Kiss
Biography
Rooted in the campy theatrics of Alice Cooper and the sleazy hard rock of glam rockers the New York Dolls, Kiss became a favorite of American teenagers in the '70s. Most kids were infatuated with the look of Kiss, not their music. Decked out in outrageously flamboyant costumes and makeup, the band fashioned a captivating stage show featuring dry ice, smoke bombs, elaborate lighting, blood spitting, and fire breathing that captured the imaginations of thousands of kids. But Kiss' music shouldn't be dismissed -- it was a commercially potent mix of anthemic, fist-pounding hard rock driven by sleek hooks and ballads powered by loud guitars, cloying melodies, and sweeping strings. It was a sound that laid the groundwork for both arena rock and the pop-metal that dominated rock in the late '80s. Kiss was the brainchild of Gene Simmons (bass, vocals) and Paul Stanley (rhythm guitar, vocals), former members of the New York-based hard rock band Wicked Lester; the duo brought in drummer Peter Criss through his ad in Rolling Stone and guitarist Ace Frehley responded to an advertisement in The Village Voice. Even at their first Manhattan concert in 1973, the group's approach was quite theatrical; Flipside producer Bill Aucoin offered the band a management deal after the show.
Selected Discography
Alive! 1975-2000 (Alive II)
2006
Kiss Gold
2005
Symphony: Alive IV (Live)
2003
The Best Of Kiss: 20th Century Masters The Millenium Collection
2003
Psycho Circus
1998
Hot In The Shade
1989
Smashes, Thrashes And Hits
1988
Crazy Nights
1987
Animalize
1984
Lick It Up
1983
yes you are both right! I have a mixture of all of those between album,casset t e , & CD; just didnt want to get into ALL thats missing from this page. I salute ya'll! As for compilations , I tend to shy away;not the same if you know what I mean? BTW; Shandi is the name. Keep it rockin u mothers!!!!! ! !
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There are several others missing, too. The Elder, Asylum, Revenge, Alive III, Carnival of Souls...
Not to mention about 20 other compilations and live albums. |
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And their missing another album. I just noticed it, "Unmasked", released in the early 80's, before "Lick It Up". There was that song "Shandi", at least I think that's what the song was called. Good tune for the retro crowd, lol. And nope not a member of the Kiss army, just a bass guitar player and a big fan of the group. Gene Simmons riffs are some of the best to learn.
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I am tired of only the generic overplayed KISS songs on the radio. Would it pain them to play detroit rock city, cold gin, strutter, etc. every so often? I love R&R All Nite but Kiss gets a bad rap of being one dimensional because that is the only song radio stations play!
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RIGHT ON colin!!!! NICE, VERY NICE observation! ! ! ! ! ! !
next time u see it, u better grab it! There is also two different album covers of Creatures; one with make-up, & one without; I have the album with, & a cassette without. You must be a member of the KISS Army?!?! Keep it up man; you rock |
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I know there's an ablum missing from this set. It was called "Killers". I think it was released in the early 80's. Somewhere between "Dynasty" and "Creatures of the Night". It's extremely hard to get. I've only seen it a couple of times in music stores.
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Like everything else, "who is the best" is a matter of opinion and musical taste. Personally, I have loved 'em since '75...saw 'em in '79 in Baton Rouge...they rose up out of the floor...to a 13 year old, it was frackin' awesome!!! Saw 'em again in '97 in New Orleans...yo u don't have to like their music, but if you ever see them live, it'll be one of the best shows you've ever seen.
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You wanted the best! You got the best! Always will be the "Hottest band " in the world!!
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Right on jay.l n buckj; they were the true enovators of shock rock, along with Alice. MManson is a joke;nothing that Alice hasnt already done,except much better; at least Zombie is the first to admit that Alice & KISS did it first! Keep the fire ALIVE guys!!!!!!!! ! ! ! !
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Kiss was the first band that I tried to emulate. Yes, I burned lots of head and forearm hair in the process and was kicked out of class more than once for spitting up blood, but the music, the lights, the bombs, the smoke, the outfits, the crowds...WOW ! ! ! ! !
