Product Description

Ten years in the making, KISS Loves You is a film that began back in 1994 when the band KISS was at a career low and KISS fans around the world were starting tribute bands, uniting at unofficial KISS Conventions and growing increasingly more nostalgic for

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43538 in DVD
• Brand: MUSIC VIDEO DIST
• Released on: 2007-11-20
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 168 minutes

Amazon.com
The makers of insightful Hellacopters documentary Goodnight, Cleveland provide us with another rock ’n’ roll film worth its weight in celluloid. A decade in the making, KISS Loves You captures the reality of being a dedicated KISS fanatic... -Keith Carman for exclaim.ca

There’s a pinch of the voyeuristic, slack-jawed amazement that made John Heyn and Jeff Krulik’s landmark 1986 short Heavy Metal Parking Lot such a wild sub-cultural curio in Jim Heneghan’s Kiss Loves You, a fascinating look behind the curtain of probably the best-marketed band of the past quarter century. There’s also a slight reminiscence to 1997’s Trekkies, a documentary which explored a similarly fervent fan group. Put it all together, and you have a briskly paced nonfiction flick treat that plays well to audiences both wide and narrow. Kiss Loves You starts out as a bit of a piece of agitprop. Heneghan (the Hellacopters documentary Goodnight, Cleveland), though, smartly makes sure the film isn’t just some rah-rah document. A decade in the making, Kiss Loves You captures the reality of fanatical fandom, but also the cold actualities of the fact that sometimes getting what one wishes for has unintended consequences... On the surface, this was a Kiss fan’s dream come true, but for some folks the return of their idols brought unexpected losses and harsh new problems. Kiss Loves You delves into unofficial Kiss conventions and tribute band gigs for a wealth of information, conducting interviews with average folks... (and) musicians like Dee Snider, Todd Youth and Dictators frontman Dick Manitoba. The music rocks, but Simmons and cohorts Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley come across as crassly tunnel-visioned businessmen on a certain level. The real point: Kiss loves the fact that you love them.-Brent Simon for shareddarkness.com

Customer Reviews

Excellent Schlockumentary
I say that as a compliment: this expertly edited and "come full circle" document of a group of KISS fans, their trials and tribulations with the outside world and with each other- is filmed so deftly, and it is absolutely hilarious. The satire is not lost, even for someone who might not be a fan of the band, but anyone who is a fan and has waded these waters might see themselves in the film.....I hope we see more from this filmaker- highly reccomended.*****

Not like "Trekkies" with KISS
This documentary gets some emotion out of you, that's for sure. I bought it expecting to laugh at crazy KISS fans, but really it created the opposite reaction.
Maybe I'm too close to the source material, being a semi-fanatical KISS Army member myself, as I found this to be a real downer. But a very well done and interesting downer, with a few funny moments.

Here were the high/low points:
-The "KISS Family" was pretty wacky, it seemed like the Dad was the ring leader and the rest of the family was being dragged along for the ride (or brainwashed, in the case of the Paul Stanley obsessed son). Even non-family gets roped in when "Felix" as Vinnie Vincent joins up.
-The "War of the Tribute Bands" is interesting and has a nice wrap-up, although the drummer/roadie for Hotter Than Hell looks so road weary at the end, you just feel sorry for the guy.
-Bill Baker's story really shows the dangers of idolizing your heroes. He got to live the dream of being "friends" with Ace-but ended up being "dumped". Really though, Bill appears to just have an obsessive personality, as he quickly moves on to idolizing Elvis-a hero that can't hurt or let him down.

Other highlights include:

-"Nerdy Gene" at the convention who seems to take no pleasure in being a KISS fan, apparently it's serious business.
-Hearing that the "Paul Stanley Kid" is now 13 and listens to Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys.
-The silent 8mm footage of a Hotter Than Hell/Dressed to Kill show.

I recommend this DVD to even the casual KISS fan, as it really places the role of KISS in perspective. KISS rocks, KISS is fun, but maybe not the best thing to build your life around.

Buy it and shed a tear or two...or not.

Great documentary!
Purchasing this DVD, the subject matter seemed intriguing, but i had low expectations, overall.
However, after viewing, i came away extremely impressed with the film & 8th grade films.

The footage of Todd Youth in his Hell's kitchen (literally), and Dick Manitoba were worth the price alone, yet this well paced & thought out documentary provided so much more.

The rivalry between two top KISS tribute bands was fascinating & mirrored the fractured relationships in the actual KISS.
Ace Frehley fanatic, Baker, had an interesting story of his own, with his real life bond with his hero & the subsequent rejection he endured.
Simmons & Stanley raiding an innocent Kiss convention like the NYPD illustrates just how much these members truly cherish their beloved army of followers.

All in all, a great viewing of the troubled relationships between fans & their heroes, and the connection that binds them together.

The extras are loaded on the DVD, as well, with some rare 1976 footage of Kiss tearing it up in their heyday.

Recommended!