KISS Symphony: Alive IV
Encyclopedia
Kiss Symphony: Alive IV is a 2003 live album from Kiss
performing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
(MSO). The arrangements were made by David Campbell
, who also conducted the MSO. It is the group's fourth album in the Alive series and first release under Kiss Records and Sanctuary Records
. The album featured three of the original members of Kiss (Peter Criss
, Paul Stanley
, and Gene Simmons
). Ace Frehley
once again left the band and the concert featured for the first time a replacement musician, Tommy Thayer
, dressed as Ace Frehley's "Spaceman". However, this would be the last Kiss album to feature Peter Criss (who would leave the band officially in 2004 to be replaced by Eric Singer
).
Back in 2000, Kiss was to release the original Alive IV (Featuring the original re-united lineup) but, due to label politics and contracts, it was not to be. Even with the artwork being revealed and "Rock and Roll All Nite
" (from Alive IV) being added to the Kiss Box Set, the album was shelved. The band then moved labels from Universal/Island to Sanctuary Music and they released Alive IV - Kiss Symphony. However the original Alive IV was indeed released when the band released the box set of all past Alive albums entitled Kiss Alive! 1975-2000 in 2006. The album is not called Alive IV, but rather ALIVE: The Millennium Concert.
The members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra who accompanied Kiss during this performance wore makeup that mimicked the band members. At the same time they also wore tuxedos. 10,000 limited numbered copies were released on vinyl in the US. The live versions of "Rock and Roll All Nite", "God of Thunder" and "Lick It Up" were featured on the soundtrack of Tony Hawk's Underground
.
, Australia
, on February 28, 2003.
Act Two: Kiss with The Melbourne Symphony Ensemble
Act Two: Kiss with The Melbourne Symphony Ensemble
Act Three: Kiss with The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Bonus Track
with
(Australia)
Album - Billboard 200
(United States)
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,...
performing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Melbourne, Australia. It has 100 permanent musicians. Melbourne has the longest continuous history of orchestral music of any Australian city and the MSO is the oldest professional orchestra in Australia...
(MSO). The arrangements were made by David Campbell
David Campbell (American arranger/composer)
David Richard Campbell is a Canadian-American arranger, composer and conductor. He has worked on over 450 gold and platinum albums including Death Magnetic , Minutes to Midnight , KISS Symphony: Alive IV Spirit , These Days , Fallen , and various albums by his son...
, who also conducted the MSO. It is the group's fourth album in the Alive series and first release under Kiss Records and Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
. The album featured three of the original members of Kiss (Peter Criss
Peter Criss
George Peter John Criscuola , better known as Peter Criss, is an American drummer and singer, best known as the original drummer for the rock band Kiss...
, 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...
, and 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:...
). 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...
once again left the band and the concert featured for the first time a replacement musician, 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 :...
, dressed as Ace Frehley's "Spaceman". However, this would be the last Kiss album to feature Peter Criss (who would leave the band officially in 2004 to be replaced by Eric Singer
Eric Singer
Eric 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...
).
Back in 2000, Kiss was to release the original Alive IV (Featuring the original re-united lineup) but, due to label politics and contracts, it was not to be. Even with the artwork being revealed and "Rock and Roll All Nite
Rock and Roll All Nite
"Rock and Roll All Nite" is a song by Kiss, originally released on their 1975 album Dressed to Kill. It was released as the A-side of their fifth single, with the album track "Getaway." The studio version of the song peaked at No. 57 on the Billboard singles chart, besting the band's previous...
" (from Alive IV) being added to the Kiss Box Set, the album was shelved. The band then moved labels from Universal/Island to Sanctuary Music and they released Alive IV - Kiss Symphony. However the original Alive IV was indeed released when the band released the box set of all past Alive albums entitled Kiss Alive! 1975-2000 in 2006. The album is not called Alive IV, but rather ALIVE: The Millennium Concert.
The members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra who accompanied Kiss during this performance wore makeup that mimicked the band members. At the same time they also wore tuxedos. 10,000 limited numbered copies were released on vinyl in the US. The live versions of "Rock and Roll All Nite", "God of Thunder" and "Lick It Up" were featured on the soundtrack of Tony Hawk's Underground
Tony Hawk's Underground
Tony Hawk's Underground, abbreviated to THUG, is a skateboarding video game, available for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and Xbox platforms released in 2003. A PC version was released exclusively in Australia as a budget release in 2005. This version was ported by Beenox. In 2004,...
