Iconic Band BURIED Hated Song on the B-Side…DJ Played it Once-Became Biggest Hit!--Professor of Rock
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- Coming up…the band who taught us how to rock KISS…like many band before them, hated their biggest hit. The ballad “Beth" was allegedly written by drummer Peter Criss. Though Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons don’t believe he actually composed it. The band loathed Beth. They hated it so much they didn’t even show up to record it, so half the band didn’t even play on it, including Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. Then they tried to keep it off their album. Ace Frehley was to busy playing poker to care. They buried it on a b-side until a random DJ turned the record around and made Kiss’ biggest hit. The saga behind the People’s Choice for “Favorite Song” in 1977... is NEXT on Professor of Rock.”
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The KISS Army expected their masked heroes to deliver unbridled rock anthems, and OUTRAGEOUS live shows- with smoking guitars, pyrotechnics & levitating drum kits. They wanted to Rock n’ Roll all nite, and party every day. The last thing fans expected from KISS was a tender ballad….
But when AM radio discovered “Beth” as a b-side, KISS’s record label had fueled the fire, and moved quickly, by making the melancholy love song the 4th single from the Destroyer album in ’76. The success of the ballad surprised everyone...becoming the band’s biggest American hit, and paving the way for the long string of power rock ballads that followed.
First of all “Beth” was a reworking of a song titled “Beck.” It was written by KISS original drummer Peter Criss, and Stan Pendridge when the two musicians were in Chelsea- a group based in New York City that sounded more like the Moody Blues than a heavy rock band.
Penridge and Criss wrote “Beck” as a way to razz their Chelsea bandmate Mike Brand, who was constantly being hounded by his overbearing wife named Becky, or “Beck” for short. Beck would frequently call the studio phone, while the band was rehearsing, to check on her husband, and find out when he was coming home. That’s where the opening line for the song came from: “Beth, I hear you calling, but I can’t come home right now.”
Pendridge claims the lyrics mimicked ‘word for word’ the way Brand responded to his wife when she phoned the studio and interrupted the band’s rehearsal. For several days, Pendridge whipped out a small notebook and scribbled down Brand’s replies. He called the notebook his “wizard book,” and carried it with him wherever he went. Whenever Pendridge heard someone say something he thought could be clever for song lyrics, he would jot it down in his wizard book. Peter Criss and Stan Pendridge were friends when they were in Chelsea, but, alas, when Pendridge died in 2000, their relationship was purely contentious- rife with legal and
Poll: What is your pick for the best ballad of power ballad of the rock era?
Scorpions - Still Loving You
Something to Believe In by Poison and The World i Know by Collective Soul. Hard for me to choose between them
Babe- Styx
Just Between You and Me - April Wine
I Never Cry - Alice Cooper
Edie The Cult
Foreigner- I Want to Know What Love Is(Lou Gramm).
runnerup: Faithfully - Journey(Steve Perry).
Beth takes a lot of heat, but I really liked Criss' vocals on it. Nothing wrong with throwing a change-up once in a while when everyone is expecting a fastball....
Exactly. So funny that they tried everything to ruin it. Nothing worked! What your top KISS track Flave?
Good analogy!
@@ProfessorofRock Sure did! Gotta go with I Was Made for Lovin' You
Peter Criss has a great voice !!!!
I love the orchestra, I think that opened the doors for the kiss orchestra recordings honestly.
I remember I was a Freshman in high school in 1976, and KISS was by far the most popular band among seemingly everyone. Every girl in school was wearing KISS t-shirts every day. Then 'Beth' comes out, and almost overnight KISS was as un-cool as it got. It was like no one wanted anything to do with KISS. All the girls who had been wearing KISS t-shirts replaced them with 'Frampton Comes Alive', and that was the last of KISS during my remaining high school years. I personally liked 'Beth', as I'm sure did most of us did, we just couldn't admit to it back then.
Nah they were right. It’s a turd of a song
Dude kiss was still huge for a couple more years.i find it hard to believe that chicks loved that song.
it was a top ten hit@@buckster2575
Weird.
Destroyer was the first KISS album I got when I was 6 back in 1977 (from the record club...10 albums for a penny). That album was a sonic rollercoaster to my young ears. I still remember hearing "Beth" for the first time. It was so dramatically different from "Detroit Rock City" and "God Of Thunder". I couldn't believe those drastically different songs were on the same album....by the same band....that looked like monsters lol (remember I was 6)😂
Those were the days!
Younger generations don't understand how enigmatic KISS was for us as little kids. We were told that no one had ever seen them without their makeup, no one knew their real names, who they really were, did they worship the devil? How could devil worshippers sing a love ballad?
Destroyer was one of my first two Albums too....shout it out loud!!!
You couldn’t really tell it was KISS, right?
Sniff sniff….I smell BS…..6 years old…..hahahahaha
I was so young when this song came out, I remember hearing it just about everyday on the bus to and from school. Everyone say alone it was such a great song. Made you feel kiss actually had a lighter side. It’s to bad theres such a great controversy over it. You’d think they’d just take the credit for having such a big aong
I never was a KISS fan, I still think of them as all about the image, but I did wonder who was doing the song when I first heard it and couldn't believe it was them. Didn't the Scorpions have a similar thing happen with 'Wind of Change' unexpectantly becoming a big hit? Same with Metallica and 'Nothing Else Matters'? Those rock ballads helped expand both bands' audiences and put each at the top of R&R.
