 With Vinnie Vincent gone, Kiss searched for a replacement guitarist.
The band chose California guitar tutor Mark Norton, renamed Mark St.
John.
After it's release, Animalize quickly sold platinum due to the success
of the single "Heaven's On Fire" and heavy play of the video
for the same track on MTV.
Much of "Animalize" was recorded at Right Track Recording
Studios.
Gene Simmons at this point, despite Kiss' renewed success, was no longer
focusing on the band and was attempting to fulfill a childhood dream
of being an actor. Gene accepted a part in the movie Runaway, which
meant relinquishing all his co-producing roles to Paul Stanley alone.
In Gene's absence, Jean Beauvior, played bass on some tracks on "Animalize."
Which tracks are not known as Jean was not given credit for playing.
Jean Beauvior co-wrote "Heaven's On Fire".
Eric Carr has one co-writing credit on the album, "Under the Gun",
which was written by Paul Stanley, Eric Carr and Desmond Child.
Mark St. John only was able to play three shows on the Animalize tour
due to being inflicted with Reiter's Syndrome. He continued to travel
with the band but his condition worsened.
Gene cut his hair for his role in Runaway and wore a wig on the tour
in support of Animalize.
The Animalize Live tour opened in Brighton, England on September 30,
1984.
Bruce Kulick, who
would join Kiss as their permanent guitarist on the Animalize tour played
guitar on "Lonely Is the Hunter" and "Murder in High Heels".
Allan Schwarztberg
overdubbed some drum fills on a couple songs on "Animalize".
Animalize
was Kiss's biggest selling 80's album, having sold over 2 million copies. |
