Poll: What is your pick for the best ballad of power ballad of the rock era?
@Code.Name.V8 ай бұрын
Scorpions - Still Loving You
@thetitleisours18 ай бұрын
Something to Believe In by Poison and The World i Know by Collective Soul. Hard for me to choose between them
@Lam_3-22-238 ай бұрын
Babe- Styx Just Between You and Me - April Wine I Never Cry - Alice Cooper
@Atoms-Raging-cd3vo8 ай бұрын
Edie The Cult
@surlechapeau8 ай бұрын
Foreigner- I Want to Know What Love Is(Lou Gramm). runnerup: Faithfully - Journey(Steve Perry).
@flavellinator8 ай бұрын
Beth takes a lot of heat, but I really liked Criss' vocals on it. Nothing wrong with throwing a change-up once in a while when everyone is expecting a fastball....
@ProfessorofRock8 ай бұрын
Exactly. So funny that they tried everything to ruin it. Nothing worked! What your top KISS track Flave?
@rabby-u8 ай бұрын
Good analogy!
@flavellinator8 ай бұрын
@@ProfessorofRock Sure did! Gotta go with I Was Made for Lovin' You
@billmaher16348 ай бұрын
Peter Criss has a great voice !!!!
@benamisai-kham58928 ай бұрын
I love the orchestra, I think that opened the doors for the kiss orchestra recordings honestly.
@jeffreyhogue54408 ай бұрын
I find it hilarious that the band hated "Beth" more than "I Was Made For Lovin' You!"
@rubyredtootsies83718 ай бұрын
And Paul Stanley's "dance moves" expose himself for being gay. 😂😂😂😂
@Fiona22548 ай бұрын
I don’t like Beth. I’m a woman and I think the song is crap. My husband likes it, I will not listen to it if it comes up. I like IWMFLY though I’ve never been a disco fan 🤷🏻♀️
@robb59218 ай бұрын
I Was Made For Loving You was their disco song. 😂
@errolthomas94268 ай бұрын
That's why I love Rock N Roll All Night way better than Beth and I Was Made For Lovin' You
@ProfessorofRock8 ай бұрын
No kidding. Ha ha!
@legionkahn8 ай бұрын
I'm sure one of the big reason they hated it so much is Gene and Paul are such ego maniacs that someone else getting a lead vocal and getting the spotlight probably drove them crazy. Especially Gene.
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
Jealousy definitely factored into that.
@user-jg5ws9gr8n6 ай бұрын
You had to say what is so obvious Still you need to be thanked for getting past this bull GREAT SONG !!
@scottwhite19635 ай бұрын
Paul wrote Beth. He gave it to Peter to sing. I doubt it was jealousy.
@legionkahn5 ай бұрын
@@scottwhite1963 If Paul thought it would be as big as it was he never would have given it away
@SNOWYSHAWOFFICIAL5 ай бұрын
@@scottwhite1963nope, you get it mixed up with Hard luck woman.
@Rickholly748 ай бұрын
Thanks for talking about Stan Penridge. I played in Stan's band in the late 80's and most of the things you said I heard directly from Stan. He wrote a number of other songs that KISS recorded on earlier KISS albums like "Baby Driver", "Hooligan" and "Dirty Livin"". Because of his relationship with Peter he listed Criss as co-writer out of both friendship and as a way to get KISS interested in recording his songs. Thanks again..
@mikelshilling8 ай бұрын
Awesome, thanks for the inside info :) I was little back then and Destrpyer was my very 1st ever vinyl :) I even became a guitar player because of Ace but always loved Peter's songs on those early albums.
@robertwagner99338 ай бұрын
Man all these years never knew this I wish that all this could have been brought out earlier
@brianstrutter15015 ай бұрын
Problem is Stan found out how much Peter made from Beth and felt Peter screwed him over. It was his song after all
@CincinnatusPublish5 ай бұрын
From what I've read Peter told him he would only present the songs to the band if he got a writing credit. Do you know if Peter at least helped with the lyrics?
@CincinnatusPublish5 ай бұрын
@@brianstrutter1501 That would mean Aucoin or their business managers, Glixman/Marks also had something to do with it. Record companies pay the manager, who takes his cut, and then pays the band and anyone else who wrote the album. I believe the producer is paid directly by the record company.
@T.Dubya3116 ай бұрын
December 11 1977, Market Square Arena, Indianapolis Indiana. My very first rock concert. KISS and AC/DC ("The Show Of Shows!") Towards the end of their set, following the songs 'Rock and Roll All Night' then 'Detroit Rock City' the stage went dark. Peter Criss walks with his drum stool to the front of the stage, he sets down under a single spotlight, takes a deep breath and begins to sing 'Beth'... The crowd exploded! I know that most of the band didn't like the song, but the fans loved it.
@GetYourOmOn4 ай бұрын
Market Square Arena. Wow. I grew up (and still live) in Indy and miss that place.
@T.Dubya3114 ай бұрын
@@GetYourOmOn It was a great place to see a show... Back in the '80s I was even on a crew that put a new roof on that building.
@GetYourOmOn4 ай бұрын
@@T.Dubya311 I remember the new roof going on.
@timothymarshall96318 ай бұрын
I find it hard to believe that Gene would hate anything that made money for KISS. Beth will always hold a special place in my memories from being young and loving the band. When a band stretches their musical boundaries, I think it is awesome. It shows how strong and confident they are in their music
@doctordetroit43398 ай бұрын
Gene and Paul didn't think their fans would give it a second thought....but you are correct....Gene is a banker in disguise. He would sing Beth himself if it made money.
