chilipeppermaniac
Ambassador of Decibels
I doanyone here remember these??????
Came in the ALIVE 2 album I believe??????
temp tattoos
Just listened to this album for the first time in my entire life...
- Thread starter smitty_p
- Start date
Sp8ctre
Ambassador of Steel
KISS didn't explode until the Alive album. We all went crazy and then came Destroyer and we were still on board. When the Love Gun album came out you were ostracized if you ever admitted you
listened to them.
I was a little older than some here so maybe that's why the phenomenon was short lived. I was too old for action figures and lunch boxes. They hit their stride around the time I was getting my
drivers license. I went to see them once in 1976 and that was it.
Aerosmith was popular in my area around 1973 when I was 13. We all idolized them and they really didn't fade until after the Rocks album when the break up started.
...and for me personally Alice Cooper was a much better bizarre show and their songs had a lot more Teenage Angst layered in them...
KISS was not a gateway band for me either. I had already cut my teeth on Sabbath and many, many others. That's why I say KISS was not Americas Band for my generation...
OP
That’s a lot of good insight.
Sp8ctre
Ambassador of Steel
There weren't a lot of "Band" lunch boxes when I was a kid. I think the choices were The Beatles, The Monkees and The Partridge Family...I had The Monkees because they were popular due to the TV show!
I was given my first two records by my uncle when I was 7. They were Introducing the Beatles and Meet the Beatles. Soon after I started buying (asking Mom) to buy me albums. More Beatles and then CCR and then Zeppelin.
My Mom was a Hippie at the time and already had an incredible album collection featuring the likes of Deep Purple, Frank Zappa and many many others...
For me it was Motorhead. They grabbed me because they looked tough. Kiss would have got their asses whipped in my neighborhood.
I would have loved an Eagle's lunchbox...but I also had pet Rattlesnakes when normal kids had dogs.
OP
Thanks for the input. I enjoy hearing of different people’s backgrounds.
For me it was different. I mostly grew up in a single parent household. My mother grew up in the heyday of the Elvis era, but never liked rock music in any form - Elvis...the Beatles...or otherwise. She didn’t even like big-band music. When I was a kid she only played classical music in the house. She did begrudgingly allow my sister to have a Barry Manilow album.
However, unlike a lot of kids who chafe at their upbringings, I embraced mine. She took me to free, outdoor symphony concerts. They were utterly fascinating. I’ll be forever grateful to my mother for flooding my life with Brahams, Bach, Beethoven, Handel, Hayden, and Mozart. It is my “go-to” music. I’ll trade 30 seconds of guitar “solo” for 10 seconds of a violin ensemble, any day.
She would never have tolerated KISS in our home, for any number of reasons. And, frankly, I’m glad for that. I'm not sure I would have learned to appreciate other forms of music, otherwise.
I guess I’ve never understood rejecting the upbringing of loving parents.
So, why this journey into the world of KISS? It seems very counterintuitive given what I’ve just said.
The reason is that it is important to understand a person, rather than rely on preconceived notions about a person. I'm not really interested in being a KISS fan. I'm more interested in understanding KISS, the band. I suppose some of the interest is fuelled by the fact that they are on their last leg...again! Plus, the controversy that has long swirled in and around the band creates a drama and interest all its own.
It cannot be disputed that KISS is one of (if the THE) most recognizable bands in the world. AC/DC may be somewhat recognizable to some people due to Angus’s schoolboy uniform, but just about anyone can look at Kiss and know who they are.
So, I felt an obligation to learn who this group really is.
Starting with their music seemed as good a place as any to begin the process.
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jtcnj
Ambassador of the Crossroad
I was heavily into KISS mid 70's as a younger teen.
Had all the albums up to Love Gun.
I think I more was just exploring other bands after that and KISS kind of fell to the wayside.
I remember not being real interested by Unmasked.
I used to goof around with my friends and sing other band songs, like Beatles stuff, in a Gene Simmons voice. She Loves You on the Yeah Yeah Yeahhhh parts.
I posted this before I think, but my uncle took me to my first concert in NYC, MSG, Kiss but I thought we were going to lame Ringling Bros Circus until I heard the sound check on the way in and he showed me the tickets. It was for my birthday. I think I was 14 or so.
I dont recall details except it was great and smoke coming out of Ace's guitar.
