#466 - KISS Rise to It - STRANGE DETAILS

Robert John Hadfield dives into a fascinating—and surprisingly overlooked—moment in KISS history, pulling out a rare June 1990 issue of RIP Magazine that captures the band briefly putting the makeup back on during the Hot in the Shade era. What starts as a nostalgic look at the “Rise To It” video shoot quickly turns into a deeper exploration of a transitional (and somewhat turbulent) time for KISS—when the band was searching for identity, relevance, and direction in a rapidly changing rock landscape. But the real hook? A subtle detail hidden in plain sight that many lifelong KISS fans have never noticed: the iconic KISS logo isn’t as symmetrical as it appears. Robert breaks down the differences between the two “S” letters and reveals how this imperfection actually reinforces the individuality at the core of the band’s identity. Along the way, he shares insights from the RIP article, behind-the-scenes context from the era, and his own commentary on the band’s evolution, creative missteps, and long-term survival strategy. CHECK OUT OUR VINNIE VINCENT VIDEO - https://youtu.be/NBx8DJ1JOaA?si=-2IL_9Xts_rIWKgn Stick around to the end as Robert opens a pack of vintage KISS trading cards—bringing back the magic of being a fan in the 70s and 80s—and sparking memories of album art, costumes, and the larger-than-life mythology that made KISS unforgettable. ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 – Why this RIP Magazine is so interesting 0:39 – The “makeup return” in Rise To It 1:15 – Vintage KISS trading cards teaser 2:22 – Paul’s makeup mistake (or printing error?) 4:04 – KISS in 1990: struggling era breakdown 6:10 – Inside the RIP Magazine feature 7:27 – The KISS logo detail you’ve NEVER noticed 10:31 – Why the logo imperfections matter 12:02 – Del James & the Guns N’ Roses connection 15:08 – “Last ever” makeup interview (at the time) 21:23 – Breaking down the Rise To It video timing 23:21 – “We’ll never go back to makeup”… right? 28:42 – Why KISS survived when others didn’t 33:09 – Where KISS lost their edge in the 80s 36:15 – The power of classic KISS songs 42:22 – “Never say never” – the prophecy 43:20 – Opening vintage KISS trading cards 49:23 – The story behind “Rock and Roll All Nite” 53:27 – KISS supporting their opening bands 55:11 – Community call + hidden details discussion