Kiss

Updated 26 July 2023

Band name: KISS
Band members: 

• Paul Stanley
• Gene Simmons
• Eric Singer
• Tommy Thayer

Founded in: 1973
Genre: Hard rock, heavy metal, shock rock, glam metal

Biography & Career  

Kiss, often styled as KISS, stands as an emblematic American rock band that originated in New York City in 1973. The band's founding members include Paul Stanley on vocals and rhythm guitar, Gene Simmons on vocals and bass, Ace Frehley on lead guitar and vocals, and Peter Criss on drums and vocals. What catapulted them to fame during the mid-1970s were their electrifying live performances featuring sensational shock rock-style elements such as fire-breathing, blood-spitting, smoking guitars, and spectacular pyrotechnics, all complemented by their distinctive face paint and elaborate stage outfits.  

The group became widely recognized for their comic book-inspired personas, portraying characters like the Starchild, the Demon, the Spaceman, and the Catman. Over the years, Kiss underwent various lineup changes, with Stanley and Simmons remaining the only constant members. Though Criss and Frehley departed the band in the early 1980s, the original lineup reunited in 1996, showcasing their iconic makeup and costumes in a highly successful reunion tour.  

Kiss's music ventured into diverse genres, spanning from hard rock and heavy metal to glam metal and even touches of progressive rock. Their sound was characterized by powerful anthems, captivating hooks, and vigorous performances that paved the way for arena rock and influenced the pop-metal genre, dominating the late 1980s.   The band's significant impact on the music industry cannot be overstated, with countless records sold globally and multiple gold and platinum albums. In 2014, the original members were duly honored with induction into the esteemed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. MTV ranked them as the ninth "Greatest Metal Band of All Time," while VH1 bestowed upon them the tenth position in the "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" list. Kiss's enduring legacy continues, firmly establishing them as one of the most extraordinary and influential rock bands in history.

KISS Top Hits: 

• "Rock and Roll All Nite"
• "Detroit Rock City"
• "I Was Made for Lovin' You"
• "Beth"
• "Love Gun"
• "Heaven's on Fire"
• "Lick It Up"
• "Shout It Out Loud"
• "Strutter"
• "Black Diamond"
• "Cold Gin"
• "God of Thunder"
• "Deuce"
• "Crazy Crazy Nights"
• "Forever"
• "Tears Are Falling"
• "Psycho Circus"
• "Calling Dr. Love"
• "Firehouse"
• "War Machine"