Shout it out loud : the story of KISS's Destroyer and the making of an American icon

How does an underground oddity become a cultural phenomenon? For over 40 years, the rock band Kiss has galvanized the entertainment world with an unparalleled blitz of bravado, theatricality, and shameless merchandizing, garnering generations of loyally rabid fans. But if not for a few crucial months in late 1975 and early 1976, Kiss may have ended up nothing more than a footnote. Shout It Out Loud is a serious examination of the circumstance and serendipity that fused the creation of the band's seminal work, Destroyer including the band's arduous ascent to the unexpected smash hit, Alive!, the ensuing lawsuits between its management and its label, the pursuit of the hot, young producer, a grueling musical "boot camp," the wildly creative studio abandon, the origins behind an iconic cover, the era's most outlandish tour, and the unlikely string of hit singles. Extensive research from the period and insights into each song are enhanced by hundreds of archived materials and dozens of interviews surrounding the mid-'70s era Kiss and its zeitgeist. New interviews with major principals in the making of an outrageously imaginative rock classic animate this engaging tale. Shout It Out Loud is a serious examination of the circumstance and serendipity that fused the creation of the band's seminal work, Destroyer – including the band's arduous ascent to the unexpected smash hit, Alive!, the ensuing lawsuits between its management and its label, the pursuit of the hot, young producer, a grueling musical “boot camp,” the wildly creative studio abandon, the origins behind an iconic cover, the era's most outlandish tour, and the unlikely string of hit singles. Contents 7 Preface 9 Introduction 10 SIDE ONE 12 “Detroit Rock City” 13 1. The Act 15 2. Zeitgeist 19 3. Wilderness 24 “King of the Night Time World” 29 4. The Show 31 5. School’s Out 35 “God of Thunder” 39 6. The Meeting 40 7. Boot Camp 43 “Great Expectations” 48 8. Four Dimensions 50 SIDE TWO 54 “Flaming Youth” 55 9. The Songs, Part One: Origins 56 10. The Songs, Part Two: Collaborations 61 11. And Suddenly . . . “Beth” 65 12. The Palette 68 “Sweet Pain” 73 13. All Right, Campers! 75 14. Sessions 80 15. Games 86 16. Exit Ace—Enter Maestro and the Kids 92 “Shout It Out Loud” 98 17. Black Ties and Tales 100 18. The Cover 106 19. Finishing Touches 112 “Beth” 118 20. Aftermath 120 21. Stratosphere 126 22. Legacy 132 “Do You Love Me?” 139 Afterword 141 Acknowledgments 144 Notes 146 Selected Bibliography 159 Permissions 160 Photos 163 Contents......Page 7 Preface......Page 9 Introduction......Page 10 SIDE ONE......Page 12 “Detroit Rock City”......Page 13 1. The Act......Page 15 2. Zeitgeist......Page 19 3. Wilderness......Page 24 “King of the Night Time World”......Page 29 4. The Show......Page 31 5. School’s Out......Page 35 “God of Thunder”......Page 39 6. The Meeting......Page 40 7. Boot Camp......Page 43 “Great Expectations”......Page 48 8. Four Dimensions......Page 50 SIDE TWO......Page 54 “Flaming Youth”......Page 55 9. The Songs, Part One: Origins......Page 56 10. The Songs, Part Two: Collaborations......Page 61 11. And Suddenly . . . “Beth”......Page 65 12. The Palette......Page 68 “Sweet Pain”......Page 73 13. All Right, Campers!......Page 75 14. Sessions......Page 80 15. Games......Page 86 16. Exit Ace—Enter Maestro and the Kids......Page 92 “Shout It Out Loud”......Page 98 17. Black Ties and Tales......Page 100 18. The Cover......Page 106 19. Finishing Touches......Page 112 “Beth”......Page 118 20. Aftermath......Page 120 21. Stratosphere......Page 126 22. Legacy......Page 132 “Do You Love Me?”......Page 139 Afterword......Page 141 Acknowledgments......Page 144 Notes......Page 146 Selected Bibliography......Page 159 Permissions......Page 160 Photos......Page 163 How does an underground oddity become a cultural phenomenon? For over 40 years, the rock band Kiss has galvanized the entertainment world with an unparalleled blitz of bravado, theatricality, and shameless merchandising, garnering generations of loyally rabid fans. But if not for a few crucial months in late 1975 and early 1976, Kiss may have ended up nothing more than a footnote. Shout It Out Loud is a serious examination of the circumstance and serendipity that fused the creation of the band's seminal work, Destroyer including the band's arduous ascent to the unexpected smash hit, Alive!, the ensuing lawsuits between its management and its label, the pursuit of the hot, young producer, a grueling musical boot camp, the wildly creative studio abandon, the origins behind an iconic cover, the era's most outlandish tour, and the unlikely string of hit singles. Extensive research from the period and insights into each song are enhanced by hundreds of archived materials and dozens of interviews surrounding the mid-'70s-era Kiss and its zeitgeist. New interviews with major principals in the making of an outrageously imaginative rock classic animate this engaging tale. Takes readers through the creation and aftermath of the album, Destroyer, from KISS's first meeting with hot young producer Bob Ezrin to the gras-roots chart success of the ballad "Beth," and beyond. SHOUT IT OUT LOUD: THE STORY OF KISS'S DESTROYER AND THE MAKING OF AN AMERICAN ICON