@dgrblue41628 ай бұрын
@@doctordetroit4339I mean Gene Simmons is Jewish, from Israel, and the stereotype is that they are insanely greedy and hate frivolous spending. 😂😂
@dgrblue41628 ай бұрын
Paul and Gene likely resent having Peter being associated with their biggest hit.
@Geezer-yf8hv7 ай бұрын
Gene hated it because he didn’t write it, thus lower money for him personally! Honestly, Peter didn’t really write it, either. It was more Ezrin’s song!!
@stevestevens90465 ай бұрын
@@Geezer-yf8hvif it wasn't for Peter Beth would have never been wrote... how can anyone say that Peter wasn't a co writer.. yes they made change's to it but it was his song
@marksguitars56178 ай бұрын
I remember just buying KISS Alive as a teenager in the fall of 1975 and basically wearing out the vinyl listening to it with my friends. About 6 months later when Destroyer was coming out, we heard Beth on an AM radio station while hanging out, we heard the DJ announce the song and heard the piano and strings and we all looked at each other with our eyes practically popping out. We all thought that KISS would go soft but one of my friends at school assured me that the album had heavy songs and he loaned me his 8 track copy of Destroyer, then I went out and got the album and it became one of my favorites of all time.
@ProfessorofRock8 ай бұрын
Cool memory. Thanks for sharing. Where are you from?
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
How old were you?
@marksguitars56178 ай бұрын
NYC@@ProfessorofRock
@alan224705 ай бұрын
Still listen to both those albums frequently. Awesome memories
@JMOSSBLB5 ай бұрын
Gene & Paul were so close because they were both Jews who had grandparents that were in the Holocaust that they didn't like anyone outside their small circle.To them Kiss was all about them 2 & didn't want anyone else in the bands input.
@johnrowland19198 ай бұрын
I was really young when I heard Beth. As a huge Kiss fan, I felt like it gave us a little peek into the band's home life. They were larger than life, and it made them seem more human and real. That's why it resonated with me. Personally, I LOVE Peter's voice too. Thanks for another great video Professor!
@karynstouffer35628 ай бұрын
Yes, yes, yes. The reason I love the song is exactly the reason the rest of the band hates it. The complete 180 from their typical sound. A glimpse of humanity behind the curtain of the show. 👍
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
He can sing when he means it!
@jamesmyers20878 ай бұрын
Same here. Same era. Same reasoning.
@lisas36978 ай бұрын
I remember rollerskating couples slow-skate to Beth by Kiss in the 1970s. Nostalgic.
@rainwaterjoseph46348 ай бұрын
At the live show, the band would leave the stage for this song and Peter would come out and sit on a stool and sing this to recorded music. And it was cool.
@magnusvanttinen78555 ай бұрын
Yes, that is a magic moment. Beth with the original cat is so cool, with that sensitive melodic arrangement contrasted with the raspy cool rock n roll stray cat voice. So sensitive, so heartbreaking. Genius!
@richardmeyersmeyers81235 ай бұрын
Saw kiss in my hometown in 1978? Peter wasn't alone for BETH. He had a lot of tape hiss with him.
@mooch5145 ай бұрын
@@richardmeyersmeyers8123he sang the song live to the music back ground
@Josh-rb8ft4 ай бұрын
MAGIC!!!😅😅
@catsclaw66488 ай бұрын
My 5th grade teacher let us listen to records all day long. It was winter of 1976-77 I brought in my copy of the KISS Destroyer album that I bought with my paper route money. We played the entire album through. But when it was over we had to play Beth again then when the song ended some of the girls said aw that was pretty let's play it again. So I picked up the needle and we listen to it again and again. We must have played about 5 more times because we all loved that song. Willard School South Portland Maine Mrs. Brailly was the coolest teacher I don't think we opened a text book all year, we just listened to records all day. 🤠🎸
@operavin5 ай бұрын
We did this in grade school too! I brought a KISS album and it came back scrawled up with crayon. 🤦🏻♂️
@GormlyKeep8 ай бұрын
Beth is a beautiful song. Our daughter is named after it, and it's so relatable for anyone who's been on the road. Learning about Beck and the other stuff hasn't tarnished it at all
@kirbymarchbarcena8 ай бұрын
Love it or hate it, this song will always be one of the best chart song of Kiss.
@JoeDatorCartoonist8 ай бұрын
No AI generated voices. Just a little creative editing and a whole lot of wit and humor. Pure joy.
@t.o.4088 ай бұрын
As an 8 year old back in 1977, Beth was my favorite song and I was obsessed by all things 'KISS'. I collected the trading cards, bought the albums, and couldn't get enough of the Phantom of the Park movie. It was a childhood phase, and by 1980 I was pretty much over them. Fast forward to adulthood, though, and what name did my wife and I pick for our daughter? Yup, her name is 'Beth'. It always stuck with me...
@luvbasses54878 ай бұрын
Exact same for me as what happened with you. In 1977 I was a 10 year old kid - and KISS posters lined my bedroom walls! Oh yes…that huge One Stop Posters wall collage! That and the Aerosmith and Queen ones hung in my room. Fortunately, I shared the room with my older brother who dragged into the house all the rock sounds of the day: Aerosmith, Queen, Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Frampton Comes Alive, Double Vision Foreigner, Dreamboat Annie Heart, Steve Miller…and the list goes on and on. It was such a fertile time for rock music. I didn’t know though that I’d witness its decline and ultimate death though during the late eighties. There seemed to be a bit of a revival during the early nineties..but it didn’t last long. Around 1981 I’m in Jr. High and rock radio is still up and running…and In The Evening would be in heavy rotation…and this caught my young ears more so than the other kids I’d hang with. I was realizing that this band could not be topped and after getting LZ 1&2, it was over for me. It was sealed up. LZ were the best and that was IT. In high school by ‘82 all the kids were trying to convince me that Motley Crue were the next big thing. It didn’t work for me. My mind was steeping in John Paul Jones’s Hammond Organ on Thank You. His bass playing could not be topped either. I didn’t quite know it at the time but what I was listening to was the greatest rock band of all time. The ultimate unit. Led Zeppelin. KISS were duly dismissed for me too, like you, by the dawn of the eighties.
