KISS fans: who's book is better/more entertaining, Ace's or Peter's?

[cjefferys]

I'm facing a long plane ride next week so I'm loading up my Kindle. I know there's some fellow KISS fans here, so I'm just interested in opinions, which book is a better read: Ace's "No Regrets" or Peter's "Makeup to Breakup"? I have both, just wondering which might be a better one to start with. I also have the most recent Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) book and Fantagraphics' "Corpse on the Imjin!" (Harvey Kurtzman's EC war comics) book, so I should be all set for my trip!

[megomania]

I've been reading Peter's book in bits and pieces, jumping all over. Pretty good so far, and can't say anything about Ace's because I haven't picked it up yet. I imagine you can't go wrong with either one.

-Chris

[noelani72]

Peters.
Ace's was all over the place and was morelike you were sitting down having a conversation with him as he reminisced about the old days...

Half way thru Peter's book - I went right to itunes and bought his two CDs (had em on vinyl looong time ago) and I totally understand the music on them better than ever before because in the book he described the sessions...and I fully believe the reason they failed was because of Gene and the record label...
Lemme put it this way - i burnt his two CDs and put them in my truck - they replaced KISS' Monster CD ....and I am one of those guys who can put a CD in the truck and listen to it over and over for months without getting bored.

Does weird me out a bit to read about their substance abuse...being as loaded as they were most of the time, geez...how the hell did they even function on a musical instrument?
(this is where non-KISS folks say - They didn't) rotfl ;-)

[boss]

I love the band, but I lost a lot of respect for both of those guys after reading their books. I'd pass on both if I were you. I thought Chris Lendt's Kiss and Sell was much better.

[cjefferys]

Thanks for the insight, folks. I did read "Kiss and Sell" and liked it a lot.

[noelani72]

I love the band, but I lost a lot of respect for both of those guys after reading their books. I'd pass on both if I were you. I thought Chris Lendt's Kiss and Sell was much better.

I have to read that one still..
I must say, both Peter and Ace have a hard time owning up to their own problems..
Seems it's always "someone else's fault" that they got the shaft on a deal or something.
Even though Gene is a money grubber, Paul and him had their visions early on and did all the right things (probably not ethical things mind you) early on to build a brand and grow it.
Peter and Ace - meh, seems they wanted the fame and glory without "working" for it.

[Werewolf]

I love the band, but I lost a lot of respect for both of those guys after reading their books.

I must say, both Peter and Ace have a hard time owning up to their own problems..
Seems it's always "someone else's fault" that they got the shaft on a deal or something.

What they said.

[huedell]

I don't blame Ace and Peter for being bad at business. And I don't blame them for being angry about where that has taken them. I DO think that Peter and Ace (and those that side with Pete and Ace over Paul and Gene) should just accept that it's a losing battle for Ace and Peter to have any grounds for power in that band. The chemistry for that power for Pete and Ace just has never and WILL never be there. The original four's chances for any semblance of balance ended when Ace helped to vote Peter out. They all have to live with that.

[MIB41]

I think Peter's book has the most eye opening "moments". Ace's book is an odd read because the guy talks like he's still 21 years old. He TRULY has no regrets. And when you consider he screwed everyone, including family and friends, that's an odd place to arrive at in this juncture of your life. Of course Peter is no scholar at good choices either. Quite the contrary. It's easy to see why he and Ace teamed up in KISS. Neither one of them had a grain of sense. But Peter's book takes more direct stabs at both Paul and Gene. So it makes it more fun to see the ego boys getting their balls racked across the coals. I doubt I will buy Paul's book. He already said it's going to be about 'winning at life'. Oh yeah. Another BS lecture from Stanley about success as he knows it. Here's the short read - See Bill Aucoin, Sean Delaney, and Doc McGhee. The story of Stanley's life. He has stood on the shoulders of others and taken credit for what they have done.

[ZebMayonaise]

Peter's book is by far a better read. He tells the craziest stories and is not afraid to cast himself in a bad light (which he constantly does and I am not certain it is always on purpose). Ace's book is short and vague. Peter's is absolutely crazy. Ace's is ok. Peter's is crazy fun. You certainly don't end up loving any of these miserable *******s when you finish reading these books, though. Be prepared.

[huedell]

Peter's book is by far a better read. He tells the craziest stories and is not afraid to cast himself in a bad light (which he constantly does and I am not certain it is always on purpose). ..

I believe many times it isn't on purpose. Peter has always come off as the least intelligent of the 4 to me... and he's not all that self-aware, which means he has a big mouth and makes himself look bad when he uses it. Ace is screwy/irresponsible... but I think he knows what end is up.

[cjefferys]

I'm halfway through Peter's book so far and am enjoying it. I've learned some surprising new facts, assuming that Peter isn't full of crap that is. I haven't looked at Ace's yet, but probably will do so on the plane ride home.

[Saroyan]

This thread has piqued my interest in reading at least one of these books. I wonder when Gene will put his book out (probably waiting until he needs the money)?

[MIB41]

This thread has piqued my interest in reading at least one of these books. I wonder when Gene will put his book out (probably waiting until he needs the money)?

Gene was actually the first put a book out. It was fairly predictable and uneventful. He overstates his contributions to the band while understating and criticizing everyone else. It's a fairly boring read, unless you like ego-drenched bravado.

[huedell]

Gene was actually the first put a book out. It was fairly predictable and uneventful. He overstates his contributions to the band while understating and criticizing everyone else. It's a fairly boring read, unless you like ego-drenched bravado.

Whether your estimation of Gene's bio validity is accurate or not, yeah, it's pretty uneventful/predictable... but it's a "must have" for... um... any one that must have it.

I prefer the KISS bio (with the revolving interview bites ala Crue's Dirt and the song by song commentary) over Gene's book as far as an overall history of the band sans whimsy.