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KISS was a very inspirational band. Tool, Alice & Chains, and others give them credit for their decision to launch rock careers. So which member did you like the best?

G

I was born in 1986. My familiarity is limited to family guy episodes and the old gross version of gene simmons that gets on tv these days.

The one who painted his face.

That one guy with the black and white facial paint. You know, the one that has it applied so weirdly.

Gene all the way, and if anyone goes with peter chris you have some serious issues.

They copied the face paint from Alice Cooper. Each member had a unique persona.

G

Bill and Ted?

KIZZ was the band of my childhood,I was born in 69,so as a youngster I got to see KIZZ in their finest days during the 70's.
The first time I recall seeing KIZZ was on the Paul Lynde Halloween special,way back in '76 and as a 6 year old kid I was blown away,a few years latter KIZZ was my first live rock&roll show when my cousin took me to go see them.
Considering I'm a HUGE horror fan (and have been since I can remember) Gene Simmons was always my favorite,and I can also site Mr.SImmons as my initial insperation to begin playing bass guitar,now,many years later I can play almost every KIZZ song on bass.


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KIZZ in the early days.

I was in the KISS army for ten years, and at one time had their posters on all the walls of my bedroom. However, Gene was always my favorite. He should be on mount Rushmore, in full regalia.

My favorite KISS song is Rock Bottom. I also love the Love Gun album. When I was in college I played in a local rock band that covered lots of KISS songs.

G

You spelled Peter Criss wrong. I voted for him, just because I'm a drummer really. I like all of 'em though. Rock Bottom is actually one of my favorite KISS Songs too.

KIZZ "Rock Bottom."




One of my favorites...

It was hot. I loved Cold Gin Time and Black Diamond too. Beth was not one of my favorites though.

G

Green Blow Fly wrote:It was hot. I loved Cold Gin Time and Black Diamond too. Beth was not one of my favorites though.

G

Agreed, Beth was KIZZ' "radio friendly ,even your parents will love it" song,and never numbered among my personal KIZZ favorites,in fact the only songs I like less are the "disco" travistey "I was made for loving you" & basicly every song from "The Elder" album


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Besides,if Peter is going to sing,this is much better...

I was a child of the 70's and never understood the KISS phenomenon. The only Kiss that I actually liked was the 80's nonmakeup Kiss stuff. And when I became a musician in the 90's, I have to say that the quality of their music/skill leaves a lot to be desired. I used to work with a guy who was in his late 40's and loved kiss. We used to carpool and he would HAVE to play his Kiss stuff, this was during the Kiss revival during the 90's, and I am scarred to this day from it.

To me Kiss is not about the music but about the "stuff", the show.

GG

Well GG, my love of KIZZ as a child was (of course) more about the "image/stuff",it was like watching "super heros" come to life,the music was secondary.
As I became older,and more interested in the musical aspects of the band (and indeed music in general),I viewed KIZZ as more of a competent if simplistic group of musicians who had found a cool gimick to get noticed in a sea of competent if simplistic musicians.
Musicly,KIZZ is not over complicated,it's simple straight forward rock & roll,and I belive they do that well,even if they aren't fantastic musicians (although Ace is a fantastic guitarist),KIZZ was always more about "the show" than the music.

I picked Ace. Paul seems a bit Dr.Rockzo for my tastes. Gene Simmons is a businessman who'd sell sell "Official Gene Simmons handled pennies" for $100 a pop and will be flogging the Demon well into his 90s. Him and Madonna milking fame for every last drop. Peter Criss was replaced by a guy with Fox make-up.

The man from Venus gets my vote.

Ace, he had the coolest name.

I thought the singer was cooler without trying to be weird (gene) but Im too young to really like them.

I chose Ace Frehley as well. He was an awsome guitar player. Peter Criss was actually a jazz drummer before he joined the band. They definitely had some real musical talent or they would have never been a hit. The stack boots, black leather costumes and facepaint just took them over the top.

G

Green Blow Fly wrote: They definitely had some real musical talent or they would have never been a hit.

Hahahahhahah hahahahahahaa hahahahahahahaah hahahahahhhahaha.

Seriously? Musical talent? Kiss? They're a marketing gimmick, always have been, always will be. They wore the kabuki makeup and did the one-stage tricks precisely because their musical chops were lacking. Their songs are ridiculously simple, three chords (if you're lucky), and some random guitar hammering.

Go listen to Deep Purple's "In Rock", Blue Oyster Cult's "Secret Treaties", or U.F.O's "Phenomenon" (all three albums from the same time period as Alive) if you want to hear some amazing early metal. Kiss just isn't it.

I think everyone is entitled to an opinion both good or bad in regards to their musical skill. I have always immensely enjoyed their music. As I stated in the OP many later bands claimed KISS as their inspiration to form a band of their own. All of their early stuff up to the first live album had a lot of good music. I wouldn't classify them as metal either although a lot of their music is heavy at times. I think their biggest mistake was to release the four solo albums which were utter garbage in my opinion. They've had some good music released since when they reformed the band and brought in a new lead guitarist and drummer. It's all just a matter of taste.

G

Hey, don't get me wrong. I think Kiss is a good party-rock band, they've got a few good songs, and they're out there having a good time. And, you're right, they did inspire a whole generation to want to rock&roll. These aren't bad things. But they're not excellent musicians. No one in their right mind votes for Ace Frehley in a top-100 guitar-player poll. He never played anything complicated or that required any great skill. That's not to say it didn't work in the context of the song, but there's a difference between being a good musician and being a good songwriter.

I bet you die-hards also played the KISS: Psycho Circus - The Nightmare Child game.

BrookM wrote:I bet you die-hards also played the KISS: Psycho Circus - The Nightmare Child game.

I wasn't even aware of any KIZZ game ,guess I'll be getting drummed out of the KIZZ ARMY .

Seriously though,for people to claim KIZZ had no musical talent is a bit oversimplified,true KIZZ was a "gimick" band,true their songs were not overcomplicated ( 4 and 5 chords),however,both Ace and Peter were very talented (musicly carring the band IMO),the "simplicity" of KIZZ music was in many ways Gene Simmons decision,He basicly chose to keep the music simple for theatrical reasons,wich is part(not all) of the reason Peter and Ace left the band in the 80's.

Dr Rockso.


C-C-C-YEAH!

I have all the Marvel KISS comicbooks! The dragonboots were evil!

G

Honeslty, never been a big fan of KISS ever. Couldnt wrap my brain around how they are so popular. But to each his own. I did like that movie Detroit Rock City though. And I thought I wouldnt seeing as its about a couple of hardcore KISS fans.


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Although, I have to admit Love Gun is a pretty good song

Green Blow Fly wrote:KISS was a very inspirational band. Tool, Alice & Chains, and others give them credit for their decision to launch rock careers. So which member did you like the best?

G

Not "was," but "is."

Also... when did a Rock & Roll drummer start being referred to as a "percussionist?"

Eric


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Green Blow Fly wrote:I think their biggest mistake was to release the four solo albums which were utter garbage in my opinion.

G

What?
Really?
I loved those.

You just can't get any beter than Gene Simmons singing "When you wish upon a star!" LOL


E

All of them. They formed a band to get chicks and resulted in getting more ass than a toilet seat. You cant get more butt rockin than that.