Love that Beth was the biggest hit for kiss and Ace had the biggest hit on the 78 solo albums... really burns Paul and Gene's asses... and just think Ace now has 10 000 volts album...no new albums from kiss... I'm glad kiss is gone..it wasn't kiss anymore without Peter and Ace
On the demo of Destroyer Paul sang the lead for God of Thunder
That's because he wrote it.
I find it hilarious that the band hated "Beth" more than "I Was Made For Lovin' You!"
And Paul Stanley's "dance moves" expose himself for being gay. 😂😂😂😂
I don’t like Beth. I’m a woman and I think the song is crap. My husband likes it, I will not listen to it if it comes up. I like IWMFLY though I’ve never been a disco fan 🤷🏻♀️
I Was Made For Loving You was their disco song. 😂
That's why I love Rock N Roll All Night way better than Beth and I Was Made For Lovin' You
No kidding. Ha ha!
I'm sure one of the big reason they hated it so much is Gene and Paul are such ego maniacs that someone else getting a lead vocal and getting the spotlight probably drove them crazy. Especially Gene.
Jealousy definitely factored into that.
You had to say what is so obvious
Still you need to be thanked for getting past this bull
GREAT SONG !!
Paul wrote Beth. He gave it to Peter to sing. I doubt it was jealousy.
@@scottwhite1963 If Paul thought it would be as big as it was he never would have given it away
@@scottwhite1963nope, you get it mixed up with Hard luck woman.
Thanks for talking about Stan Penridge. I played in Stan's band in the late 80's and most of the things you said I heard directly from Stan. He wrote a number of other songs that KISS recorded on earlier KISS albums like "Baby Driver", "Hooligan" and "Dirty Livin"". Because of his relationship with Peter he listed Criss as co-writer out of both friendship and as a way to get KISS interested in recording his songs. Thanks again..
Awesome, thanks for the inside info :) I was little back then and Destrpyer was my very 1st ever vinyl :) I even became a guitar player because of Ace but always loved Peter's songs on those early albums.
Man all these years never knew this I wish that all this could have been brought out earlier
Problem is Stan found out how much Peter made from Beth and felt Peter screwed him over. It was his song after all
From what I've read Peter told him he would only present the songs to the band if he got a writing credit. Do you know if Peter at least helped with the lyrics?
@@brianstrutter1501 That would mean Aucoin or their business managers, Glixman/Marks also had something to do with it. Record companies pay the manager, who takes his cut, and then pays the band and anyone else who wrote the album. I believe the producer is paid directly by the record company.
I remember rollerskating couples slow-skate to Beth by Kiss in the 1970s. Nostalgic.
At the live show, the band would leave the stage for this song and Peter would come out and sit on a stool and sing this to recorded music. And it was cool.
Yes, that is a magic moment. Beth with the original cat is so cool, with that sensitive melodic arrangement contrasted with the raspy cool rock n roll stray cat voice. So sensitive, so heartbreaking. Genius!
Saw kiss in my hometown in 1978? Peter wasn't alone for BETH. He had a lot of tape hiss with him.
@@richardmeyersmeyers8123he sang the song live to the music back ground
MAGIC!!!😅😅
I was really young when I heard Beth. As a huge Kiss fan, I felt like it gave us a little peek into the band's home life. They were larger than life, and it made them seem more human and real. That's why it resonated with me. Personally, I LOVE Peter's voice too. Thanks for another great video Professor!
Yes, yes, yes. The reason I love the song is exactly the reason the rest of the band hates it. The complete 180 from their typical sound. A glimpse of humanity behind the curtain of the show. 👍
He can sing when he means it!
Same here. Same era. Same reasoning.
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley , dont give a crap about fans they're all about the money!!!
My 5th grade teacher let us listen to records all day long. It was winter of 1976-77 I brought in my copy of the KISS Destroyer album that I bought with my paper route money. We played the entire album through. But when it was over we had to play Beth again then when the song ended some of the girls said aw that was pretty let's play it again. So I picked up the needle and we listen to it again and again. We must have played about 5 more times because we all loved that song.
Willard School South Portland Maine Mrs. Brailly was the coolest teacher I don't think we opened a text book all year, we just listened to records all day. 🤠🎸
We did this in grade school too! I brought a KISS album and it came back scrawled up with crayon. 🤦🏻♂️
December 11 1977, Market Square Arena, Indianapolis Indiana. My very first rock concert. KISS and AC/DC ("The Show Of Shows!") Towards the end of their set, following the songs 'Rock and Roll All Night' then 'Detroit Rock City' the stage went dark. Peter Criss walks with his drum stool to the front of the stage, he sets down under a single spotlight, takes a deep breath and begins to sing 'Beth'... The crowd exploded! I know that most of the band didn't like the song, but the fans loved it.
