CHAPTER 50 - Detroit Rock City OST (1999)

50.01. Detroit Rock City ’98 (Demo)

This song is essentially the final song the original KISS ever recorded in the studio as a band (at the time of writing, and excluding the commercial track for “Joy Of Cola”). The track was recorded in October 1998 and was intended to be used on both the “Detroit Rock City” movie and accompanying soundtrack. According to Gene, “If we’re going to get up and play in the movie it should be brand new music and not already recorded music from the album” (Gerri Miller - Metal Edge Special). Clocking in at some 5:40, the song stays very close to the original version structurally. The 1998 sound of the band is very evident, with the song being somewhat heavier and more ponderous.

Gene’s bass string slides are very much more evident a la “Deuce,” and Peter’s drums sound very much triggered somewhat defining the pace and attitude of the song. However, Ace’s guitar playing is very fluid, reminiscent of his early playing on the KISS 1973 demo, and Paul’s vocals are incredible being forceful and note perfect.

Essentially, one can take this song as a live in the studio recording. The song culminates with a long “Black Diamond” like outro piece, which was recorded to assist in the timings required to put the music in the movie. Because the production of the song was somewhat rough it would be replaced on the soundtrack with the original studio recording. The only place to hear parts of this song are in the movie, during the KISS concert scene which closes the film. Unfortunately, with the audience and sound effects added many of the interesting nuances of this interesting studio recording are hidden. A 4:46 edit of the studio track also circulates without the overdubs.

50.02. Nothing Can Keep Me From You

Produced by Rob Cavallo. Recorded and mixed by Alan Sides. Originally it was intended that KISS, specifically Paul Stanley, write new material for inclusion on the “Detroit Rock City” movie soundtrack. In December 1998 it was mentioned that Paul would be writing two new songs with Diane Warren, one of which would be the movie’s theme song. The other new song was planned to be used over the closing credits of the movie. By the time the band performed at the Super Bowl in January 1999 Paul simply confirmed that the new KISS contribution to the album would be limited a single track, “Nothing Can Keep Me From You.”

In a calculated move, very similar to Aerosmith’s massive movie hit “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing,” the song ended up being written solely by Diane Warren. Paul simply requested that she write the band a song to play over the closing credits of the movie. Rob Cavallo, commented in early April, “It is a brand new song. It is so emotional and fantastic and Paul sings so awesome on it. It’s amazing. And it rocks. You know, it’s in the spirit of ‘Beth.’ It’s in the spirit of these great big power ballads that they can do. So it was really fun to work with them” (MTV). Paul insinuated that the track was the band recording with a 30 piece orchestra, and while the orchestra part is probably right, the band suggestion wasn’t. Bass on the track was performed by Bruce Kulick and drums were by Steve Ferrone from Tom Petty’s band. Bruce played a vintage jazz bass that had been rented for him to use on the recording. It was originally planned to film a video in June 1999 to accompany the song, which would be released as a promotional single for the movie and soundtrack. However, these plans never came to fruition.

Part of the obvious reason for the lack of new KISS material on the album was undoubtedly constraints on the schedule of Paul, with all of the press events and other projects in early 1999, not to mention gearing up for the European leg of the tour. However, it is not clear why Paul never wrote material for the project, or why any material he did come up with wasn’t used. With the issues affecting the band internally, perhaps he simply couldn’t be bothered.

There may also have been creativity issues with Paul just not feeling like writing, or not being able to come up with something which fit the character of the film. Perhaps appropriately, echoing the opinions of many KISS fans, Dave Veitch of the Calgary Sun Record commented on the song in his review of the soundtrack: That the song was, “possibly the worst song of their career, ‘Nothing Can Keep Me From You,’ a syrupy Diane Warren power ballad that’s better suited to Celine Dion” (Canoe). The strings on the track would be arranged by David Campbell. He would later be involved in the band’s 2003 Symphonic show in Australia and is the father of equally famous musician Beck.

50.03. Surrender ’99 (Cheap Trick)

With the plans for new KISS additions for the “Detroit Rock City” movie soundtrack, Cheap Trick recorded a new version of their classic “Surrender” song for the album. Like KISS’ re-recording of “Detroit Rock City,” this track was not used. However, Cheap Trick did make their new recording available for free internet download in MP3 format in April 1999.

50.04. The Joy Of Cola (Pepsi Commercial)

This recording would more appropriately fall under an “Alive IV” section, had that album been released in 2000 as originally intended. KISS recorded their version of the Pepsi theme song for use on a commercial, which was rarely seen, with the cute 8 year-old Hallie Eisenberg being given her own makeup design and mini-guitar. Technically this recording is really not a song since the commercial spot is so short, but it is a recording of sorts none-the-less and is as such included here.

Shooting of the commercial took place at the Desert Sky Pavillion in Phoenix, Arizona during pre-production rehearsals on March 9, 2000. The “Farewell Tour” kicked off at that venue two days later. Hundreds of fans were interviewed to be paid extras during the shoot earning $100 for the experience. The audio track for the song had been recorded prior to the commercial shoot since the band lip-synched to the piece for the several takes it took to get enough material to construct the commercial. Ace immediately left the production after filming to grab a plane to fly home for the funeral of his father.

The commercial debuted during the ABC’s Academy Awards broadcast on March 26, 2000. According to Dawn Hudson, senior vice president, strategy and marketing, at the Pepsi-Cola Company, “KISS puts on one of the best stage shows in the history of rock, and their fans will attest to that. In this commercial, we incorporate some of the elements that make KISS such a great act into a special rendition of ‘The Joy of Cola’ that people will surely remember” (Pepsi PR).