Adored by fans, hated by critics, regardless of which side you choose there is no denying that Kiss is one of the most influential Rock Bands of the Century. Known for their Kabuki like Face paint, and wild Stage shows, which included Fireworks, and a bass player that spits blood, and fire. Kiss became the biggest selling artist of the 70's and again in the 90's.

Paul Stanley met Gene Simmons and formed the band Wicked Lester, a far mellower sounding band with a sound reminiscent of Jethro Tull, when that did not pan out they moved to the heavier side of music, and adopted the image of the dying New York Glam scene. Paul and Gene placed an ad for a Drummer in a local music paper in New York, and Peter was hired after claiming he would do anything to make it, even wear a dress on stage if it came to it. They practiced in a loft in NYC for a few month before auditioning Ace Frehley.

The face paint evolved as the played nightly gigs at the local New York club the Diplomat hotel. Each night the members would do different characters until they evolved into what would be the most recognized faces in Rock N Roll.

The band landed a contract with Casablanca records and release three albums in 74-75, which did not sell that well. On the road however Kiss was selling out shows, and gaining a reputation as a great live band. They decided to put out a double live album called Alive. The Album was an instant success, and propelled the group to Super stardom.

Alive was followed in 1976 by Destroyer which featured the hit ballad "beth". Later that year the band released Rock n roll over, followed by Love gun the Following Spring. Kiss toured Japan for the first time, Breaking attendance records held by the Beatles.

1978 saw the release of the four solo albums, the idea was for each member to put out an album that each wrote, and performed all the material on with the aid of studio or guest musicians. The four Solo albums went platinum prior to release, but once in stores did not prove to be as popular as expected, and they soon were found in the discount racks.

1979-80 the band released Dynasty, and Unmasked . The Disco single "I was Made for loving you" was a major hit, hitting number 1 in many European countries. Peter was asked to leave the band before the band began recording Unmasked, a studio drummer Anton Fig was asked to sit in on the sessions. With Unmasked Kiss made the final jump from being a hard rock band, to being a Pop band, unmasked bombed.

The follow up to unmasked Music from the Elder was a Rock opera sound track to a none existent movie. Although the album broadened the horizons for Kiss musically, it was too far removed from previous Kiss music for many fans. The Critics however gave Kiss rave reviews for the first time in their career.

Then in 1982 Ace Frehley Left the band in the middle of recording Creatures of the night. Vinnie Vincent was hired to take his place. Creatures was the heaviest album Kiss had done to that point, but it seems that fans had moved on to other things sales for Creatures was dismal.

Realizing that they needed to survive the current Heavy Metal onslaught they had themselves created, Kiss made the bold move of removing their make up for the Release of 1983's Lick it up. The band appeared unmasked on MTV to unveil the video Lick it up. Suddenly Kiss was interesting again to the press, and Lick it up sold well.

Animalyze was released in 1984 and was the largest selling Kiss post makeup album, due to the hit single Heavens on Fire. Vinnie Vincent had left Kiss due to artistic differences, so the Kissers recruited Anaheim Californian Mark St. John. Mark was a highly gifted guitarist, with a flashy style much different than Ace Frehleys. Unfortunately St. John developed an arthritis disorder while the band was touring, and was replaced by Bruce Kulick who played with the band until their original line up regrouped in 1996.

The years 1985 through 92 saw Kiss Release 4 albums. The single "Reason to live" off of 1987's Crazy nights was a hit for the band, earning the distinction of the longest running number one requested video on MTV's daily video request show Dial MTV.

Drummer Eric Carr passed away from Cancer in 1991. The band recruited ex Badlands drummer Eric Singer to take Carr's place.
The band released Revenge in 1992, to rave reviews from fans and critics. The singles Domino, and I just wanna received healthy air play, and it seemed an opportune time to record and release Alive III in 1993. The day of the release The Band received their stars on the Hollywood walk of fame.

The next few years Kiss released a tribute album Kiss My Ass, and the now legendary Unplugged which aired on Halloween night 1995 on MTV. It was at this unplugged show that the original members all played together for the first time, in over a decade. A few months later the record breaking Kiss and make up Reunion tour was announced.

Kiss embarked on a 18 month World Tour which turned a whole new generation on to the magic of classic Kiss. Their 1997 album Carnival of souls was the last session album from the pre-reunion Kiss line up.

The first studio record from the Original Line up is due in stores in the summer of 98, and the band will once more embark on a world tour the following fall.

History seems to be repeating its self, and in concert halls, and stadiums through out the world you can hear the now legendary Rock n' Roll Battle cry.... "You wanted the best and you got the best...."

Written by Keavin Wiggins (Managing Editor)