KISS… A Band Like No Other!

By | November 24, 2017

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LOS ANGELES - MAY 31: (L-R) Ace Frehley and Paul Stanley of the rock and roll band 'Kiss' pose for a portrait session backstage on May 31, 1974 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Richard Creamer/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

KISS is an American rock band that emerged in 1973, created by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley. The band was well known and easily recognized for their unique face paint and on-stage costumes. KISS personified comic book style characters; a star-child, a demon, a spaceman and a cat-man. Their costumes and performances were elaborate, to say the least. The group did not have one single average characteristic.

Why the extravagant makeup and costumes? During the time that the band was competing to make a name for itself, other bands were wearing makeup and sporting elaborate outfits; giving them notoriety. The group decided to jump on the bandwagon, only more extreme! They decided to go above and beyond to be noticed. In theory, the more extreme, the more noticeable! That decision proved to be an effective and successful marketing tool. The group could NOT be ignored!

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Obviously, it just wouldn’t do to go on stage in eccentric costumes and painted faces without an equally unusual, if not unexpected act. In time, though, audiences learned to expect the unexpected. KISS’ elaborate performances were electric! Fire breathing, blood spitting, shooting rockets, levitating drums and smoking guitars were some of the special effects the iconic group employed for our entertainment. As if that were not enough, KISS could always be counted on for a sensational pyrotechnic display at their shows. It was the icing on the cake!