Synopsis

Filmed at Detroit's Cobo Hall during the Animalize World Tour, this concert captures KISS in full 1980s arena-rock mode. Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Eric Carr and newly installed guitarist Bruce Kulick deliver a high-energy set mixing Animalize material with established favorites. The performance includes fire, explosions, solos, crowd participation and the band's customary theatrical staging. Alongside songs such as "Heaven's On Fire" and "Thrills in the Night," the set races through classics including "Detroit Rock City," "Love Gun," "Black Diamond" and "Rock and Roll All Nite."

Factoids & Trivia

• The concert was recorded at Cobo Hall in Detroit on December 8, 1984, during the Animalize World Tour, and released on home video in the United States on April 19, 1985.

• Bruce Kulick's appearance is historically significant: this was the day he was officially confirmed as a member of KISS, following Mark St. John's departure from the touring lineup.

• The release was originally broadcast on MTV, helping present the unmasked-era KISS to a large television audience at the height of the band's 1980s commercial comeback.

• "Uncensored" refers largely to Paul Stanley's unrestrained stage banter, which includes profanity and was left intact rather than edited for a more family-friendly presentation.

• The setlist draws from seven KISS studio albums, making it one of the band's more wide-ranging concert programs. Only three songs from Animalize are performed: "Heaven's On Fire," "Thrills in the Night" and "Under the Gun."

• The Japanese laserdisc edition lists the introduction and instrumental solos as separate segments, resulting in 19 numbered entries even though the musical set contains 15 songs.

• Animalize Live Uncensored became the first in a successful series of KISS concert and archival video releases. It later earned Gold certification, underlining the strong market for KISS home video during the 1980s.