A really honest look at the band from their rise to the several falls along the way. Ace and Peter did not want to take part in the series but Paul and Gene were very honest about what really happened. They were also grateful for the 4 of them coming together to start the phenomenon known as Kiss.
Review by ShubesBlockedParent2022-10-14T02:00:56Z
I was never a KISS fan but as someone who appreciates awesome talent - and as someone who was there in the 70's - 80's when they were at their peak - I absolutely loved this two-part series. I was disappointed to discover that Ace Frehley and Peter Criss both declined to be a part of it, but the interviews with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were heartfelt and amazing. Additionally, they did have some interview segments from both Ace and Peter from other sources that were inserted into the documentary, so it wasn't like their voices were completely obliterated and/or unheard. Growing up in a preacher's home with a very strict upbringing, KISS was kind of "taboo" to me…and there were plenty of rumors constantly rippling through the religious world about the band, what their name KISS stood for, the freaky things that were going on (i.e. devil worship, drugs, alchohol, Gene Simmons having a cow's tongue surgically attached to his own to make it grotesquely long, selling their soul to the devil, etc etc blah blah blah) but as a Bible-thumping preacher of the gospel myself today…this was still a great look behind the scenes at great musicians/artists. (And yes, I listen to their music now, and love it! LOL) It was kind of a double-edged sword when you discovered that Ace and Peter eventually came back to perform with KISS again…only to implode and cause an even greater heartbreak for the band. Sadly, there are scores of people who never learn how to handle this kind of fame and fortune. I may not agree with their lifestyle (then or now) but I appreciate great talent and hard work, and this was an excellent story of four musicians who made it to the top, crashed to the bottom, but managed to make it back to the top again. If you're a fan of biographies and/or a music lover, I highly recommend you sit back and watch these two episodes. Great show!
Streaming right now on Hulu.