Celebrity Stars Bring Back King Of The Nighttime World for Kiss Destroyer’s 50th Anniversary

It has been 50 years since Kiss made King Of The Night Time World a hit on their album Destroyer, originally conceived by Los Angeles band, The Hollywood Stars. The Hollywood Stars have now revisited this classic with a refreshed version produced by Michael Lloyd.
The Hollywood Stars recently released a newly recorded digital rendition of King Of The Night Time World to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Kiss’ iconic Destroyer album in March 1976. This revamped recording, overseen by veteran hitmaker Michael Lloyd, is currently available through Rum Bar Records.
During the early 1970s, Hollywood Stars guitarist Mark Anthony and producer Kim Fowley collaborated on King Of The Night Time World. The Hollywood Stars were on the rise from the Los Angeles club scene, showcasing a unique blend of glam rock that fused hard rock guitar riffs, pop sensibilities, and a theatrical flair inspired by the Sunset Strip ambiance.
Having inked a deal with Columbia Records in 1974, the band recorded King Of The Night Time World for what was intended to be their debut album. Despite finishing the project during a productive recording spree helmed by Bill Szymczyk, the album never saw the light of day due to changes within Columbia’s A&R department, resulting in a shelved Hollywood Stars record.
Recognizing the song’s potential, Kim Fowley presented King Of The Night Time World to Kiss while working on their fourth album in the studio with producer Bob Ezrin. After making minor adjustments to the arrangement and collaborating with frontman Paul Stanley on songwriting tweaks, Kiss recorded their own version of the track.
Upon its release in 1976, Destroyer swiftly became a pivotal album for Kiss, attaining double platinum status in the US. Alongside hits like Detroit Rock City, Beth, and Shout It Out Loud, King Of The Night Time World played a crucial role in solidifying the record as a cornerstone in Kiss’ discography and as a significant hard rock album of the era.
Despite the global success of Kiss’ rendition, The Hollywood Stars’ original recording of King Of The Night Time World remained relatively unheard for years. It wasn’t until the release of the band’s previously unseen Columbia sessions in 2013 under the title Shine Like A Radio: The Great Lost 1974 Album that audiences had the chance to hear the track in its original form.
The Hollywood Stars’ journey had its share of ups and downs. Formed in late 1973 in Los Angeles by Scott Phares and Terry Rae with guidance from Kim Fowley, the band aimed to capture the essence of the emerging glam rock movement in the West Coast. Their performances at venues like the Whisky A Go Go and the Starwood earned them a reputation for energetic live shows and catchy tunes.
Despite early accolades, record label challenges and shifting music trends prevented the band from achieving the commercial success many had predicted. Following a brief deal with Arista Records, they released their sole contemporary 1970s album, the eponymous Hollywood Stars in 1977, before disbanding the next year as punk and new wave music reshaped the rock landscape.
Interest in The Hollywood Stars resurged decades later thanks to archival releases and unearthed recordings, leading to the band reuniting in 2018 with original members returning to the stage. During these reunion gigs, the band found that King Of The Night Time World consistently resonated with audiences, encouraging vocalist and songwriter Scott Phares to contemplate recording a fresh studio version.
The opportunity arrived in early 2024 when producer Michael Lloyd got in touch with Phares about recording again. Lloyd, known for his work with artists such as Belinda Carlisle, Barry Manilow, and Donny & Marie Osmond, had previously produced albums for Phares’ late 1970s band Hero. The current recording of King Of The Night Time World features the same lineup as the Hollywood Stars’ 2024 album Starstruck, comprising founding members Phares and Rae, along with Rummans, Jourard, and Keller on guitars.
To accompany the release, a new video for King Of The Night Time World was filmed at Kitten Robot Studios in Los Angeles, shot by manager Loren Molinare and edited by Phares. This refreshed version of the song marks The Hollywood Stars’ first new recording since Starstruck in 2024, their first original material album in over four decades.
This renewed take on King Of The Night Time World brings the journey of a track that began in the Los Angeles club scene to becoming a highlight of one of rock’s most beloved albums, full circle.