KISS

With their outlandish costumes, full makeup, and theatrical stage shows, the rock group KISS took rock and roll (see entry under 1950s—Music in volume 3) and theater, mixed it together, and sold millions of records and concert tickets. They also took the marketing of rock music to new levels. Along the way, they also made some solid hard-rock records. Among the numerous hard-rock acts in the 1970s, KISS had the most extensive and devoted following.

Formed in 1973, the group consisted of bassist Gene Simmons (1949–), guitarist Paul Stanley (1952–), drummer Peter Criss (1945–), and guitarist Ace Frehley (1951–). Their first album, KISS, came out in February 1974. It was reasonably successful, and the band toured constantly and developed their fan base. Their success came mostly from their theatrical stage shows. By the early 1970s, music fans were tiring of going to concerts simply to see their favorite performers in person; now many fans wanted a spectacular stage show. Artists such as Alice Cooper (1948–), David Bowie (1947–), and KISS responded with ever more elaborate stage productions. KISS took this concept the furthest. They never appeared in public without full makeup, and their shows featured dry ice, blood spitting, dramatic lighting, explosions, and fire breathing. At these shows and on their records, KISS played straight-ahead rock and roll. Their songs "Rock and Roll All Nite," "Calling Dr. Love," and "Hard Luck Woman" were minor rock classics. They even scored a top-ten hit in 1976 with their rock ballad "Beth."

KISS capitalized on their success with some clever marketing gimmicks. In the late 1970s, there were KISS dolls, lunch boxes, pinball machines, comic books, and literally hundreds of other items of KISS merchandise. They also had an animated cartoon special, KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park (1978). Their classic period ended in the early 1980s when Peter Criss and Ace Frehley left the band; two drummers followed Criss and three guitarists followed Frehley before both returned to the band in 1996. KISS gave up their makeup in 1983 and continued to tour and make albums; when Criss and Frehley returned, so did the makeup.

—Timothy Berg

For More Information

Bangs, Lester. "Heavy Metal." In The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock and Roll. Edited by Jim Miller. New York: Rolling Stone Press, 1980.

KISS. Introduction by Sylvie Simmons. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1997.

KISS On Line.http://www.kissonline.com (accessed March 27, 2002).

Kitts, Jeff. KISStory. Los Angeles: KISStory, 1994.

Lendt, C. K. KISS and Sell: The Making of a Supergroup. New York: Billboard Books, 1997.