@mochs38698 ай бұрын
What I remember reading in one of the books on Kiss I have is that Paul and Gene WERE there during Peter's vocal session, but Ezrin kicked them out of the studio because they kept making fun of the song and Peter.
@leeturiano44198 ай бұрын
Beat me to it- I read that as well!
@mochs38698 ай бұрын
@@leeturiano4419 I found this online, but as it's Peter saying it, I'd guess it was in his book where I first saw it: "The biggest single Kiss ever had: a ballad with a string section and drummer Peter Criss on vocals. Criss said, “The day we recorded it, [producer] Bob Ezrin had everybody in tuxedos, the New York Philharmonic. When we went to the Record Plant to do the vocals, Gene [Simmons] and Paul [Stanley] were in the control room. I’ll never forget it, they were looking at me like it was one big fucking joke. And I couldn’t get into it and Bob knew it and threw them out. They left, I did it in five takes, and it was beautiful.”
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
That makes sense!
@davewebbtheauthor8 ай бұрын
The only Kiss songs our local A.M. radio station would play were Beth and Hard Luck Woman -- both of them with Criss vocals. I got the LP records to hear the rockers and talk about them with classmates on the playground at school.
@brianharris99498 ай бұрын
Beth is a classic rock ballad. Definitely outside the box for Kiss but it showed versatility to me.
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
I agree.
@DMSProduktions8 ай бұрын
Well at LEAST they got further with it than CHELSEA ever did!
@chrisoakley58308 ай бұрын
Not only is Beth the biggest hit for Kiss, I think it extended their career at a time that it might have ended. Today the album Destroyer is revered as an absolute classic and rightfully so, but at the time of its release the album wasn't doing to well, as you said Beth was the fourth single from Destroyer, the others had little success, Beth saved the album. If not for the success of Beth, Kiss may very well have been a one hit wonder with their big hit album , Alive!
@CincinnatusPublish5 ай бұрын
You're right. They were running the risk of being a one hit wonder with Alive! Destroyer was about to tank until Beth became a hit.
@mooch5145 ай бұрын
Kiss in 75 to 80 were phenoms.
@belle.m5 ай бұрын
Nah, if Beth wasn’t on Destroyer, it was still a great album. And Dynasty had ‘I was made for loving you’, didn’t chart as high, but the song they are most known for outside of KISS fans. Also, ‘Shandi’ off of Unmasked charted higher in some places.
@mooch5145 ай бұрын
Ended? Kiss in 76 was huge. 77 78 79 they were the biggest band in the world
@chrisoakley58305 ай бұрын
@@mooch514 Yes, you're right about Kiss being very popular in those years, but at the time the Destroyer album was not popular at all, until Beth became a huge hit. Three singles were released before Beth and they did little to nothing on the charts. Beth saved the album from stalling. There were even some original Kiss fans who abandoned the band when Destroyer was released because they felt it was to big a departure from the group's hard rock roots, those fans never returned. The success of Beth also led to Paul writing Hard Luck Woman for the RNR OVER album because they wanted to be sure and have another hit single, so he wrote another ballad. It worked to, because Hard Luck Woman was a top 20 hit. I'm not saying that Kiss whole career hinged on the success of Beth, but it was a huge part of it, at a crucial time when the band needed to keep their momentum going after their big success with ALIVE !
@jamesramirez86858 ай бұрын
My older rebellious cousin had all their albums and she was even a member of the KISS army when we were kids. Great memories
@terrydizzydude40878 ай бұрын
I was a high school senior in Detroit in 1976/77. 'Beth' may have been their biggest commercial success but 'Rock and Roll All Night' is the song that got everyone amped up.
@ChrisM-tn3hx8 ай бұрын
Beth was always my favorite Kiss song. Funny. I had no idea how interesting the history of the song was. Thanks for this one. I remember when this single came out. Man, I feel old right now lol.
@williamj.dovejr.86135 ай бұрын
Perhaps the best rock power ballad of all time!
@televinv80625 ай бұрын
It's better than 'Time of your Life' 👍
@AI_Surfer8 ай бұрын
I remember I was a Freshman in high school in 1976, and KISS was by far the most popular band among seemingly everyone. Every girl in school was wearing KISS t-shirts every day. Then 'Beth' comes out, and almost overnight KISS was as un-cool as it got. It was like no one wanted anything to do with KISS. All the girls who had been wearing KISS t-shirts replaced them with 'Frampton Comes Alive', and that was the last of KISS during my remaining high school years. I personally liked 'Beth', as I'm sure did most of us did, we just couldn't admit to it back then.
@user-yk4gd1fl4z8 ай бұрын
Nah they were right. It’s a turd of a song
@buckster25758 ай бұрын
Dude kiss was still huge for a couple more years.i find it hard to believe that chicks loved that song.
@fortunatoofamontillado10598 ай бұрын
it was a top ten hit@@buckster2575
@Sal-gh1se5 ай бұрын
Weird.
@Tlrhighside2098 ай бұрын
I've said it before and I'll say it again... This is the most underrated music channel on KZbin! Meat Loaf - I'd do anything for love, but I wont do that. Motley Crue - Home Sweet Home Heart - Alone
@WWTormentor8 ай бұрын
My parents bought a house in the fall of 1980. While cleaning the garage prior to moving in, I found a cassette take of “destroyer” in the garage. I took it and held on to it. A few months later, I heard the song Beth on the radio. I went grabbed the take and started to play it from start to end and I became a huge kiss fan.
