Geddy Lee of Rush said: " Say what you will about KISS' songs or style, but no one ever worked harder to make sure the audience gets their money's worth than KISS."
not true. The original Alice Cooper band practiced 10 hours a day and made sure their audience got their moneys worth and put on a show no one's ever done before with the make up. nothing new here!
Wow. I was head of pyrotechnics for this this tour, and I fired this performance, yet I didn't know the video existed. Awesome. The Australia/New Zealand "Unmasked" tour has a lot of great memories for me. I was just chatting with another KISS pyro I worked with on the "Dynasty" tour, and we are the only surviving members of the KISS pyro crew from that era.
At their core, Kiss is catchy, simple, hard rock with pop influences, all wrapped up in a fantasy/horror/superhero package. If you dig deeper they have an incredibly varied catalog. And for millions of kids my age in the late 70s, they were the reason we started picking up instruments. We couldn't figure out how to play Rush or Zeppelin, but we could play Kiss songs. Their influence is immeasurable.
Textbook definition right here my friend. I sometimes wonder if I am the only person actually paying attention, instead of playing a roll. It's good to see you out in the wild, slinging those logical deductions around, for the fine folks on the WWW to ingest.
The whole package was the thing that made us so mesmerized with Kiss back then. I listened mostly Destroyer, Creatures of the Night and Animalize albums. Now later some other older stuff too. Their books have been very interesting to read. We ofc had no idea of everything that was going on in the background, all the fighting, substance abuse, over the top decadent partying and wrecking hotelrooms. They had very challenging backgrounds which makes me really appreciate what they have accomplished. You have to admire their hard work and dedication. This video was when they had Eric in the drums and they played much faster. Ace was still playing and honestly there would not have been Kiss without the original four. Too bad that things soured afterwards between them but nothing stays the same forever.
My issue with Kiss was the huge gap between the image and the music. I first came across them when I saw the album sleeve for Alive II. Blood pouring from Gene's mouth, fire and smoke all over the stage, it looke dlike the Gates of Hell had been opened. Imagine when I heard it, and they sounded like a REO Speedwagon tribute act.
@@marilyncatterall402 Lol. Yeah, they are rock & roll in the most heaviest of metals attire. Gene is 100% business, and very good at it. I think that back then 13- to 15-year-old boys were the largest demographic of people who buy albums. Not quite sure of what they like in music yet, but man that album looks kick azz with a thumb tack in each corner up on the wall.
This video was made 44 years ago! 44! And KISS is still rocking today. I saw them in 2000 and they were fantastic! Same energy, same looks, same great sound as the 70s and 80s. Go see them today and it's still the same KISS. Love them or hate them you can't deny they put on a great show, always sound amazing, and never seem to age. They are timeless American icons.
To see Paul Stanley at the height of his vocal abilities, check out I STILL LOVE YOU, from the MTV KISS UNPLUGGED show. I have endless respect for Paul Stanley. While most rock musicians start out strong when they are young, but then go downhill, Paul continued to improve both his vocal and guitar skills over the course of his career. His vocal cords were clearly starting to wear out by 2005, but he kept going until the band finally retired this year.
Alice in Chains MTV unplugged is one of my favourite albums of all time. Only saw the Kiss unplugged once on tv twenty odd years ago. Bringing in various old members to play and celebrate their music. I have very fond memories of it. Sucks that to my knowledge the only way to see it these days is on the seven seas.
black diamond alone disproved that but if you listen to the original god gave rock and roll to you, you really get a sense of how talented these guys are.
Yeah his voice was at its peak there around 96 I think it was. That’s a good acoustic live performance where they were not on tour yet and you could really hear what he was capable of when touring was not wearing his voice down. This live recording that she reached to was surprisingly really good. I have never heard this version.
Paul sang this song almost every show for over 45 years... sadly his voice eventually broke down in the 2000's, but he belted it out like this for decades.
I saw one of their original member reunion shows in Orlando in 2000 or 2001 and Paul never sounded better… top of his game and power that floored me. my buddy and I were talking to each other when the show went on saying can you believe how great he is?
@@danielerickson5175 IMO, his voice didn't really start to go downhill until a couple of years after that. Not long after Ace left... Probably around 2004.
@@mustangspitfire6835 It was definitely my favorite Paul era but its hard to deny his vocal range by the late 80's. IMO his voice got better and better during the non-makeup years and reached it's peak around the time Crazy Nights came out. Again, that's just my opinion but for me the non-makeup era was Paul's best and Unplugged was his last really great performance. That's not to say he wasn't still good during the reunion and Psycho Circus shows but after that is when it started becoming more obvious to me that he was in a decline.
Sadly...after decades of slamming other bands for lip syncing...Paul started doing it himself. I like some of their songs, but none of of their albums are a "must listen to". Their shows on the other hand are "must see" shows. They are FAR from my favorite band, but they're in the top 10 concert wise. And like 75% of the people who go, you're going to see Gene spit blood, breathe fire, and snag flies out of the air with his tongue.
Saw an interview with Paul Stanley where he said that when he went to concerts, he was tired of hearing bands that didn’t give the audience their money’s worth - even though they paid for a ticket. He wanted to be the band that always give the audience their money’s worth. Musically I am not a fan of KISS, but I can say that as a show band every single time I saw them in concert, they gave 100% and the audience got their money’s worth. They never “mailed it in” or gave the audience anything less than they paid for.
I only went to one Kiss show. We actually went to see Uriah Heep open for them. They killed. We stayed for Kiss for the fire show, etc. The reason I checked out Elizabeth's take on this song. Is because 'Detroit Rock City' is probably my favorite song of theirs. It was their opening song when I saw them. But the sound was screwed up until the song was almost over. Only then did we know what it was. It was kind of a hoot after that. We did leave before they finished to beat the traffic.
