Currently well into the 10th leg of their End of the Road farewell tour - which started in 2019! - it feels like KISS might never go away. And the band is planning to remind their faithful fans of one of their more notable works of the '80s with a lavish new box set: 1982's Creatures of the Night.
Creatures will be reissued for its 40th anniversary on November 18 in a variety of formats: chiefly a 5CD/Blu-ray box packed with the remastered album and 67 live and studio bonus tracks, nearly all of them unreleased. A smaller deluxe edition will be available on CD and vinyl, along with the new album remaster on standalone CD and half-speed mastered vinyl.
The release of Creatures marked a significant turning point in the shock-rockers' storied history. A foray into disco ("I Was Made for Loving You") shocked some longtime fans, and a subsequent stab at prog rock with 1981's Music from "The Elder" - a soundtrack to a film project that does not exist - found fans heading for the exits. By that point, founding drummer Peter Criss had left the fold - replaced by heavy hitter Eric Carr - and the death of Casablanca Records founder Neil Bogart led the group to explore other options. Before jumping ship for Mercury Records, Creatures was one last stab at hard rock.
It was also another opportunity for some more line-up changes. Though he appeared on the album sleeve and in a few promotional obligations, guitarist Peter Criss does not play on Creatures of the Night. Among the axe men on the album: Robben Ford of L.A. Express, future Mr. Mister member Steve Farris, and - most notably - Vinnie Vincent, who'd become a permanent member on subsequent album Lick It Up in 1983. (Only then did KISS regain some commercial ground - but they had to take off their make-up to do so.) Despite soft sales, lead singer Paul Stanley and bassist Gene Simmons - the band's sole remaining original members - consider Creatures to be one of their best during that turbulent decade.
As seen from the box set's track list, it was also one of their most prolific times, too: two whole discs of studio rarities are featured, including the previously unreleased outtake "Betrayed," 10 demos (including some from Simmons' hefty box set The Vault), more than a dozen alternate takes, a batch of songs cut with guitarist Bob Kulick for the ex-U.S. Killers compilation, and even a remix of the title track featured on a 1985 reissue of the record (which featured an "unmasked" current photo of the group, including Bob's brother Bruce on lead guitar). Another two discs capture the band's 10th anniversary tour from late 1982 into early 1983 with Vincent on guitar, and even an archive of onstage sound effects retained by tour engineer Harry Witz. An accompanying Blu-ray includes a hi-res stereo version of the album as well as new 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos mixes.
And of course, it wouldn't be a KISS box set without swag: an 80-page hardcover book includes liner notes by Ken Sharp, archival photos, ephemera and memorabilia. A separate folder includes replicas of the original Creatures-era press kit, promo posters and glossy photos, bumper stickers, backstage passes, iron-on transfers, buttons, guitar picks, fan newsletters and much more. (For fans who just want Creatures restored, or just a little of the bonus material, the remastered album will be pressed on CD and half-speed mastered vinyl, while a 2CD or 3LP deluxe edition will be available (the latter pressed on blue vinyl).
Check out the full track list for the box set below.
Creatures of the Night (Super Deluxe Edition) (UMe, 2022)
5CD/Blu-ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
3LP: Official KISS Store
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP - Half-Speed Master: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
+ included on 2CD deluxe edition
CD 1: Original album remastered (released as Casablanca NBLP 7270, 1982)
- Creatures of the Night
- Saint and Sinner
- Keep Me Comin'
- Rock and Roll Hell
- Danger
- I Love It Loud
- I Still Love You
- Killer
- War Machine
CD 2: Demos, Rarities & Outtakes (previously unreleased except where noted)
- I'm a Legend Tonight
- Down on Your Knees
- Nowhere to Run
- Partners in Crime
- Deadly Weapon (Penny Lane Demo)
- Feel Like Heaven (Penny Lane Demo)
- Nowhere to Run (Penny Lane Demo)
- Deadly Weapon (Original Demo) +
- Feel Like Heaven (Original Demo)
- Nowhere to Run (Take 11 - Instrumental) +
- Tell It to a Fool (Take 4 - Drums & Bass Instrumental)
- Chrome Goes Into Motion (Take 2 - Drums & Bass Instrumental)
- I'm a Legend Tonight (Mix 4 - Instrumental & Background Vocals) +
- Don't Leave Me Lonely (Take 8 - Drums & Guitar Instrumental) +
- Something Seems to Happen At Night (Gene Simmons Demo)
- It's Gonna Be Alright (Gene Simmons Demo)
CD 3: Demos, Rarities & Outtakes (previously unreleased except where noted)
- Legends Never Die (Gene Simmons Demo)
- It's My Life (Gene Simmons Demo) +
