50 years of KISS
The hard rock icons are taking off their makeup forever after completing the End of the Road tour. But their creative impact is eternal.
Written by Lyndsey Segura
Image courtesy of Peter Cade
Very few bands have been forerunners in the rock scene for half a century. Undoubtedly, KISS is one of hard rock’s most enduring and influential acts. Formed in 1973 in New York, KISS boasts an impressive catalog of 20 studio albums, over 75 million records sold, and thousands of shows during their 50 year career. KISS’ anthemic hits and mesmerizing stage personas have led to countless citations from country music star Garth Brooks to Daft Punk and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. By shaping the genre’s swagger, eclectic style, and eye-catching theatrics, KISS continues to inspire artists from disparate musical backgrounds with their visionary artistic sensibility.
“The Hottest Band in the Land” flaunts engagingly theatrical live performances replete with fire-breathing, explosive fireworks, and blood-spitting. As the quartet closes out its final world tour before entering retirement, KISS maintains their iconic trademarked visual spectacle, in spite of their age. Their “End of the Road Tour’’ is an intricate and grandiose production, with frontman Paul Stanley flying across the crowd, Gene Simmons performing at striking heights on risers, and Tommy Thayer shooting fireworks from his guitar. An unforgettable exit for a truly immortal band, KISS’ final tour reinforces their unwavering commitment to preserving their distinctive camp style and chaotic live productions.
Engendering larger than life personas, each band member takes their own special alias that serves different theatrical functions during the show. Often recognized for his long tongue and iconic “Demon” persona, bassist and co-lead singer Simmons spits fire and blood on stage. Frontman and rhythm guitarist Stanley embodies the “Starchild,” sporting a bright red lip and black star on his right eye. Now-lead guitarist Thayer preserves the infamous “Spaceman” image pioneered by original guitarist Ace Frehley. Eric Singer personifies “The Catman,” originally established by founding drummer Peter Criss. Additionally, KISS flaunt extravagant star-studded costumes with customized platform boots to complement their legendary white-faced stage makeup. The quartet’s stage personas and circus-like theatrics paved the way for contemporary metal acts like Slipknot, GWAR, and Ghost. For Simmons, the emergence of such dramatics was crucial to forging the band’s identity. In an interview with FAR OUT Magazine, Simmons reveals the stage is a “holy place” for the band, and the outlandish makeup and costumes are how they convey respect for their audience. KISS’ vivid personas and shocking dramatics have had far-reaching effects on the rock scene, from Ghost’s anonymous costumes to the spunky stage performance of Mötley Crüe.
KISS wouldn’t be the commercial success they are without their undeniable musical edge. Known for their legendary classics like “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” and “Detroit Rock City,” each song possesses a confident flair from bold riffs, sensual basslines, and the rich vocal contrast between Stanley and Simmons. “Detroit Rock City” and “Rock And Roll All Nite” are some of the most iconic rock anthems of the ‘70s because of how skillfully the group conflates extreme music with catchy refrains. Yet these recognizably popular tracks barely scratch the stylistic surface of KISS 20 album catalog. Unsurprisingly, 50 years of stardom has seen many versions of KISS. In the early ‘80s, the dazzling quartet shocked the public by appearing bare-faced on MTV without their larger-than-life costumes, marking the beginning of their Unmasked era. During this time the group released their daring eleventh studio album Lick it Up (1983). The title track remains one of the band’s most popular songs with its brash riffs and sensually self-assertive lyricism. Animalize (1984) continues Lick it Up’s ‘80s metal influence with highly distorted guitars and quick tempos. By masterfully traversing genres, KISS models the importance of authenticity and courageous experimentation in the music industry.
KISS returned to where it all started in New York to play their last show ever at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 2 to a packed crowd. At the end of the show, KISS stepped off stage and revealed digital avatars of themselves, signaling the beginning of the band’s timeless technological era. These avatars will continue KISS’ iconic live performance record and immortalize the rock and roll legends forever. Avatars or not, KISS’ discography is too illustrious and influential to ever be forgotten.