Market Square Arena. Wow. I grew up (and still live) in Indy and miss that place.
@@GetYourOmOn It was a great place to see a show... Back in the '80s I was even on a crew that put a new roof on that building.
@@T.Dubya311 I remember the new roof going on.
Not only is Beth the biggest hit for Kiss, I think it extended their career at a time that it might have ended. Today the album Destroyer is revered as an absolute classic and rightfully so, but at the time of its release the album wasn't doing to well, as you said Beth was the fourth single from Destroyer, the others had little success, Beth saved the album. If not for the success of Beth, Kiss may very well have been a one hit wonder with their big hit album , Alive!
You're right. They were running the risk of being a one hit wonder with Alive! Destroyer was about to tank until Beth became a hit.
Kiss in 75 to 80 were phenoms.
Nah, if Beth wasn’t on Destroyer, it was still a great album. And Dynasty had ‘I was made for loving you’, didn’t chart as high, but the song they are most known for outside of KISS fans. Also, ‘Shandi’ off of Unmasked charted higher in some places.
Ended? Kiss in 76 was huge. 77 78 79 they were the biggest band in the world
@@mooch514 Yes, you're right about Kiss being very popular in those years, but at the time the Destroyer album was not popular at all, until Beth became a huge hit. Three singles were released before Beth and they did little to nothing on the charts. Beth saved the album from stalling. There were even some original Kiss fans who abandoned the band when Destroyer was released because they felt it was to big a departure from the group's hard rock roots, those fans never returned. The success of Beth also led to Paul writing Hard Luck Woman for the RNR OVER album because they wanted to be sure and have another hit single, so he wrote another ballad. It worked to, because Hard Luck Woman was a top 20 hit. I'm not saying that Kiss whole career hinged on the success of Beth, but it was a huge part of it, at a crucial time when the band needed to keep their momentum going after their big success with ALIVE !
I find it hard to believe that Gene would hate anything that made money for KISS. Beth will always hold a special place in my memories from being young and loving the band. When a band stretches their musical boundaries, I think it is awesome. It shows how strong and confident they are in their music
Gene and Paul didn't think their fans would give it a second thought....but you are correct....Gene is a banker in disguise. He would sing Beth himself if it made money.
@@doctordetroit4339I mean Gene Simmons is Jewish, from Israel, and the stereotype is that they are insanely greedy and hate frivolous spending. 😂😂
Paul and Gene likely resent having Peter being associated with their biggest hit.
Gene hated it because he didn’t write it, thus lower money for him personally! Honestly, Peter didn’t really write it, either. It was more Ezrin’s song!!
@@Geezer-yf8hvif it wasn't for Peter Beth would have never been wrote... how can anyone say that Peter wasn't a co writer.. yes they made change's to it but it was his song
How many young people ask: What is a B-side?
As much as I love KISS I actually enjoy their songs where they step away from the norm. I also love "Back in the New York Groove" by Ace Frehley. Music hits everyone differently. Rock on Brother!
Rock on!
Beth and New York groove are the only 2 KISS songs on my playlist
I love New York Groove.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 me too! I love listening to music and my kids learn that the old stuff is way better than today’s crap.
@@kraigpeterson3667 That’s the truth!
Beth is a classic rock ballad. Definitely outside the box for Kiss but it showed versatility to me.
I agree.
Well at LEAST they got further with it than CHELSEA ever did!
Love Peter’s voice and love Black Diamond too
Hell yeah BD!!
I've said it before and I'll say it again...
This is the most underrated music channel on TH-cam!
Meat Loaf - I'd do anything for love, but I wont do that.
Motley Crue - Home Sweet Home
Heart - Alone
Love it or hate it, this song will always be one of the best chart song of Kiss.
I remember just buying KISS Alive as a teenager in the fall of 1975 and basically wearing out the vinyl listening to it with my friends. About 6 months later when Destroyer was coming out, we heard Beth on an AM radio station while hanging out, we heard the DJ announce the song and heard the piano and strings and we all looked at each other with our eyes practically popping out. We all thought that KISS would go soft but one of my friends at school assured me that the album had heavy songs and he loaned me his 8 track copy of Destroyer, then I went out and got the album and it became one of my favorites of all time.
Cool memory. Thanks for sharing. Where are you from?
How old were you?
NYC@@ProfessorofRock
Still listen to both those albums frequently. Awesome memories
Gene & Paul were so close because they were both Jews who had grandparents that were in the Holocaust that they didn't like anyone outside their small circle.To them Kiss was all about them 2 & didn't want anyone else in the bands input.
Beth is a beautiful song. Our daughter is named after it, and it's so relatable for anyone who's been on the road. Learning about Beck and the other stuff hasn't tarnished it at all
What I remember reading in one of the books on Kiss I have is that Paul and Gene WERE there during Peter's vocal session, but Ezrin kicked them out of the studio because they kept making fun of the song and Peter.
Beat me to it- I read that as well!