@@JR-vc3lq Well, about that. I heard it too - but then I started wondering - because this was, for 1980, considered to be a "professional" video-taping of the concert - could they have double tracked the vocals in post-production to make his voice sound more "full"? I know that audio engineers do all kinds of things with sound in post, because generally bands do not like the way they sound in concert, and to make their egos better the audio engineer will effect all kinds of sounds for them. That would also explain why it looks like Paul is lip-syncing. I honestly don't know about Kiss using backing tracks in the last 6 years, but a post-production "enhancement" would make sense.
@@justinvancura2231I think what's going on with this recording is that this show may have been released in Australia as a live record and we are hearing the final product after they went into the studio to fix any vocal and instrumental mistakes, much like what they did with Alive and Alive ll.
In 1999, Paul Stanley (KISS lead singer) starred in a Toronto production of The Phantom of the Opera, in which he played the role of the Phantom. He appeared in the musical from May 25 to August 1, and again that year from September 30 to October 31, 1999, closing the show's ten-year run in Toronto.
Paul Stanley was also born with microtia, a condition in which the external ear is undeveloped. He has no hearing in one ear. Apparently he related to the Phantom deeply as he was worried people would see his disfigurement, he works with the charity About Face helping children with facial disfigurements.
I just commented on this!! My wife and I saw him as Phantom - and I was genuinely surprised at how good he was! It being my favourite musical, and a Kiss fan, I was excited (but honestly a little skeptical) to see how this played out! Paul had the theatrics down, and while not a huge 'range' (unlike my favourite Phantom Michael Crawford) - he was no slouch on all the songs! I had a newfound respect for him that night!
@@EchoesDaBear I saw him do the show three times, once he hit everything well, once you could hear the strain, and one time he missed on a couple of the key moments. What I found especially interesting was that you could feel he was working so hard at it that the audience, many of whom were not KISS fans, genuinely got behind him. You could honestly simply FEEL them anticipating and pulling for him to hit those notes. I've never felt something like that, at least to that extent, from a theatre crowd.
Paul Stanley said that "Detroit Rock City" was one the best songs he had ever written, released in 1976, it was overshadowed by the ballad "Beth" that became a huge single that year. Paul Stanley said the lyrics were a tribute to a Kiss fan in North Carolina, who was killed in a car accident on the way to a Kiss concert. Kiss wanted to immortalize Detroit in gratitude for embracing this band from New York City with 4 guys in makeup and costumes. Everybody thought Kiss were clowns, but they blew away audiences on tour and they were playing arenas in Detroit around 1975 and the Midwest, before they even had a hit record. Also, their big double-live album "Alive!" was recorded in Detroit's Cobo Hall in '75 and that became their first major album. By 1977, the original Kiss was a global success and had become a pop culture phenomenon.
Not to mention at that time they had Rush opening every night. Talk about a tough act to follow. Granted most people were there to see Kiss at that time
Alive as the first record I ever bought. I was like 6 and my stepdad really didn’t want me to have it. I still spin it from time to time and it just rocks.
You would be floored if you saw their performance of “I Still Love You” from MTV unplugged. Paul laid down one of the best vocal performances of all time on that track and showed exactly why he was selected to star in Phantom of the Opera in ‘99. Seriously I can’t understate how impressive he was as a singer in the 90’s and early 2000’s. Incredible, operatic like vibrato and infinite chest voice.
The MTV "Unplugged" series, Paul Stanley's voice on "I Still Love You" will completely blow you away at the range and power his voice takes on. Bluesy styling with Jazz like runs. Amazing breath control!!!!
I guess it's a "you had to be there" kind of thing. When I was a kid, KISS were comic book heroes come to life. There were lunch boxes, Halloween masks and even a tv movie. It was a big cultural phenomenon. In the 80's when they actually unmasked, they did prove that it wasn't just the makeup. They leaned into the whole hair metal genre and those albums also sold well.
I was “there”. I thought they (and the hype) were ridiculous then as well as now. But, I accept that other people’s taste in music/entertainment does not need to match my own. And, I will credit Kiss for what they did for Rush. For Mrs. Elisabeth; while Kiss is not my thing, I do truly appreciate your analysis. I will watch if you continue to delve deeper into their catalog, as your insight makes tolerating them worthwhile.
They were a cultural phenomenon - that’s undeniable. And they milked it for all they could. But it *was* just the makeup, metaphorically speaking. They were, and are, musically and lyrically bankrupt.
@@ErinJWade They went a long time without makeup and made out pretty well: Lick it up = Platinum Animalize = Platinum Asylum = Gold Crazy Nights = Platinum Hot in the Shade = Gold Revenge = Gold Alive 3 = Gold
Agreed. They were as big of a cultural phenomenon as Star Wars. Kiss merch was everywhere. Back then, the band's only merch was t-shirts and posters. Kiss has action figures, lunch boxes, you name it.
What I appreciate about Kiss is they reflect the fact that this rock and roll stuff is supposed to be about having fun. Nothing is worse than watching a band that just stands there and going through the songs and act like they're doing you a favor by playing for you.
That's why they tuned a half step down in the 90s. Paul's voice just couldn't hit those notes show after show. Probably got him an extras decade of singing.
I think for a first Kiss experience you have to go full regalia, but for a raw, stripped down display of pure talent, that unplugged performance is spot on.
@@bdabusnot when so many people wrongfully accuse Kiss of being only about the show and that they can’t play or sing and that they suck. You want to shut those people down and by making them watch Kiss stripped of the show and unplugged so they are vulnerable and their talent is on full display.
