Domino (Kiss song)
Encyclopedia
"Domino" is a song by the American
hard rock
band Kiss
, released on the band's sixteenth studio album Revenge
in 1992. The song was written by the band's bassist
Gene Simmons
, and it borrows parts from a song "Nasty Nasty", from the band Black 'n Blue
he had worked with. The song was released as a single in 1992, with the album's instrumental "Carr Jam 1981" as a B-side. Despite being performed on only two tours and MTV Unplugged
appearance, "Domino" has appeared on several of the band's albums.
, the sole writer of the song, admitted he was trying to copy the song "Deuce
with "Domino", although the song borrows much more from the song "Nasty Nasty", song by the band Black 'n Blue
which Simmons worked with before. "Nasty Nasty" was written by Simmons, Tommy Thayer
and Jaime St. James
, while "Domino" is credited to Simmons only. Thayer would eventually become Kiss' permanent lead guitarist, replacing Ace Frehley
in 2002 and adopting the "Spaceman" look.
Simmons said about the creation of the song: "This song started out with a bass lick, much as 'Deuce
' did. Once I had the meter down, I started writing rhyming words, but without a melody – so it was almost a rap. Then I talked the song through with the lick, and the melody just came naturally. The melody that came to me was the bass lick, so I just shadowed my melody with the lick on guitar."
The song was demoed by Simmons and band Silent Rage, who Simmons had signed to his label $immons Records. The demo version differs from the studio version in verses, as the verse in the demo is "Here's an introduction, her name is Domino / Never had confession, if you really wanna know / Ain't the virgin Mary, love her, I confess / Got my hesitations, she kisses like the kiss of death / Loves lots of money, back's against the wall / Calls me 'Sugar Daddy', 'cause she knows she's got me by the balls." and in the studio version the verse goes "My my, ow, yeah! / Never had confession, never had a home / Never had no worry, until I met Domino / Ain't the virgin Mary, love her I confess / Got my hesitations, 'cause she kisses like the kiss of death / Loves lots of money, back's against the wall / Calls me 'Sugar Daddy', she knows she's got me by the balls."
The key of the solo was changed by Bob Ezrin
so that "It feels like it's got more energy." Simmons also played the rhythm guitar
on the track.
"Domino" was released as the third single off the Revenge
album in 1992. The song only managed to chart on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks, reaching number 26. The song was edited for the radio, changing the "She's got me by the balls" line with "She's gotta have it all". The other radio edit has reduced track length.
and Kiss My Ass Tour
. It was also performed on the MTV Unplugged
appearance. Because of the original line-up reunion, all post-70s songs were excluded from the set-list. As years went by, some post-70s songs returned to the set-list, although "Domino" wasn't one of them.
and shows Simmons driving around Hollywood eating fast-food while the other band members are in studio playing. The video was, like other videos from Revenge, ignored by MTV in favor of grunge
bands.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, released on the band's sixteenth studio album Revenge
Revenge (KISS album)
Revenge is the 16th studio album by American heavy metal band Kiss, released on May 19, 1992. It was the band's first album after the death of long-time drummer Eric Carr in November 1991. His replacement, Eric Singer, had played with Black Sabbath, Brian May, Alice Cooper and even Paul Stanley,...
in 1992. The song was written by the band's bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
, and it borrows parts from a song "Nasty Nasty", from the band Black 'n Blue
Black 'N Blue
Black 'n Blue is a Hard rock band from Portland, Oregon. The current members are singer Jaime St. James, guitarist Shawn Sonnenschein, guitarist Jeff Warner, bassist Patrick Young, and drummer Pete Holmes.-History:...
he had worked with. The song was released as a single in 1992, with the album's instrumental "Carr Jam 1981" as a B-side. Despite being performed on only two tours and MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
appearance, "Domino" has appeared on several of the band's albums.
Background
Gene SimmonsGene Simmons
Gene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
, the sole writer of the song, admitted he was trying to copy the song "Deuce
Deuce (song)
"Deuce" is a song written by Kiss bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons that first appeared on Kiss' eponymous 1974 debut album. In addition to being one of the band's most popular and most-covered songs, "Deuce" is a traditional concert opener...
with "Domino", although the song borrows much more from the song "Nasty Nasty", song by the band Black 'n Blue
Black 'N Blue
Black 'n Blue is a Hard rock band from Portland, Oregon. The current members are singer Jaime St. James, guitarist Shawn Sonnenschein, guitarist Jeff Warner, bassist Patrick Young, and drummer Pete Holmes.-History:...
which Simmons worked with before. "Nasty Nasty" was written by Simmons, Tommy Thayer
Tommy Thayer
Tommy Cunningham Thayer is an American musician and songwriter best known as the lead guitarist for the American hard rock band Kiss.- Early life :...
and Jaime St. James
Jaime St. James
Jaime St. James is the lead vocalist of the glam metal band Black 'N Blue. He also served a brief stint in the mid-2000s as the lead singer of Warrant, but he left upon the return of Warrant's original lead singer Jani Lane to the line-up in 2008. He sang on the Warrant album Born Again.Born James...
, while "Domino" is credited to Simmons only. Thayer would eventually become Kiss' permanent lead guitarist, replacing Ace Frehley
Ace Frehley
Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss. He took on the persona of the "Spaceman" or "Space Ace" when the band adopted costumes and theatrics...
in 2002 and adopting the "Spaceman" look.
Simmons said about the creation of the song: "This song started out with a bass lick, much as 'Deuce
Deuce (song)
"Deuce" is a song written by Kiss bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons that first appeared on Kiss' eponymous 1974 debut album. In addition to being one of the band's most popular and most-covered songs, "Deuce" is a traditional concert opener...
