Kiss Unveil $4,000 Photo Book, New Songs in California

Kiss is a band that appreciates dramatics – but even for them, things can get out of hand. Minutes before unveiling their massive new 45-pound photography book, Monster, onstage yesterday at the Viper Room in West Hollywood, California, the band gave Rolling Stone a preview backstage. As bassist Gene Simmons and drummer Eric Singer cracked open a copy and slowly began turning the pages, the easel holding it up started to creak. Singer shouted “Whoa!” as the duo struggled to keep the book from falling to the floor. Watching nearby with a grin, singer Paul Stanley joked, “And for comedy relief, ladies and gentlemen: Singer and Simmons!”

As Monster was rested safely on a nearby couch, Simmons composed himself and straightened his shades. He explained proudly, “It’s five feet wide, weighs close to 50 pounds. It’s spectacular.” At well over $4,000, the book is also a pricey, limited edition item, much closer in luxury to the infamous Kiss Kasket than the band’s other book retrospective from the Nineties, the two-volume KISStory. It is a prority for the band; their press appearance at the Viper Room came midway into their 40-date North American tour with Mötley Crüe.

Stanley told Rolling Stone that a more affordable “Mini-Monster” may become available at some later date but, for now, he maintained that the deluxe version was necessary. “[Not releasing it] wouldn’t be fair to the people who can afford it and will appreciate it… If we didn’t make it high-end, it would be compromised,” he said. “Part of what makes it special is the quality and the size. There was no way to do that without excluding some people. We’re putting something out that celebrates 40 years of victories. This is a celebration and a victory lap. It means a lot to us.” READ MORE

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