I saw kiss 23 times between 1983 and 2023 I always said you don't go to hear Kiss you go to experience Kiss Never ever failed to be satisfied. Thank you for being part of my life for 40 years
Funny. I never had any kind of a problem with Kiss, I was....indifferent. And I was the same about Iron Maiden UNTIL some friends talked me into going to a show with them. Those guys are PROFESSIONAL entertainers. The show was off the charts. I THINK I'm getting where you're coming from. But I've been wrong before.
As someone who's been a fan since hearing Rock & Roll All Night on the radio in 1975, I get it . Mind blown at the age of 5 not even comprehending what that was. Kiss was my first musical love and when ever I hear DRC it's like the first time hearing even after 48 years and hundreds of hours listening to it!! Funny that you mention Ghost because they are my current obsession. When I first hear of Ghost my inital thought was they were emulating Kiss, which is just proof of just how influential Kiss is the rock/metal genre of music!
I'm 60 now, KISS was my very first concert. I've seen them 6 times in my life. They were bombastic & so much fun. They had a wonderful way of truly bringing people together. A total feast for the eyes and ears. They colored my teenage life with loud, heart pounding rock & roll. I don't think there will ever be another band like them. They earned their place for sure.
I agree but people are all about the one hit wonders of today not great bands like KISS that will be remembered forever not forgotten in a week like new so called bands.
@@magicpumpkin3it's not new though, I was into the rock and metal scene in the 80s and 90s and KISS was absolutely reviled, they were seen as lame and cheesy but most seriously the ultimate sell outs and inauthentic. When grunge came along and killed the glam metal scene it was worse. These were not people interested in one hit wonders disliking them. I'm older and a little wiser now and while it's not quite my thing I can see the appeal, the comcis and lunch boxes and gimmics kind of fades away and I think it may be more than nostalgia that keeps people listening and if they enjoy it nobody should be angry about it, being upset someone is harmlessly enjoying something you don't like us just too dumb and exhausting.
@@101Mant Sure some people hated KISS but they have keep a big fan base that is loyal for decades. I was also around for the 80's and 90's. I think people should remember if bands suck why are they remembered?
I agree, the fact that a average at best talent band can stay around so long is impressive. Keep in m8nd i was a kiss fan when i was 12 but grew out of it. Can someone tell me why when a kiss song comes on the radio the sound quality is shit . BTW this is my favorite kiss song and this video sounds like shit
@@hustler666100yeah, that's not weird at all. Crazy how back then no one cared. They ALL did groupies: Steven Tyler, Ted Nugent, on and on and on. No one cared. A different time, different age..
Watch the MTV unplugged concert from 1995 for sure. KISS went through several phases with their sound, and they have so much to pick from for examples. Plus, in the original lineup, all four band members sang. Each with a different vocal style.
Detroit Rock City was the first song I ever heard by KISS. I remember sitting in front of the radio with my mouth open and for the first time really knowing what kind of music I really loved. There was no internet back then and KISS weren't shown on TV in our area either. The first time I saw them on the cover of Destroyer I was absolutely mesmerised and speechless. KISS were simply breathtaking at the time and there was nothing like them. When I saw KISS live for the first time, it was the second decisive experience in my musical development. The support act was a band from England called IRON MAIDEN. I will never forget that concert for the rest of my life.
Paul Stanley and Paul di´Anno. Will never forget that experience! This war my first concert at all and one of the very best. Many years later in the end of the 80ies I saw both bands again at Monsters of Rock in Bochum. Unbelievable. Time passages. I am so grateful that I was able to experience this.
Just a quick note about this. Paul's singing style in this live version is a bit different than the studio version. When you get time, check out the original studio version.
In MTV "Unpllugged - I Still Love You", Paul's vocals will blow you away, here's' the real power of Paul voice. And on the KISS "Symphony", listening again "Detroit Rock City", really awesome!!
Paul's Voice was VERY strong on that one! I think another to check out is Donnington in 1989 and listen to Strutter. It is probably the highest I've ever heard him sing.
Life time member of the KISS army here. Glad you're finally listening to my boys. If you want a good sample of Paul, listen to I Still Love You from the MTV Unplugged. Absolutely phenomenal control. I will ALWAYS love my boys! ❤
I’ve seen them 4 times in my life, once in each of the past 4 decades, and they always put on a great show. Despite the comments about not being great musicians but entertainers, I think they were both. Paul Stanley was a great vocalist and guitarist. Gene Simmons was good singer and great bassist. Ace Frehley was not a good singer but was a great guitarist. And Peter Criss was an awesome drummer that sang well when given the chance. I think for their performance, it was mostly about giving their audience a wonderful experience and memory.
Their style and theatrics grabbed our attention in the 70's. Releasing two "live" albums also helped build excitement to see them. My friends and I dressed up as KISS for a 6th grade end-of-school show. I was Ace, and we did Rocket Ride. I even strapped a smoke bomb to the back of my guitar for the guitar solo. Luckily, we were the last act of the day, so the principal wasn't too hard on us for it. Everyone wanted to be KISS!!
Years later, Paul Stanley played in the Phantom of the Opera.Stanley got a call from his agent asking if he’d be interested in auditioning for the part of the Phantom and got to play him with the Toronto company, what he calls “the hardest work I’ve ever done.” When that ended, he went back to concentrating on his highly successful band, but gained an even greater appreciation for the art form.
OMG! You have to listen to the Kiss song... I still love you (live from MTV unplugged 1995) You will freak out when I see how long Paul Stanley can hold a note with vibrato! It's all acoustical, and absolutely mind-blowing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KISS is an experience and were shocking to many parents when they arrived in the 70s and is the first music where my parents and I parted ways. To me songs like Deuce, Parasite, Shock Me were an escape from my boring, confined, controlled Catholic school life. KISS was my way of giving the finger.
also "I was made for loving you" for his falsetto, through the roof. I think he broke the recording studio control booth window on that one. pretty sure.
