Nothin’ To Lose, is the book about the making of the band Kiss, put together by band members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons and helped by writer Ken Sharp.

It kicks- off with their formation, starting with the band Wicked Lester, which featured Gene and Paul who turned down their record deal, because they felt not ready for it, which it has to said is a really ballsy thing to do for a band starting out, and getting a major-label deal, it showed the determination and their vision for what lay ahead. So instead, they set up a new shop with Peter Criss, and later, when they found Ace Frehley and decided a name change, they were now called Kiss, and the foundation to what became now known, as the greatest most entertaining rock band ever was born.

So what do l know about Kiss, well not too much, when l think back to when l first discovered Kiss, l remember their image, but l struggle to remember their songs. thinking back, l was blind-sided, l hear explosions and visualise flash’s and remember stomping sounds and big guitar riffs, and their costumes were wow, one was a demon with bat wings, that could also spit fire, another a cat and here’s one as spaceman who had a guitar that was smoking, and then there was a guy with the star around his eye, by the way, this was in my childhood. What l do know is this, l had mates that were die- hard fans, that you could never win an argument with about music, l found this utterly fascinating, it was like, me “hey! l like the Who’ , Kiss fan would then say “well ok, but they aint as good as Kiss, me: l like Slade!, Kiss fan: ok but not as good as Kiss, or “What about Humble Pie, forget it chum there not as good as Kiss. These guys totally adored Kiss, respect.You almost felt like it was a cult, very dedicated to Kiss, it was like giving yourself over to God, and the church but loads more fun and different benefits. I succumbed, and went to see Kiss in concert, and l really loved it, and l’m glad l got to see them, l even read Ace Frehleys book and that was mighty fabulous too.

So this book was a particular must for me, as l had much still to learn about Kiss, so Nothin to lose, gave me good insider information, about the early days of Kiss, it deals with the period from their beginnings and ends when, they finally won over the hearts of the youth of America with the Kiss Alive album.

This book is written in a vox-pop type approach, you know, where you just get quotes of the people who witnessed their rise to the top. l like this style and you get the sense your travelling along with them,you get all sorts of great quotes from The Ramones, The New York Dolls and even Iggy Pop and Alice Cooper.

Kiss were way ahead of the game, and got on with it, first Gene got them great management, with Bill Aucoin and Joyce Biawitz, and not forgetting Sean Delaney, who was a bit of a jack of all trades. The band would sign to Neil Bogarts Casablanca label, they recorded their debut album and got their shit together, They went on the road, which was a nightmare for the bands that headlined over them, and soon they had to do their own headline dates as their stageshow was so awesome. But with hardly any help from the radio, who would not play their songs (unless, the Casablanca record promo guys, handcuffed the DJs to their seats at Kiss shows, so they could not escape), even though they had done TV, and the fanbase was growing, recording albums and endlessly touring, they got their breakthrough. What l really learned about Kiss was how the fans, the Kiss army got behind the band, and how Kiss really appreciate their fans, l also learned how Kiss also really respected other artists to like, The Who, Slade and Humble Pie. I have to say this is a smashing read,and l now know how the songs go.

Chris McDougall

KISS larking about in New York 1974