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Let’s Remember How Scared We Were When KISS Took Off Their Makeup

September 18, 1983. After 10 years and 10 albums, KISS finally took off their makeup. And it was terrifying. To clarify, I’m not talking about their actual unmasking (un-makeup-ing?) on…

September 18, 1983. After 10 years and 10 albums, KISS finally took off their makeup. And it was terrifying.

To clarify, I'm not talking about their actual unmasking (un-makeup-ing?) on MTV with VJ J. J. Jackson. That was actually cool and pretty well-executed by 1983 standards.

No, the real terror came in the form of the video for "Lick It Up," the title track from their first official naked-faced album. To quote my buddy Rubin: "Lick It Up the song was good. Lick It Up the video was an unintentional 3:56 horror show."

What the hell is going on here? Why is that woman washing a manhole cover? Why won't Gene stop leering at the camera? That's not sexy, Gene, you look like a damn caveman! And why can't Vinny lip sync?

Maybe they should just put the makeup back on. Oh, that's right, they did, eventually. Thank goodness.

adam12Writer
Adam 12 is the Program Director of Boston's ROCK 92.9, heard weekdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. He's been flexing his encyclopedic rock knowledge in New England for over 2 decades, both on-air and online, at WBCN, WFNX, Boston.com, and indie617. At ROCK 92.9, he keeps you in the know on the big stories from the Boston music scene and writes about great places to eat, drink (beer), and to spend time outdoors in and around Boston.