Watch the MTV Unplugged from 95 doing I Still Love You for some of Paul's most amazing vocals. No make up. No bombast. Just pure musical talent. You won't be disappointed.
I vehemently disagree with all of that. Paul was one of the all time greats as a singer. And as far as simple short (albeit dumb) rock songs, they were as good as anyone.
Kiss was my first concert ever. My mum and brother took me to a liveshow auf the psycho Circus tour in germany... absolut fantastic. Gene Simmons flew over the crowd while he bit on his bloodpill...
Stanley once said, “There had been an accident outside of an arena in Charlotte. Someone was killed coming to the concert. I thought, how odd and how striking, and the juxtaposition of someone coming to a Kiss concert, which celebrates being alive, to lose your life. That was the twist of ‘Detroit Rock City.’ To change it from a song about your amazing city to something much more epic.”
My first concert was Kiss, with AC/DC opening! I was three and half years old. Our seats were on Gene's side of the stage. The two memories that have stuck with me are the fire and explosions around Gene, and Angus Young of AC/DC in his schoolboy outfit. I dressed up as Gene Simmons for Halloween for several years in a row after that.
Awesome!!! My first concert was Elvis, seriously. My first concert with just friends and no adults, Nugent, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Mahogany Rush, and St Paradise.
My favorite KISS story is from one time when their ride back to the hotel after the show was stuck in traffic, so they walked. They were still in costume & makeup but the crowd from the show was so dressed up for the show that no one could tell it was them. Says it all about what an experience their shows were!
KISS was the best kind of "famous" back in the day. No one knew what they looked like, so they could walk down the street and everyone left them alone. Also, the tabloids wouldn't publish photos of them without makeup because the mystery of it sold more papers.
@@seanj3667 It was definitely a different time. For people who didn't live through the 70s and 80s it's hard to comprehend just how popular KISS was. They would have concerts shown on prime time TV. The same time slots that were usually reserved for things like Muhammad Ali fights, The World Series, etc. Very few music acts had the massive level of popularity it took to do that especially considering there were only 3 TV stations across the entire country. I remember Elton John being another so that speaks to the level of fame and popularity they had.
My favorite one is when Paul Stanley met Guns n Roses for the first time. Paul said, they played some recordings for him and he was really impressed. Paul then said he made a couple of suggestions on a couple of songs, and that he was blown away by their live show. Paul also said Slash kept asking him how to get endorsement deals for free equipment. In a later interview (after GnR made it big) Slash said Paul had a diva attitude, tried to tell them what to do and how to do it, nobody in GnR even liked KISS. Really ran Paul over the coals. Paul then said, a few months later, Slash called him wanting more advice on getting endorsement deals. Paul asked him about the interview and Slash admitted to saying those things. Paul said, "piece of advice kid, don't s*** where you eat." and hung up. In later interviews, Slash kind of admitted, he knew he had screwed that one up.
Slash seems to have unscrewed up, dude has sold more Les Pauls than Gibson themselves and he doesn't even play real Les Pauls. How many Ibanez did Paul sell?
In 1980 Paul Stanley never received any sinning lessins. In order to keep his voice he had lessins during the 80’s. To hear Pauls amazing voice, check out the 1993 MTV unplugged version of “I still love you” it is nothing less than mindblowing❤️
Kiss was my very first concert in the late 70's. I was 15yo and it was Abilene, Tx...as a small town country boy surrounded by old school country music, I left blown away by the show.
Kiss have just recentley retired from touring. Paul is now 72, and has had some vocal issues for the past few years, but he was truly one of the best for many years.
I remember when Pail Stanley was in "The Phantom of the Opera" , still was suprised with how much he related with the character with himself being born without an ear
I recently took my teenagers to see KISS (current lineup) at the Hollywood Bowl. Whether or not you think they're great musicians, songwriters, or singers, they are incredible performers dedicated to giving their fans a show to remember. When you think of a "rock concert", these guys set the bar. That show was something my kids will remember for life.
The ABSOLUTE **MUST** for Kiss vocals... you gotta do "I Still Love You" from MTV Unplugged. Paul Stanley was unparalleled vocal greatness. Unfortunately all of this "power" caught up with him about 15 years ago, and he has since truly struggled vocally. He had to have throat surgery at one point even, but continued to struggle. But for the first 35 years in the spot light, no one could touch what he was particularly doing, with vocal range, power, showmanship, and style. You should also totally check out his performance as the Phantom, "Music of the Night" for sure. He got RAVE reviews for that performance, with one music teacher saying she'd never seen a performance so perfect and sincere. it was very personal for Paul, as he was born with a facial deformity and consequently is deaf in one ear. On a final note, every one in Kiss sings, including replacement members. So you've got nine total vocalists for this band. All of them unique, and some quite great.
I remember being really impressed with Paul's vocals, as never before, when KISS KILLERS was released in 1982, it was a greatest hits record with 4 new songs included, his singing on those 4 new songs was very impressive.
Paul's voice was shot by the last few years of touring(they quit touring at the end of 2023) But he still put every ounce of energy he had into every performance
"Phantom of the Opera" Paul's vocal range runs the scale.. Paul performed as The Phantom in the Toronto version of the Production back around 1994.. I've heard clips and he is phenomenal.. Unfortunately there are no professional recordings of his performance that I am aware of... But as others have said.. Check out "I still love you" unplugged.. And "I was made for loving you" to give a bigger taste of Paul's Voice
I'm just amazed that someone can be alive on this planet for however long you are old and not have at least heard a KISS song on the radio, in a movie, on a commercial, at a carnival , at the grocery store.
I've managed to go my entire 40 years without hearing a single Kiss song to completion. Usually just enough passing thru on a radio scan to know it wasn't for me. I was never a fan of the Nugent/Kiss/Motley Crue style of rock. Alice Cooper wasn't completely horrible, but I really only liked one of his. I look at that stage of metal as an unfortunately necessary stepping stone to much, much, much better things...