Regardless of what KISS has become in regards to in-fighting, merchandice sell-outs, etc., they are still the model slam, not glam, rock band that put great music out for generations past, present, and future. |
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you wanted the best you got the best what an unbelivable live act i first saw them in 1975 33 years ago they were gods of thunder then and gene and paul still are rock on kiss army
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Wouldnt you like to know me and tonight you belong to me sound just like kiss songs
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Yes KISS fans, they do make condoms; & I have the complete set of 3. I admit that the merchandise got out of hand;but if your selective, some is worth bucks!4 xample;the origonal lunchbox i've had since 77;NO I don't live in my Dads basement.Fac e it, it's not the merchandise that made multi-platin u m albums! I'm off to make a downpayment on the KISS Kasket. Yes, they make one!& it doubles as a sealed cooler while ur still in the land of the living
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To 'Little Miss Spookiness': I can only assume they make KISS condoms. I'll admit if i saw them, i'd probably buy them. If they make KISS coffins, then i'd put money on condoms being available. They might even have KISS tv dinners, too! You could fashion your ENTIRE LIFE in KISS gear! Furniture, toothbrushes , cereal for kids...Gene Simmons could be genetically engineering KISS vegetables right now! Or breeding KISS cattle...tha t would be weird.
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im younger n my parents showed me kiss there a classic this is a band that kids will always now i now dat 4 sure
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Kiss rules! Been a fan since I was 6 (1978). Have all their albums on cd, many on vinyl, and a couple 8-tracks (sorry if you're too young to know what an 8-track is). I cried when I heard they were reuniting in the mid 90's, what a dream come true for someone who was too young to see them in their prime. Wouldn't see them now if the tickets were free. Gene is a greedy b**tard. Eric is cool, but Tommy is an ex-roadie who used to get Peter and Ace their frickin lunch. Neither one of them be
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To all the people below that "don't get KISS": Tellin ya,the 1st album and the 2nd 'Hotter than Hell' are very good 70's rock(NOT metal)record s . I've been a fan since i was about 3 or 4 (1977) and most people i've talked to that "don't get it" are writing them off without listening to the stuff that true fans appreciate. Criticizing things without investigatio n is called ignorance. I agree with the fact that the marketing sucks, though. Ok, off to get some KISS condoms...
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I think the Band Rocks!!!! I only wish that tommy thayer & eric singer had their own make-up identity and not the originals.
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I wish rock and roll all night and party every day, or whatever its called would disappear from the face of the planet. Family Jewels is a pretty cool show. More marketing like lots of people have already said.
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I AM TRULY A HUGE KISS FAN. I KONW ALL THE WORDS TO EVERY SONG
THEY EVER CAME OUT WITH. MY FAV IS BETH. THAT SONG REALLY SHOWED A SOFT SIDE TO THE KISS GUYS. |
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I had a friend who was a big fan of Kiss. I never understood it. I just don't get the appeal. I guess the Motley Crue fans are among the Kiss fans.
They were all about the marketing, just like Madonna. With good marketing, you can go far with minimal talent. From what I hear (and have seen), they put on a much better stage show than Madonna, though. I wouldn't go to see either, but I've seen parts of concerts by both on TV. |
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all you gotta look at is how many recording artists have been associated with this band and what sucess the've had and the merchandinsi n g et al figure it out people based on what you are paying for right now kiss is a bargain
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The fact that this band is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame makes a mockery of the process by which bands are selected. I mean, Madonna is in there before these guys? Ask 100 musicians who are among their influences, and 98 of them will say Kiss. The other two are lying.
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Can't really stand the Beatles. The songs I heard from them don't really sound rock to me and their melodies sound way too sugar-coated and not good and passionate enough. I never dislike the artists, I just dislike their songs. Now back to KISS, I don't know much about them but the few songs I have heard I did not like. I'm sorry but I'm the child of the nineties and classic rock didn't really rub off on me even though my dad loves it, not the Beatles and KISS necessarily but bands who start
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My first concert was a kiss concert my first favorite band was kiss, And I still love there music all of it.
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As a kid, these guys were like Super-heroes to me. I remember seeing the Destroyer album cover for the first time with flames, dragon boots...as a 12 year old boy, let me tell you, there was nothing cooler than that. I've followed them through the years, the good albums and less-than-st e l l e r ones. I still enjoy them, but I think the biggest quality I will miss is the mystery surrounding their real identities. There was a magic to that aspect of the band I am glad I got to experience. In today's
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One of my first favorite bands behind the Beatles. They can do no wrong. Seen 'em with Winger in the early 90's. Then was blessed to see the reunion tour with full makeup and stageshow in about 1996. Too young to see them with makeup in the 70's this show was like a dream come true for me. Saw it twice that year in Chicago. It was killer!
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My Begining. 1974 I was 4 years old and my 1'st record was KISS. Done Deal. Rock Fan Ever since.
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I'm A fan of KISS. The first album I ever bought by KISS was DESTROYER when it was first released. My husband is a big KISS fan and he like so many others in the 70's joined the KISS army. He has seen them a few times and we got to see the original members in 1999 during their Farewell Tour. It was an awesome show. They deserve much more credit than they receive. There will never be another band like KISS...Keep Rockin Guys!!!!!!!
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