@myk4bz5 ай бұрын
A "take"? Was it a TAPE?
@kraigpeterson36678 ай бұрын
As much as I love KISS I actually enjoy their songs where they step away from the norm. I also love "Back in the New York Groove" by Ace Frehley. Music hits everyone differently. Rock on Brother!
@ProfessorofRock8 ай бұрын
Rock on!
@joe20978 ай бұрын
Beth and New York groove are the only 2 KISS songs on my playlist
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
I love New York Groove.
@kraigpeterson36678 ай бұрын
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 me too! I love listening to music and my kids learn that the old stuff is way better than today’s crap.
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
@@kraigpeterson3667 That’s the truth!
@robertwall14195 ай бұрын
The first time that I heard “Beth” was on The KISS Christmas Special on TV.I had been a Huge KISS fan for years up till then , so I was pretty shocked that they would be having a Christmas Special on TV! So when they showed Criss sitting at a piano by himself surrounded by Christmas decorations, I had no clue what to expect.The song completely BLEW ME AWAY‼️It’s been 1 of my most favorite songs of all time‼️And I still crank out the volume and sing along with it every single time‼️❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@andreaknibbs93287 ай бұрын
Love Peter’s voice and love Black Diamond too
@ChrisCrossAplsauce4 ай бұрын
Hell yeah BD!!
@99percentirish648 ай бұрын
I'm so glad I was able to see KISS in Madison, WI in 1997. I still remember Peter Criss playing Beth.
@magnusvanttinen78555 ай бұрын
Beth is a real rock n roll ballad with a big bleeding heart and sung by the hardest man in Kiss, the Cat man Peter Criss. Can never understand why that song is hated, because it make it even harder when the hardest band shows up a sensitive song like Beth! Destroyer album is one of the best KISS album, we all grower up with that album, and when Beth song came as a contrast, it was like when a stray wild cat comes to you and purr. Love it! Great arrangement and vocal on Beth! Genius
@galebailey55837 ай бұрын
Not mentioned was the Kiss version of Beth (with Eric Carr singing the lead vocal, released on their album Smashes, Thrashes and Hits). According to Peter Criss, he was extremely pissed off when he heard Carr’s version, which added more fuel to the fire. It’s miraculous and astonishing that after years of toxic feuding with Simmons and Stanley, Criss agreed to come back in a “mini reunion” on stage on MTV’s show Unplugged, which directly led to the Kiss Reunion Tour of 1996-97. Since then everything has fallen apart again, as though the reunion never happened. I’m happy that I finally got to see them live with costumes and makeup because of this, though.
@james---b5 ай бұрын
not true! there is an interview here on yotube where peter says eric called him and was very apologetic to peter saying he didn'y want to sing beth, gene and paul were putting pressure on him to song it, and said he told eric, it's ok just do what you gotta do. peter wasn't mad at all.
@jmccoy324418 ай бұрын
It's a shame when great bands break up, but more so when there is hatred involved. I saw Kiss when I was way too young, but the impact they had was huge. I have always been a Kiss fan even when it wasn't cool. I will enjoy their music for the rest of my life for sure.
@randytessman67508 ай бұрын
Saw them twice(79,89) and was like a different band the show and feel were so different. Now I truly loved both concerts but they were nothing like Judas Priest or AC/DC which I saw many times, their shows changed but the feel was the same every show.
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
When did you see them?
@jmccoy324418 ай бұрын
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 it had to be like in 1977, I was in 5th grade maybe, so just started listening to real rock music. It was in Hampton Rhodes VA went with my sisters and cousins who were all older than me. I believe Mott the Hoople opened for them. My mind was blown that night for sure. hahahaha
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
@@jmccoy32441 It is glam rock, so Mott the Hoople is fitting!
@WeDemandFreedom5 ай бұрын
My cousin Beth, from Detroit, was a huge Kiss fan dating back to before Kiss Alive. When Kiss Alive came out, she was the one who got me interested in the band. We would talk about and listen to Kiss whenever we were together. When Destroyer came out, I had become a huge fan. I bought every back album, I had a Kiss shirt and even a Kiss belt buckle. But my cousin just about fell off the edge of the Earth when she heard Beth. She said it was as if Peter Criss was singing directly to her. We are both still big fans to this day, and will have those great memories from our teen years. Thanks to the members of the band, all of them, for some great memories.
@CincinnatusPublish5 ай бұрын
What did she think of the album as whole along with RARO ad Love Gun? I knew fans back then who were there from the beginning and they hated everything after Alive! The first three albums were old KISS and the three after Alive! were called new KISS, and they didn't like the sound.
@WeDemandFreedom5 ай бұрын
She was all about Kiss. We were teenagers, and it was all good. I knew some people like you're describing, and they were music people. Beth and I were rock n roll. We liked it all. Still do, too.
@paulwilson86728 ай бұрын
One of the best slow dance song when I was in elementary. Really brings back memories of 6th grade camp.
@ThePsychomikey8 ай бұрын
Beth was my introduction to KISS, and ultimately, Rock music. A 10 year old who only listened to music his parents did up until then..I had no older siblings or friends..Beth showed up on a radio station my parents listened to..loved the song, bought the 45. After hearing Beth a few hundred times, flipped over the record and heard Detroit Rock City...bought Destroyer days later and have been a KISS fan since.
@duaneperkins83298 ай бұрын
Didn't realize it was quite as popular as it was. It was my favorite Kiss song though. I think it's probably my favorite power ballad (Mother from Blackfoot).
@CincinnatusPublish5 ай бұрын
It's not a power ballad. A power ballad has a big chorus like Take Me Away (Togethr As One).