.
The songs
Unlike past Alive releases, the songs on the album appear in the order they were performed, with the concert split into three acts. In Act One, the members of Kiss performed six songs by themselves. In Act Two, Kiss performed an acoustic set with the Melbourne Symphony Ensemble for the next five songs. In Act Three, the longest act, the band played with the full sixty piece orchestra on all tracks.Track listing
All tracks recorded at Etihad Stadium (formerly known as Telstra Dome) in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, on February 28, 2003.
Disc 1
Act One: Kiss- "DeuceDeuce (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...
" (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:...
) - "StrutterStrutter"Strutter" is a song by the American hard rock band Kiss, released on their eponymous debut album in 1974. The song was released as the third single from their album and failed to chart....
" (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...
, Simmons) - "Let Me Go, Rock 'n' RollLet Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll (song)Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll is a song by the American hard rock band Kiss, released in 1974. It was released as the only single from the second album, Hotter Than Hell. Even though the song has failed to chart, it is now a staple in their live concert...
" (Stanley, Simmons) - "Lick It UpLick It Up (song)"Lick It Up" is a glam metal song by the American hard rock band Kiss. It is the title track on their 1983 album of the same name.Written by guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley and guitarist Vinnie Vincent, the song was released as the first single from the album in 1983.A video was made to promote the...
" (Vinnie VincentVinnie VincentVincent 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:...
, Stanley) - "Calling Dr. LoveCalling Dr. Love"Calling Dr. Love" is a song by the American hard rock band Kiss, originally released on their 1976 album Rock and Roll Over. The song was written by Kiss bassist/lead vocalist Gene Simmons at a Holiday Inn in Evansville, Indiana. It was the second single released from the album, and the group's...
" (Simmons) - "Psycho CircusPsycho Circus (song)"Psycho Circus" is a song by the American hard rock band Kiss. It is the title track from the 1998 album with the same name. The B-side is the non-album track "In Your Face", a song written by bassist Gene Simmons and sung by Kiss guitarist/vocalist Ace Frehley."Psycho Circus" was written by...
" (Stanley, Curtis Cuomo)
Act Two: Kiss with The Melbourne Symphony Ensemble
- "BethBeth (song)"Beth" is a song by Kiss, originally released on their 1976 album, Destroyer. To date, it is their highest-charting single, reaching #7 on Billboard's American charts. It is one of only two Gold selling singles for the band , and their first of two Top Ten singles...
" (Peter CrissPeter CrissGeorge Peter John Criscuola , better known as Peter Criss, is an American drummer and singer, best known as the original drummer for the rock band Kiss...
, Stan Penridge, Bob EzrinBob EzrinRobert 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:...
) - "ForeverForever (KISS song)"Forever" is a Kiss song from the Hot in the Shade album. It peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it the band's first American Top 40 single since "I Was Made for Lovin' You" reached number 11 in 1979. It was the band's seventh and, to date, last Top 20 US single. It also...
" (Stanley, Michael BoltonMichael BoltonMichael Bolton is an American singer and songwriter. Bolton originally performed in the hard rock and heavy metal genres from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s, both on his early solo albums and those recorded as the frontman of the band Blackjack...
) - "Goin' BlindGoin' Blind"Goin' Blind" is a song by Kiss written by Gene Simmons and Stephen Coronel, sometimes referred to as "Going Blind". The song originally appeared on the band's second album, 1974's Hotter Than Hell...
" (Simmons, Stephen CoronelStephen CoronelStephen Coronel Steve Coronel is a guitarist and friend of Gene Simmons since 1963. Coronel was one of the members of the band Wicked Lester.-Biography:He created the riff and chord structure of "She" and "Goin' Blind", co-authoring the songs with Simmons...
) - "Sure Know SomethingSure Know Something"Sure Know Something" is a song by American hard rock band Kiss, released on their 1979 album Dynasty. The B-side is "Dirty Livin'", another album track featured on the Dynasty album which was written and sung by drummer Peter Criss....