@@leeturiano4419 I found this online, but as it's Peter saying it, I'd guess it was in his book where I first saw it: "The biggest single Kiss ever had: a ballad with a string section and drummer Peter Criss on vocals. Criss said, “The day we recorded it, [producer] Bob Ezrin had everybody in tuxedos, the New York Philharmonic. When we went to the Record Plant to do the vocals, Gene [Simmons] and Paul [Stanley] were in the control room. I’ll never forget it, they were looking at me like it was one big fucking joke. And I couldn’t get into it and Bob knew it and threw them out. They left, I did it in five takes, and it was beautiful.”
That makes sense!
The only Kiss songs our local A.M. radio station would play were Beth and Hard Luck Woman -- both of them with Criss vocals. I got the LP records to hear the rockers and talk about them with classmates on the playground at school.
Perhaps the best rock power ballad of all time!
It's better than 'Time of your Life' 👍
I was quite young when this came out but I heard this song a bit too much because my older sister had a friend named Beth. She was quite a looker so I didn't mind hearing the song. I liked "God of Thunder" more, but if my sister's friend was around, well, "Beth" it was! What can I say, I was a young kid!
Short for Elizabeth?
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980, I think so.
As an 8 year old back in 1977, Beth was my favorite song and I was obsessed by all things 'KISS'. I collected the trading cards, bought the albums, and couldn't get enough of the Phantom of the Park movie. It was a childhood phase, and by 1980 I was pretty much over them. Fast forward to adulthood, though, and what name did my wife and I pick for our daughter? Yup, her name is 'Beth'. It always stuck with me...
Exact same for me as what happened with you. In 1977 I was a 10 year old kid - and KISS posters lined my bedroom walls! Oh yes…that huge One Stop Posters wall collage! That and the Aerosmith and Queen ones hung in my room. Fortunately, I shared the room with my older brother who dragged into the house all the rock sounds of the day: Aerosmith, Queen, Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Frampton Comes Alive, Double Vision Foreigner, Dreamboat Annie Heart, Steve Miller…and the list goes on and on. It was such a fertile time for rock music. I didn’t know though that I’d witness its decline and ultimate death though during the late eighties. There seemed to be a bit of a revival during the early nineties..but it didn’t last long. Around 1981 I’m in Jr. High and rock radio is still up and running…and In The Evening would be in heavy rotation…and this caught my young ears more so than the other kids I’d hang with. I was realizing that this band could not be topped and after getting LZ 1&2, it was over for me. It was sealed up. LZ were the best and that was IT. In high school by ‘82 all the kids were trying to convince me that Motley Crue were the next big thing. It didn’t work for me. My mind was steeping in John Paul Jones’s Hammond Organ on Thank You. His bass playing could not be topped either. I didn’t quite know it at the time but what I was listening to was the greatest rock band of all time. The ultimate unit. Led Zeppelin. KISS were duly dismissed for me too, like you, by the dawn of the eighties.
Bob Ezrin's work on Destroyer gave Kiss a level of credibility and quality they would never have achieved. Destroyer for me is among the best albums of all time. I like Kiss' 70's albums, but none are in the same stratosphere as Destroyer. Too bad they couldn't strike gold again with Ezrin on the later efforts.
The album cover - iconic!
Beth was always my favorite Kiss song. Funny. I had no idea how interesting the history of the song was. Thanks for this one. I remember when this single came out. Man, I feel old right now lol.
Didn't realize it was quite as popular as it was. It was my favorite Kiss song though. I think it's probably my favorite power ballad (Mother from Blackfoot).
It's not a power ballad. A power ballad has a big chorus like Take Me Away (Togethr As One).
KISStory is one helluva topic to dive into...what a mess, and I say that as a fan of 45 years...
Ha ha. What's your favorite era?
@@ProfessorofRock Original line up until they released "Music From 'The Elder'"x and I got back into them when they released "Crazy Nights"..."Dynasty" was ny first album I ever owned, and Ace's tracks on that album are some of their best stuff, especially "Save Your Love"...
It’s a rollercoaster.
When Beth came out I had just lost my first true love who was also named Beth. She was away at college and was cheating on me the whole time. To this day I hate that song
Paul always looked down on Peter (maybe with valid reasons) and he was resentful that Peter had the biggest hit for the band.
Paul and Gene often talked about how they wanted KISS to be a "modern-day Beatles":where everybody sang and wrote but Paul turned out to be rather ungrateful, petty and resentful when someone else got credit for their biggest hit and drawing an enormous new crossover audience to the band.
I'm a little tired of Beth myself, but I have always hated Paul's disco song.
Like it or not "Beth" gave KISS a kind of mainstream acceptance and success they never would have achieved otherwise.
That's a big can of worms you've opened! Ha ha. Thanks Mark.
Back in the day, we found Beth to be kinda comical and a silly joke coming from Kiss, of all bands! But it kinda grew on me. Was never close to being a favorite song- I’m a rocker- but I came to appreciate a little more. There were worse songs out there!👍🎸🥁🇺🇸❤️
It's a shame when great bands break up, but more so when there is hatred involved. I saw Kiss when I was way too young, but the impact they had was huge. I have always been a Kiss fan even when it wasn't cool. I will enjoy their music for the rest of my life for sure.