@mercedogre5 ай бұрын
I remember watching the MTV Unplugged with KISS, the current line-up they had at the time, and amazed when the other two originals, Freely and Criss, showed up. Two songs into their performance, I suddenly realized that Beth might be back on the table to perform since Peter was there and the band hadnt played it for over 15 years. I was elated when Peter began singing the classic. Highlight of the show!!
@justincase22715 ай бұрын
His name is Frehley, not Freely. Frehley is pronounced like Fray-lay.
@stratman10218 ай бұрын
I still remember hearing Beth for the first time and it was off the radio before hearing any other track off Destroyer. Late '76 and I just started the 7th grade when me and my mom were driving to "I don't remember" hearing Beth on KGRT AM 500 here in S. NM. My older brother was into Kiss so we knew what they sounded like. After the song ended and the dj says Kiss and my mom was just as floored as I was. She said it before I could. "That was Kiss?!!"
@karmab43918 ай бұрын
Kiss Alive II was the first album I ever owned. A requested Christmas present from an older sibling, I remember my mother being horrified by Gene Simmons' picture on the cover. I loved Beth and always will.
@ProfessorofRock8 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing!
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
There was a rumor that Gene Simmons got a cow tongue implanted into his mouth to look more like the Demon.
@MrDDawson8 ай бұрын
I remember as a kid seeing a KISS record and thought wow they must be hard rocking. I was so ready to be blown away. Then the song ladies room came on and I was left wondering if the dude had put on the wrong record. HAHAHA
@Randy.E.R8 ай бұрын
Damn, this takes me back to simpler times. I wasn’t much of a KISS fan, but my little sister sure loved them and played the Destroyer album over and over until she wore out the needle on her record player. I can’t explain why, but my sister’s two favorite artists were KISS and Cher. Talk about an odd combination. The walls of her bedroom were covered in KISS posters, and she had a Cher scrap book-she even learned to play the song Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves on the piano. I can’t figure out her taste in music, but it doesn’t matter. Life was simpler then. We didn’t have iPhones, the internet, and social media. We just had music and imagination.
@MultiPetercool5 ай бұрын
The first time I heard Beth, it was on a mellow rock station that played stuff like James Taylor and God knows what else. I was shocked to find out that it was Kiss
@cowboyupdrummer5 ай бұрын
I can’t believe when you started talking about its influence….we BOTH said the song “Home sweet home” at the same time. lol Back in the mid 70’s it was hard to find your favorite rock acts on TV. besides the Midnight Special (show) or Rock Concert (if your local channel carried it…which ours didn’t) So it was a big deal when KISS performed on TV for the first time on the Paul Lynne Halloween special…..all because Beth was such a huge hit. As to who wrote the song? I had no idea it came from a previous band’s song. (Beck) That’s new to me…thanks for that bit of trivia. I saw kiss in concert several times over the years. First time was 1979.
@markbaker51674 ай бұрын
1979..same for me! My first concert was The Eagles and the second one was Kiss. Wow what a difference but I loved both. But Kiss's showmanship was absolutely incredible!
@johnnichols31134 ай бұрын
@@markbaker5167 My first was Pink Floyd in the mid 80s and my second was the Beastie Boys not long after. 😂
@gregwasserman26358 ай бұрын
I was quite young when this came out but I heard this song a bit too much because my older sister had a friend named Beth. She was quite a looker so I didn't mind hearing the song. I liked "God of Thunder" more, but if my sister's friend was around, well, "Beth" it was! What can I say, I was a young kid!
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
Short for Elizabeth?
@gregwasserman26358 ай бұрын
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980, I think so.
@daledelatte9607Ай бұрын
What an absolutely awesome ballad Beth was! Peter and Ace were the heart and soul of KISS. It's why they spent 20 years performing the original songs after their departure
@ollieox91815 ай бұрын
I've heard Beth for almost 50 years now. It still holds up. A lot of songs you hear, the first time, are catchy and fun and soulful or whatever. But after the second listen, you're sick of it. On third listen, you never want to hear it again. But Beth is that rarity that still sounds good after decades. It might have been written by Beethoven or Mozart, were they still alive. Peter's raspy vocals, the strings, and iconic piano riff just never get old. Figure Gene and Paul resented its success simply because they didn't write it.
@JDCUSA8 ай бұрын
It’s unbelievable that Chaim & Stanley hated Peter Criss’ “Beth” which is truly a masterpiece while Chaim & Stanley had no issues with some of the other garbage that they agreed to include on many of their other albums.
@magneto79308 ай бұрын
I'm sure they didn't complain about how much money they made because of that song.
@HappyMachorino-bd8no5 ай бұрын
What's your problem? As a Hard Rocker you would have hated "Beth" too. I still don't accept it as a KISS song.
@travismiles58858 ай бұрын
Shandi is my favorite KISS tune. I think a lot of people forget about it or don't even know it.
