On 19. June 1980, Kiss filmed the video for “Shandi” of of their new album “Unmasked”. This was the first single released from the album. This also marks the final appearance of drummer Peter Criss until they would reunite in 1996.
Directed and Produced by John Goodhue for John Goodhue Productions. Filmed at the Dick Clark Westchester Theatre in Tarrytown, New York. Premiere date: 6. July 1980, during “Countdown” in Australia.
Although all four original band members appear in the video, only Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley were involved in the recording of the track. Session drummer Anton Fig plays drums, Kiss roadie Tom Harper plays bass and professional songwriter Holly Knight plays keyboards, while Stanley sings lead vocals and plays lead guitar, and Frehley plays acoustic guitars. Vini Poncia provided backing vocals to the track.
In the video, a woman stalks the band from outside their dressing room, anxious to see them without their makeup. After their concert, they return to their dressing room to change to their street clothes. Upon exiting the room, the woman calls them out; they turn around, revealing that they still have their makeup on.
Kiss Wardrode Lady Pixie Esmonde:
“The ‘Shandi’ video was done all in one day because the vibe between the guys was so horrible that if they didn’t get it right then, they weren’t ever going to get it.”
– Kissfaq.com, Curt Gooch and Jeff Suhs, with contributions from Ken Sharp
Bill Aucoin:
“The mood with Peter was crazy, he was unhappy, he didn’t want to be there, and certainly they weren’t getting along. I remember Peter tried to make a statement by putting his hand through a mirror. Just slugged the mirror with his fist and it shattered. He calmed down but of course my heart dropped when I saw that. This was when Peter was just wiped out; he had a rough time of it then, he was always tired because they were working so hard and was unhappy that they weren’t getting along.”
– Kissfaq.com, Curt Gooch and Jeff Suhs, with contributions from Ken Sharp
Peter Criss:
“The reality of my departure finally hit me the day that we shot a video for “Shandi,” a song on the new album. When I sat down at that mirror and started applying the makeup, it struck me that it would be the last time that I would be the Catman. Even though I had prayed to get out of that situation, it still hurt. There’s a scene in that video where we’re walking with our heads down and it reminded me of the Beatles during Let It Be. They knew it was over when they were filming that, and so did we. There was a really strange vibe on the set that day. Everyone seemed so down. When we finished, they rushed to the dressing room and took their makeup off in record time. Ace and Paul walked out without even saying good-bye to me. Gene was still in the room when I sat down in front of the mirror.”
– “Make up to breakup: My life in and out of Kiss” by Peter Criss
Peter Criss:
“I’ll never forget it. I remember when we were shooting the video, there was a sadness you could feel through the place. When we finished doing the “Shandi” video we all came back into the dressing room, you could just feel it, man. You could feel that the vibes were totally uncomfortable for everybody. I knew I was taking my makeup off for the last time and that I was leaving the band. They couldn’t get theirs off quick enough to get out of there because they couldn’t even be near me because they were so uncomfortable about it. And before I knew it I was sitting in this room all by myself (laughs) and they were gone and I was taking my makeup off and I just started crying and crying and crying. I just couldn’t stop crying. I was all alone. I finally took off all my makeup, put my street clothes on, and I looked at my outfit for the last time and I said, ‘Wow, I guess this is it.’ It was a really hard time for me.”
– “Behind The Mask” by Ken Sharp.
Ace Frehley:
“Even though Peter was absent during the Unmasked recording process, he did return to film the video for the album’s first single, “Shandi.” Peter was obviously very upset at the end of the taping, and I felt some of his pain, knowing it would be his last time wearing the Kiss makeup and costume. I don’t believe Peter really wanted to leave the band, but Paul and Gene were dead set on replacing him. I wanted to give him another chance, but my hands were tied. I was outvoted, and the decision was made to move forward without him, so I accepted the decision reluctantly.”
– “No regrets” by Ace Frehley
Paul Stanley:
“We shot a video fot he song “Shandi” after the decision to let Peter go had been confirmed. He came to the video shoot knowing it was the last time he would appear with Kiss. At the end of the day, he took his makeup case with him and left. It wasn’t tearful, but it was a big moment. Peter was leaving. We had fired him, and this was the last time we were going to see him in the band.”
– “Face the music: A life exposed” by Paul Stanley
