17 Most Hated Classic Rock Bands

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Steve Stierwalt

1. Kiss

Ah, Kiss—those face-painted rock stars who set the world on fire with their over-the-top performances and glittery outfits. While their theatrical stage presence and pyrotechnics earned them a massive following, they also sparked a lot of eye rolls. The flashy outfits, the ridiculous amount of hype surrounding their image, and the constant self-promotion turned off plenty of classic rock fans. Critics often pointed out that the band’s emphasis on spectacle seemed to overshadow their musical talent, and let’s not forget the infamous “Kiss Army” that some people found more cult-like than fan base. Despite selling millions of albums, the band became the epitome of style over substance in some people’s eyes.

But to be fair, they certainly knew how to market themselves. Kiss’s success wasn’t about pushing boundaries musically—it was about creating a brand. With their antics and larger-than-life personalities, they gained a massive following. However, for those who preferred music to marketing, Kiss just wasn’t the real deal. They were more about the glitter than the grit, and that turned many off. It’s that unapologetic commercialism that makes them a classic example of a love-it-or-hate-it band.

A look back at KISS: Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and more rock ‘n’ roll moments

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Steve Stierwalt

Rock legends Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss formed the band KISS in 1973 in New York. In 2023, Simmons chatted with USA TODAY about the final band’s days: “It’s complex. I can sit here in my hotel room and wax poetic about all of this stuff, but those are matters of the mind, the semantics emanating out of my oral passage. You can talk about something but until you’re there, the matters of the heart don’t kick in. There is an enormous sense of pride the band has, including Tommy (Thayer) and Eric (Singer), who have been with us more than 20 years. We’re enormously proud of what we did.”

GENE SIMMONS On What Sets KISS Apart From AC/DC, METALLICA, And IRON MAIDEN: ‘I Prefer to Make Dollars’

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Steve Stierwalt

Long, successful careers in music can be built by either maintaining a consistent style or by embracing constant change. Gene Simmons, during a conversation with Billy Corgan‘s on “The Magnificent Others” episode, expressed understanding for both career paths.

“I could argue the AC/DC or METALLICA idea, which is, you stay true to your DNA,” Simmons said (as transcribed by Ultimate Guitar). “Well, it’s an argument that works well for them. And IRON MAIDEN. We didn’t have a choice because we gave in.

“There were those first records that had, you know, sort of Chuck Berry crossed with this and that: a little BEATLES, a little MOTOWN, a little this, a little that. Whatever that thing was, the identity, the fingerprint, was diluted as members within the band started to veer from the band. There are other bands that have stayed true to who they are and have survived and become bigger. By the way, I don’t do that. I go, ‘That’s their journey. This is ours.’”

Simmons acknowledged that KISS‘s initial attraction extends beyond their music. He also stated that he welcomes fans regardless of what specifically draws them in.

“I prefer to make dollars,” he said. “The only thing I care about is a brand new five year old who experiences Kiss or the imagery, even if it’s not the music, just somehow gets seduced and beguiled by that.”

On December 2, 2023, KISS performed the final concert of their “End Of The Road” farewell tour at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

In a fall 2023 interview with Rolling Stone, Simmons emphasized that the band’s final performance on the “End Of The Road” tour would indeed mark their last show.

“My hand on the Bible,” he said. “And I should know because my people wrote that book. In fact, my people also wrote the follow-up book, the New Testament. And so I’ll say right here, right now, my hand on the Bible, it will be the final KISS-in-makeup appearance.”