" (Stanley, Vini PonciaVini PonciaVini Poncia is an American musician, songwriter and record producer.In the 1960s, Poncia formed a songwriting team with Peter Anders. An album of songs co-written by these childhood friends The Anders & Poncia Album, was produced by Richard Perry and released in 1969...
) - "ShandiShandi (song)"Shandi" is a hit single by American hard rock band Kiss. Released on their 1980 album, Unmasked, the song was popular in Australia, where it reached number five on the Australian charts...
" (Stanley, Poncia)
Disc 2
Act Three: Kiss with The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra- "Detroit Rock CityDetroit Rock City"Detroit Rock City" is a song by the American hard rock group Kiss featured on their 1976 album, Destroyer. The song was written by Paul Stanley and Bob Ezrin and is about a real Kiss fan who was killed in a car accident on his way to a Kiss concert...
" (Stanley, Ezrin) - "King of the Night Time World" (Stanley, Ezrin, Kim FowleyKim FowleyKim Vincent Fowley is an American record producer, impresario, songwriter, musician, film maker, and radio actor. He is best known for his role behind a string of novelty and cult rock pop singles in the 1960s, and for managing The Runaways in the 1970s...
, Mark Anthony) - "Do You Love Me?" (Stanley, Ezrin, Fowley)
- "Shout It Out LoudShout It Out Loud (KISS song)"Shout It Out Loud" is a song by the American hard rock group Kiss originally released on their 1976 album, Destroyer.-Overview:Released as a single in 1976, the band and their record company, Casablanca Records, were trying to cash in on the success of their previous single, the live version of...
" (Stanley, Simmons, Ezrin) - "God of ThunderGod of Thunder (song)"God of Thunder" is a heavy metal song by the group Kiss from their album Destroyer. The song has also been featured on many of Kiss's live albums, including an up-tempo version on Alive II. Many various sound effects were used to make the song including explosions, clapping, zippers, overdubbed...
" (Stanley) - "Love GunLove Gun (song)"Love Gun" is a song by the American hard rock band KISS released on their 1977 album of the same name. The B-side is the album track "Hooligan", a song written by drummer Peter Criss.The secret to the musical longevity of Kiss is its ability to marry the sonic muscle of hard rock to songs full of...
" (Stanley) - "Black Diamond" (Stanley)
- "Great Expectations" (Simmons, Ezrin)
- featuring the Australian Children's ChoirAustralian Children's ChoirThe Australian Children’s Choir , founded in 1976, is a mixed-voice children's choir based in Melbourne, Australia, and consisting of some 200 boys and girls aged 7–18 in six different training ensembles...
- featuring the Australian Children's Choir
- "I Was Made for Lovin' YouI Was Made For Lovin' YouI Was Made for Lovin' You" is a song by American hard rock band Kiss, originally released on their 1979 album Dynasty. It was released as the A-side of their first single from the album. It was the band's second Gold single, selling over 1 million copies. The single was certified Platinum in the...
" (Stanley, Desmond ChildDesmond ChildDesmond Child is an American musician, songwriter, and producer. He is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.-Career:...
, Poncia) - "Rock and Roll All NiteRock and Roll All Nite"Rock and Roll All Nite" is a song by Kiss, originally released on their 1975 album Dressed to Kill. It was released as the A-side of their fifth single, with the album track "Getaway." The studio version of the song peaked at No. 57 on the Billboard singles chart, besting the band's previous...
" (Stanley, Simmons)
Single-Disc Edition
Act One: Kiss- "DeuceDeuce (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...
" (Simmons) - "Lick It UpLick It Up (song)"Lick It Up" is a glam metal song by the American hard rock band Kiss. It is the title track on their 1983 album of the same name.Written by guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley and guitarist Vinnie Vincent, the song was released as the first single from the album in 1983.A video was made to promote the...
" (Vincent, Stanley) - "Calling Dr. LoveCalling Dr. Love"Calling Dr. Love" is a song by the American hard rock band Kiss, originally released on their 1976 album Rock and Roll Over. The song was written by Kiss bassist/lead vocalist Gene Simmons at a Holiday Inn in Evansville, Indiana. It was the second single released from the album, and the group's...