@MK-dy8wm8 ай бұрын
Ah, the memories. Playing at the time you had Disco on one side or Hard Rockin' the other, but the Rock Ballad got the girls to cozy up close to you with the love fuzzies dripping from their eyes needing kisses to dry them... The band lived up to their name. Thanks guys. ❤
@1twistedcpl65758 ай бұрын
LMAO...THIS brings back a real memory! I was 11 in the fall of 76, and weening off my parents 50's and 60's oldies but goldies music to 70s harder rock, aerosmith, Zepplin, LynSkyn...and my then fav...kiss. But I was "too young" to go to rock concerts, except Mom did take me to see Elvis, when I was 12, the following spring lol. She's from Germany and worked here in NC branch of a German company. Two young engineers came over from Germany as "interns" to work, Helmut and Erhard. Erhard was only 18 at the time. I wanted to go see KISS so bad but my parents said no way, I was too young etc etc. I was heart broke lol. Erhard came up with a plan. He asked my parents if I could go with him to the state fair...on the back of his Harley. They agreed! And we did. The same weekend KISS was playing in Raleigh! And of course it was all for the concert. So my first ever concert was KISS! Erhard defied my parents, actually lied to them, unbeknownst to them ofc, and at risk to himself. I have been forever grateful. An 18 yrs old young man making an 11yr olds biy dream come true. That weekend was the true beginning of a life long friendship. He's 65 and retired now, and I still consider him the "big brother" I never had. This past August he and his gf of 20 yrs had a wican wedding. They never married due to his job, always out of town, even out of country. Of course I attended the "wedding." It was an all day all night party! Lots of food booze and music of all genres. I requested the DJ to play a dedication to Erhard and Judy. I thought it was appropriate and they would both "get it" when they heard it was from me. (Judy had heard the Kiss story years before) That song request I made..."Beth." I got two great big hugs! Here's to good music, good friends and great memories! 🍺!
@billchief3975 ай бұрын
That is neat! What a great life friend 🧡
@MyName-pl7zn8 ай бұрын
what an amazing story behind this fantastic song even if it is kind of tragic I remember vividly my first time hearing Beth. being from the Detroit area my good friend bought the Detroit Rock City 45 immediately when it was released after listening to it over and over playing air guitars we flipped it over and couldn't believe what we heard. He wanted to stop it I immediately loved it. After a couple of listens we both loved it. Even though it was soft it was definitely a great departure. Kiss was everywhere during those days, posters, Halloween costumes, action figures and definitely radio. But in my mind Beth deserves to be their biggest hit. Great episode professor!!
@ProfessorofRock8 ай бұрын
Thanks My Name!
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
I bet KISS was THE Halloween costume back then.
@danielc19788 ай бұрын
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Yep, at the age of 7 back in 1978, I went as Peter Criss: old school style, my brother doing the makeup for me....IMG_0321.JPG
@mikecruzado57758 ай бұрын
Kiss was my first band as a kid In a time when disco ruled I was 10 years old when I got to go to my first concert KISS It was my ultimate life goal at 10 To see them in person and feel the roar of the music live etched kiss in my heart forever as did a lot of kids my age We dressed up with make up and wanted to be those Rock gods I’m getting teary just reliving the memories of a time gone bye Thank you gene Paul ace n Peter VIVA LE KISS
@darcagis57448 ай бұрын
Used to be the #1 KISS fan back in the day that they were the real band. I saw the pic of them with Ezrin in the studio in your video. They looked so different, so powerful. I could feel a little twinge of what drew me to them as a kid. Their "final" show might have been a few days ago, but the final KISS concert really ended a long time ago. Half-KISS just didn't cut it for me. I was at the Tiger Stadium Reunion show in '96. That's how I'll remember them.
@bonitasmith88805 ай бұрын
I remember when this came out, I begged for money and ran and bought the 45, played Beth over and over AND OVER LOL I cried everytime I listened to it. Still love it !
@timothyryan72348 ай бұрын
Hi Professor, Rock was wondering if maybe sometime you can elaborate on kisses song forever which is another great song. Love your show. Love everything you do. It’s awesome I enjoy the interviews. Thank you so much.
@footy2rock8 ай бұрын
The Professor has already made a video of Forever kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2PVd4utequfaq8si=x4YJ-7SOgPIIKmNi
@tnrodgers8 ай бұрын
Most artists have crossover music hoping something catches. KISS was too beholden to hard guitar rock to accept the real victory of Beth as a power ballad. Pride goes before the fall. One of my favorites songs though. Thanks Adam.
@JustinSmithPYRO5 ай бұрын
I was born in 1975, should have been in high school in 75 honestly 😂 my favorite band of all time, will never forget the day, my cousin put the alive album on when i was 7 iin 1982, and from the 1st song, deuce, i was hooked, still to this day, my favorite song to play on guitar is, deuce, but my all time favorite version of Beth is, when they did it on, unplugged, that was an awesome moment 🤘🤘
@gossinger8 ай бұрын
Adam, I love your channel and appreciate all the time and effort you consistently put in. If I ever get the chance, I would love to meet you. Starting at 6:30 you can see Ace 'saluting' Bob Ezrin with right middle finger, during the photo shoot. Ace being Ace, wanted to work when he wanted to and was not keen on Bob's coaching style. There are a few photos out there from this time that has better angles. Nice job my friend! P.S. best year for their music and outfits.
@BigWillyDawg8 ай бұрын
Wow! Great observation gossinger!!
@randytessman67508 ай бұрын
BETH
@justincase22715 ай бұрын
Criss, not Chris. Christ.
@josephcooter57638 ай бұрын
When I was a kid their faces were everywhere. You would go to a record store and all of thier albums where front and center, with each solo album prominantly on display. I honestly thought Gene Simmons was SCARY.
@ProfessorofRock8 ай бұрын
He really was. Good call.
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
They were THE costume band.
@televinv80625 ай бұрын
Peter and Ace were awesome Kiss band members. Hard Luck Woman? Black Diamond? Shock Me? Ace's guitar playing? Pete's drumming? More.. Are you kidding me? Monstrous 👍🤟
@dand39755 ай бұрын
Don't forget a Rocket Ride...... by Ace.
@b5maddog8 ай бұрын
Not only did the band hate the song…they hated the singer and songwriter 😢
@geoffreymerrifield56668 ай бұрын
Bob Ezrin's work on Destroyer gave Kiss a level of credibility and quality they would never have achieved. Destroyer for me is among the best albums of all time. I like Kiss' 70's albums, but none are in the same stratosphere as Destroyer. Too bad they couldn't strike gold again with Ezrin on the later efforts.
