I Love It Loud
Encyclopedia
"I Love It Loud" is a song by the American
rock
band Kiss
, released on their 1982 album Creatures of the Night
. The song was written by bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons
and guitarist Vincent Cusano
, although some versions of the album mistakenly credit the song as written by Paul Stanley and Cusano. Cusano had been working with songwriter Adam Mitchell when he discovered that Mitchell had connections to Kiss, and Cusano made it a point to meet Simmons through Mitchell. After meeting and exchanging phone numbers with Simmons, the two got together and wrote "I Love It Loud" and another song that appeared on the Creatures album called "Killer" during the same writing session.
The song fades out, only to come back even louder, and then fade out a second time. This idea was taken from The Beatles
' song Helter Skelter
Released as a single in 1982, it was only the second Kiss single to feature a picture sleeve and marked the final Kiss single released on the Casablanca
label. As a single, the song did not fare particularly well, failing to crack the Billboard Hot 100
, although it did "bubble under" at #102. The song hit #45 on the RPM Singles Chart in Canada in March 1983.
A video was filmed which featured the band, then officially consisting of Simmons, guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley
, drummer Eric Carr
and guitarist Ace Frehley
, on stage performing the song while kids, watching them perform on television, are being hypnotized (or inspired) by their performance. Howard Marks, KISS's business manager from 1976 to 1988, stars as the father in the video.
The video was directed by Paul Davey and produced by John Weaver for Keefco. It also marked the final video for which Kiss wore their famous make-up before unmasking in 1983 (see 1983 in music
) and also the last Kiss video to feature Ace Frehley (excluding various television appearances Frehley did with the group in support for Creatures of the Night) before his departure later that year.
This was the last Kiss single to feature Simmons on lead vocals until "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You II
" in 1991, and the last to feature Simmons as the sole lead vocalist until "Unholy" in 1992. He was however the lead singer of every song on the 'B' side of every single they did through the "Crazy Nights" album.
This song also appears on other releases such as 1993's Alive III
and on Kiss' The Box Set in 2001
. The single of the live version reached number 22 on Billboard'
s Mainstream Rock Tracks
. A remixed version of the track appears on Kiss's 1988
greatest hits album, Smashes, Thrashes & Hits
, that features a notably different drum sound and is missing the fade out in the middle of the song.
The Phunk Junkeez
reworked the song and covered it on their 1995 Injected album, retitled "I Love It Loud" (Injected Mix).
For many years, when the band performs the song in concert the second verse is shortened.
(Dr. Death Steve Williams and Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy
) used the song as their theme music in All Japan Pro Wrestling
.
recorded a dancehall reggae
cover of I Love it Loud, entitled simply Loud, on his Cooler Conditions
album.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
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 their 1982 album Creatures of the Night
Creatures of the Night
Creatures of the Night is the tenth studio album by Kiss. It is the band's last album for Casablanca Records, the only label the group had ever recorded for up to that point...
. The song was written by bassist/vocalist 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 guitarist Vincent Cusano
Vinnie Vincent
Vincent John Cusano, better known as Vinnie Vincent, is an American guitarist from Bridgeport, Connecticut and songwriter known for his brief membership in the band Kiss.-Replacing Ace Frehley in Kiss:...
, although some versions of the album mistakenly credit the song as written by Paul Stanley and Cusano. Cusano had been working with songwriter Adam Mitchell when he discovered that Mitchell had connections to Kiss, and Cusano made it a point to meet Simmons through Mitchell. After meeting and exchanging phone numbers with Simmons, the two got together and wrote "I Love It Loud" and another song that appeared on the Creatures album called "Killer" during the same writing session.
