Daily Archives: March 7, 2010
KISS – Krazy Killer DVD
KISS – Krazy Killer (2006, MVD)
Being the KISS fanatic that I am, I was aware of this DVD’s existence for quite some time but you couldn’t pay me to sit down and watch some extremely low-budget unauthorized disc such as this. Well… Times change and no, no one paid me to watch this but I’m also a Netflix fanatic and they just happened to have this available to stream to my TV. It was a slow night so I figured I would go ahead and see what this was all about. So while I like to review only what I own, for some reason, I’m making an exception for music-related DVDs. Netflix has more than a few releases I’d like to rent but have no interest in buying, so look for more of these reviews in the future and I’ll be sure to note whether I actually own it or not.
After all, the DVD description sure does make things sound exciting what with Gene & Paul storming at 1994 KISS Konvention and taking back their own merchandise. They should’ve given this release the tagline of “They took the law into their owns hands.” Sounds like a good tag line for some ’80s direct-to-video action movie, doesn’t it? In fact, I’m fairly certain that’s where I stole it from. Krazy Killer also sounds like some weirdo ’80s direct-to-video movie but I’m thinking that it would be more of a slasher film.
Anyway, at worst I figured I would have wasted a few minutes of my quiet night and turned the DVD off promptly as the first signed of complete boredom. But I kept watching… and watching… and watching. You know? Because this much ballyhooed “Konvention” raid doesn’t even take place until about an hour into this ninety-minute DVD. So what’s eating up so much time on Krazy Killer?
An uncut interview with the band circa 1982/1983. Apparently the interview was being conducted for USA Network’s “Night Flight” late night program. I don’t remember that show at all but I do remember its successor “Up All Night” hosted by Gilbert Gottfried and Rhonda Shear. No doubt, this nearly one hour interview was probably clipped down to a few soundbites for a 3 minute segment when all was said and done.
BLACK SABBATH – Born Again: Unmixed Demos & The Fallen
Black Sabbath – Born Again: Unmixed Demos & The Fallen (CDR bootleg)
1. “Hot Line” … 4:54
2. “Keep It Warm” … 5:44
3. “The Fallen” … 4:28
4. “Digital Bitch” … 3:44
5. “Stonehenge” … 4:54
6. “Trashed” … 3:47
7. “Zero the Hero” … 9:09
8. “Born Again” … 6:33
9. “Disturbing the Priest” … 5:38
Band:
Ian Gillan – Vocals
Tony Iommi – Guitar, Flute
Geezer Butler – Bass
Bill Ward – Drums, Percussion
Additional Musicians:
Geoff Nicholls – Keyboards
Producer: Robin Black and Black Sabbath
Surfacing in 2004, this release is as the title explicitly states, a bootleg of the unmixed demos from 1983′s classic Born Again album. Demos usually don’t appeal to me because they are what they are: demos. An unfinished product. Not so in this case. These unmixed numbers are actually mixed a bit better than the final product (which reportedly was the victim of the master tape’s exposure to humidity) and darn near close to being complete other than a few extra solos and altered lyrics.
In comparison to the officially released album, there are only two major differences with this bootleg: the absence of the short instrumental called “The Dark” and the inclusion of “The Fallen”. “The Fallen” fits in well with the rest of the album so I’m not sure why the band decided not to include it on the official release. Perhaps they were saving some of their ammo for the follow-up which never occurred?
Click here for my thoughts on the official Born Again release.
www.blacksabbath.com
www.heavenandhelllive.com
www.myspace.com/heavenandhelllive
www.gillan.com
www.myspace.com/iangillan
KEEL – The Right to Rock
Keel – The Right to Rock [25th Anniversary Remastered Edition] (2010, Frontiers Records)
Original Release: 1985, A&M Records/Gold Mountain Records
1. “The Right To Rock” … 3:37
2. “Back To The City” … 3:49
3. “Let’s Spend The Night Together” … 3:44
4. “Easier Said Than Done” … 3:27
5. “So Many Girls, So Little Time” … 3:18
6. “Electric Love” … 4:07
7. “Speed Demon” … 3:41
8. “Get Down” … 5:05
9. “You’re The Victim (I’m The Crime)” … 2:59
BONUS TRACKS
10. “Easier Said Than Done” [Remix] … 3:19
11. “The Right To Rock” [2010 Re-Recording] … 3:56
Band:
Ron Keel – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Marc Ferrari – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Bryan Jay – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Kenny Chaisson – Bass, Backing Vocals
Dwain Miller – Drums, Backing Vocals
Additional Musicians:
Steve Riley – Additional drums
Geno Arce – Bass (on 2010 version of “The Right to Rock”)
Producer: Gene Simmons
Twenty-five years after Keel’s major label debut (1984′s Lay Down the Law was released on the indie label Shrapnel Records) I am just now “getting” the band. I must have been crazy to never have taken to the band before hearing and loving the band’s other 2010 release: the all-new, all-original Streets of Rock & Roll.
I didn’t realize how HEAVY Keel was. There’s a few songs here that would be considered “hair” material, but man, more or less this is a heavy metal album! Ron is really killing it on the vocals too… what a wailer! Guitarist Mar Ferrari really shines throughout the whole album as well. A true guitar god by his efforts on this album alone!
Ultimately, The Right To Rock is a great “debut” that should be revered amongst fans of ’80s hard rock and metal and if you missed it the first time around or if you’re like me and simply haven’t gotten around to checking it out in the years since — now’s the time to do so.
Of note for myself and other KISS fans is that Gene Simmons produced this record. From what I’ve read elsewhere, he also had a hand in writing “Easier Said Than Done”, “So Many Girls, So Little Time” (definitely a Gene title!) and “Get Down”. The Gene influence is easily heard on “Easier Said Than Done” which sounds like a throwaway mid-’80s KISS song right down to Ron Keel seemingly doing his best to imitate Gene’s vocal style.
On this 25th Anniversary edition, in addition to the whole album being remastered we get a remix of “Easier Said Than Done” and a newly recorded version of “The Right to Rock”. The inclusion of a remixed “Easier Said Than Done” seems a bit unnecessary (maybe Gene talked them into doing it) but at least we’re getting something extra as opposed to many remastered releases that offer no bonus tracks. It’s interesting to hear and compare both versions of “The Right to Rock”. Maybe it’s due to modern technology, but the 2010 version seems more powerful and raw.
Highlights: “The Right To Rock”, “So Many Girls, So Little Time”, “Speed Demon”, “Get Down”, “You’re The Victim (I’m The Crime)”
keelband.com
www.myspace.com/keelband
Buy It!
Amazon
CD Universe
