![]() Just don’t judge King’s X by this one track. The King’s X track, “Junior’s Gone Wild” ( previously reviewed in our mega King’s X series) has never been one of their better tunes, but as a non-album rarity, a nice one to have. ![]() The CD single is rounded out by two more songs from the Bill & Ted soundtrack, by Slaughter and King’s X. The same guy whose band got booed in Toronto thanks to Kiss. In an ironic twist, the version of “God Gave Rock & Roll to You II” that is in the movie has a guitar intro solo by Steve Vai. ![]() The single edit cuts out too much of the grand, pompous arrangement, including the epic opening. There are three released versions of “God Gave Rock & Roll to You II”: The single edit (3:57), the soundtrack version (5:23) and the final 1992 version that was later released on the next Kiss album (5:19). And Eric Singer was the right guy to continue. It’s appropriate that Eric Carr went out on a good Kiss track. Yes, they can sing! Yes, they can play! This lineup could do it particularly well. Secondly, “God Gave Rock & Roll to You II” was the first Paul Stanley/Gene Simmons (with Bob Ezrin and Russ Ballard) co-writing credit since 1985, and their first shared vocals in ages upon ages.Īlthough it didn’t make waves in 1991, “God Gave Rock & Roll to You II” has become enough of a favourite to make it onto 2015’s Kiss 40 compilation, and continue to be played live. It indicated that Kiss meant business this time. A Kiss-Ezrin reunion was very big news for fans. Ezrin was responsible for the two albums that some consider Kiss’ best, and Kiss’ worst. First, and very significantly, it was produced by Bob Ezrin. “God Gave Rock & Roll to You II” was important for two more reasons. Eric Singer wasn’t credited on the single, or the final soundtrack for Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey. The song wouldn’t be the same without Carr, as he can be heard sweetly harmonising with Paul Stanley. His vocals on “God Gave Rock & Roll to You II” were his last. Eric Carr may not have been well enough to play drums, but that didn’t stop him from singing. It started with “God Gave Rock & Roll to You II”, a re-imagining of an old Argent song for the Bill & Ted movie. If anything positive came from Eric Carr’s death, it was that Kiss were going to put all that anger and frustration back into the music. ![]() Carr’s death was barely mentioned in the news, including Rolling Stone magazine who missed it completely, prompting a harsh reply from Kiss: On the same date, Freddie Mercury of Queen succumbed to AIDS. Although everybody hoped Eric would make a full recovery, he passed away from a brain haemorrhage on November 24, 1991. He was afraid he was going to be replaced, permanently, and his relationship with the band was strained. Unfortunately a rift was developing, with Eric Carr feeling shunned and excluded from Kiss. He gave his all, and did a full day’s shoot, with excellent (pun intended) results. Eric Carr, in a wig, was able to play for the music video taping. Eric Singer, who had performed so well on Paul Stanley’s solo tour, filled in on drums. Having little choice, Kiss recorded without him. Carr underwent surgery in April, with chemotherapy following. Simultaneously, Kiss received an offer to record a song for the sequel to Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Flu-like symptoms turned out to be heart cancer. It was to be another album, another tour, but suddenly real life interfered.Įric Carr hadn’t been feeling well. When the tour wrapped up in November, Kiss took a few months off before gearing up again in the new year. Vai once even walked onstage to the sound of people chanting “Yngwie! Yngwie! Yngwie!”, but he had never been booed until the incident with Kiss in Toronto. Steve Vai later stated that it was the first time he had ever been booed. When Whitesnake hit the stage, it was to a chorus of boos. Paul Stanley used his stage raps to complain that Whitesnake wouldn’t let them use their full setup, including a giant sphinx. Kiss were third on a four-band bill, with David Coverdale, Steve Vai and company in the headlining slot. The tour was unfortunately highlighted by the Jdate in Toronto, igniting a feud with Whitesnake. Kiss’ Hot in the Shade tour wasn’t a sellout, but it was well received by fans who appreciated that a bunch of older songs were back in the set. – “God Gave Rock & Roll to You II” (1991 Interscope single)
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