In 1974, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley started Kiss. Soon thereafter they added drummer Peter Criss and guitarist Ace Frehley.
The group’s initial six albums feature predominantly minor, major and mixolydian tonality; their 1976 record “Destroyer” however was more ambitious musically with orchestral arrangements and symphonic elements.
Origins
Kiss became one of America’s most beloved rock bands during the ’70s due to their iconic live album Alive! and 1976 release Destroyer. Their eye-catching face paint, costumes and pyrotechnics made it impossible for anyone to ignore them; their personas of Paul Stanley as Starchild; Gene Simmons as Demon; Peter Criss as Catman and Ace Frehley as Space Ace were theatrical characters designed to represent inner feelings; however these should not be taken too seriously as part of great rock music’s allure!
Makeup and costumes not only instantly recognized KISS; they were also essential to record sales. Even their name had some hidden meaning; many believe the acronym KISS stood for “Kiss of Satan’s Soldiers”. Stanley and Simmons created an iconic logo for the group which became banned in Germany due to resembling Nazi paramilitary organization SS’s symbolism.
As they gained in popularity, the band took its image more seriously, moving beyond greasepaint and costumes and adopting a more refined musical sound. Teaming up with producer Bob Ezrin who had worked with Alice Cooper and produced Deep Purple and Black Sabbath albums’ debut albums was key; the result was more symphonic yet complex sound than they had used previously, though still hard rock at heart.
Due to record industry pressure, the band felt obliged to soften their image and reduce stage antics. To counter this pressure, they embarked upon an ill-advised concept album project and hired The Wall architect Bob Ezrin as producer; as a result of which, Unmasked marked the first time makeup had ever been worn during recording sessions and intended as more of an artistic statement than straightforward hard rock effort.
Still today, there is much heated discussion regarding Kiss’s classification as heavy metal music. Unfortunately, many respondent to this question on Reddit and elsewhere fail to appreciate the cultural context of the ’70s and therefore their responses often seem more ignorant than logical; while yes votes tend to outnumber no votes; therefore this question does not lack merit.
Lineup
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley began performing as KISS in New York in 1973. Their unique stage act with makeup and costumes quickly captured rock fans who quickly nicknamed them The Hottest Band in the World. KISS quickly rose through the ranks, becoming popular both domestically and abroad thanks to a mix of hard rock and glam rock influences; ultimately releasing many hit albums while cultivating an enormous following around the globe. KISS were honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
Kiss made an effort in the early 1980s to transform both their image and sound, adding pop elements such as disco-inspired songs like I Was Made for Lovin’ You while hiring drummer Eric Carr as Peter Criss’ replacement. Additionally, they released heavy metal albums like Animalize, Asylum Crazy Nights & Hot in the Shade.
By the end of the decade, KISS had fallen on hard times and were in debt to their record label. To secure their contract renewal and keep performing live shows, the band needed a major commercial breakthrough; to that end, 1982’s Creatures of the Night double live album was recorded despite Frehley having announced his departure; to keep their record company happy they included him on its cover art even though he did not play on any tracks on it.
In 1988, the original lineup reunited to record Carnival of Souls to critical and commercial acclaim; touring once more under their original names without their masks on was another hugely profitable tour for them. Reunion tours were consistently among the highest grossing tours ever.
KISS reformed in 1996 with original guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer joining founding members Simmons and Stanley for tours until 1999, although both initially expressed reservations. These concerns were eased after appearing successfully on MTV Unplugged which signaled an impending reunion tour known as Carnival of Souls that became one of their biggest ever tours ever undertaken.
Hits
Kiss was the band that introduced millions of kids (and some adults) to heavy metal music, and has had an enormous influence over this genre of music. Kiss’ image, songs, and pyrotechnics resonated with certain rock fans while Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell who died tragically on stage was known for being a huge Kiss fan who was heavily influenced by their group’s sound.
Dressed to Kill, Black Diamond and Rock and Roll All Nite were hard rock classics with emphasis on amplified guitar riffs and distorted vocals, drawing influence from American psychedelic musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane; additionally these songs contained elements representing darkness, evil and power in their music.
Kiss also had a pop element with songs such as Beth, Love Gun and Nowhere to Run that featured catchy melodies reminiscent of early glam rock like Slade. Their later albums focused more heavily on thrash metal but they still produced memorable tunes including Creatures of the Night which became one of their biggest hits.
KISS became less fashionable to admit your devotion in the 1990s, yet many fans continue to listen and watch them perform live shows today. KISS remains an iconic band with music that will outlive its members.
Kiss remains at the center of much debate regarding whether they belong in the genre of heavy metal music. Many who consider them metal will often point out bands such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath were among the founding artists, yet heavy metal encompasses an expansive genre encompassing nu-metal, death doom folk and black metal among others. Kiss’ influence upon heavy metal may be debated; nonetheless it cannot be denied that KISS were influential when they first emerged in the mid 1970s as early as their songs contained pop structures rather than typical metal tropes found today.
Influences
KISS’ music blends elements of hard rock and glam metal. Their distinctive theatrical image and charismatic stage persona have cemented them as one of the most recognizable bands ever, inspiring other rock artists through makeup and costumes. KISS quickly rose to cultural significance during the early 1970s even though their debut album wasn’t commercially successful but nevertheless quickly won them a dedicated following.
KISS released their second, more successful album in 1974 with “Rock and Roll All Nite,” and quickly gained massive acclaim among audiences around the globe. Today they remain one of the best-selling bands ever.
Kiss’ original lineup consisted of Gene Simmons on bass and vocals, Paul Stanley on guitar and vocals, Ace Frehley on guitar, and Peter Criss on drums. Kiss influenced numerous musicians including the Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, Aerosmith and Donna Summer – their unique sound was often emulated.
As soon as KISS first made their debut performance, their make-up and costumes became an instantaneous crowd pleaser. One of few rock bands to incorporate such elaborate visual elements into their performances. Since then, their popularity has only continued to soar; KISS have sold over 100 million records worldwide!
KISS returned to their hard rock roots during the 1980s and released several hard rock albums like Animalize, Asylum and Crazy Nights while performing several live shows featuring an orchestra. Guitarist Mark St. John left due to health reasons but Bruce Kulick stayed until 1997 – when his health issues caused his departure.
Today, KISS remains a legendary band who continue to tour and release new music. Their sound fuses hard rock and metal with elements of pop and R&B; many modern artists such as Nirvana and Slipknot have been inspired by them and KISS is still one of the world’s most recognisable acts.