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
The album cover - iconic!
@dmaynardabu5 ай бұрын
This is my favorite KISS song. I love Peter. He was my favorite band member. So getting to hear his vocals in this was amazing!!!! I love his raspy voice.
@wyldvigilante6 ай бұрын
Never like to see anyone hate on what makes them famous.
@ericwilliams10318 ай бұрын
Destroyer was the first KISS album I got when I was 6 back in 1977 (from the record club...10 albums for a penny). That album was a sonic rollercoaster to my young ears. I still remember hearing "Beth" for the first time. It was so dramatically different from "Detroit Rock City" and "God Of Thunder". I couldn't believe those drastically different songs were on the same album....by the same band....that looked like monsters lol (remember I was 6)😂
@ProfessorofRock8 ай бұрын
Those were the days!
@hbofbyu18 ай бұрын
Younger generations don't understand how enigmatic KISS was for us as little kids. We were told that no one had ever seen them without their makeup, no one knew their real names, who they really were, did they worship the devil? How could devil worshippers sing a love ballad?
@doctordetroit43398 ай бұрын
Destroyer was one of my first two Albums too....shout it out loud!!!
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
You couldn’t really tell it was KISS, right?
@1BobsYourUncle8 ай бұрын
Sniff sniff….I smell BS…..6 years old…..hahahahaha
@constipatedinsincity44248 ай бұрын
Beth is a great song. The 1st time I was able to play a kiss song in my mother's home. Was when I played this song for my mother and I explained how his wife was the reason for for this song. I tricked my mom and played Kiss for her. She couldn't believe that Knights In Satan's Service played such a beautiful non devil inducing song.
@ProfessorofRock8 ай бұрын
Ha!
@constipatedinsincity44248 ай бұрын
@@ProfessorofRock Hey ProRo,🤓 you should read my last comment. It's not a story that I share with just anyone!
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
Haha, no kidding!
@constipatedinsincity44248 ай бұрын
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Hey Silly Lilly, 😜yes it's true. I miss her so much. How's your family doing this holiday season?
@constipatedinsincity44248 ай бұрын
@@ProfessorofRock Hey ProRo, 🤓you didn't read my true story that I cut it nearly in half to share with you Brother! 😀 Please read it and comment on it. Thank you
@Rogersrecycling8 ай бұрын
I was never a kiss fan never cared about Them at all until I was called to work their show in Indianapolis. I built the stage. I deflated the giant Kiss dudes And they gave out the most awesome Local crew shirt that i've ever had. It was the experience of a lifetime 11 hrs load in and out. 190 hanging points for lighting sound and automation. IATSE union riggers are nothing short of amazing. They work in a zero error environment I saw Gene Simmons in full gear and makeup ride into the vip area on the back of a golf cart. They rocked the house.
@alandent72318 ай бұрын
Fleetwood Mac made a fortune writing songs about the things that were effecting their lives. KISS ROCKS !
@canadiannecktie99658 ай бұрын
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley , dont give a crap about fans they're all about the money!!!
@ember1788Ай бұрын
When I was a kid my dad had the vynl for Destroyer i remember one night coming down stairs and him listening to it he handed me the case and told me to sing with that beautiful voice of mine. Since then that has always been my favorite song from kiss
@mattstickle27255 ай бұрын
Love your channel brother. Little bit of a correction. Peter Criss had lead vocals on albums previous to Destroyer. He sang a lead vocal on the choruses of Nothin to Lose on the first album, and had a lead vocal line or two on the first album Kissin Time. Then on the album Hotter than Hell, he had complete lead vocals on 2 songs: Mainline and Strange Ways. Keep up the great work!
@brentcox77728 ай бұрын
Such a fun band! Saw them in ‘76!! Awesome!🤘🔥
@ProfessorofRock8 ай бұрын
Thanks Brent!
@markallen29848 ай бұрын
Paul always looked down on Peter (maybe with valid reasons) and he was resentful that Peter had the biggest hit for the band. Paul and Gene often talked about how they wanted KISS to be a "modern-day Beatles":where everybody sang and wrote but Paul turned out to be rather ungrateful, petty and resentful when someone else got credit for their biggest hit and drawing an enormous new crossover audience to the band. I'm a little tired of Beth myself, but I have always hated Paul's disco song. Like it or not "Beth" gave KISS a kind of mainstream acceptance and success they never would have achieved otherwise.
@ProfessorofRock8 ай бұрын
That's a big can of worms you've opened! Ha ha. Thanks Mark.
@JayTor21125 ай бұрын
The only one who needed to be there to record it was Peter, nobody else is on the song, lol.
@monicabattreal66688 ай бұрын
Before I read the info I knew it was Beth. They are still one of my favorite bands.
@ProfessorofRock8 ай бұрын
Are you a fan?
@monicabattreal66688 ай бұрын
Yes
@monicabattreal66688 ай бұрын
Since middle school in the mid 70’s
@DDKaraokeOutlaw8 ай бұрын
I saw KISS Sonic Temple 2023 Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus, OH, USA End Of The Road Tour. 5/27/23. "Beth" was the first encore.
@jamesanthony52578 ай бұрын
How many young people ask: What is a B-side?
@321ssteeeeeve2 ай бұрын
It is the contrast from 95% of the original lineup’s tunes which actually provided the alluring attention to Beth, a necessary silent backdrop element. Same goes for Rock Bottom, a beautiful intro by Ace and Stan
@marywest82498 ай бұрын
Love this song! I think there are a lot of ballads from rock ‘n’ roll bands that are truly underrated!
@stinkypinkeee50858 ай бұрын
KISStory is one helluva topic to dive into...what a mess, and I say that as a fan of 45 years...
