Kiss Symphony: Alive IV

Kiss Symphony: Alive IV
Live album by Kiss
Released	July 22, 2003 (2-disc edition) October 7, 2003 (single-disc edition)
Recorded	February 28, 2003
Genre	Hard rock, heavy metal, pop metal[1]
Length	1:36:15
Label	Kiss Sanctuary
Kiss chronology
Psycho Circus (1998) Kiss Symphony: Alive IV (2003) Kiss Instant Live (2004)
Single Disc Edition cover.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Sputnikmusic	[2]

Kiss Symphony: Alive IV is a 2003 live album from the American rock band Kiss, performing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO). The arrangements were made by David Campbell, who also conducted the MSO. It is the group's fourth album in the Alive series and first release under Kiss Records and Sanctuary Records.

Album information

The album featured three of the original members of Kiss (Peter Criss, Paul Stanley, and Gene Simmons). Ace Frehley once again left the band and the concert featured for the first time new member Tommy Thayer, dressed as the "Spaceman". This would be the last Kiss album to feature Peter Criss (who would leave the band officially in 2004 to be replaced by Eric Singer).

In 2000, Kiss was to release the original Alive IV (featuring the original re-united lineup), but due to label politics and contracts, it did not happen. Even with the artwork being revealed^[3] and "Rock and Roll All Nite" (from Alive IV) being added to the Kiss Box Set, the album was shelved. The band then moved labels from Universal/Island to Sanctuary Music and they released Alive IV - Kiss Symphony. However the original Alive IV was released when the band released the box set of all past Alive albums entitled Kiss Alive! 1975-2000 in 2006. The album is not called Alive IV, but ALIVE: The Millennium Concert.

The members of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra who accompanied Kiss during this performance wore Kiss makeup. At the same time they also wore tuxedos. 10,000 limited numbered copies were released on vinyl in the US. Unlike past Alive releases, the songs on the album appear in the order they were performed, with the concert split into three acts. In Act One, the members of Kiss performed six songs by themselves. In Act Two, Kiss performed an acoustic set with the Melbourne Symphony Ensemble for the next five songs. In Act Three, the band played with the full 60 piece orchestra on all tracks.

The live versions of "Rock and Roll All Nite", "God of Thunder" and "Lick It Up" were featured on the soundtrack for the video game Tony Hawk's Underground.

Track listing

All tracks recorded at Etihad Stadium (known at the time as Telstra Dome) in Melbourne, Australia, on February 28, 2003.

2-disc edition

Disc 1

Act One: Kiss

1. "Deuce" (Gene Simmons)
2. "Strutter" (Paul Stanley, Simmons)
3. "Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll" (Stanley, Simmons)
4. "Lick It Up" (Vinnie Vincent, Stanley)
5. "Calling Dr. Love" (Simmons)
6. "Psycho Circus" (Stanley, Curtis Cuomo)

Act Two: Kiss with The Melbourne Symphony Ensemble

7. "Beth" (Peter Criss, Stan Penridge, Bob Ezrin)
8. "Forever" (Stanley, Michael Bolton)
9. "Goin' Blind" (Simmons, Stephen Coronel)
10. "Sure Know Something" (Stanley, Vini Poncia)
11. "Shandi" (Stanley, Poncia)

Disc 2

Act Three: Kiss with The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

1. "Detroit Rock City" (Stanley, Ezrin)
2. "King of the Night Time World" (Stanley, Ezrin, Kim Fowley, Mark Anthony)
3. "Do You Love Me?" (Stanley, Ezrin, Fowley)
4. "Shout It Out Loud" (Stanley, Simmons, Ezrin)
5. "God of Thunder" (Stanley)
6. "Love Gun" (Stanley)
7. "Black Diamond" (Stanley)
8. "Great Expectations" (Simmons, Ezrin)
   • featuring the Australian Children's Choir
9. "I Was Made for Lovin' You" (Stanley, Desmond Child, Poncia)
10. "Rock and Roll All Nite" (Stanley, Simmons)

Single disc edition

Act One: Kiss

1. "Deuce" (Simmons)
2. "Lick It Up" (Vincent, Stanley)
3. "Calling Dr. Love" (Simmons)

Act Two: Kiss with The Melbourne Symphony Ensemble

4. "Beth" (Criss, Ezrin, Penridge)
5. "Goin' Blind" (Simmons, Coronel)
6. "Shandi" (Stanley, Poncia)

Act Three: Kiss with The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

7. "Detroit Rock City" (Stanley, Ezrin)
8. "King of the Night Time World" (Stanley, Ezrin, Fowley, Anthony)
9. "Do You Love Me?" (Stanley, Ezrin, Fowley)
10. "Shout It Out Loud" (Stanley, Simmons, Ezrin)
11. "God of Thunder" (Stanley)
12. "Love Gun" (Stanley)
13. "Black Diamond" (Stanley)
14. "Great Expectations" (Simmons, Ezrin)
    • featuring the Australian Children's Choir
15. "Rock and Roll All Nite" (Stanley, Simmons)

Bonus Track

16. "Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?" (Joey Ramone)
    • Originally recorded by The Ramones

Personnel

• Paul Stanley - vocals, rhythm guitar
• Gene Simmons - vocals, bass
• Peter Criss - drums, vocals
• Tommy Thayer - lead guitar

with

• The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
• Mark Opitz - Producer
• Tony Wall - Engineer
• David Campbell - Composer

Charts

Album - ARIA (Australia)

Album - Billboard 200 (United States)

Certifications

References