Hard Rockers Kiss Still Rocking On
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Author: Jimmy Cox
The American band Kiss was formed in New York around 1973. Now
over the past 34 years Kiss have sold over 19 million records in
the U.S. alone and a whopping 80 million records worldwide. They
have even been awarded with 22 gold records since their
formation, even though the group has a history of different band
members.
Kiss is well known for their live performances, having gimmicks
like fire breathing, smoking guitars, blood spitting,
pyrotechnics, and other extraordinary on stage antics. Because
of their entertaining performances and unique sound, it`s no
surprise Kiss has quickly developed a fan base worldwide.
The original members of Kiss were Gene Simmons, a schoolteacher
and bass player, and Paul Stanley, a singer and guitarist who
were both members of a band called Wicked Lester.
When Simmons and Stanley decided to leave Wicked Lester, they
brought with them their bad boy image and formed the band Kiss
with a horror style of presentation. This image later became the
reason for being dubbed as one of the greatest rock and roll
bands in the world of popular music.
Kiss became a complete band after recruiting Paul Ace Frehley
(vocals and lead guitar) and Peter Criss (vocals and drums)
through a newspaper advertisement that Stanley and Simmons set
out.
The band Kiss produced a series of successful albums throughout
the 1970s. With their donning, elaborate face make ups and black
leather outfits, the Kiss band instantly became a hit and even
adopted each of their own personas and stage names Stanley The
Star Child, Simmons The Demon, Criss The Cat and Frehley The
Space Man.
In 1974, Kiss` self titled debut album and Hotter Than Hell came
out, which were both filled with crushing, raw music that would
later become classic Kiss songs like Hotter than Hell, Strutter
and Cold Gin. However, the band`s commercial stardom began with
their 1975 album Dressed to Kill, which gave Kiss their
signature tune Rock and Roll All Nite.
Around 1976 and with their release of Destroyer, Kiss was dubbed
as the greatest rock n` roll band in America due to its Top 10
hits and its growing Kiss Army. The group, then, released Love
Gun and Rock and Roll Over, which both became Platinum.
Unfortunately, because of creative differences and substance
abuse, Frehley and Criss were both out of the band by 1982. As a
result, the band`s commercial fortune and fan base also
decreased during this time.
Without the make up, Kiss made a major comeback in 1983 and
enjoyed a successful resurgence all through the early 1990s.
Kiss` original lineup reunited in 1996, with their world
renowned make ups on and performed in 210 cities for the Kiss
Alive Worldwide Tour, which attended by over two million Kiss
fanatics worldwide.
After the tour, Criss was replaced by Eric Singer and Frehley by
Tommy Thayer, after both deciding to leave Kiss for good. The
band still performs with Simmons and Stanley the only constant
band members.
To this day with their evolving music, elaborate live acts,
outlandish costumes and millions of fans and worldwide, Kiss
remains as one of the greatest rock and roll bands in the world.
About the Author
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