Celebrating it’s 41st Anniversary, TODAY, KISS’ ‘Unmasked” was released in 1980!
KISS – Shandi
KISS was in personnel turmoil in 1980. Ace was heavily drinking and pretty much out of control, not to mention wanting out of the band since 1978. Peter was Ace’s drinking buddy and was just unhappy with everything. He wasn’t liking how Gene and Paul were treating him because of his drinking and his timing as a drummer was suffering from a bad car accident which injured his hands.
The Dynasty album from 1979 did well, but sluggish sales showed that KISS’ popularity was waning. The rock fans did not appreciate the sound, moving in a disco direction with “I Was Made For Loving You”, Peter didn’t play on any of it, though he did sing on it as back up and lead on “Dirty Livin'”, and Ace was…. well, Ace.
Peter was all but out of the band by 1980 and was only brought in for video footage of the first single, “Shandi”. That would be his last appearance as a member of KISS.
“Shandi” is a ballad which showed the overall sound of ‘Unmasked”. Gene and Paul wanted it to be a pop-rock album, whereas Ace wanted it to be a rocker. With Peter out, Ace was outvoted, even though his contributions were the hardest rockers of the album.
“Shandi” went Top 10 in several countries, but peaked outside the Top 40 here, at #47.
