Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 5 days ago
In this episode, Robert John Hadfield dives into one of the wildest moments in KISS history — the day the biggest band in the world decided to split four ways. On September 18th, 1978, KISS released four solo albums on the exact same day — one for each member: Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. It was an ambitious, risky, and downright bizarre move that still sparks debate decades later.
Robert explores the Miami Herald’s 1978 review of the albums — a brutally honest piece that ranked the records from “the good, the bad, the mediocre, and the ugly.” He walks through the highs and lows of each album, from Ace Frehley’s breakout moment (“New York Groove,” “Fractured Mirror”) to Gene Simmons’ over-the-top Hollywood circus, Paul Stanley’s melodic but uneven effort, and Peter Criss’ critically panned experiment.
Along the way, Robert reflects on:
How the band’s color themes (blue, red, purple, green) carried into later albums like Dynasty and Asylum
The fan experience of the late ’70s — when buying all four albums wasn’t an option for most kids
How Ace Frehley’s solo album revealed the real musician behind the makeup
As the episode honors Ace Frehley’s legacy following his recent passing, Robert revisits this fascinating chapter in KISS history — the creative chaos, the marketing madness, and the music that still defines an era.
#robertjohnhadfield #kiss #acefrehley
In this episode, Robert John Hadfield dives into one of the wildest moments in KISS history — the day the biggest band in the world decided to split four ways. On September 18th, 1978, KISS released four solo albums on the exact same day — one for each member: Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. It was an ambitious, risky, and downright bizarre move that still sparks debate decades later.
Robert explores the Miami Herald’s 1978 review of the albums — a brutally honest piece that ranked the records from “the good, the bad, the mediocre, and the ugly.” He walks through the highs and lows of each album, from Ace Frehley’s breakout moment (“New York Groove,” “Fractured Mirror”) to Gene Simmons’ over-the-top Hollywood circus, Paul Stanley’s melodic but uneven effort, and Peter Criss’ critically panned experiment.
Along the way, Robert reflects on:
How the band’s color themes (blue, red, purple, green) carried into later albums like Dynasty and Asylum
The fan experience of the late ’70s — when buying all four albums wasn’t an option for most kids
How Ace Frehley’s solo album revealed the real musician behind the makeup
As the episode honors Ace Frehley’s legacy following his recent passing, Robert revisits this fascinating chapter in KISS history — the creative chaos, the marketing madness, and the music that still defines an era.
#robertjohnhadfield #kiss #acefrehley
