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 Heavy Metal Hall of Fame -- Kiss By: Axe Wielder |
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 Kiss broke onto the scene in 1974 with its self-titled debut album, and released 'Hotter Than Hell' (1974) and 'Dressed To Kill' (1975) shortly thereafter. They introduced themselves to the world with a heavy "arena rock" sound, and a completely unique appearance. Original band members Paul "The Starchild" Stanley, Gene "The Demon" Simmons, "Spaceman" Ace Frehley, and Peter "The Cat" Criss, assumed made-up personas and flamboyant costumes to go with their stage theatrics. Parents were scared, the kids were curious. The rest is history. The band's breakout album, oddly enough, was a live offering -- the aptly-titled 'Alive!' (1975). It was a combination of a greatest hits compilation and a sampler of their spectacular live performances. Always known to deliver an electric and entertaining show, this album started that benchmark. 'Destroyer', released in 1976, was probably their most popular album, and included the demonic "God of Thunder", "Detroit Rock City", and the rock/metal world's first love ballad with "Beth".
Follow up albums 'Rock and Roll Over' (1976) and 'Love Gun' (1977), along with 'Destroyer', supplied the material for Alive II (1978). Each KISS member also
Eric Carr, under the persona "The Fox", and Vinnie Vincent, the "Egyptian Warrior",
Yet another new guitarist made his debut with the band in 1985 for 'Asylum'. Bruce Kulick became the band's 4th lead guitarist, and would stay until the 1996 reunion.
'Asylum', 'Crazy Nights' (1987), and 'Hot in the Shade' (1989) all featured the "hair band" sound that was in vogue at the time, and kept the group selling records. 1992's 'Revenge' not only featured
new drummer Eric Singer, replacing the deceased Eric Carr, but also yet another new direction for the band. Revenge was the band's heaviest album to date, and arguably its most
inspired since 'Creatures of the Night'.
Whether you thought they were scary or cheesy, demonic or harmless, musically relevant or marketing whores, Kiss was the rock world's voice from the mid 1970's until
the end of the decade. Their concerts, with the fireworks, blood, explosions, pulsing neon signs and theatrics, gave birth to arena rock, and set the standard to which all subsequent rock
and metal concerts were to be compared. Thanks to Gene $immons' marketing
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God of Thunder--RealAudio
simultaneously released a solo album in 1978, a first and only achievement for a rock band. However, only lead guitarist Ace Frehley's album sounded like a Kiss
record, while the other members went with different musical directions.
'Dynasty' (1979) was the first example of Kiss adapting to the popular music of the moment, introducing
a somewhat disco-influenced sound on selected tracks. After 'Unmasked' in 1980, the band took a gamble and released the barely-rock concept album 'The Elder' in 1981.
Afterwards, both Criss and Frehley officially left the band, although Criss hadn't appeared on a Kiss album since Dynasty.
joined the band in 1982 for 'Creatures of the Night', a true heavy metal return for the band,
which introduced yet another semi-new sound for the new decade--though the band's showmanship remained the same. In a bold move for the time, the band
chose to remove its trademark makeup in 1983, and simultaneously released 'Lick It Up'.
Mark St. John replaced Vincent for 1984's 'Animalize', which hits the shelves just as MTV began to take off, and as a result many will remember the hit "Heaven's On
Fire". 
'Alive III' (1993) gave the fans a third live album to enjoy, and the new sound introduced with 'Revenge' continued on the held (and
almost never released) 'Carnival of Souls' in 1997. After a reunion on the MTV Unplugged show in 1996 with Frehley and Criss, the album (will Kulick and Singer) never received any support from the
band or its label. After an extremely successful reunion tour in 1996-1997, 'Psycho Circus' was released in 1998 and featured the original four members. The album
modernized the classic 1970's Kiss sound and provided enough energy for the Farewell Tour in 2000. However, Kiss hasn't said "farewell" quite yet, as there
are rumored plans to tour in 2003 with Aerosmith.
genius and love of money, the band's image and logo can be found on action figures, lunch boxes,
comic books, coffins, condoms, cars, and video games to this day. They have undoubtedly influenced rock and metal acts from Poison to Twisted Sister
to Anthrax to Iced Earth, and all points in between. And as 1994's 'Kiss My
Ass' tribute record shows, they even left their mark on the 1990's alternative rock scene. Kiss has for nearly 30 years, and today still sells and remains the favorite
band for countless rock and metal fans. Paul, Gene and the boys taught the world how to "Rock and roll all nite and party everyday"... from bikers to accountants, for males and females,
and for the young and the old, the hottest band in the world remains Kiss. You wanted the best... and they continue to deliver.
