KISS?

[thomasallencummins]

KISS has been a bit of a mystery to me for years. My wife is a die-hard fan and she was hooked when she went to her first concert and got a look at Paul Stanley. That doesn’t help me understand however. I got my first glimpse of KISS when I was in Jr. High School and some kid showed me an album cover or a photo or something and I saw the guys in the costumes and makeup. I was impressed. Kind of creepy and neat at the same time. Then I heard some of the music and that is where I started to become confused. Given what the band looked like I expected lyrics like:

Blood, Blood, Blood,
Worship Satan baby.
Blood, Blood, Blood,
Kill and eat them honey.

Slay your fears with a knife as cold as demons.
Kill your pain with a sword of liquid fire.

Blah blah blah blah blah blah.

Instead I hear music that sounds like a pot smoking New Jersey bar band.

I wanna rock and roll all night
And party every day.


Huh? What did I miss? I have respect for what the group has achieved. They have spawned a corps of rabid and unwavering fans that is rivaled only by the Grateful Dead. But I just don’t get it. I watched a VH1 special on KISS a while back and I got lots of interesting info on who did what. How many drummers and guitarists they went through. The evolution of the band's appearance including the momentous occasion where they finally showed their faces in public. But in addition to that I got to hear a lot of their music and I was left scratching my head. Fandom is a peculiar thing. I enjoy music I don’t have any business listening to and I hate stuff that should be right up my alley. I can't prove it but I've suspected that KISS was probably a name just like many other pop/rock bands of the early 70s like SWEET or The Bay City Rollers. It is my opinion that KISS would have probably faded into bubble gum rock obscurity if it hadn't been for their adoption of an Alice Cooper persona. IMHO of course.

See SWEET, BAY CITY ROLLERS, ANDY KIM, EDDISON LIGHTHOUSE, ARGENT, T. Rex, Paper Lace, Head East

[dANdeLION]

Gene Simmons is one of the most interesting people, ever. He's the consummate performer, and he really, really knows how to sell himself, and, more importantly, how to create and live up to his image. As a group of performers, I think KISS is probably one of the most entertaining groups to come out of the '70's. Of course, performance art is one thing; musicianship is another. As a group of musicians, I think they fall quite flat. But, I don't think they ever really cared to compete with the muscal heavyweights of their era.

[thomasallencummins]

danomite said:

Gene Simmons is one of the most interesting people, ever. He's the consummate performer, and he really, really knows how to sell himself, and, more importantly, how to create and live up to his image. As a group of performers, I think KISS is probably one of the most entertaining groups to come out of the '70's. Of course, performance art is one thing; musicianship is another. As a group of musicians, I think they fall quite flat. But, I don't think they ever really cared to compete with the muscal heavyweights of their era.

There is no question that Gene Simmons is a fun and talented guy. I loved him as the antagonist in the film Runaway. I'm suprised he hasn't tried to do more acting than he has.

[Cad Zombie]

Argent,...havn't heard that name in a long while, if one song could sum up my memories of the 70's it would be "hold your head up"

[Cad Zombie]

oh, and On topic,...Kiss blows.

[thomasallencummins]

cadzombie said:

oh, and On topic,...Kiss blows.

I wouldn't presume to debate you on the subject. ;D

[ram]

KISS is the WWE of rock music. It's not "real" music, just pure lowest common denominator entertainment.

Not long ago in some magazine, I saw that Ace Frehley was ranked as one of the most influential rock guitarists because he supposedly inspired a whole generation of kids to pick up the instrument, even if he himself wasn't so great at it. It's the power of all that makeup. If Ace Frehley was just your average makeup-less, glam-less guitarist, I don't think he would've attracted as many fans as he did.

[dANdeLION]

KISS = Knights in Sucky Spandex.

[thomasallencummins]

ram said:

KISS is the WWE of rock music. It's not "real" music, just pure lowest common denominator entertainment.

Not long ago in some magazine, I saw that Ace Frehley was ranked as one of the most influential rock guitarists because he supposedly inspired a whole generation of kids to pick up the instrument, even if he himself wasn't so great at it. It's the power of all that makeup. If Ace Frehley was just your average makeup-less, glam-less guitarist, I don't think he would've attracted as many fans as he did.

It is unlikely that I could agree with you more. ;D

[ram]

Looking back at my comments (yes, I've wasted yet more brainpower on KISS), I may have given the impression that I'm against all rock stars dressing up in makeup. Not at all. I think KISS's makeup strategy was a brilliant move - it made them the most recognizable rock band on the planet, right? And I'll be the first to admit that the makeup itself was pretty cool, along with the associated "alter egos" for each bandmember: the Starchild, the Demon, the Catman, the, er, Space dude.

All I'm saying is that take away the makeup and the image, and KISS becomes pretty feeble. Well, in the 80s they finally did take off the makeup, and lo and behold: they became feeble shadows of their former selves. And since there wasn't much substance to begin with, in terms of the songs, it wasn't hard to see just how shallow the band really was. I do at least remember their 70s album covers and some of the songs, but did KISS do anything in the 80s worth remembering? It was ironic how, just as KISS went makeup-less, the 80s hair-metal era was starting up with the likes of Motley Crue and Poison...though I guess it can be argued that KISS was the blueprint for all those 80's glam metal bands. But at least some of those bands were capable of catchy tunes, unlike KISS, who were going nowhere in the 80s.

[thomasallencummins]

ram said:

Well, in the 80s they finally did take off the makeup, and lo and behold: they became feeble shadows of their former selves. And since there wasn't much substance to begin with, in terms of the songs, it wasn't hard to see just how shallow the band really was.

Agreed. It is ironic to me that the single "Lick It Up" actually had a bit of a memorable hook to it and the sound seemed to be a bit more competent than the usual KISS fare. Perhaps they benefited from a gifted producer. I just don't know.

[dANdeLION]

KISS sucks. Why do we need a thread to explain that? Everybody already knows it!

[ram]

danomite said:

KISS sucks. Why do we need a thread to explain that? Everybody already knows it!

Er...because the magnitude of KISS's suckitude demands national (if not global) soul-searching? Also, I'm not sure that everybody knows they suck. I mean, there could be music fans in Mongolia just getting into rock and roll who don't know any better...

[sweetpea]

how rude..Atomic knows he owes part of his long lasting, fabulous marriage to the awakening of his wife watching Paul Stanley introduce the song Love Gun..that alone should make him a fan

[thomasallencummins]

sweetpea said:

how rude..Atomic knows he owes part of his long lasting, fabulous marriage to the awakening of his wife watching Paul Stanley introduce the song Love Gun..that alone should make him a fan

Oh sure I'm grateful. An because of that I have tried to like KISS but the music just doesn't speak to me the way it does for their fans. Of course I'm thankful for a fabulous wife, a fabulous marriage and a fabulous kid. All because of Paul Stanley? Well..... ;D