He saw them regularly before they hit fame in small NYC clubs / bars, real up close, like in one of the early videos posted here.
Not that he was following them, they were just one of several / many small time live bands active at the time.
He said their make up would get all runny and f'd up from them sweating.
I just listened to Destroyer for the first time in decades.
I will be learning some songs / riffs in the near future.
Thanks for bringing back the memories.
Had all the albums up to Love Gun.
I think I more was just exploring other bands after that and KISS kind of fell to the wayside.
I remember not being real interested by Unmasked.
I used to goof around with my friends and sing other band songs, like Beatles stuff, in a Gene Simmons voice. She Loves You on the Yeah Yeah Yeahhhh parts.
I posted this before I think, but my uncle took me to my first concert in NYC, MSG, Kiss but I thought we were going to lame Ringling Bros Circus until I heard the sound check on the way in and he showed me the tickets. It was for my birthday. I think I was 14 or so.
I dont recall details except it was great and smoke coming out of Ace's guitar.
He saw them regularly before they hit fame in small NYC clubs / bars, real up close, like in one of the early videos posted here.
Not that he was following them, they were just one of several / many small time live bands active at the time.
He said their make up would get all runny and f'd up from them sweating.
I just listened to Destroyer for the first time in decades.
I will be learning some songs / riffs in the near future.
Thanks for bringing back the memories.
eSGEe
Ferengi Ambassador of Trade
I was too young for the Beatles-- and that age range--
though I learned and listened and enjoyed LATER--
Hendrix-- Joplin-- Zeppelin all the 60s stuff I was exposed to from relatives -- AFTER I showed interest in Kiss---Zeppelin was and still is a monumental influence to me and -- honestly "talent" wise exceed KISS by a long shot-- musicianship wise-- they are far better---The Eagles -- are immensely talented--
but-- Marketing-- saleability in your FACE showmanship---and songs with that "hook" --- sorry KISS pioneered that system --their shows where doing pyro and lighting and DRUMRISERS and all the "flash and trash" ----
while Pete Townsend was windmilling in front of a HIWATT --- as a pre pubescent boy
which is more "cool"
THIS?
or this?
THIS
EAGLES 1972
OR this
Demons -- dragons FIRE BREATHING -- scorching solos---
ridicule if you will but --- I was vaccinated with THAT phonograph needle -- and will always like them
AND -- actually RESPECT the direction they helped steer ROCK
they took waht the NEw York Dolls--- and Mott The Hoople and (honestly) Alice Cooper where doing and RAMPED IT UP 10 fold
they made them look like high school wrestling competitions and KISS was the WWE world Championship wrestling extravaganza
though I learned and listened and enjoyed LATER--
Hendrix-- Joplin-- Zeppelin all the 60s stuff I was exposed to from relatives -- AFTER I showed interest in Kiss---Zeppelin was and still is a monumental influence to me and -- honestly "talent" wise exceed KISS by a long shot-- musicianship wise-- they are far better---The Eagles -- are immensely talented--
but-- Marketing-- saleability in your FACE showmanship---and songs with that "hook" --- sorry KISS pioneered that system --their shows where doing pyro and lighting and DRUMRISERS and all the "flash and trash" ----
while Pete Townsend was windmilling in front of a HIWATT --- as a pre pubescent boy
which is more "cool"
THIS?
or this?
THIS
EAGLES 1972
OR this
Demons -- dragons FIRE BREATHING -- scorching solos---
ridicule if you will but --- I was vaccinated with THAT phonograph needle -- and will always like them
AND -- actually RESPECT the direction they helped steer ROCK
they took waht the NEw York Dolls--- and Mott The Hoople and (honestly) Alice Cooper where doing and RAMPED IT UP 10 fold
they made them look like high school wrestling competitions and KISS was the WWE world Championship wrestling extravaganza
I had issues with my parent's all-out ban of rock music. Frankly, i thought It ridiculous. I found it so creatively limiting and it made be detest country music en masse.
I as too young for the Beatles-- and that age range--
though I learned and listened and enjoyed LATER--
Hendrix-- Joplin-- Zeppelin all the 60s stuff I was exposed to from relatives -- AFTER I showed interest in Kiss---Zeppelin was and still is a monumental influence to me and -- honestly "talent" wise exceed KISS by a long shot-- musicianship wise-- they are far better---The Eagles -- are immensely talented--
but-- Marketing-- saleability in your FACE showmanship---and songs with that "hook" --- sorry KISS pioneered that system --their shows where doing pyro and lighting and DRUMRISERS and all the "flash and trash" ----
while Pete Townsend was windmilling in front of a HIWATT --- as a pre pubescent boy
which is more "cool"
THIS?
or this?
THIS
EAGLES 1972
OR this
Demons -- dragons FIRE BREATHING -- scorching solos---
ridicule if you will but --- I was vaccinated with THAT phonograph needle -- and will always like them
AND -- actually RESPECT the direction they helped steer ROCK
they took waht the NEw York Dolls--- and Mott The Hoople and (honestly) Alice Cooper where doing and RAMPED IT UP 10 fold
they made them look like high school wrestling competitions and KISS was the WWE world Championship wrestling extravaganza
With Motorhead....it was the power of the music grabbed me. The aggressive tone.
With the Eagles...it was their use of minor chords, guitar and vocal harmonies that appealed to me.
Tony M.
Ambassador
There is no denying the effect KISS had.
but...
I think that at least some of the credit for what KISS accomplished
should go to the excellent people who marketed them and to the
technical people behind the scenes that ran their 3 ring circus
of a stage show.
Without the marketing franchises, the PR people, the riggers, the
pyrotechnics crew, the lighting people, the road bosses and the rest,
they would have been just another too loud bar band.
Four people out front but hundreds of support people.
but...
I think that at least some of the credit for what KISS accomplished
should go to the excellent people who marketed them and to the
technical people behind the scenes that ran their 3 ring circus
of a stage show.
Without the marketing franchises, the PR people, the riggers, the
pyrotechnics crew, the lighting people, the road bosses and the rest,
they would have been just another too loud bar band.
Four people out front but hundreds of support people.
Gahr
Ambassador of Blues & Brews
I can't believe I haven't seen this thread before!
Kiss is a great, GREAT band. In many ways they have become part of Western popular culture in the same way Star Wars and Elvis and Coca Cola have; everyone knows them, whether they like them or not. They are beyond iconic, and they are instantly recognizable by everyone, even tough people may not actually have heard their music.
When I was a little kid in the 1970s, Kiss were part of our lives in a way that no other band ever came close to. I remember we were talking about Kiss all the time in kindergarten. We would play in the sand pit with our Matchbox cars, and we would pretend we were Kiss. We didn't pretend we were Kiss doing concerts or anything, we were just Kiss doing ordinary stuff. I have a specific memory of "being" Peter Criss driving his car on the way to the store to buy milk. We were completely mesmerized by their looks and their larger than life personas. And to us all the stories, all the rumors, everything that was said about the band was TRUE! They weren't rock gods, they were simply GODS. They had unlimited power and could do whatever they wanted. Imagine being five years old and your friend's ten year older big brother (who was the world's biggest Kiss fan) telling you Gene Simmons' tongue was that long because he had killed his grandmother and had her tongue grafted onto his own. It was TRUE, TRUE! That was how big Kiss were for us. A concert arena in Norway was heavily damaged by fire sometime in the late 1970s (or, that's what we heard, anyway), the rumor quickly spread that it was Kiss who had burned it down, because they had been unhappy with it after their first appearance in Norway. And of course, they had every right to do so, because they were Kiss! Completely ridiculous but to us it was just how things were. Our souls were guided by the Holy Trinity of God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost, and by Peter, Paul, Gene and Ace.
As soon as we got a bit older we realized that Kiss weren't QUITE as big and powerful as we thought, but we started actually listening to their music, and discovered that they were in fact one hell of a rock 'n' roll band. Adrian mentioned Gene Simmons' bass playing; he's not a great technician, and neither were Paul, Ace or Peter. But they could write killer rock songs, great riffs, and they were a super tight band playing with extreme conviction. They delivered a complete rock package. They took the music of bands like Slade (great band, by the way!), Americanized it and made it their own. They had a definite musical style. They are a prime example of how technique doesn't really matter when your style and delivery are right. Theatrics aside, Kiss were probably the ultimate rock 'n' roll band. And the makeup, blood and pyro were just the icing on the cake.
I still liten a lot to their 70s records today (ok, not "Destroyer"), and there are certain songs on their later albums I dig as well: "The Oath" from "The Elder", "Lick it Up", "Crazy Nights" (yep, guilty pleasure!), "Domino", "Unholy", "Into the Void", "I Finally Found My Way" etc. How many bands can boast of having a career that long, and of writing hit songs in all eras of their carreers? Not many. Hats off to Kiss, the hottest band in the land.
Kiss is a great, GREAT band. In many ways they have become part of Western popular culture in the same way Star Wars and Elvis and Coca Cola have; everyone knows them, whether they like them or not. They are beyond iconic, and they are instantly recognizable by everyone, even tough people may not actually have heard their music.
When I was a little kid in the 1970s, Kiss were part of our lives in a way that no other band ever came close to. I remember we were talking about Kiss all the time in kindergarten. We would play in the sand pit with our Matchbox cars, and we would pretend we were Kiss. We didn't pretend we were Kiss doing concerts or anything, we were just Kiss doing ordinary stuff. I have a specific memory of "being" Peter Criss driving his car on the way to the store to buy milk. We were completely mesmerized by their looks and their larger than life personas. And to us all the stories, all the rumors, everything that was said about the band was TRUE! They weren't rock gods, they were simply GODS. They had unlimited power and could do whatever they wanted. Imagine being five years old and your friend's ten year older big brother (who was the world's biggest Kiss fan) telling you Gene Simmons' tongue was that long because he had killed his grandmother and had her tongue grafted onto his own. It was TRUE, TRUE! That was how big Kiss were for us. A concert arena in Norway was heavily damaged by fire sometime in the late 1970s (or, that's what we heard, anyway), the rumor quickly spread that it was Kiss who had burned it down, because they had been unhappy with it after their first appearance in Norway. And of course, they had every right to do so, because they were Kiss! Completely ridiculous but to us it was just how things were. Our souls were guided by the Holy Trinity of God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost, and by Peter, Paul, Gene and Ace.
As soon as we got a bit older we realized that Kiss weren't QUITE as big and powerful as we thought, but we started actually listening to their music, and discovered that they were in fact one hell of a rock 'n' roll band. Adrian mentioned Gene Simmons' bass playing; he's not a great technician, and neither were Paul, Ace or Peter. But they could write killer rock songs, great riffs, and they were a super tight band playing with extreme conviction. They delivered a complete rock package. They took the music of bands like Slade (great band, by the way!), Americanized it and made it their own. They had a definite musical style. They are a prime example of how technique doesn't really matter when your style and delivery are right. Theatrics aside, Kiss were probably the ultimate rock 'n' roll band. And the makeup, blood and pyro were just the icing on the cake.
I still liten a lot to their 70s records today (ok, not "Destroyer"), and there are certain songs on their later albums I dig as well: "The Oath" from "The Elder", "Lick it Up", "Crazy Nights" (yep, guilty pleasure!), "Domino", "Unholy", "Into the Void", "I Finally Found My Way" etc. How many bands can boast of having a career that long, and of writing hit songs in all eras of their carreers? Not many. Hats off to Kiss, the hottest band in the land.
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OP
I suppose that is one reason for my characterization of them as "America's Rock Band". Admittedly, that may be a stretch and an overreach for me to say. It certainly is not meant to be dismissive of other bands. I also like the fact that they aren't "anti-American" in their attitude. Gene has expressed his appreciation for the US on multiple occasions in interviews.
As for the talent question...I remember watching a relatively recent interview (within the last few years) with Paul Stanley at his home and the topic of Kiss being accused of having no talent came up. Rather than argue the point, Paul simply said, "Well, you're sitting in the house that no talent built."
And Tony is right about the support needed for the group. Not only do you have the myriad roadies and stage personnel, you also have lawyers, accountants, marketing personnel, office staff, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, audio engineers... Beyond that, trades trades people (welders, electricians, etc) had to be located to actually build all the associated equipment. Kiss actually had to build two complete, identical stage sets. They were so massive and took so long to build up and tear down, that they would "leap frog" them from city to city where Kiss would play. I don't know of any other band that has generated its own mini-economy like they have.
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A really great and insightful post, Gahr. I have to give a tip of the hat to Kiss's song writing for certain.
Good post, Spectre....
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