Take It Off: KISS Truly Unmasked by Greg Prato

Take It Off: KISS Truly Unmasked Reviews

• 
  Bookwraiths

  I’m not a card carrying member of the KISS Army, but I’ve always enjoyed this band’s music and showmanship. I first took notice of them when just a little kid during their late 1970s glory years where KISS in full makeup was HUGE. Honestly, you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing them on magazine covers, hearing their songs on the radio, or being bombarded with KISS products to buy. Hell, there were some Halloweens when almost everyone was dressed up as KISS for trick or treating. My mom wouldn’t let me buy any KISS records or merchandise sadly because of the whole “Knights In Satan Service” stuff that circulated back then, but I vividly remember watching their 1978 superhero made-for-television movie “Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park”, which I thought was damn cool at the time. Fast forward to the 1980s and the non makeup era KISS. This was when I was finally able to buy KISS cassettes and consume as much of their hair metal flavored rock as I wanted. Yeah, most of their 80s music might seem corny, misogynistic and overproduced to some ears today, but it was a hell of a lot of fun for me and my friends back then, still brings back a lot of good memories to me now. And so this book about the non makeup era of KISS from 1983-1996 was right up my alley.
  
  After finishing the book, I really don’t have any serious complaints. It was a fun read, chronologically detailing each album and the subsequent tours, and the book was filled with lots of interviews with people who were around the band at the time and shared their firsthand knowledge of what was going on, which lent the narrative an authentic touch. Plus, this wasn’t a tell all, trash everyone kind of book. Yeah, there were things critical to the band mentioned, but the author didn’t wallow in the negativity, which I personally found refreshing. Just a good entertaining read. I would only recommend this book to fans of KISS though, especially fans of the non makeup era band, but since I think such is pretty self evident the book is written for that specific target audience probably there isn’t any reason for me to even say such.
• 
  Roney Lundell

  It is an interesting chapter in Kiss history that is the focus of this book - the unmasked years of 1983-1995.
  
  The author introduces each chapter about a record with a 2-3 page run through of the times it was recorded. There is very little new facts in these introductions and sometimes faults like when it is claimed that Killers was an Europe only release, both Japan and Australia had releases of this compilation. There is even more of this in the interviews that is the main party of each chapter. Unfortunately many pages feels like fillers. Like when Bruce with a sentence or two comments all the music videos from that era or a list of Eddie Trunks top 20 songs from that era (they are numbered 1-20 but at the same time it is specified that they are not presented in a particular order... haha).
  
  A major part of the book is interviews with key players from that era, like Bruce or producers, but also high profile fans like Julian Gill or Curt Gooch. Often I felt like I was reading a transcript of a radio show or podcast because there was a lot of guessing and unsure memories being put forward. One of the qualities that a book has it that it isn’t a product of the moment and therefore fact, uncertainties etc can be checked and double checked before the final text is put to paper. This has not been done in the capacity that it should have.
• 
  Frank

  Greg Prato, perennial author of rock docs, offers up Take It Off: Kiss Truly Unmasked, a much needed documentary of KISS's unmasked years. This is a chronological history of the band from Lick It Up on through to Carnival of Souls (which technically was released after the KISS put the make-up back on.) Each album gets seen through the eyes of the author and then followed up with interview with people closely connected to each respective album.
  
  This is the story of a legendary rock band trying to find itself after the unprecedented peak of their career in the mid to late 70s. This is the story of a band following trends to keep itself relevant. This is the story of a bad struggling with each members own identities once their true identities were bared for all to see. This is the story off a band that overcame and maintained relevance where many before them had not. This is the story of the KISS I came to know. My Kiss, no make-up.
  
  I got on the KISS train pretty late. Crazy Nights era to be exact. But once I got on, I never got off. I love ever era of this band. But those late 80s/early 90s line-ups of the band will always be my KISS. This book is for fans like me. KISS were hair metal legends with a legacy before them. They were every bit as good as before and maybe, never will be as good again.
  
  God gave rock 'n roll to you. Greg Prato gave you this book. Thank you God. Thank you Greg.
  
• 
  The Book Hermit

  As a long time Kiss fan I will say that this book was some what interesting, but I did not feel it was great. Kind of bland. I really don't care what members of Heart, Loverboy or GnR think. I would rather have seen interviews from Gene and Paul. These two were absent from the book.
• 
  Pat Pettite

  great stuff
• 
  Mariah Startzman

  When you think of the rock band KISS, you think of four men with faces covered in elaborately designed makeup and dressed in spandex, leather, and high heeled boots. Known for hits such as “Rock and Roll All Nite”, “I Was Made for Lovin’ You”, and “Detroit Rock City”, all released in the mid to late 1970s. Unfortunately by the early 1980s, KISS was experiencing some trouble. Two of the original members, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley, were leaving the band (first Criss in 1980 and Frehley in 1982) and record sales were waning. After some consideration, the other original members, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons decided to remove their signature makeup, take off their costumes and perform completely as themselves, along with a revolving door of new band mates. The trials and tribulations of the band’s makeup-less years are chronicled in “Take It Off”. This book walks through each album of this era, starting with “Lick It Up” and ending in “Carnival of Souls”. Each album has its own chapter which starts out with a short description of personnel, production, and chart standing before including sections written by people in some way connected to the band. These people include former band mates (such as Bruce Kulick, who was a member during such makeup-less years), songwriters, session players, authors, and fellow musicians. The organization of “Take It Off” is not typical, but it was interesting to read because of its uniqueness. Ultimately, I wish there was more overall information on the albums before going into the other sections, but I was engaged and never bored, because it was always changing. There is not as much information written about the makeup-less years of the 1980s and early to mid 1990s KISS so I was immediately intrigued. I’m glad to have read it and someday I hope there is more written about this interesting era of KISStory.
• 
  Lance Lumley

