Rise to It

"Rise to It" is a song by American rock band Kiss, released in 1989 as the third and final single from their 15th studio album Hot in the Shade. It only charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock Tracks.^[1] It is the final single by the band on which Eric Carr plays drums. He was diagnosed with terminal heart cancer following the supporting tour.

"Rise to It"
Single by Kiss
from the album Hot in the Shade
Released	April 1, 1990 (US)
Recorded	The Fortress, Hollywood, CA: 1989
Genre	Glam metal
Length	4:08
Label	Mercury 875-098-7 (US)
Songwriter(s)	Paul Stanley, Bob Halligan Jr.
Producer(s)	Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley
Kiss singles chronology
"Forever" (1990) "Rise to It" (1990) "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II" (1991)
Music video
"Rise to It" on YouTube

Composition and lyrics

"Rise to It" is a glam metal song written by rhythm guitarist and vocalist Paul Stanley, and Bob Halligan Jr.^[2] Starting with an acoustic intro, which has been compared to Cinderella's "Bad Seamstress Blues",^[3] the lyrics explore the life of an unknown musician who claims that he will "rise to it".^[4]

Release

The song was added to the setlist for the second show of the Hot in the Shade Tour and was performed until the end of the tour. The band dropped the song from the setlist of the Revenge Tour and never played it alive again.^[5] The lowest charting single off the album, it reached No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100, the last Kiss song to do so, and No. 40 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks.^[1]

Music video

The music video, directed by Mark Rezyka, features Stanley and Simmons in their iconic makeup personas for the first time since the Creatures of the Night tour in 1982. The video's intro and epilogue scenes take place at the band's dressing room in 1975. While putting their makeup on, Stanley and Simmons debate about performing without it. The epilogue has the band preparing for their show, where Stanley states no matter what changes, they will still be Kiss. The costumes used in these scenes are historically inaccurate; Simmons' costume is from Unmasked (1980), while Stanley's is from Love Gun (1977). In addition, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley are substituted with body doubles Eric Carr and Bruce Kulick (who was wearing Vinnie Vincent’s “Ankh Warrior” costume).^{[6][failed verification][better source needed]}

Personnel

• Paul Stanley – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Gene Simmons – bass, backing vocals
• Eric Carr – drums, backing vocals
• Bruce Kulick – lead guitar, backing vocals

Charts

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA Charts)[7]	144
US Billboard Hot 100[8]	81
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[9]	40