Saw them twice(79,89) and was like a different band the show and feel were so different. Now I truly loved both concerts but they were nothing like Judas Priest or AC/DC which I saw many times, their shows changed but the feel was the same every show.
When did you see them?
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 it had to be like in 1977, I was in 5th grade maybe, so just started listening to real rock music. It was in Hampton Rhodes VA went with my sisters and cousins who were all older than me. I believe Mott the Hoople opened for them. My mind was blown that night for sure. hahahaha
@@jmccoy32441 It is glam rock, so Mott the Hoople is fitting!
It’s unbelievable that Chaim & Stanley hated Peter Criss’ “Beth” which is truly a masterpiece while Chaim & Stanley had no issues with some of the other garbage that they agreed to include on many of their other albums.
I'm sure they didn't complain about how much money they made because of that song.
What's your problem? As a Hard Rocker you would have hated "Beth" too. I still don't accept it as a KISS song.
The biggest disappointment and downfall of KISS was Paul and Genes malignant narcissism.
I agree man,
Because of Gene and Paul's greed , Kiss became a toy company.
Their focus was more on ripping their fan's off by selling dolls, trinkets , and stickers .
After destroyer I was done with them
Not surprisingly they all four were victims of fame.
Paul wrote, fame brought demons to all of us.
@@HappyMachorino-bd8noInteresting, thanks for sharing that
I would love to say it's a Jewish thing but I won't.
yes, but that narcissism is probably what drove them to the success they had too.
My older rebellious cousin had all their albums and she was even a member of the KISS army when we were kids. Great memories
No AI generated voices. Just a little creative editing and a whole lot of wit and humor. Pure joy.
BETH
Criss, not Chris. Christ.
Not only did the band hate the song…they hated the singer and songwriter 😢
The first time I heard Beth, it was on a mellow rock station that played stuff like James Taylor and God knows what else. I was shocked to find out that it was Kiss
Most artists have crossover music hoping something catches. KISS was too beholden to hard guitar rock to accept the real victory of Beth as a power ballad. Pride goes before the fall. One of my favorites songs though. Thanks Adam.
Kiss Alive II was the first album I ever owned. A requested Christmas present from an older sibling, I remember my mother being horrified by Gene Simmons' picture on the cover. I loved Beth and always will.
Thanks for sharing!
There was a rumor that Gene Simmons got a cow tongue implanted into his mouth to look more like the Demon.
Shandi is my favorite KISS tune. I think a lot of people forget about it or don't even know it.
I can’t believe when you started talking about its influence….we BOTH said the song “Home sweet home” at the same time. lol
Back in the mid 70’s it was hard to find your favorite rock acts on TV.
besides the Midnight Special (show) or Rock Concert (if your local channel carried it…which ours didn’t) So it was a big deal when KISS performed on TV for the first time on the Paul Lynne Halloween special…..all because Beth was such a huge hit.
As to who wrote the song? I had no idea it came from a previous band’s song. (Beck) That’s new to me…thanks for that bit of trivia. I saw kiss in concert several times over the years. First time was 1979.
1979..same for me! My first concert was The Eagles and the second one was Kiss. Wow what a difference but I loved both. But Kiss's showmanship was absolutely incredible!
@@markbaker5167 My first was Pink Floyd in the mid 80s and my second was the Beastie Boys not long after. 😂
I remember as a kid seeing a KISS record and thought wow they must be hard rocking. I was so ready to be blown away. Then the song ladies room came on and I was left wondering if the dude had put on the wrong record. HAHAHA
Hi Professor, Rock was wondering if maybe sometime you can elaborate on kisses song forever which is another great song. Love your show. Love everything you do. It’s awesome I enjoy the interviews. Thank you so much.
The Professor has already made a video of Forever th-cam.com/video/U2rFXwEFl4M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=x4YJ-7SOgPIIKmNi
Damn, this takes me back to simpler times. I wasn’t much of a KISS fan, but my little sister sure loved them and played the Destroyer album over and over until she wore out the needle on her record player. I can’t explain why, but my sister’s two favorite artists were KISS and Cher. Talk about an odd combination. The walls of her bedroom were covered in KISS posters, and she had a Cher scrap book-she even learned to play the song Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves on the piano.
I can’t figure out her taste in music, but it doesn’t matter. Life was simpler then. We didn’t have iPhones, the internet, and social media. We just had music and imagination.
Beth was my introduction to KISS, and ultimately, Rock music. A 10 year old who only listened to music his parents did up until then..I had no older siblings or friends..Beth showed up on a radio station my parents listened to..loved the song, bought the 45. After hearing Beth a few hundred times, flipped over the record and heard Detroit Rock City...bought Destroyer days later and have been a KISS fan since.
Without Beth, I would have never listened to KISS.
Beth is a great song. The 1st time I was able to play a kiss song in my mother's home. Was when I played this song for my mother and I explained how his wife was the reason for for this song. I tricked my mom and played Kiss for her. She couldn't believe that Knights In Satan's Service played such a beautiful non devil inducing song.
Ha!
@@ProfessorofRock Hey ProRo,🤓 you should read my last comment. It's not a story that I share with just anyone!
