Brandon Grissom, Charger Staff
I recently had the opportunity to read the popular book, Kiss and Makeup, by
Gene Simmons, bassist for the supergroup, Kiss. The autobiography was long awaited
by the music community, including myself. Now I realize that I wasted my time.
In the early chapters, Simmons reveals his childhood hardships of growing up
in Isreal.
I found the tales of his youth to be interesting and inciteful. After Simmons
recalls his move to New York, his story becomes extremely vague and lacking
in content. Apparently Gene felt that relating his experience of learning the
English language was important enough to span several chapters in an already
far-to-wordy book.
Simmons also reveals the supposed truth about his days as a public school teacher
in dowtown New York, as well as the beginnings of his band, his movies, and
his numerous side projects.
Simmons also shows his greedy tendencies and unbelievable selfishness which
eventually lead to the untimely breakup of the original band.
He also recounts his life in the eighties when declining album sales and a
diminishing fan base threatened to permanently kill the band.
Toward the end of the book, the story gets more interesting as Simmons explains
the circumstances surrounding the legendary Kiss reunion.
In the closing chapters Simmons’ lack of writing ability once again shows
itself and brings the book to a mind-numbingly boring close. One could not help
but feel that this literary endeavour was a pathetic attempt to keep the author’s
name in the news.
Simmons should stick to writing songs as opposed to nonfiction. I only hope that Gene Simmons can find a rock that is large enough for him to crawl under in order to hide his shame. I do not reccomend wasting time and money on this incoherent excuse for literature. As for Simmons, if I ever see him, I will beat my $25.95 plus tax out of him.
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Article prepared for web by Steven Linger 6-Sept-2002