I'm from the era, and I just really found out about them lately on youtube. I was already listening to Genesis, Camel, Caravan, Yes, Led Zeppelin... I remember Beth was a hit and other kids talking about them, but I had no interest.
All I have to say is to experience the vocal capabilities of Paul Stanley is to watch what they did on MTV unplugged and he sang “I still love you”. You definitely will be intrigued.
KISS Songs to check out • I Was Made For Loving You • Tears are Falling • Heavens on Fire • I Love It Loud • I Want to Rock & Roll All Night • BETH • Lick It Up • Put the "X" in Sex • Love Gun • You Make Me Rock Hard • Unholy
PLEASE REVIEW I STILL LOVE YOU FROM THEIR MTV UNPLUGGED!!!! Paul has an awesomely versitile voice, despite being born with no external right ear and having hearing loss there as well. Can't sing well if you can't hear, right. Paul is phenomenal. He even played the phantom in The Phantom Of the Opera, so you know he's got pipes made for more than tock and roll god level. ❤
I never understood the questioning of their musicianship. All the iconic riffs and melodies. Gene's bass lines. Paul's solid rhythm work. Ace and Peter never over playing, only what the song required. (When able due to substance abuse). I do agree their lyrics were throw away, for the most part. Marketing, yes. Imagery, yes. But bottom line is I heard and liked their music long before I ever saw a picture of them.
The issues is “all the song required” was very bad, especially by todays standards. Back then they were on par with many of the mediocre bands of the time. If you grew up during that time and were a fan you’re gonna be fueled by nostalgia rather than unbiased opinion.
@@TheMedicinalManCan't argue the nostalgia part. I was 10 in 1975 when I first heard Rock and Roll All Nite off the Alive album on the radio. Four months later I was gifted the Album for Christmas. That's when I first saw what they looked like. I like them as much as Black Sabbath, Led Zep, Aerosmith, any hard rock band. My ears liked what they heard. By "required" I too am referring to today's standards where there often is too much playing. I don't need to hear an Eruption caliber solo in every song, nor do I need to hear a drummer nearly the entire length of the composition with feet as fast as Fred Flintstone's while trying to get his car going. I'm definitely biased.😊
@@TheMedicinalMan please tell me more about what i'm supposed to like and not like. and what's good and what's bad. i need you to decide for me. pretty please!
KISS is THE ultimate rock and roll fantasy come to life. A lot of their songs were simple, fun anthem style tracks, but it was their visuals and presence that was larger than life. You just didn’t have anyone that looked or performed that way on that grand of scale back in the day (Alice cooper is one of the very few, but he was more macabre and vaudeville). KISS practically influenced every single rock and metal band that came after them, that’s a fact. I know here in Detroit, KISS is immortal and we roll out the red carpet for them anytime they come to town. HUGE influence on our city.
In the 70s Alice Cooper was about the only one with the outrageous outfits and shock rock act. KISS saw the success he was having and essentially asked themselves "what if we had 4 Alice Coopers on stage?" Thus began the journey of creating the makeup and stage show to blow away an audience
And the Rock and Roll HOF used the lie of lack of influence to keep them out back when they only let rock acts in. I had the docents at the HOF tell me that, back when influence was regarded more than sales. Man, things have changed.
the KISS "Destroyer" album was my introduction to hard rock/heavy metal when I was about 5 years old. Although I have never seen them in concert, I have always been a fan.
In the mid 70’s there was nothing like Kiss, no stages that size, no light or smoke machines like they had, the were no AC/DC, no Judas Priest, no Van Halen, nor Iron Maiden, that’s what made them great, even these groups were their opening act in different tours. The music was not complicated, songs about simple things that made life good in those years. Their stage presence was great, they are more than 6 foot tall guys in high heels, cool costumes, they were the super heroes that played hard rock. And they had a huge merchandising, you could not get another band lunch box or an action figure or anything you can imagine. I think all that is what made them stand out in many things that didn’t exist back then.
No light shows? Seriously? Blue Oyster Cult had a full-blown laser light show way before these guys were anything. And BTW, Kiss used to open for the Cult. Like Ace Frehley said..."it was never about the music"...no shit. Shallow crap.
Big stages, lights, smoke... their Kiss Alive album came out in the 70s. I saw them on a small stage many times. Any lights (except for the flashing red lights for Fire House) was probably the club's. After a bit, they were an opening act at concerts. The Alice Cooper Band had huge stage shows in the 70s.
I attended the very last Kiss concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City last December 2. I was given a commemorative gold-plated ticket for the event!
I've always said this about KISS: "They're an amazing band that know how to play their instruments and churn out great songs, and they just happen to be wearing make-up. But that's their persona. It raises the awe factor to another level. It works. Makeup or no makeup, I like their music."
They’re competent musicians. That’s all they need to be. Not everybody has to be Stevie Ray Vaughan or Eddie Van Halen. I dislike when people say how kiss only had their stage show going for them and not the music. I’m sorry but I disagree. Songs like God of Thunder, King of The Nighttime World, War Machine, or Creatures of The Night resonate with people because those songs make people feel larger than life.
You really should try KISS unplugged, “I still love you”, if you want to see not only kiss performing musically well, but the singer you saw there, Paul Stanley, performing particularly well. Keep in mind he was the final Phantom of the Opera at the end of the 10 year run of the show at the renown Toronto Pantages theater. There was an approximate 20 year run that Paul Stanley‘s voice, yes, eventually lost due to all of the air he was pushing, was absolutely top echelon
In the vein of so many other comments. They were "good enough" at the things they were just OK at, but absolute masters of the things they were great at! You could like their songs, or not like their songs, but nobody can ever say they went to a KISS concert and wasn't entertained.
"KISS!" I've been a fan of KISS going on, good lord, forty plus years, and I can honestly say most of the music is very good. However, it is the live shows that make it even better. Thanks for finally getting to KISS.
Mike You have been a KISS fan for only forty years ??!! clearly either a "late comer", too young or in some limited location, residence, country 😙 KISS became a sensation as they were introduced to the public fifty years ago; more so as they were introduced within the 'commercial' RockNRoll scene. Then introduced to the public more via public, live, tour shows, as they became available, popular with their "theatrics" including costumes, costume changers, pyrotechnics, while remaining with their "unknown" actual appearance mystique. Apparently they were originally a "Studio Band" which became commercial success, then live performance, show, presentation, theatrical success too. Always, still remember, recall the first time, instance, one of my close buddies played their first released album with the cover photo, along with others within that same time period. It was a revival period which clearly opposed the poor "Disco" era, though it had some good melodic aspects and close dancing; but Booooring, repetitive, lacking creativity - current "Pop" is quite similar though better than the horrible, meaningless, mostly disgusting "Rap" [heard the earl versions first in 1980 - Yuuuck, horrible disgusting, etc.]
The KISS live experience is what this is about. Until you are in the middle of the crowd feeling the heat of the explosions while they are exuding their musical energy and theatrics right in front of you, you just can't fully comprehend that which is KISS.
You have to try I Was Made For Lovin’ You, which i think is a drastically different song from Detroit Rock City and I believe is a much better example of the range of Paul Stanley’s voice. Also it’s a studio track vs a live track. Story behind the song in a nutshell was that Kiss claimed anyone could write a disco track & did this basically on a lark to prove their point. Can’t say I’m a fan of disco but this song is a guilty pleasure.
KISS was the first band I really connected with in my youth, around '76 at 11 years old. For me, it was the whole package. Like many kids, I loved horror movies and books, sci-fi, and super heroes. KISS was all of those things, plus music and a live show like no other. My first concert was KISS in December of '77, and every concert since then has been compared to that experience. They are the reason I'm a musician today.
I have a soft place in my heart for KISS. The first concert I attended was KISS (AC/DC opened for them) in Dec 1977 at Market Square Arena Indianapolis. KISS always entertained me throughout my younger years for sure. Always got my $ worth!!!!
Also, weird seeing them take a lot of flack on here. No, they weren’t elite musicians, that’s obvious. They wrote 2-3 absolute iconic songs, they were super solid live (before Paul’s voice left him) and they always delivered a spectacular show. Oh yeah, they’ve sold over 100 million albums. That puts them in very rarified air. So, if you’re looking for absolute vocal/musical brilliance, no. If you’re looking for solid musicianship, consistency, and absolute stellar showmanship that is probably responsible for most of the stage shows you see today, these are the guys.
We're due for another polarizing Kiss song. 😇 The unplugged recommendation throughout the comment section is undeniable... but if you want more classic KISS - "I Was Made For Lovin' You" is my favourite. Fun Karaoke song. The 1979 live recording is more rock opera for you!
Paul Stanley has an incredible voice. He actually did a run in Phantom of the Opera. Check out Rock Bottom KISS MTV unplugged or I Still Love you from the same gig. He’s amazing
‘HAD’ an incredible voice..I 100% agree with you, but time and improper care of his vocal chords have taken their toll. And yeah, the Unplugged show he sounded excellent. IMO, their best and last good album was, oddly enough Carnival of Souls
My first live show was KISS in the Civic center in Tulsa Oklahoma. I was in 8th grade back in the late 70's and my brother took me to the show. Half the people that were there were dressed as Kiss. The seats were general admission and everyone was standing everywhere. (I understand this was the last purely general admission show in Tulsa). People had snuck in hair spray bottles and even when Gene wasn't breathing fire on stage, there were massive flames springing up from the crowd. The music was incredible for me in that Kiss Alive was one of the first rock albums I ever had. The show I saw was pretty much duplicated on the Kiss Alive 2 album. The staging, lighting, and pyrotechnics were incredible. Firepots blasted to the ceiling. Explosions rattled my teeth. We never sat down during the entire show. There were massive pedestals that raised the band 20' in the air for the finale. Thinking back, I can't imagine how they didn't burn the place down. No concert for me has ever quite lived up to the craziness of that one.
If you want to hear Paul Stanley singing I think his performance on I still love you from the unplugged concert is the best example of his vocal talent
Seen them a couple of times live. Paul still sings like that. He kept his voice to this level until now. People can say what they want about KISS, but you can't say they aren't great showmen. They light up the stage and give you all the bang for your buck.
Paul's voice hasn't been good for over 10 years .he lost his voice and uses backtracks but my opinion is he earned the right to use backtracks because of all the powerful tones he used for decades
He's great until 2012 then it went downhill very fast just look at Barcelona 2018 oh boy he can't sing anymore idk if it's him having a bad day or something
I've been a Kiss fan since 1977, when I was six years old. I wore a Paul Stanley Star Child costume to my kindergarten school Halloween parade. I've been a member of the Kiss Army ever since.
Paul is a wonderful singer, with a lot of range and diversity - even playing the lead in Phantom of the Opera in Toronto years ago. Detroit Rock City is an Ode to Detroit. The anecdotal legend is that their first album sold far more in Detroit than any other place in the world. People tend not to think about Detroit as a rock and roll town but there is ALWAYS somebody playing in the area.
If you want another really good example of Paul Stanley's voice check out their unplugged version of I still love you. Paul Stanley also did a run as the Phantom of the Opera in Toronto in the early 2000s.
Paul is one of the kindest and most real humans that I have ever spent a weekend with. He's also profoundly Deaf. Please listen to the MTV Unplugged song that a lot of people have recommended and "Shandi". He's an amazing vocalist.
