Think of all the reissues, repackagings and other ephemera released over the decades by the unforgettable rock band (and impending Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees) KISS. Now quadruple them. That's pretty much what to expect with KISSteria, the latest box set announced by the band.
This limited edition set, of which 1,000 units will be made, features 34 KISS albums on vinyl in an Anvil road case packed with more merchandise than you can wave a Love Gun (or anything else, really) at. This includes nearly all their studio albums (2009's Sonic Boom is a no-show), the original members' four solo albums from 1978, all five Alive! releases and even a few compilations. The included merch, according to USA Today, includes 11 archival 11"x17" posters (including the band's first promotional poster), four lithographs, vinyl cleaning supplies (including a cloth and turntable mat), dominos and a numbered certificate of authenticity.
The fearsome foursome (original lead singer Paul Stanley and bassist Gene Simmons plus current guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer), who will headline a tour with Def Leppard this summer, have more goodies from the vault expected, including KISS 40, a double-disc compilation featuring "one track from every major album, plus live cuts and an unreleased demo from 1977." All of the vinyl reissues in KISSteria save for KISS Symphony: Alive IV and all of the compilations, will also be made available individually, with Amazon links prepping more than a dozen titles over the next two months.
Full pre-order info on KISSteria, including release date and pricing, will be made available at a later date, with fans being able to sign up for notification on the band's official site. The full list of included albumsis posted below, with Amazon listings and street dates for some of the individual vinyl titles. (An Amazon U.S. listing for KISS 40, with a May 27 street date, is also live.)
- KISS (1974) (vinyl available 4/1 - Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
- Hotter Than Hell (1974) (vinyl available 4/1 - Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
- Dressed to Kill (1975) (vinyl available 4/1 - Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
- Alive! (1975) (vinyl available 4/1 - Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
- Destroyer (1976) (vinyl available 4/1 - Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
- Rock and Roll Over (1976) (vinyl available 5/27)
- Love Gun (1977) (vinyl available 5/6 - Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
- Alive II (1977) (vinyl available 6/24)
- Double Platinum (compilation, 1978) **
- Gene Simmons (1978) (vinyl available 6/24)
- Ace Frehley (1978) (vinyl available 6/24)
- Paul Stanley (1978) (vinyl available 6/24)
- Peter Criss (1978) (vinyl available 6/24)
- Dynasty (1979) (vinyl available 4/1 - Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
- Unmasked (1980) (vinyl available 4/1 - Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
- Music from "The Elder" (1981) (vinyl available 5/27) +
- Killers (compilation, 1982) **
- Creatures of the Night (1982) (vinyl available 5/6 - Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
- Lick It Up (1983) (vinyl available 4/1 - Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
- Animalize (1984) (vinyl available 4/1 - Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
- Asylum (1985) (vinyl available 5/6 - Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
- Crazy Nights (1987) (vinyl available 5/27)
- Smashes, Thrashes & Hits (compilation, 1988) **
- Hot in the Shade (1989) (vinyl available 5/27)
- Revenge (1992) (vinyl available 4/1 - Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
- Alive III (1993) (vinyl available 5/27)
- KISS Unplugged (1996) (vinyl available 5/6 - Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
- You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!! (1996) **
- Greatest KISS (compilation, 1997) **
- Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997) (vinyl available 5/27) *
- Psycho Circus (1998) (vinyl available 4/22 - Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
- KISS Symphony: Alive IV (2003) **
- Alive! The Millennium Concert (2006) (vinyl available 5/27 - Amazon U.S.) *
- Monster (2012)
* vinyl debut
** vinyl exclusive to KISSteria box
+ available for the first time on vinyl in "concept album sequence"
dustinsoper says
wow! This will probably cost a fortune, but I might be into this!
Bill says
Why?
AlexKx says
Wow their comeback l.p. "Sonic Boom" is not included?! It would have made far more sense to release two box sets for real. This is shocking and hands down one of the largest sets I have ever seen without doubt. Well Jesus the announcement for the release date of the KISSteria vinyl box set should not be too long from now as apparently the discs start being released individually in just a few weeks. Hopefully something like KISSteria will be released either at the same time and or before then. So are these 180 grams? Floppy discs? Lol. I wonder what the details are on the case. Will that be one thousand U.S. dollars alone before you get to its contents?! I guess the title "Hyper Extreme Madness" was too obvious and flakey? Don't get me wrong I love KISS and am considering this...ahem. So, uh, yeah.
AlexKx says
Ooops...I am not sure what I meant by the statement about the "one thousand U.S. dollars" BUT I wonder if that is what the total will be? Bill you ask, "Why?". I suppose that my response is, "To kick arse and RULE THE WORLD!!!"! 🙂
Bill Janowski says
Sonic Boom was a Wal-Mart Exclusive - maybe that's why it's not included?? Just my guess.
dustinsoper says
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Looks like it's going to be sold here: http://www.myplaydirect.com/kiss/contact/new But the link to pre-order isn't working just yet.
Bill Janowski says
Also, SB was an Independent (non-Universal) release, so that's probably another reason it's omitted.
dustinsoper says
Here it is: http://www.myplaydirect.com/kiss $1749 eeeeek!
Bill Janowski says
Sorry, no - I'll have to pass. I agree, the price is ridiculous, though it's a nice package.