Nikhil Dev

KISS are an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973. Easily identified by their trademark face paint and stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid-1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured firebreathing, blood spitting, smoking guitars, and pyrotechnics. KISS has been awarded 22 gold albums to date, and has certified sales of 19 million records in the United States.^[1][2] The group’s worldwide sales exceed 80 million albums.^[3][4]

The original lineup of Gene Simmons (bass and vocals), Paul Stanley (rhythm guitar and vocals), Paul “Ace” Frehley (lead guitar and vocals) and Peter Criss (drums and vocals) became the most successful and identifiable in the band’s history. With their makeup and costumes, they took on the personas of comic book-style characters—the Demon (Simmons), the Star Child (Stanley), the Space Ace (Frehley), and the Cat Man (Criss). Due to substance abuse problems and creative differences, both Criss and Frehley were out of the group by 1982. The band’s commercial fortunes had also waned considerably by that point.

In 1983, KISS abandoned their makeup and enjoyed a commercial resurgence throughout the rest of the 1980s. Buoyed by a wave of KISS nostalgia in the 1990s, the band announced a reunion of the original lineup (with makeup) in 1996. The resulting KISS Alive Worldwide Tour was the top-grossing act of 1996, where the group played in 210 cities worldwide for approximately 2.2 million people. Criss and Frehley have since left KISS again, and have been replaced by Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer, respectively. The band continues to perform, while Stanley and Simmons have remained the only two constant members.

 

Current members

• Gene Simmons – Bass, Vocals (1973–present)
• Paul Stanley – Rhythm Guitar, Vocals (1973–present)
• Eric Singer – Drums (1991–96, 2001-02, 2004–present)
• Tommy Thayer – Lead Guitar (2002–present)

 

Former members

• Ace Frehley – Lead Guitar, Vocals (1973–1982, 1996–2002)
• Vinnie Vincent – Lead Guitar (1982–1984)
• Mark St. John – Lead Guitar (1984)
• Bruce Kulick – Lead Guitar (1984–1996)
• Peter Criss – Drums, Vocals (1973–1980, 1996–2001, 2002–04)
• Eric Carr – Drums, Vocals (1980–1991)

Official KISS Website