Haha, no kidding!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Hey Silly Lilly, 😜yes it's true. I miss her so much. How's your family doing this holiday season?
@@ProfessorofRock Hey ProRo, 🤓you didn't read my true story that I cut it nearly in half to share with you Brother! 😀 Please read it and comment on it. Thank you
Fleetwood Mac made a fortune writing songs about the things that were effecting their lives. KISS ROCKS !
what an amazing story behind this fantastic song even if it is kind of tragic I remember vividly my first time hearing Beth. being from the Detroit area my good friend bought the Detroit Rock City 45 immediately when it was released after listening to it over and over playing air guitars we flipped it over and couldn't believe what we heard. He wanted to stop it I immediately loved it. After a couple of listens we both loved it. Even though it was soft it was definitely a great departure. Kiss was everywhere during those days, posters, Halloween costumes, action figures and definitely radio. But in my mind Beth deserves to be their biggest hit. Great episode professor!!
Thanks My Name!
I bet KISS was THE Halloween costume back then.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Yep, at the age of 7 back in 1978, I went as Peter Criss: old school style, my brother doing the makeup for me....IMG_0321.JPG
I became a KISS fan with the release of Hotter than Hell. Loved that dark sound. KISS Alive came out and kicked a$$. Destroyer was pretty polished. I did like Beth cuz the girls choir in my Jr High sang it. Rock and Roll Over is still one of my favorite KISS albums. Love Gun was the start of their demise imo. Too bubble gum. Dynasty is when I walked away. I was a rocker and hated disco (still) and IWMFLY was the final nail in the coffin. RUSH became my band through rest of the 70’s. I was also an original member of the KISS Army.
Like Alice Cooper, they got it that it was theater, and not just the music, that was part of the image.
That's right.
For that reason I never liked Kiss. Mediocre musicians who can't even sing. Theater is what made them.
@@deltatango5765 Then you look at Meatloaf who could do both...
@@nedhorner I liked Meatloaf. I saw him live in a very small venue in Boston and he was great.
That’s the real “glam” of glam rock.
I'm so glad I was able to see KISS in Madison, WI in 1997. I still remember Peter Criss playing Beth.
my theory is .. the reason for KISS reworking the Chelsie song Beck, was that Bob Ezrin knew it would be a hit... because at the time, Ezrin already had a hit with 'Only Women Bleed' .... it's Ezrin applying the OWB formula ... similar orchestration, similar vibe
Beth is a real rock n roll ballad with a big bleeding heart and sung by the hardest man in Kiss, the Cat man Peter Criss. Can never understand why that song is hated, because it make it even harder when the hardest band shows up a sensitive song like Beth!
Destroyer album is one of the best KISS album, we all grower up with that album, and when Beth song came as a contrast, it was like when a stray wild cat comes to you and purr. Love it!
Great arrangement and vocal on Beth! Genius
I was born in 1975, should have been in high school in 75 honestly 😂 my favorite band of all time, will never forget the day, my cousin put the alive album on when i was 7 iin 1982, and from the 1st song, deuce, i was hooked, still to this day, my favorite song to play on guitar is, deuce, but my all time favorite version of Beth is, when they did it on, unplugged, that was an awesome moment 🤘🤘
Before I read the info I knew it was Beth. They are still one of my favorite bands.
Are you a fan?
Yes
Since middle school in the mid 70’s
I saw KISS Sonic Temple 2023 Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus, OH, USA End Of The Road Tour. 5/27/23. "Beth" was the first encore.
I was a Kid and had NO USE for Beth on MY KISS record!...but I am amused when I see KISS using the song in the Farewell Tour to make a buck after talking crap about Peter!
Such a fun band! Saw them in ‘76!! Awesome!🤘🔥
Thanks Brent!
I really loved Kiss songs back in the day, but I was more into Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin. Beth is easily my very favorite Kiss song ever. As far as Gene and Paul's attitudes about the song go, I don't think they liked anything they didn't write. I consider them a couple of arrogant a-holes. Especially once they had the show about Gene's family. What a twit!! 😂😂😂
I was a high school senior in Detroit in 1976/77. 'Beth' may have been their biggest commercial success but 'Rock and Roll All Night' is the song that got everyone amped up.
I was never a kiss fan never cared about Them at all until I was called to work their show in Indianapolis. I built the stage. I deflated the giant Kiss dudes And they gave out the most awesome Local crew shirt that i've ever had. It was the experience of a lifetime 11 hrs load in and out. 190 hanging points for lighting sound and automation. IATSE union riggers are nothing short of amazing. They work in a zero error environment
I saw Gene Simmons in full gear and makeup ride into the vip area on the back of a golf cart. They rocked the house.
One of the best slow dance song when I was in elementary. Really brings back memories of 6th grade camp.
Beth is very highly overated and definitetly not rock n roll! I imagine it became a "hit" because, as always, the "powers that be" wanted to kill rock n roll. The same story thats always been since rock n roll began in the 1950s.
