KISS Movies

Toronto-based power trio Rush was formed in 1968 by guitarist Alex Lifeson, bassist and singer Geddy Lee, and drummer John Rutsey; the band made their way through the Canadian bar scene until they signed a recording deal and released their self-titled debut album in 1974. However, it wasn't until Rutsey left the group and Neil Peart signed on as their new drummer that Rush's signature sound took shape, a muscular variation on progressive rock marked by the keen instrumental prowess of all three members and the lyrically and musically adventurous songwriting of Peart. With little help from the music press or mainstream radio, Rush grew into a commercial powerhouse, releasing a long string of multi-platinum albums and playing sold-out shows in North America and Europe. A notoriously reclusive band, Rush offer their fans a rare and intimate behind-the-scenes look into their music and their career in the documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage, which features exclusive interviews with the members of the group and footage of them on- and off-stage as well as contributions from a number of famous fans -- from Kirk Hammett of Metallica and Gene Simmons of KISS to Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and actor and musician Jack Black. Directed by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn, Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage received its world premiere at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Filmmaker Jennifer Venditti crafts a cinéma vérité-style coming-of-age story with this portrait of a small-town teen from Maine who struggles to embrace his outsider status while still being shaped by the tragic events of his childhood. It was while casting the Carter Smith film Bugcrush that Venditti first encountered the boy named Billy -- his eccentric wisdom leaving an immediate and lasting impression on the filmmaker. Later, after casting Billy in the film and preparing to craft a documentary about everyday heroes, Venditti and her crew returned to Maine to spend five days with the troubled young boy who had commanded her attention. Shunned by his classmates and categorized as a "special needs" student by his teachers, Billy boldly refuses to be victimized by his individuality in an environment obsessed with labels and conformity. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Filmmakers Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn continue their cinematic study of all things heavy metal with this documentary examining the influence of the much-maligned musical genre beyond the affected cultures of Europe and North America. For those who know the telltale signs to watch for, metal-heads are everywhere. Unfortunately most highbrow music fans just aren't willing to credit these adrenaline-starved musicians with the originality they display by transforming the standards of the style rather than simply riffing on the standard clichés, all the while questioning the conflict that rages across the globe and questioning our habit for succumbing to mass-consumerism. By traveling to such regions as Asia, South America, and the Middle East, McFadyen and Dunn reveal that despite hailing from different cultures and speaking different languages, metal fans across the globe are bonded by a mutual distain of the status quo, and a desire to push the limits of music as far as they can go. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

In this documentary from filmmaker Alexandra Lipsitz, the cameras roll to capture the fierce competitive spirit that defined the first annual U.S. Air Guitar Championship. Staged in Finland and featuring some of the fastest-fingered shredders on the planet, the U.S. Air Guitar Championship would bring a hobby once contained to the bedroom directly into the spotlight for all to enjoy. Featured jam sessions and interviews with both the performers and their "airhead" groupies offer a humorous look at an unlikely competition driven by pure showmanship. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

One of the truly unstoppable juggernauts of hard rock, Kiss has made itself one of the most consistently popular American bands since the '70s, with its flashy blend of riff-centric rock and upscale stagecraft . 20th Century Masters: The Best of Kiss features music videos for five of the group's hits, focusing primarily on the band's "post-makeup" period in the mid- to late '80s. Songs include "I Love It Loud," "Lick It Up," "Heaven's On Fire," "Tears Are Falling," and "Crazy Crazy Nights." ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The Rockthology video series contains performance clips, videos, and interviews with rock artists. This edition contains work by performers as Cheap Trick, Mötley Crüe, David Lee Roth, Damn Yankees, and Extreme. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

The loyal, rabid KISS fan base, known to many as the "KISS Army," helped put together this compilation film consisting of rarely seen footage of the band at work and play. Many images from the KISS's '70s heyday are included, much of it shot in 8 mm by hardcore devotees. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

This video captures Tony Bennett performing before an adoring audience during a 1998 concert that was recorded for A&E as part of their Live By Request series. Featuring appearances by such luminaries as Elvis Costello, Billy Joel, and Sting, the concert fins Bennett performing timeless favorites like "Fly Me to the Moon", "Steppin' Out With My Baby", "Chicago", and "They Can't Take That Away From Me". ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

This program is part of a series that takes a humorous look at some musical genres and their stars. The creative animation series parodies well-known names and styles with often hilarious results. In this episode, the butts of the joke are some hardcore rock bands of the '90s, including KISS, Limp Bizkit, and Marilyn Manson. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi

"The Hottest Band in the Land" set down their electric guitars for this special show taped for MTV, which featured the first reunion in nearly 20 years of the original Kiss lineup: Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. Songs include "Comin' Home," "Plaster Caster," "A World Without Heroes," "Beth," and "Rock and Roll All Nite." ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Released in tandem with the tribute album Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved, this home video collection brings together rare and unusual live footage and television appearances by Kiss, playing their explosive hit songs at several stages of their career. Kiss: Kiss My Ass features excerpts from live performances from 1975 to 1992, as well as rare television commercials for Kiss related products and highlights from the group's TV appearances. Members of Kiss are also seen visiting The Gin Blossoms and Anthrax in the studio as they record their contributions to the Kiss My Ass album. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Originally recorded at the Palace of Auborn Hills in Detroit, Michigan, Kiss Konfidential was filmed in order to supplement the band's Alive III tour. In addition to concert footage, this video features interview segments with the band from back stage at concerts, as well as aboard their tour bus. With the exception of "Take It Off", all of the songs featured on Kiss: Konfidential are taken from Alive III, and include "Creatures of the Night", "Unholy", "Deuce", and "Heaven's on Fire", among many others. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi