 |  | |||||||
|
 All news should be considered an unconfirmed report unless verified, and all information published at KISS Asylum is attributed to the source from which it was received so that readers may judge the validity of the statements for themselves. All information is confirmed where possible, and all publication is governed by common sense.
From: Night & Day Which of these musical artists doesn't belong with the rest: Dion, Hank Ballard, Traffic, KISS, Gene Pitney and The Moonglows. Kiss wouldn't seem to fit, but why? Because they're the most famous in the bunch? Perhaps. Too much fake blood and makeup would make anyone stand out? I suppose. But the answer sought here is that KISS is the only one of the aforementioned acts not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And that ought to change. A protest was held this past weekend at the Cleveland museum by some 200 KISS fans, who came out with their love guns blazing to demand the group be enshrined. The KISS Army seems to have a case (and thanks to Wikipedia for helping me with some of the facts to make my case). Around since 1973, KISS has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide and probably 10 times that many makeup kits, action figures, lunch boxes, coffins and anything else their faces could be plastered onto. From Motley Crue to Stone Temple Pilots and even Garth Brooks, major artists have cited KISS as having influenced their careers. And KISS is about more than just the music (as technically suspect as some of it may be). Lead singer PAUL STANLEY did a run last decade in Toronto as the lead in "Phantom of the Opera," while bassist GENE SIMMONS might be known more now for the 600 or so TV and movie gigs he’s done than for playing a guitar. The Rock Hall says a group is eligible 25 years after its first album was released. Also, "criteria include the influence and significance of the artist’s contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll," according to the Rock Hall’s Web site. Even if you ignore the makeup, theatrics and Simmons’ demonic tongue, how can you overlook the group that basically created the live album genre? KISS’ "Alive!" album of 1975 went quadruple platinum, and along with Peter Frampton’s "Frampton Comes Alive" of the same decade turned rock musicians toward a whole new way to reach audiences. Soon after, KISS became THE band. They were named the most popular band in the nation in a 1977 Gallup poll, and a Japanese tour in the ’70s broke attendance records previously held by The Beatles. "Rock and Roll All Night," "Beth," "Detroit Rock City" (which inspired a movie of the same name) — who doesn't know these songs? Going to a KISS concert was a legitimate event. KISS’ "farewell" tour in the early part of this decade still ranks among this columnist’s favorite shows of all-time; KISS had a way of creating an energy that’s hard to match. I can still vividly recall Stanley’s parting words: "When you go to see other musicians, and they make it seem like they're doing you a favor by coming to your town, don't listen. You do us a favor each and every night by supporting us." If that isn't rock and roll — no, make that rock ’an’ roll — I don't know what is. Even if you hate KISS, odds are you know who they are (or at least can picture the makeup in your nightmares). Any rock group that transcends its art form has to be considered widely influential (much like Michael Jordan is more than just an athlete, or Oprah Winfrey more than just a talk show host). Still not enough? KISS was the top-grossing live act in 1977 AND 1996. The group’s highest charting record was released 25 years after KISS came to be (1998’s album "Psycho Circus," topping out at No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200). KISS also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Nothing against any of the previously mentioned acts, but KISS — even if they never get enshrined — will be remembered by far more music fans 50 years from now than any of them. How KISS has yet to have been recognized is beyond me. |
     | ||||||
|
 KISS Museum
News Archive
Features
Tour Dates
Photos
KISS ASYLUM © 1995-2008, all rights reserved. KISS ASYLUM is an unofficial, fan run KISS web site. KISS ASYLUM is optimized for 800x600 screen resolution or higher using Internet Explorer 6.0 and it is recommended that you have the Flash, Real Player, and Quicktime plug-ins to experience the rich audio and video media. Have KISS News to report? Email us at news@kissasylum.com | | ||||||
| | | ||||||
