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KISS (band)

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KISS is a New York City-based heavy metal band that became famous in the mid- to late 1970s. Although "Heavy Metal" didn't exist when the band was formed in 1972 you can say that they invented a big part of the sound and style which now belong to Heavy Metal. The band was known for its elaborate costumes and stage sets, and the fact that the band never appeared in public except in heavy make-up which disguised their real identities. The band stopped wearing their make-up in 1983, and put it back on by the mid 1990s when they began touring as a 1970s nostalgia act.

The original members of KISS (formed 1972?-'73) (and their made-up personas) are Paul Stanley (star child), rhythm guitar; Gene Simmons (demon), bass; Ace Frehley (space-ace), lead guitar; and Peter Criss (catman), drums.

Over the years, the band had these replacements for Ace Frehley between 1982 and 1996 (when the original four members reunited):

And these were the replacements for Peter Criss between 1980 and 1996 and after 2001 when he left the band a second time:

The band's name was rumored to stand for "Knights In Satan's Service" but this is an urban legend which Gene Simmons has denied in his book. Simmons states that Paul Stanley suggested the name on the spur of the moment while they were stopped at a traffic light. Paul has also stated that the band name is not an acronym. Ace designed the infamous lightening bolt logo, and the rest is "Kisstory".

The first ever KISS performance was in 1973, and they performed to an audience of 10.

The group released their first two albums in 1974. The cover of their debut, KISS, showed the group in their kabuki makeup, mimiking the cover of the Beatles' With the Beatles album. At the time, no one really knew what to make of the group's look. Topping at #87 in the charts, the album did feature three major classics in the group's career; "Strutter," "Deuce," "Cold Gin," and the closer "Black Diamond." The follow-up, Hotter Than Hell featured a Japanese influenced cover, an attempt to make people think the group were well-known worldwide. The album did poorer than their debut, just reaching #100 on Billboard.

In 1975, having achieved recognition, but no big hit single, Cassablanca Records head Neil Bogart stepped in to produce their next album. Trading in the raw sound of KISS and Hotter Than Hell for a clean, pop sound with Dressed To Kill . The album included two important songs in the group's career; "C'mon And Love Me," their first big radio hit, and "Rock And Roll All Nite," which became their first hit single. In 1975, they released the live album Alive! The album was a huge success and is considered by many their most exciting work. Following it, the group tried out new ideas and tape experiments, creating very different music. The result was Destroyer , which included the hits "Beth" (sung by drummer Peter Criss), "Detroit Rock City," and "Shout It Out Loud."

Both Destroyer (1976) and Music from the Elder (1981) were produced by Bob Ezrin. Both were concept albums, with the former being less conspicuously so. The latter was the only KISS album to reach merely "gold" sales status. Ezrin's production on Music from The Elder is clearly similar to his work on Pink Floyd's The Wall, released two years earlier. As an example, compare the ethereal arpeggios of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" with KISS' "Under The Rose". While both albums are arguably quite good, the world was not ready to consider KISS outside of its "3-minute song about lusting for women" reputation.

On a similar note, only three of KISS' albums are without reference to unrepentant libido:

  • Music from The Elder — concept album about a youth's journey into heroism
  • Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions — introspective and serious songs
  • Psycho Circus — songs explicitly referencing Rock music or KISS itself

On New Years' Eve 1975, Blue Öyster Cult opened for KISS at Nassau Coliseum, two years to the day after KISS opened for them.

KISS starred in a made for television movie KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park (1978).

In 1997, the original band reunited after 17 years apart, and launched their wildly successful reunion tour. in 2000, the band released "Psycho Circus", and departed on the ensuing 3D tour, with a circus as the opening act. The tour was mildy succesful, but the band continued to dominate the rock world.

in 2003, KISS released "KISS SYMPHONY" with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss and Tommy Thayer, backed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Peter Criss left the band again in late 2003, and was replaced with Eric Singer, who along with Tommy Thayer performed during KISS' 2004 "World Domination" Tour, with 80's hair band Poison as the opening act.


KISS Albums

  • Kiss (1974)
  • Hotter than Hell (1974)
  • Dressed to Kill (1975)
  • Alive! (1975)
  • The Originals (1976) — compilation of first 3 studio albums
  • Destroyer (1976)
  • Rock and Roll Over (1976)
  • Love Gun (1977)
  • Alive II (1977)
  • The Originals II (1978) — compilation of next the next 3 studio albums
  • Double Platinum (1978)
  • Paul Stanley (1978)
  • Gene Simmons (1978)
  • Peter Criss (1978)
  • Ace Frehley (1978)
  • Dynasty (1979)
  • The Best of Solo Albums (1980) — 3 tracks each from each solo album
  • Unmasked (1980)
  • (Music from) the Elder (1981)
  • Killers (1982) — unavailable in North America
  • Creatures of the Night (1982)
  • Lick It Up (1983) — first album cover without face paint
  • Animalize (1984)
  • Asylum (1985)
  • Crazy Nights (1987)
  • Smashes, Thrashes, and Hits (1988)
  • Hot in the Shade (1989)
  • Revenge (1992)
  • Alive III (1993)
  • Kiss My Ass (1994)
  • MTV Unplugged (1996)
  • You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best (1996)
  • Greatest Kiss (1997)
  • Carnival of Souls (1997)
  • Psycho Circus (1998)
  • Psycho Circus Live (1999)
  • The Very Best of Kiss (2002)
  • Alive IV - Kiss Symphony (2003)

External links


Last updated: 11-08-2004 07:48:06