1st Edition Corrigendum

POST-PUBLICATION CORRECTIONS/CLARIFICATIONS

In the introduction to the KISS Album Focus I stated, "In a work of this scope there is always the possibility (probability) that errors and/or inaccuracies have slipped past my proof-reading and continuous revision". These corrections will be incorporated into any future printing of the book.

• P.23/24 - Rainbow. While Gene and Paul, along with Steve Coronel, were in Rainbow, the band which transformed into Wicked Lester, it was not known that Tony Zarella and Brooke Ostrander were also apart of this band. While they were members when the band became Wicked Lester, it is not known whether they were a part of this band at the beginning or joined later on.
• P.32 - About Ace joining the band. Ace first auditioned for the band on January 3, 1973. He was asked back for a second audition on January 17th and hired, though at the time he was dubious about joining the band since he found out that they actually didn't have a record deal. Dale Sherman in "Black Diamond" suggests that Ace was voted into the band on January 17th (p.37), and Ace himself in a Guitar Player magazine interview suggested that after the second audition (on the 17th) he was asked to join the band. The initial date of the first audition, January 3rd, also comes from "Black Diamond" (p.31). Peggy Tomarkin, officially linked with the band during the 1970's (as an employee of Howard Marks), also holds to the date being the 17th. The January 22nd date came from "KISS & Tell", with Bobby McAdams' recollection of the audition, which he attended with Ace. He suggested that after the audition it took a week for Gene, Paul and Peter to decide. However - the 22nd date is an error and should read 17th, dunno how that one slipped by!
• P.92 - "Tomorrow And Tonight" was not played live in concert...
• P.109 - "Richie Fontana, who had previously worked with Piper and Billy Squier, and went on to be an emergency drummer for KISS in 1979, during the recording of Dynasty". While I correct this point later, Richie did not drum on "Dynasty". On page 125 I also say "though it has also been suggested that Richie Fontana may have made contributions on the album". The rumor of Richie's involvement during the recording had long circulated in fan circles. Only recently has both Gene and Anton Fig confirmed that Anton drummed on all of "Unmasked" and on every song except "Dirty Livin'" on "Dynasty". Let there be no confusion on the matter.
• P.114 - as a matter of clarity, a result of my at times somewhat obtuse use of the English language: I say, "Other performers on the album included Ace's childhood friend Bobby McAdams, who would later co-author a book, "KISS & Tell" (Pitbull Publishing; ISBN: 0965879402, 1997), with another former Ace friend, Gordon Gebert, who provided the "Power Mouth" on "New York Groove", and who was at the time Ace's guitar and amp technician". The language of my statement might suggest to some that I am saying that Gordon is thanked on Ace's solo album. I am not. Simply, I should have stated clearer, "Other performers on the album included Ace's childhood friend Bobby McAdams, who was at the time his guitar and amp technician, who provided the 'Power Mouth' on 'New York Groove'". Bobby would later co-author a book, "KISS & Tell" (Pitbull Publishing; ISBN: 0965879402, 1997), with another former Ace friend, Gordon Gebert.
• P.121 - I cite Dave Mason, who is thanked on the immense credits on Gene's solo album as being a member of Pink Floyd. That's actually incorrect since Nick Mason was Floyd's drummer. Dave Mason was a member of the band Traffic.
• P.150 & 517 - After the Gulliver's fire and the loss of George and Damon, Creation did not immediately change their name to "Mother Nature / Father Time". There was a third lineup of the band, which saw the addition of Eddie Dozier on vocals and congas, TM (Thomas M. Stevens) on bass, and Bobby Spinella on keyboards and flute. This band continued to refer to themselves as "Creation" into 1975, so the name changed occured sometime during/after 1975...
• P.208 - Bruce's first professional studio recording credit was on Michael Wendroff's "Kiss The World Goodbye" in 1978. However, he, along with brother Bob, appeared on a promotional Meat Loaf Live album released by Epic/Cleveland (AS-406) during the year. That album had been reocrded live at "My Father's Place" in Roslyn, NY, on November 29, 1977. It featured the touring band performing five songs, including "Bat Out Of Hell", "You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth", "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad", "Paradise By The Dashboard Light", and "All Revved Up With No Place To Go".
• P.283 - "I Still Love You" was not part of the regular setlist on the Revenge Tour, but had been recorded during sound-checks during the recording of shows which would be used for "Alive III". "I Still Love You" had been performed during the May 1992 visit to the UK, but again only at a sound-check. Other songs perfromed at these sound-checks included "Sweet Pain", "I Was Made For Lovin' You", "Tears Are Falling", and "Crazy Nights"...
• P.389 - I say, "No promotional CDs were issued from the box"... Well, kindof. In the United States there were no promotional issues of the box set, no known samplers of any sort. In Canada, however, a 12 track sampler (Mercury/Island Def Jam Music Group UMCF-4602-2) was issued, apparently limited to some 400 copies which was only sent to select outlets and radio stations. It contained: "Deuce" (1973 Demo), Wicked Lester's "Love Her All I Can", Uncle Joe's "Stop, Look To Listen" (1966, Paul Stanley Demo), "Doncha Hesitate" (1975 Demo), "God Of Thunder" (1976 Demo), "Bad, Bad Lovin'" (1976 Demo), "Love Is Blind" (1977 Demo), "You're All That I Want, You're All That I Need" (1980 Demo), "Time Traveller" (1986 Demo), "Ain't That Peculiar" (1989 Demo), "It's My Life" (1998 "Originals" Studio Version), and "Rock And Roll All Night" (Alive IV Version). The last time I saw one for sale the asking price was over $300. It should be noted that this would make the perfect "Best Of The Box" CD release in its own right! It simply comes in a single CD standard jewel case with no cover insert. The rear tray has an insert which details the tracks.
• P.469 - Barry Levine shot the famed "Empire State Building" shot of the band, not Bob Gruen as mentioned in Who's Who...
• P482/3 - Derek Sherinian, first that's the correct spelling, and second he has two entries, the first of which is with the incorrect spelling of his surname as Sherinan...
• P.548 - KISS played two arena shows in Melbourne on their down-under Unplugged/Electric tour performing at the Melbourne Tennis Centre on both February 8 & 9, 1995...
• P.550 - KISS played Libro Music Hall in Vienna, Austria, on December 16th and Hallenstadion, Zürich, Switzerland on December 19, 1996. These dates were omitted from the list...