@ProfessorofRock8 ай бұрын
Ha ha. What's your favorite era?
@stinkypinkeee50858 ай бұрын
@@ProfessorofRock Original line up until they released "Music From 'The Elder'"x and I got back into them when they released "Crazy Nights"..."Dynasty" was ny first album I ever owned, and Ace's tracks on that album are some of their best stuff, especially "Save Your Love"...
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
It’s a rollercoaster.
@thetitleisours18 ай бұрын
Like Alice Cooper, they got it that it was theater, and not just the music, that was part of the image.
@ProfessorofRock8 ай бұрын
That's right.
@deltatango57658 ай бұрын
For that reason I never liked Kiss. Mediocre musicians who can't even sing. Theater is what made them.
@nedhorner8 ай бұрын
@@deltatango5765 Then you look at Meatloaf who could do both...
@deltatango57658 ай бұрын
@@nedhorner I liked Meatloaf. I saw him live in a very small venue in Boston and he was great.
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
That’s the real “glam” of glam rock.
@dannyfurlong18065 ай бұрын
Also on the Dynasty tour Peter got into an argument with Gene because of throwing the drum sticks. It all started when Paul during the concert made a gesture for Peter to speed up. This made Peter furious. He said he did it in front of all the fans and he slowed it down even more. Backstage Peter grabbed a bottle and busted it and came at Gene. He had to be held back. He said he knew that was it.
@Skyrider6814 күн бұрын
Serendipitous. A good song for what it is, and a reminder that good fortune can sometimes arrive in unexpected ways.
@andrewharper16098 ай бұрын
I got to see Kiss live at Wembley Arena in London on the Psycho Circus tour supported by Buckcherry. It was one of the best gigs I've been to and they didn't even bring the circus acts they had toured the US with. Of course they played Beth during the set. It was their first UK number one if I remember rightly.
@ProfessorofRock8 ай бұрын
Awesome! How many concerts have you seen?
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
When was it?
@MIB3168 ай бұрын
Beth was never a chart single in the UK. The first KISS chart single over here was I was Made For Loving You in 1979 (no 50) and they only had two top 10 hits here - Crazy, Crazy Nights (1987) and God Gave Rock & Roll To You II (1992), both reaching No 4. 😉🤓
@dwells378 ай бұрын
I've always loved the song Beth. One song that reminds me of Beth is I'm In You by Peter Frampton.
@ProfessorofRock8 ай бұрын
His biggest hit. Many don't realize that.
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz99808 ай бұрын
I can see that.
@dwells378 ай бұрын
@@ProfessorofRock I would have thought Baby, I Love Your Way or Do You Feel Like We Do!
@DDKaraokeOutlaw8 ай бұрын
I have the "I'm In You" album. I like "(I'm a) Road Runner" going into "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)."
@williamj.dovejr.86135 ай бұрын
Everyone wants to take credit after the fact... give the naysayers a double barrelled middle finger salute!
@rex-rant43225 ай бұрын
You know when i was a teenager i was making money so i went to flea markets looking for records and i found the destroyer album on CD and I played it all the way through that night. Beth blew me away because it was so different. I sang it at my local bar where a dj was there for karaoke night. That song and pretty woman by Roy Orbison got me the most applause and cheers.
@reloadnorth77228 ай бұрын
The biggest disappointment and downfall of KISS was Paul and Genes malignant narcissism.
@ronaldpauze92605 ай бұрын
I agree man, Because of Gene and Paul's greed , Kiss became a toy company. Their focus was more on ripping their fan's off by selling dolls, trinkets , and stickers . After destroyer I was done with them
@HappyMachorino-bd8no5 ай бұрын
Not surprisingly they all four were victims of fame. Paul wrote, fame brought demons to all of us.
@reloadnorth77225 ай бұрын
@@HappyMachorino-bd8noInteresting, thanks for sharing that
@jeffmosier31455 ай бұрын
I would love to say it's a Jewish thing but I won't.
@Agben355 ай бұрын
yes, but that narcissism is probably what drove them to the success they had too.
@vindivergilio34828 ай бұрын
Love Beth or hate it......KISS was. Is, and will always be the greatest band in the World!!
@mooch5145 ай бұрын
Very well done sir. Kiss like them or not, kiss remains one of the biggest and most influential bands of all time...and yes. Beth was the 1st rock power ballad. I agree with you!
@bobbakerbaker61817 ай бұрын
Gene Simmons singing If You Wish Upon A Star is the most mellowed I heard any of them
@rhphotocdn8 ай бұрын
High School Dance, Slow Dancing with someone I wanted to date at the time.... Fun Times!! Good Memories!
@HeavyTopspin8 ай бұрын
The thing I loved most about this video is that based on the photos, KISS was showing up at the recording studio in full makeup and costume. Yeah, I know they were probably publicity shots but I still love to imagine that's true.
@RadioReprised5 ай бұрын
I was a Kid and had NO USE for Beth on MY KISS record!...but I am amused when I see KISS using the song in the Farewell Tour to make a buck after talking crap about Peter!
@redihip8 ай бұрын
Of course Beth sounded suddenly outside of what Kiss was. It was also like Alice Cooper doing Only Women Bleed.
@TheFertileOne8 ай бұрын
I thought Peter Frampton sang this song…. Who knew I love a KISS song!
@lib5568 ай бұрын
I saw Simmons comment on it in an interview. He says, "you know, every time I hear it, I cry a bit.... because I don't have any writing credit and I don't get a penny for it..."
@davidbykowski96785 ай бұрын
I remember on the Destroyer tour Criss came out from the kit sat on a step and sang the song alone onstage. Kinda a cool moment in the concert. Gave everyone else a bit of a break.