Not mentioned was the Kiss version of Beth (with Eric Carr singing the lead vocal, released on their album Smashes, Thrashes and Hits). According to Peter Criss, he was extremely pissed off when he heard Carr’s version, which added more fuel to the fire. It’s miraculous and astonishing that after years of toxic feuding with Simmons and Stanley, Criss agreed to come back in a “mini reunion” on stage on MTV’s show Unplugged, which directly led to the Kiss Reunion Tour of 1996-97. Since then everything has fallen apart again, as though the reunion never happened. I’m happy that I finally got to see them live with costumes and makeup because of this, though.
not true! there is an interview here on yotube where peter says eric called him and was very apologetic to peter saying he didn'y want to sing beth, gene and paul were putting pressure on him to song it, and said he told eric, it's ok just do what you gotta do. peter wasn't mad at all.
Adam, I love your channel and appreciate all the time and effort you consistently put in. If I ever get the chance, I would love to meet you.
Starting at 6:30 you can see Ace 'saluting' Bob Ezrin with right middle finger, during the photo shoot. Ace being Ace, wanted to work when he wanted to and was not keen on Bob's coaching style. There are a few photos out there from this time that has better angles. Nice job my friend! P.S. best year for their music and outfits.
Wow! Great observation gossinger!!
When we first got state side after leaving Japan I climbed in the Olympic sized pool while holding onto the side of the pool I slipped and sunk below the water. I remember the sun looked like I could reach out and touch the sun. Then everything started to go black ⚫ then I was pulled from the water 💧 by a beautiful dark haired woman with a 2 piece black bikini.👙She pulled me from the water 💧 she said a 4 year old shouldn't be in a big pool like this. I said my name is. She said her name is Elizabeth I wiped my eyes and she was gone. That started my pretalexion for dark haired woman and Linda Ronstadt they resembled each other. But over the years when I have met over 75 children who had Near Death experiences they've all said the Angel that saved them was named Elizabeth !!💯 😇 I never doubted the power of GOD. 🌈🌈🌈🌠The More You Know!
My parents bought a house in the fall of 1980. While cleaning the garage prior to moving in, I found a cassette take of “destroyer” in the garage. I took it and held on to it. A few months later, I heard the song Beth on the radio. I went grabbed the take and started to play it from start to end and I became a huge kiss fan.
A "take"? Was it a TAPE?
My opinion...The band in clown suits, named Kiss, is oh so over rated. Beth is "their" best song. Because "they" had nothing to do with it.🤷🏽♂
When I was a kid their faces were everywhere. You would go to a record store and all of thier albums where front and center, with each solo album prominantly on display. I honestly thought Gene Simmons was SCARY.
He really was. Good call.
They were THE costume band.
Of course Beth sounded suddenly outside of what Kiss was. It was also like Alice Cooper doing Only Women Bleed.
Kiss was my first band as a kid In a time when disco ruled
I was 10 years old when I got to go to my first concert KISS
It was my ultimate life goal at 10
To see them in person and feel the roar of the music live etched kiss in my heart forever as did a lot of kids my age
We dressed up with make up and wanted to be those Rock gods
I’m getting teary just reliving the memories of a time gone bye
Thank you gene Paul ace n Peter
VIVA LE KISS
Caught Kiss headlining (along with - believe it or not - Blue Oyster Cult, Johnny & Edgar Winter, Bob Seger and .38 Special in support) at a crammed full Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in August 1976 as a wide-eyed 12 year old. I do not think "Beth" had made it to the set list yet, but it was only a matter of time. Already owned "Destroyer" and wore it out on my cheap home stereo. KISS rules!
I got to see Kiss live at Wembley Arena in London on the Psycho Circus tour supported by Buckcherry. It was one of the best gigs I've been to and they didn't even bring the circus acts they had toured the US with. Of course they played Beth during the set. It was their first UK number one if I remember rightly.
Awesome! How many concerts have you seen?
When was it?
Beth was never a chart single in the UK. The first KISS chart single over here was I was Made For Loving You in 1979 (no 50) and they only had two top 10 hits here - Crazy, Crazy Nights (1987) and God Gave Rock & Roll To You II (1992), both reaching No 4. 😉🤓
I've always loved the song Beth. One song that reminds me of Beth is I'm In You by Peter Frampton.
His biggest hit. Many don't realize that.
I can see that.
@@ProfessorofRock I would have thought Baby, I Love Your Way or Do You Feel Like We Do!
I have the "I'm In You" album. I like "(I'm a) Road Runner" going into "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)."
I still remember hearing Beth for the first time and it was off the radio before hearing any other track off Destroyer. Late '76 and I just started the 7th grade when me and my mom were driving to "I don't remember" hearing Beth on KGRT AM 500 here in S. NM. My older brother was into Kiss so we knew what they sounded like. After the song ended and the dj says Kiss and my mom was just as floored as I was. She said it before I could. "That was Kiss?!!"
Love Beth or hate it......KISS was. Is, and will always be the greatest band in the World!!
Everyone wants to take credit after the fact... give the naysayers a double barrelled middle finger salute!