' did. Once I had the meter down, I started writing rhyming words, but without a melody – so it was almost a rap. Then I talked the song through with the lick, and the melody just came naturally. The melody that came to me was the bass lick, so I just shadowed my melody with the lick on guitar."
The song was demoed by Simmons and band Silent Rage, who Simmons had signed to his label $immons Records. The demo version differs from the studio version in verses, as the verse in the demo is "Here's an introduction, her name is Domino / Never had confession, if you really wanna know / Ain't the virgin Mary, love her, I confess / Got my hesitations, she kisses like the kiss of death / Loves lots of money, back's against the wall / Calls me 'Sugar Daddy', 'cause she knows she's got me by the balls." and in the studio version the verse goes "My my, ow, yeah! / Never had confession, never had a home / Never had no worry, until I met Domino / Ain't the virgin Mary, love her I confess / Got my hesitations, 'cause she kisses like the kiss of death / Loves lots of money, back's against the wall / Calls me 'Sugar Daddy', she knows she's got me by the balls."
The key of the solo was changed by Bob Ezrin
Bob Ezrin
Robert Alan "Bob" Ezrin is a Canadian music producer and keyboardist, known for his work with artists including Alice Cooper, Kiss and Pink Floyd. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2004.-Biography:...
so that "It feels like it's got more energy." Simmons also played the rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
on the track.
"Domino" was released as the third single off the Revenge
Revenge (KISS album)
Revenge is the 16th studio album by American heavy metal band Kiss, released on May 19, 1992. It was the band's first album after the death of long-time drummer Eric Carr in November 1991. His replacement, Eric Singer, had played with Black Sabbath, Brian May, Alice Cooper and even Paul Stanley,...
album in 1992. The song only managed to chart on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks, reaching number 26. The song was edited for the radio, changing the "She's got me by the balls" line with "She's gotta have it all". The other radio edit has reduced track length.
Live performances
"Domino" was played only on the Revenge TourRevenge Tour
The Revenge Tour was a concert tour by Kiss. It was the first tour with drummer Eric Singer, replacing Eric Carr who died of cancer on November 24, 1991. The Detroit, Indianapolis and Cleveland shows were recorded for Kiss' first live album in 14 years, Alive III.-Stage setup:The stage featured a...
and Kiss My Ass Tour
Kiss My Ass Tour
The Kiss My Ass Tour was a concert tour by Kiss. In late August, and early September 1994 Kiss toured South America as headliners on the touring Monsters of Rock festival. Following this, the band toured Japan in January 1995 on their own, and in February 1995 they toured Australia for the first...
. It was also performed on the MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged
MTV Unplugged is a TV series showcasing many popular musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show has received the George Foster Peabody Award and 3 Primetime Emmy nominations among many accolades.-Unplugged:...
appearance. Because of the original line-up reunion, all post-70s songs were excluded from the set-list. As years went by, some post-70s songs returned to the set-list, although "Domino" wasn't one of them.
Music video
A music video was directed by Paul RachmanPaul Rachman
Paul Rachman is an American film director who directed the highly praised 2006 documentary on punk music American Hardcore which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was released by Sony Pictures Classics. He is also one of the founders of the Slamdance Film Festival...
and shows Simmons driving around Hollywood eating fast-food while the other band members are in studio playing. The video was, like other videos from Revenge, ignored by MTV in favor of grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
bands.
Other appearances
"Domino" has appeared on following Kiss albums:- RevengeRevenge (KISS album)Revenge is the 16th studio album by American heavy metal band Kiss, released on May 19, 1992. It was the band's first album after the death of long-time drummer Eric Carr in November 1991. His replacement, Eric Singer, had played with Black Sabbath, Brian May, Alice Cooper and even Paul Stanley,...
- studio version - Alive IIIAlive III"Take It Off" originally was a bonus track on the Japanese, European and South American CD releases and the US vinyl release only, being placed between "Forever" and "I Love It Loud"...
- live version - Kiss UnpluggedKISS UnpluggedKiss Unplugged is a Kiss album featuring the group performance in MTV Unplugged.On August 9, 1995, hard rock band Kiss performed on MTV Unplugged in what fans consider the beginning of the eventual Kiss Reunion Tour. Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons contacted former members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley...
- live version - The Box Set - demo version
- The Best of Kiss, Volume 3: The Millennium CollectionThe Best of KISS, Volume 3: The Millennium Collection-Personnel:*Paul Stanley - Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitar*Gene Simmons - Bass, Lead Vocals, Back-Up Vocals*Bruce Kulick - Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Back-Up Vocals*Eric Singer - Drums, Back-Up Vocals*Eric Carr - Back-Up Vocals...
- Alive III version - Kiss Alive! 1975–2000 - Alive III version
Credited personnel
- Gene SimmonsGene SimmonsGene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, lead vocals - Paul StanleyPaul StanleyStanley Harvey Eisen , better known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American hard rock guitarist, singer, musician, painter and songwriter best known for being the rhythm guitarist and primary lead vocalist of the rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's...
- rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, backing vocals - Bruce KulickBruce KulickBruce Howard Kulick is an American guitarist, musician and a member of the band Grand Funk Railroad. Previously, Kulick had been a longtime member of the band Kiss....
- lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocals - Eric SingerEric SingerEric Doyle Mensinger , better known as Eric Singer, is a hard rock and heavy metal drummer for the rock band Kiss and formerly for singer Alice Cooper...
- drums, backing vocals
Charts
| Year | Nation | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | USA | Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | 26 |