new, so it holds a special place in my heart. Like many fans of this era I went back and bought every Kiss album. The "original" of any band is usually what fans love the most because that's the version of a band that first hits it big. As much as I LOVE the original lineup, musically they were a better band in the 80's.The best album of the original lineup is probably "Rock and Roll Over", with "Destroyer" being a close second. "Creatures of the Night" may be the most underrated rock/metal album of the entire decade. How did this record not sell millions? "Lick It Up" is also an amazing record. There next few are good, not great, but still just as good as any metal/pop band around at the time. Motley Crue had a very good album with "Shout at the Devil", then garbage until "Dr. Feelgood" yet they were selling millions. Don't understand that. And I'm a Crue fan.By the time "Revenge" is released I'm now puzzled. This album is just as good, if not better, than anything Bon Jovi or Def Leppard has ever done. They had the heavy songs, the pop songs, an probably one of the best power ballads ever that if done by either of the aforementioned bands would have been #1 hits worldwide. Clearly what ruined this album is the rise of the music killing genre grunge, which lasted all of 3 years and will forever be known as the genre that FINALLY killed rock an roll. Music in general has never recovered from this abomination.Thank you for this insightful book on one of my favorite bands in the last great decade of rock and roll. Music will never be the same.

You will not be disappointed.Very insightful and well put together. Greg Prato is on top of his game. Buy it!

So glad there is a book dealing with a great era of KISS that doesn’t get as much attention. I’ve been a loyal KISS Army member since I was 6 and love every era of the band. This book took me back to my teenage years and I could picture myself in my room jumping around like Paul Stanley while Animalize played on my record player.Thank you for this book Mr. Prato. Well done.

Some Good stuff but I was hoping for more on the tour detail and the album details like the album cover choices, etc.Some really good interviews and stories on the albums and some which are a but boring and repetitive.The people who were directly involved are the best stories, the others are just opinions. KISS had some great stuff in this period it’s a pity the band themselves (Paul and Gene really) do not readily acknowledge this. Credit to the writer for this work.

The Unmasked version of KISS is often overlooked. I'm glad someone finally gave this version of the band some love. Great music created during those 13 years. I've always kept my KISS music mix with the makeup and non-makeup years together. KISS is KISS painted or not.

Love the book so far, just a few chapters in. High quality book design and pictures, quick ship, thanks! Rock on, KISS!

Interesting book for a fan! + Fast shipping! = Very happy! Thank you!

Si te gustó la época de los 80 y los discos que Kiss grabaron en esos años es un libro que entra en muchos detalles sobre las grabaciones de esos discos, a mi me gustó soy de los que conocí a Kiss con Crazy Nights y luego vino el resto.... bien para practicar el inglés.

A must have for any KISS fan, this is a great write for an era that had its ups and downs, but that kept KISS in the public attention.

Very good, intervieuws with members, ex members, producers, I have many books of Kiss, but this one is different, The musicians on the Kiss albums was not always Gene, Paul, Ace, Eric, Peter ... this book goes deeper in facts that before were never reveald.. sorry for the writing mistakes!!! I' m not englisch....

Endlich ist mit “Take it off - KISS Truly Unmasked” ein Buch über die unmaskierten KISS Jahre 1983 bis 1996 auf dem Markt erhältlich. Diese Veröffentlichung ist bei der bisherigen Flut an Büchern über die maskierten 70s KISS somit schon längst überfällig, und ein absolutes Muss für alle KISS Fans dieser etwas in Vergessenheit geratenen und zu Unrecht unterbewerteten Band Epoche. Der Autor Greg Prato nimmt mit seinen Interview Partnern darin sehr detailliert Bezug auf die jeweiligen Jahre, deren musikalische Trends und Zeitgeist, die diversen Besetzungswechsel an der Leadgitarre und am Schlagzeug, die Alben und Tourneen, peinliche Frisuren und Bühnenklamotten, MTV Video Clips, die Erfolge bzw. Misserfolge, bis hin zur Reunion der original Mitglieder bei MTV Unplugged. Welche zum vorzeitigen Ende der Stanley/Simmons/Kulick/Singer Besetzung geführt hat. Speziell für Leser/Leserinnen, welche in diesen Jahren zu KISS Fans geworden sind, ist dieses Buch eine super Gelegenheit Ihre Teenager Jahre mit den unmaskierten KISS erneut zu durchleben und sich dabei die alten Alben aus dieser Zeit wieder bewusst anzuhören und ordentlich abzufeiern. Ich für meinen Teil werde “Take it off - KISS Truly Unmasked” definitiv noch öfters in die Hand nehmen, um darin zu schmökern. Die dazugehörigen Alben werde ich dann zum jeweiligen Kapitel im Buch selbstverständlich ordnungsgemäß auf CD und Vinyl abspielen. Allen Fans der unmaskierten KISS möchte ich dieses englischsprachige Buch somit ans Herz legen und ganz klar weiterempfehlen. \m/ \m/