The song fades out, only to come back even louder, and then fade out a second time. This idea was taken from The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' song Helter Skelter
Released as a single in 1982, it was only the second Kiss single to feature a picture sleeve and marked the final Kiss single released on the Casablanca
Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records was an American record label started by Neil Bogart, who partnered with Cecil Holmes, Larry Harris, and Buck Reingold in 1973, and based in Los Angeles. The label was formed after all of them had left Buddah Records and secured financing by Warner Bros. Records to start the venture...
label. As a single, the song did not fare particularly well, failing to crack the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, although it did "bubble under" at #102. The song hit #45 on the RPM Singles Chart in Canada in March 1983.
A video was filmed which featured the band, then officially consisting of Simmons, guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley
Paul Stanley
Stanley 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...
, drummer Eric Carr
Eric Carr
Paul Charles Caravello , also known as Eric Carr, was an American musician, best known as drummer for the rock band Kiss. Caravello was selected as the new Kiss drummer after Peter Criss left in 1980...
and guitarist 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...
, on stage performing the song while kids, watching them perform on television, are being hypnotized (or inspired) by their performance. Howard Marks, KISS's business manager from 1976 to 1988, stars as the father in the video.
The video was directed by Paul Davey and produced by John Weaver for Keefco. It also marked the final video for which Kiss wore their famous make-up before unmasking in 1983 (see 1983 in music
1983 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1983.-January-April:*January – ZTT Records is founded.*January 8 – The UK singles chart is tabulated from this week forward by The Gallup Organization...
) and also the last Kiss video to feature Ace Frehley (excluding various television appearances Frehley did with the group in support for Creatures of the Night) before his departure later that year.
This was the last Kiss single to feature Simmons on lead vocals until "God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You II
God Gave Rock 'N' Roll to You II
The video was filmed in Los Angeles, California in July 1991 and was directed by Mark Rezyka. It features the band playing in a room with flashbacks of Simmons and Stanley during the make-up era of Kiss's heyday. There were no prominent clips of Carr during the make-up years featured in the video,...
" in 1991, and the last to feature Simmons as the sole lead vocalist until "Unholy" in 1992. He was however the lead singer of every song on the 'B' side of every single they did through the "Crazy Nights" album.
Alternative versions and covers
Alive 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"...
and on Kiss' The Box Set in 2001
2001 in music
See also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
. The single of the live version reached number 22 on Billboard'
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
. A remixed version of the track appears on Kiss's 1988
1988 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1988.-January-March:* January 1 – André Rieu's Johann Strauss Orchestra plays its first concert....
greatest hits album, Smashes, Thrashes & Hits
Smashes, Thrashes & Hits
-Charts:AlbumSingles- Certifications :...
, that features a notably different drum sound and is missing the fade out in the middle of the song.
The Phunk Junkeez
Phunk Junkeez
The Phunk Junkeez are an American rap rock band from Phoenix, Arizona that formed in 1991 and have established a strong underground following. The band regularly tours the United States and Japan....
reworked the song and covered it on their 1995 Injected album, retitled "I Love It Loud" (Injected Mix).
For many years, when the band performs the song in concert the second verse is shortened.
Pop culture
The Miracle Violence ConnectionMiracle Violence Connection
The Miracle Violence Connection was a professional wrestling tag team consisting of "Dr. Death" Steve Williams and Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy.-All Japan Pro Wrestling :...
(Dr. Death Steve Williams and Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy
Terry Gordy
Terry Ray 'Bam Bam' Gordy, Sr. was a professional wrestler who was best known in North America for being a member of the Fabulous Freebirds.-Career:...
) used the song as their theme music in All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
.
Cover Versions
In 1999, SnowSnow (musician)
Darrin O'Brien , better known by his stage name Snow, is a Juno Award-winning Canadian rap and reggae musician. He is best known for his 1992 single "Informer", which reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.-Life and work:...
recorded a dancehall reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
cover of I Love it Loud, entitled simply Loud, on his Cooler Conditions
Cooler Conditions
Cooler Conditions is the fourth studio album by Canadian reggae musician Snow. Released only in Japan, many of the tracks later appeared on the more widely released Mind on the Moon album...
album.