Kiss Essentials

Kiss’ 1975 breakthrough live album, Alive!, starts with a bold proclamation: “You wanted the best, and you got it—the hottest band in the land!” In the hands of other acts, such an announcement would be considered over-the-top braggadocio. But since emerging from New York City in the early ’70s, Kiss has backed up each and every one of their hyperbolic statements with hard-rockin’ receipts. That’s largely due to the efforts of the group’s Lennon and McCartney, vocalist/bassist Gene Simmons and vocalist/guitarist Paul Stanley, who pair flamboyant stage makeup and space-age costumes with brilliant songs. Their early sound—a formidable combination of bluesy heavy metal and glittery glam rock—gave way to power ballads (“Beth”), disco jams (“I Was Made for Lovin’ You”), and glossy MTV rock (“Tears Are Falling”). And though their music (and their lineup) has changed across the decades, the overall Kiss experience has remained remarkably consistent.