Well it shows that kiss could go in different directions. In the 80's the soft ballets what made the hair metal bands popular and kiss did it in the 70's
"Beth" is just a great rock ballad. I may be in the minority, though, when I say I like the Eric Carr vocal better than the Peter Criss vocal. When I was in college, 30 years and 75 pounds ago, I was an aerobics instructor and on one of my tapes I had "Beth" as one of the songs during the cool down segment. One of the women in my class said she liked the fact I used real music instead of just the electronic stuff, but she never in her life imagined she would her KISS in an aerobics class.
I can see that!
That is pretty weird!
Used to be the #1 KISS fan back in the day that they were the real band. I saw the pic of them with Ezrin in the studio in your video. They looked so different, so powerful. I could feel a little twinge of what drew me to them as a kid. Their "final" show might have been a few days ago, but the final KISS concert really ended a long time ago. Half-KISS just didn't cut it for me. I was at the Tiger Stadium Reunion show in '96. That's how I'll remember them.
Peter Criss is probably my favorite member of KISS (blasphemy I know), mainly because of Beth & my favorite KISS song: HARD LUCK WOMAN!! 🤘
I remember Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park!
Meh I’ve never liked Beth. As a girl back then I just didn’t like how sappy it was and I still don’t like it. My husband likes it though back then he didn’t like sappy songs 😂😂😂
But I do think the main reason I didn’t like it is that he chooses his friends over her. Though I would never ask a guy, or my husband, to choose me over other things I think doing it this openly and I’d this syrupy way just sounds bad. 🤷🏻♀️
Unfortunately I don’t think I’ll ever grow to like Beth 😂😂😂
Thanks for sharing your true feelings!
Back in the 70's we always heard this song was written about his dog Beth that was home alone while he had to spend long hours in the recording studio.
I still think that story helped sell this song to many of us at the time.
Beth was not Peter Criss' first lead vocal on a KISS song. He literally sang lead vocals on FOUR songs before that - Black Diamond (1st album), Mainline and Strange Ways (Hotter Than Hell), and Getaway (Dressed To Kill). Professor of rock?!!
12:43 ... he does say "1st as a lead vocalist on a KISS SINGLE", not that its his 1st time singing lead....👍
When I saw the original line up for their reunion tour in 1996, Beth was performed onstage almost Karaoke style by Peter. The crowd went nuts for the song. One of my favorite Peter songs and his album was the better of the Kiss Solo albums
Peter and Ace were awesome Kiss band members. Hard Luck Woman? Black Diamond? Shock Me? Ace's guitar playing? Pete's drumming? More..
Are you kidding me? Monstrous 👍🤟
Don't forget a Rocket Ride...... by Ace.
The first time that I heard “Beth” was on The KISS Christmas Special on TV.I had been a Huge KISS fan for years up till then , so I was pretty shocked that they would be having a Christmas Special on TV! So when they showed Criss sitting at a piano by himself surrounded by Christmas decorations, I had no clue what to expect.The song completely BLEW ME AWAY‼️It’s been 1 of my most favorite songs of all time‼️And I still crank out the volume and sing along with it every single time‼️❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
High School Dance, Slow Dancing with someone I wanted to date at the time.... Fun Times!! Good Memories!
I remember watching the MTV Unplugged with KISS, the current line-up they had at the time, and amazed when the other two originals, Freely and Criss, showed up. Two songs into their performance, I suddenly realized that Beth might be back on the table to perform since Peter was there and the band hadnt played it for over 15 years. I was elated when Peter began singing the classic. Highlight of the show!!
His name is Frehley, not Freely. Frehley is pronounced like Fray-lay.
LMAO...THIS brings back a real memory! I was 11 in the fall of 76, and weening off my parents 50's and 60's oldies but goldies music to 70s harder rock, aerosmith, Zepplin, LynSkyn...and my then fav...kiss. But I was "too young" to go to rock concerts, except Mom did take me to see Elvis, when I was 12, the following spring lol.
She's from Germany and worked here in NC branch of a German company. Two young engineers came over from Germany as "interns" to work, Helmut and Erhard. Erhard was only 18 at the time.
I wanted to go see KISS so bad but my parents said no way, I was too young etc etc. I was heart broke lol.
Erhard came up with a plan. He asked my parents if I could go with him to the state fair...on the back of his Harley. They agreed! And we did. The same weekend KISS was playing in Raleigh! And of course it was all for the concert.
So my first ever concert was KISS! Erhard defied my parents, actually lied to them, unbeknownst to them ofc, and at risk to himself. I have been forever grateful. An 18 yrs old young man making an 11yr olds biy dream come true.
That weekend was the true beginning of a life long friendship. He's 65 and retired now, and I still consider him the "big brother" I never had.
This past August he and his gf of 20 yrs had a wican wedding. They never married due to his job, always out of town, even out of country. Of course I attended the "wedding." It was an all day all night party! Lots of food booze and music of all genres.
I requested the DJ to play a dedication to Erhard and Judy. I thought it was appropriate and they would both "get it" when they heard it was from me. (Judy had heard the Kiss story years before)
That song request I made..."Beth."
I got two great big hugs!
Here's to good music, good friends and great memories! 🍺!
That is neat! What a great life friend 🧡