Heaven's on Fire

For the song by Venom, see Black Metal (Venom album).

"Heaven's on Fire"
Single by Kiss
from the album Animalize
B-side	"Lonely Is the Hunter"
Released	September 15, 1984 (U.S.)
Recorded	Right Track Studios, New York City: 1984
Genre	Glam metal [1] [2]
Length	3:18
Label	Mercury 880 205-7 (US)
Songwriters	Paul Stanley, Desmond Child
Producer	Paul Stanley
Kiss singles chronology
"All Hell's Breakin' Loose/Young and Wasted" (1984) "Heaven's on Fire" (1984) "Thrills in the Night/Burn Bitch Burn" (1985)
Music video
"Heaven's on Fire" on YouTube

"Heaven's on Fire" is a song by the American rock band Kiss. Written by vocalist/guitarist Paul Stanley and songwriter Desmond Child, it was the first single released from the group's 1984 album Animalize . ^[3]

Background

The opening "Woo-oo-oo" was a vocal warm-up by Stanley that was accidentally recorded but was later added to the song.

Released as a single internationally in 1984, "Heaven's on Fire" charted in several countries, even though it failed to reach the top ten in any of the countries where it was released as a single. ^[4] It did reach #11 on Billboard' s Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks ^[5] and #49 on the Billboard Hot 100. ^[5] In addition, the song is one of only a select few from the bands' non-makeup era that has been performed live after the band returned to wearing makeup.

A video for the single was filmed and played on MTV, and was directed by David Lewis and produced by John Weaver. ^[6] It marked the only official promotional performance of the band with lead guitarist Mark St. John before he left the group due to problems in his hands caused by a painful, but temporary, form of arthritis called Reactive arthritis. St. John would be replaced shortly afterwards by Bruce Kulick.

A live version of the song was recorded at Cobo Hall on December 8, 1984, as part of the Kiss: Animalize Live Uncensored video, and was later released on the Hear 'n Aid album.

Personnel

Kiss

• Paul Stanley – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Gene Simmons – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Eric Carr – drums, backing vocals
• Mark St. John – lead guitar

Additional musician

• Desmond Child – backing vocals

Charts

Chart (1984–1985)	Peak position
Australian Singles (Kent Music Report) [7]	62
Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) [8]	46
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [9]	34
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [10]	19
UK Singles (OCC) [11]	43
US Billboard Hot 100 [12]	49
US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) [13]	11

References

1. KISSology – Kiss | Songs, Reviews, Credits , retrieved March 24, 2021
2. Wilkening, Matthew (September 23, 2020). "10 Worst Kiss Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved April 10, 2021. and hair metal with '80s hits such as "Heaven's on Fire"
3. KISS singles history Archived May 7, 2006, at archive.today
4. International Chart History
5. "Billboard singles chart history-Kiss" . Retrieved February 18, 2009.
6. KISS Video Information
7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
8. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9610." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
9. "Kiss – Heaven's on Fire" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
10. "Kiss – Heaven's on Fire". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
12. "Kiss Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
13. "Kiss Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.

External links

• The KISS FAQ – DISCOGRAPHY – Hear 'N Aid Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (1985)