  Most KISS book, when discussing the non-makeup years, tend to be making fun of the era, and dismissing it. In Fact Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley at times have done in the past. Being a huge fan of the non-makeup years, this book shows respect and class to my favorite KISS era. Each album is covered (the years 1983-1997) with stories from album producers, songwriters, journalists, and Bruce Kulick himself. There are dispelled rumors, and new tales that some may not have heard, along with in depth coverage of all the videos, Tv appearances, and concerts.
  This is a great book for KISS fans to own.
  For an In depth review, visit my page at :
  https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/202...
• 
  Jesse Young

  This isn't really a book -- it's a series of interview transcripts, lists, and brief reflections on Kiss' 80s album output. It feels more like the research materials that would be used to write a book, rather than the finished product itself. The whole effort feels oddly lazy -- why couldn't Prato be bothered to string these various interviews and archival elements into a sustained narrative? I found this to be a real let-down -- which feels a little silly, given the subject matter. There was a fascinating book to be written on this transitional, difficult phase for the band -- but this isn't it.
• 
  Patrik Hamberg

  Happy to read a book about the sans make up years (Lick It Up through Carnival of Souls). Unfortunately for Prato I'm getting a bit tired of these QA-type of books. Especially when a large chunk of the interviewees are so loosely related to the subject.
  
  This is by no means a definitive book om the 80's / early 90's Kiss. This is more of a: "do you remember when Kiss didn't wear their iconic kabuki style make up and what did you think of them at the time" type of book. It's a decent read, but not more.
• 
  Steve Rabideau

  If you're a Kiss nerd you'll enjoy it. Casual fan you may not. A lot of it is a facts and figures of the era. The author did interview a lot of people in and around the Kiss camp, including Bruce Kulick. I was hoping for a Vinnie Vincent interview, but there was none. I probably would have given it 4 stars, but sometimes the author was objective with his opinion where he didn't need to be. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones cover of Detroit Rock City is easily the BEST track on Kiss My Ass, not the worst. Come on man.
• 
  Andrew

  My favourite KISS song? "Hide Your Heart."
  My favourite KISS album? "Creatures of the Night" - re-released in the unmasked era, so it kinda counts, right?
  
  Anyway, it stands to reason that the unmasked era of KISS fascinates me, and this book covers each album and all the surrounding events in minute detail. A great time capsule of an interesting time in the band's extensive history. If you're a fan, you'll appreciate this.
• 
  Gord Alexander

  Overall a very good read. Definitely tailor-made for a Kiss geek. To enjoy this book you'd likely need to a diehard fan, which I am so I enjoyed it.
  
  I was really hoping for more of a narrative/memoir style book about Kiss in this era. This book is more of a collection of interviews and a play-by-play of what the band was up to in the non-makeup era. So the format was a bit of a let down for me. But once I realized what it was, it was a great read.
• 
  Daniel Westman

  I grew up on 80's Kiss and enjoyed Greg Prato's book on Eric Carr, therefore I had high expectations for this one. Unfortunately, my high expectations weren't met and the book felt like a mishmash of interviews. Especially the latter part of the book failed to deliver.
  
  Still, as a fan, I enjoyed parts of it.
• 
  Brett buckner

  Full disclosure: this was my car book. It’s what I’d read while waiting in the school car line, still ... I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the ‘80s version of KISS, sans makeup. But this book was something of a let down featuring interviews with side characters, save for contributions from Bruce Kulick, an under appreciated player, there wasn’t much Behind the Music type insight.
• 
  David Cavaco

  KISS fans will rejoice with this book that focuses on the non-make up years of Kiss from 1983 to 1995. Totally enjoyable insights into the band's imagery, musical direction amongst a turbulent and evert-changing music scene. Awesome!
• 
  Alex Dimaio

  A little too much filler. But a fun read for those who grew up without the makeup.
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  Michael Costa

  80's-90's KISS holds a special place in KISStory. Really enjoyed this Chronicle of those times.
• 
  David Cordero

  Very enjoyable read. This era includes some of my favorites albums.
• 
  Zachary

  The 80s was my era for KISS. The first KISS album I owned was Smashes, Thrashes, and Hits in 88. I got to see the band on the Hot in the Shade tour in 1990. Obviously KISS is an iconic 1970s pop culture phenomenon, but there are plenty of fans like me who really love the 80s records. I'm guessing this book is going to appeal to exactly zero people who don't already love this era, but for those of us who do, pick it up. It's a great journey through some... crazy nights. (I'll let myself out.)