Geddy Lee of Rush said: " Say what you will about KISS' songs or style, but no one ever worked harder to make sure the audience gets their money's worth than KISS."
You don't even need to be a KISS fan to enjoy the show. I'd say the same of Alice Cooper.
not true. The original Alice Cooper band practiced 10 hours a day and made sure their audience got their moneys worth and put on a show no one's ever done before with the make up. nothing new here!
Rush. My favorite band in 1978. Kiss #2
This is true about their entertainment value and hard work/commitment to their craft, great music or not.
Kiss helped Rush a lot, early on.
Wow. I was head of pyrotechnics for this this tour, and I fired this performance, yet I didn't know the video existed. Awesome. The Australia/New Zealand "Unmasked" tour has a lot of great memories for me. I was just chatting with another KISS pyro I worked with on the "Dynasty" tour, and we are the only surviving members of the KISS pyro crew from that era.
That's amazing! You should make videos about your time on the road, I would love to hear stories
My what stories!👍
the KISS ARMY made it all possible
Seems kinda odd that you never knew this video existed.
@@WilliamT1964 I did three world tours with them, probably 150 shows. There were crews shooting a lot of those. Very few out of those were released.
At their core, Kiss is catchy, simple, hard rock with pop influences, all wrapped up in a fantasy/horror/superhero package. If you dig deeper they have an incredibly varied catalog. And for millions of kids my age in the late 70s, they were the reason we started picking up instruments. We couldn't figure out how to play Rush or Zeppelin, but we could play Kiss songs. Their influence is immeasurable.
Textbook definition right here my friend.
I sometimes wonder if I am the only person actually paying attention, instead of playing a roll.
It's good to see you out in the wild, slinging those logical deductions around, for the fine folks on the
WWW to ingest.
The whole package was the thing that made us so mesmerized with Kiss back then. I listened mostly Destroyer, Creatures of the Night and Animalize albums. Now later some other older stuff too.
Their books have been very interesting to read. We ofc had no idea of everything that was going on in the background, all the fighting, substance abuse, over the top decadent partying and wrecking hotelrooms.
They had very challenging backgrounds which makes me really appreciate what they have accomplished. You have to admire their hard work and dedication.
This video was when they had Eric in the drums and they played much faster. Ace was still playing and honestly there would not have been Kiss without the original four. Too bad that things soured afterwards between them but nothing stays the same forever.
My issue with Kiss was the huge gap between the image and the music. I first came across them when I saw the album sleeve for Alive II. Blood pouring from Gene's mouth, fire and smoke all over the stage, it looke dlike the Gates of Hell had been opened. Imagine when I heard it, and they sounded like a REO Speedwagon tribute act.
@@marilyncatterall402
Lol.
Yeah, they are rock & roll in the most heaviest of metals attire.
Gene is 100% business, and very good at it.
I think that back then 13- to 15-year-old boys were the largest demographic of people who buy albums.
Not quite sure of what they like in music yet, but man that album looks kick azz with a thumb tack in each corner up on the wall.
@@marilyncatterall402you were spot on until you went to the REO thing.
This video was made 44 years ago! 44! And KISS is still rocking today. I saw them in 2000 and they were fantastic! Same energy, same looks, same great sound as the 70s and 80s. Go see them today and it's still the same KISS. Love them or hate them you can't deny they put on a great show, always sound amazing, and never seem to age. They are timeless American icons.
To see Paul Stanley at the height of his vocal abilities, check out I STILL LOVE YOU, from the MTV KISS UNPLUGGED show. I have endless respect for Paul Stanley. While most rock musicians start out strong when they are young, but then go downhill, Paul continued to improve both his vocal and guitar skills over the course of his career. His vocal cords were clearly starting to wear out by 2005, but he kept going until the band finally retired this year.
This! Paul was in his vocal prime during the 90s, she has to give him another chance!
Alice in Chains MTV unplugged is one of my favourite albums of all time.
Only saw the Kiss unplugged once on tv twenty odd years ago. Bringing in various old members to play and celebrate their music. I have very fond memories of it.
Sucks that to my knowledge the only way to see it these days is on the seven seas.
The unplugged session changed my view of them
Unplugged was a perfect display of voice skill.
Cold Gin was good as well.
“We’re not musicians, we’re entertainers.”
- Paul Stanley
They sure are!
That did not mean they can’t play, you’re taking it out of context. Paul said lots of things that clarify this that you chose not to quote.
@@Dr.Jekyll They are horrible musicians.
@@Dr.Jekyll I can make a grilled cheese sandwich, but that doesn’t make me a chef.
black diamond alone disproved that but if you listen to the original god gave rock and roll to you, you really get a sense of how talented these guys are.
You definitely need to the unplugged version of I Still Love You… Paul Stanley is his absolute best!
nah, SUCH a boring song. bleh. Million to One is a better choice.
@@noneyerbidness the studio version is boring, but the unplugged version was pretty cool
Yeah his voice was at its peak there around 96 I think it was. That’s a good acoustic live performance where they were not on tour yet and you could really hear what he was capable of when touring was not wearing his voice down. This live recording that she reached to was surprisingly really good. I have never heard this version.
I suggested that one a few months ago, but it didn't go anywhere. That is one song where Paul Stanley is a lot more nuanced.
I love the unplugged version of this song. Paul's voice is incredible.
Too truly appreciate Paul’s voice listen to song I still love you from the MTV unplugged.
Paul sang this song almost every show for over 45 years... sadly his voice eventually broke down in the 2000's, but he belted it out like this for decades.
I saw one of their original member reunion shows in Orlando in 2000 or 2001 and Paul never sounded better… top of his game and power that floored me. my buddy and I were talking to each other when the show went on saying can you believe how great he is?
