CHAPTER 30 - Rockin’ With The Boys

Gene has commented that “Rockin’ With The Boys” was a title never considered by the band as a working title for the album following “Unmasked.” As such this section is based upon something of a misnomer. Even the suggested title seems completely false since one of the few references to the title suggests: “While the last few months have been fairly traumatic for Ace, and no doubt wife Jeanette, he’s still managed to come up with some new songs, seeming particularly pleased with a freshly written opus called ‘Rockin’ With The Boys’ (a typical Ace title – no concept here!)” (Kerrang #32). That piece would be printed in late 1982, indicating that perhaps there has been some confusion placing the title as pre-Elder when it should really be post-Elder period. It would seem most likely that “Rockin’ With The Boys” is little more than another KISS urban legend.

Another source has suggested that the “Rockin’ With The Boys” album was recorded and produced by Martin Birch. Martin had worked with the likes of Iron Maiden, Rainbow, and Blue Oyster Cult. This connection with Maiden was also in the timeframe of their touring with KISS in 1980, with his having produced the debut “Iron Maiden” album. This alleged album also came with a supposed track-listing which included: “Deadly Weapons,” “Nowhere To Run,” “One Step Too Far,” “Reputation,” “Rockin’ With The Boys,” “Ruler Of The Universe,” “Shoot The President,” “The Harder The Better,” “Fever,” “Welcome Back My Boys, To Metal,” and “Watch Your Step.” While some of those songs are certainly known KISS or related demos or songs, (or like “Shoot The President,” somewhat alludes to similar lyrics in “War Machine” - though those lyrics don’t suggest shooting anyone, just “I wanna be President”), others are highly questionable and seem rather far-fetched.

What is clear is that there was “harder” music being created before the recording sessions got “Elder-fied.” The most common source listing this pre-Elder material stated, “Prior to recording the ill-fated ‘(Music From) The Elder’ album back in 1981 KISS did start work on a straight-forward self-produced rock record at then-guitarist Ace Frehley’s Ace In The Hole Studio in Upstate New York. The numbers that emerged were ‘Deadly Weapons’ (similar to ‘Partners In Crime’ on the ‘Killers’ album, apparently), ‘Reputation,’ ‘Feels Like Heaven’ (a Simmons number that later surfaced on original KISS drummer Peter Criss’ ludicrously titled ‘Let Me Rock You’ LP), and ‘Nowhere To Run,’ a song that did make it onto ‘Killers’” (Bonutto, Dante - Kerrang #155).

30.01. Feel Like Heaven

Gene’s pornographic original 1981 demo bears little similarity to the version which would eventually be recorded by Peter Criss on his “Let Me Rock You” album. Very similar in style to “Reputation,” it is also likely that this song is post-Elder rather than having been written beforehand. Vocally, Gene is almost rapping his verses which end with the comic, if not somewhat disgusting, “let me wrap your steaming piss flaps around my nose.” Ick, though Gene seems barely able to sing the lyric without cracking up! The version which commonly circulates seems to be a cut and paste job running 1:57. Stylistically, the material is neither hard-edged nor rocking.

30.02. Nowhere To Run

Mentioned in Kerrang as a pre-Elder recording, this demo is some 15 seconds longer than the 4:39 recording which would be released on “Killers” in May 1982 – even without the introduction. It also lacks a guitar solo and much of the sort of guitar work one would usually attribute to Ace Frehley (or Bob Kulick for that matter), which would seem to indicate that Ace had minimal, if any, involvement in the recording of the track. That sort of arrangement, Ace not being present on recordings undertaken at his own home recording studio, would not be surprising, considering the other issues going on in his life at the time. The lyrics and arrangement on the demo and later album version are nearly identical. There are some interesting melody/lyrical similarities between this song and the Supremes’ “Back In My Arms.” See also the KISS “Killers” section.

30.03. Deadly Weapons

When KISS were first reconvening to record the follow-up album to “Unmasked,” they had intended to record a rock album more in the vein of what their fans would expect and accept. As such, this early 1981 demo was most likely recorded at Ace’s home studio in Connecticut. More importantly it would be one of Eric Carr’s first recordings with the band. The song itself definitely comes across as being an “Unmasked” cut-off or as a transition-hybrid piece. There are striking similarities in the song, which, while being “heavier,” would have been right at home on the band’s previous album with watered-down production. Interestingly, this song would never surface on any album and eventually would be recycled by Gene for inclusion on the 1985 album “Asylum” as “Love’s A Deadly Weapon,” after some reworking with the aid of material from Rod Swenson and Wes Beech. See also the “Asylum” section.

Those co-writing credits for the 1985 piece indicate that “Deadly Weapons” was written by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. Gene would finish the song in 1985, borrowing music for the verses from the song “Party,” which was going to be recorded for Wendy O. Williams’ second solo album, “Kommander Of Kaos.” “Deadly Weapons” originally had a great first verse: “Tell your lies to your other guys / I wanna know where you been / Well if you hand me a line / It’ll be the last time / I won’t be lettin’ you in (no, no) / When you call on the phone / Say you ain’t comin’ home / You better tell me the truth / ‘Cause it’s plain to be known / You ain’t out on your own / You’re gonna chase your youth.” The original “Deadly Weapons” track runs 4:50.

30.04. Reputation

Even being a short 2:46 demo, “Reputation” is one of the best sound-quality KISS-related demos to circulate. With simply bass and guitar it is likely that Gene recorded this demo on his own providing his own, backing vocals and harmonies. “I’m obnoxious (yeah) / I’m obnoxious / I’ve got no reason / I’ve got no conscience (yeah) / I’m a viper / A two-timer (yeah) / I’m the snake in your grass / And you’re on fire.” What is clear from both the arrangement and music is that this demo is not a completed idea. Other versions of the song, which continued to develop, are known to exist, though they do not circulate, one of which Gene wrote with Mitch Weissman and demoed using a drum loop of Eric Carrs.

30.05. Rockin’ With The Boys (Ace Frehley, 1981)

Simply the alleged title of a song Ace is supposed to have written in the post-Elder period, as mentioned in a Kerrang article during 1982.

30.06. Master Of Flash (Gene Simmons, 1982)

This title was a written song, though the title probably dated further back from 1982, however it is not clear whether it was ever demoed by Gene...