- Not for the Innocent (Demo) +
- I Still Love You (Take 1)
- I Still Love You (Take 2)
- Saint and Sinner (Take 1)
- Saint and Sinner (Take 2 - False Start)
- Saint and Sinner (Take 3)
- Betrayed (Outtake) +
- Creatures of the Night (Alternate Mix 19)
- Partners in Crime (Alternate Mix 16B)
- I Love It Loud (Alternate Mix 21) +
- War Machine (Full-Length Version - Mix 11)
- Rock and Roll Hell (Take 2 - 9/10/1982) +
- Rock and Roll Hell (Take 1 - Incomplete - 9/15/1982)
- Rock and Roll Hell (Take 2 - 9/15/1982)
- I Love It Loud (Single Edit)
- Creatures of the Night (1985 Remix)
CD 2, Tracks 1-4 from KISS Killers - Casablanca CANL 1 (U.K.), 1982
CD 2, Tracks 15-16 and CD 3, Tracks 1-2 from The Vault - Warner Music Group/Rhino, 2017
CD 3, Track 17 from Casablanca single NB 2365, 1982
CD 3, Track 18 from reissue of original album - Mercury 422 824 154-1 M-1, 1985
CDs 4-5: Creatures Tour '82/'83 (previously unreleased)
- Creatures of the Night (Live @ MetroCentre, Rockford, IL - 12/31/1982) +
- Strutter (Live @ Municipal Auditorium, Sioux City, IA - 12/30/1982)
- Calling Dr. Love (Live @ Municipal Auditorium, Sioux City, IA - 12/30/1982)
- Firehouse (Live @ Municipal Auditorium, Sioux City, IA - 12/30/1982)
- I Love It Loud (Live @ MetroCentre, Rockford, IL - 12/31/1982) +
- Cold Gin (Live @ Municipal Auditorium, Sioux City, IA - 12/30/1982)
- Keep Me Comin' (Live @ Municipal Auditorium, Sioux City, IA - 12/30/1982) +
- War Machine (Live @ Municipal Auditorium, Sioux City, IA - 12/30/1982) +
- I Want You (Live @ Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, TX - 3/10/1983) +
- Rock and Roll Hell (Live @ MetroCentre, Rockford, IL - 12/31/1982) +
- I Still Love You (Live @ Municipal Auditorium, Sioux City, IA - 12/30/1982) +
- Shout It Out Loud (Live @ Municipal Auditorium, Sioux City, IA - 12/30/1982)
- Gene's Bass Solo (Live @ Municipal Auditorium, Sioux City, IA - 12/30/1982)
- God of Thunder/Eric's Drum Solo/God of Thunder (Live @ MetroCentre, Rockford, IL - 12/31/1982)
- Paul's Love Gun Rap (Live @ MetroCentre, Rockford, IL - 12/31/1982)
- Love Gun (Live @ MetroCentre, Rockford, IL - 12/31/1982)
- Paul's Guitar Solo (Live @ MetroCentre, Rockford, IL - 12/31/1982)
- Black Diamond (Live @ Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, TX - 3/10/1983)
- Detroit Rock City (Live @ Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, TX - 3/10/1983)
- Rock and Roll All Nite (Live @ Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, TX - 3/10/1983)
- Rock and Roll Hell (Live @ Municipal Auditorium, Sioux City, IA - 12/30/1982)
- I Want You (Live @ MetroCentre, Rockford, IL - 12/31/1982)
- King of the Night Time World (Live @ Pine Bluff Convention Center, Pine Bluff, AR - 2/11/1983)
- Cold Gin (Live @ Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, TX - 3/10/1983)
- I Still Love You (Live @ Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, TX - 3/10/1983)
- Strutter (Live @ Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, TX - 3/10/1983)
- Tank Start of Show (Creatures Tour Sound Effects)
- Turbine (Creatures Tour Sound Effects)
- Firehouse Siren (Creatures Tour Sound Effects)
- Drum and Ending Tank (Creatures Tour Sound Effects)
- Bass Solo Wind and Gargoyles (Creatures Tour Sound Effects)
- Bells (Creatures Tour Sound Effects)
- Flames (Creatures Tour Sound Effects)
Blu-ray: Original album in high-resolution stereo, 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos
wardo says
paragraph 4, line 2: should be "guitarist Ace Frehley"
Brad Sonmor says
I can’t believe how greedy they are. $300 for the SDE? They’re NUTS! It’s KISS, they’re not the f’n BEATLES.
Paul E. says
Yeah but it's three hundred KISS dollars for the box set and Gene's accounting makes perfect sense if you use your KISS army calculator:
5 CD's at $15.00 each= $75.00
1 Blu-ray= $25.00
80 Page Hardcover Book= $30.00
The box itself, various memorabilia, bits and bobs=$170.00
Your welcome!
Brad Sonmor says
LOVE IT! 😂
Jh says
anyone buying/wasting 300$ is a complete loser n a$$klown
Ben in Colorado says
I am stunned that they would choose this as their next super deluxe box set. Why not some of the earlier albums? I was looking forward to love gun. I’m sorry but after Ace and Peter left I think the band went downhill. I cannot take the drummer seriously; he looks like a raccoon. Not the top of kiss’ artistic form to be sure.
Tom Heusinger says
What comes next? Music from the Elder Uber Deluxe U2 style meets Gene Simmon's vault? What a waste of resources and too expensive. It's not a too long way from stealing your love to stealing your money. SHAMEFUL.
JJ says
I agree that this would not have been my choice for SDE treatment given that the first 3 LPs are really in need of a good remaster or remix as the first pressings sound very thin. Great opportunity was missed here but maybe the next release will make more sence. After this record it would be 16 years before we saw the makeup again