" (Simmons)
Act Two: Kiss with The Melbourne Symphony Ensemble
- "BethBeth (song)"Beth" is a song by Kiss, originally released on their 1976 album, Destroyer. To date, it is their highest-charting single, reaching #7 on Billboard's American charts. It is one of only two Gold selling singles for the band , and their first of two Top Ten singles...
" (Criss, Ezrin, Penridge) - "Goin' BlindGoin' Blind"Goin' Blind" is a song by Kiss written by Gene Simmons and Stephen Coronel, sometimes referred to as "Going Blind". The song originally appeared on the band's second album, 1974's Hotter Than Hell...
" (Simmons, Coronel) - "ShandiShandi (song)"Shandi" is a hit single by American hard rock band Kiss. Released on their 1980 album, Unmasked, the song was popular in Australia, where it reached number five on the Australian charts...
" (Stanley, Poncia)
Act Three: Kiss with The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
- "Detroit Rock CityDetroit Rock City (song)"Detroit Rock City" is a song by the American hard rock group Kiss featured on their 1976 album, Destroyer. The song was written by Paul Stanley and Bob Ezrin and is about a real Kiss fan who was killed in a car accident on his way to a Kiss concert...
" (Stanley, Ezrin) - "King of the Night Time World" (Stanley, Ezrin, Fowley, Anthony)
- "Do You Love Me?" (Stanley, Ezrin, Fowley)
- "Shout It Out LoudShout It Out Loud (KISS song)"Shout It Out Loud" is a song by the American hard rock group Kiss originally released on their 1976 album, Destroyer.-Overview:Released as a single in 1976, the band and their record company, Casablanca Records, were trying to cash in on the success of their previous single, the live version of...
" (Stanley, Simmons, Ezrin) - "God of ThunderGod of Thunder (song)"God of Thunder" is a heavy metal song by the group Kiss from their album Destroyer. The song has also been featured on many of Kiss's live albums, including an up-tempo version on Alive II. Many various sound effects were used to make the song including explosions, clapping, zippers, overdubbed...
" (Stanley) - "Love GunLove Gun (song)"Love Gun" is a song by the American hard rock band KISS released on their 1977 album of the same name. The B-side is the album track "Hooligan", a song written by drummer Peter Criss.The secret to the musical longevity of Kiss is its ability to marry the sonic muscle of hard rock to songs full of...
" (Stanley) - "Black Diamond" (Stanley)
- "Great Expectations" (Simmons, Ezrin)
- featuring the Australian Children's Choir
- "Rock and Roll All NiteRock and Roll All Nite"Rock and Roll All Nite" is a song by Kiss, originally released on their 1975 album Dressed to Kill. It was released as the A-side of their fifth single, with the album track "Getaway." The studio version of the song peaked at No. 57 on the Billboard singles chart, besting the band's previous...
" (Stanley, Simmons)
Bonus Track
- "Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?"Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?" was the second single by American punk rock band the Ramones from their fifth studio album, End of the Century. It was released on May 16, 1980. This song and the album itself marked a complete change in the Ramones' sound...
" (Joey RamoneJoey RamoneJoey Ramone was an American vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist in the punk rock band the Ramones. Joey Ramone's image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon.-Early life:Joey Ramone was born Jeffry Hyman to parents Noel and Charlotte Hyman...
)- Originally recorded by The Ramones
Personnel
- 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...
- vocals, 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... - 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:...
- vocals, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Tommy ThayerTommy ThayerTommy Cunningham Thayer is an American musician and songwriter best known as the lead guitarist for the American hard rock band Kiss.- Early life :...
- 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...
, vocals - Peter CrissPeter CrissGeorge Peter John Criscuola , better known as Peter Criss, is an American drummer and singer, best known as the original drummer for the rock band Kiss...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals
with
- The Melbourne Symphony OrchestraMelbourne Symphony OrchestraThe Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Melbourne, Australia. It has 100 permanent musicians. Melbourne has the longest continuous history of orchestral music of any Australian city and the MSO is the oldest professional orchestra in Australia...
- Mark Opitz - Producer
- Tony Wall - Engineer
- David Campbell - ComposerComposerA composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Charts
Album - ARIAAustralian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
(Australia)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Australian ARIA Aalbum Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
14 |
Album - Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
(United States)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
18 |