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FORMED: 1973, New York, NY
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. Two
weeks later, the band was signed to Neil Bogart's fledgling record label,
Casablanca. Kiss released their self-titled debut in February of 1974; it peaked
at number 87 on the U.S. charts. By April of 1975, the group had released three
albums and had toured America constantly, building up a sizable fan base. Culled
from those numerous concerts, Alive! (released in the fall of 1975) made the
band rock & roll superstars; it climbed into the Top Ten and its accompanying
single, "Rock 'N' Roll All Nite," made it to number 12. Their follow-up,
Destroyer, was released in March of 1976 and became the group's first platinum
album; it also featured their first Top Ten single, Peter Criss' power ballad
"Beth."