@@danielerickson5175 IMO, his voice didn't really start to go downhill until a couple of years after that. Not long after Ace left... Probably around 2004.
Personally, I believe Paul's voice was at it's best around this time.
@@mustangspitfire6835 It was definitely my favorite Paul era but its hard to deny his vocal range by the late 80's. IMO his voice got better and better during the non-makeup years and reached it's peak around the time Crazy Nights came out. Again, that's just my opinion but for me the non-makeup era was Paul's best and Unplugged was his last really great performance. That's not to say he wasn't still good during the reunion and Psycho Circus shows but after that is when it started becoming more obvious to me that he was in a decline.
Sadly...after decades of slamming other bands for lip syncing...Paul started doing it himself. I like some of their songs, but none of of their albums are a "must listen to". Their shows on the other hand are "must see" shows. They are FAR from my favorite band, but they're in the top 10 concert wise. And like 75% of the people who go, you're going to see Gene spit blood, breathe fire, and snag flies out of the air with his tongue.
Saw an interview with Paul Stanley where he said that when he went to concerts, he was tired of hearing bands that didn’t give the audience their money’s worth - even though they paid for a ticket. He wanted to be the band that always give the audience their money’s worth. Musically I am not a fan of KISS, but I can say that as a show band every single time I saw them in concert, they gave 100% and the audience got their money’s worth. They never “mailed it in” or gave the audience anything less than they paid for.
Except for, you know….that whole backing track/lip syncing thing Paul did during the last 6 years😆
I only went to one Kiss show. We actually went to see Uriah Heep open for them. They killed.
We stayed for Kiss for the fire show, etc.
The reason I checked out Elizabeth's take on this song. Is because 'Detroit Rock City' is probably my favorite song of theirs. It was their opening song when I saw them. But the sound was screwed up until the song was almost over. Only then did we know what it was. It was kind of a hoot after that. We did leave before they finished to beat the traffic.
@JR-vc3lq "the last 6 years"? He's quite obviously lip-synching even here--the vocals are audibly double-tracked.
@@JR-vc3lq Well, about that. I heard it too - but then I started wondering - because this was, for 1980, considered to be a "professional" video-taping of the concert - could they have double tracked the vocals in post-production to make his voice sound more "full"? I know that audio engineers do all kinds of things with sound in post, because generally bands do not like the way they sound in concert, and to make their egos better the audio engineer will effect all kinds of sounds for them. That would also explain why it looks like Paul is lip-syncing. I honestly don't know about Kiss using backing tracks in the last 6 years, but a post-production "enhancement" would make sense.
@@justinvancura2231I think what's going on with this recording is that this show may have been released in Australia as a live record and we are hearing the final product after they went into the studio to fix any vocal and instrumental mistakes, much like what they did with Alive and Alive ll.
In 1999, Paul Stanley (KISS lead singer) starred in a Toronto production of The Phantom of the Opera, in which he played the role of the Phantom. He appeared in the musical from May 25 to August 1, and again that year from September 30 to October 31, 1999, closing the show's ten-year run in Toronto.
That was worth a google/youtube search! Wow!
That might be worth a review on here.
I remember the interviews back then. Didn't seem out of place for him to be involved in such a production.
Paul Stanley was also born with microtia, a condition in which the external ear is undeveloped. He has no hearing in one ear. Apparently he related to the Phantom deeply as he was worried people would see his disfigurement, he works with the charity About Face helping children with facial disfigurements.
I saw him twice in Toronto in Phantom. He was just awesome!!
I'm always impressed by your diplomatic expression of respect while saying you don't like it.
During his heyday Paul was a fantastic vocalist. In the late 90’s he did the Phantom of the Opera in Toronto.
I just commented on this!! My wife and I saw him as Phantom - and I was genuinely surprised at how good he was! It being my favourite musical, and a Kiss fan, I was excited (but honestly a little skeptical) to see how this played out! Paul had the theatrics down, and while not a huge 'range' (unlike my favourite Phantom Michael Crawford) - he was no slouch on all the songs! I had a newfound respect for him that night!
I went to Toronto to see this, and of course the night I was there, he was sick and didn’t do the show….
@@Savafan1 Oh no what a pity 😩 What a devastating experience!
@@Savafan1 sorry to hear that!!
@@EchoesDaBear I saw him do the show three times, once he hit everything well, once you could hear the strain, and one time he missed on a couple of the key moments. What I found especially interesting was that you could feel he was working so hard at it that the audience, many of whom were not KISS fans, genuinely got behind him. You could honestly simply FEEL them anticipating and pulling for him to hit those notes. I've never felt something like that, at least to that extent, from a theatre crowd.
Kiss Unplugged I Still Love You. Paul's vocals will blow you away!
Lol no she won't 😂😂 they are mediocre musicians!
Agreed! Paul’s voice was so good in the 90s and I Still love you Unplugged proves that… hopefully she’ll react/analyse that any time soon :)
Exactly.
@@montana47261 So is your mom.
youre so wright , this song is a masterpiece, guitar- voice et drums, Paul Stanley is the best ..
Paul Stanley said that "Detroit Rock City" was one the best songs he had ever written, released in 1976, it was overshadowed by the ballad "Beth" that became a huge single that year. Paul Stanley said the lyrics were a tribute to a Kiss fan in North Carolina, who was killed in a car accident on the way to a Kiss concert. Kiss wanted to immortalize Detroit in gratitude for embracing this band from New York City with 4 guys in makeup and costumes. Everybody thought Kiss were clowns, but they blew away audiences on tour and they were playing arenas in Detroit around 1975 and the Midwest, before they even had a hit record.
Also, their big double-live album "Alive!" was recorded in Detroit's Cobo Hall in '75 and that became their first major album. By 1977, the original Kiss was a global success and had become a pop culture phenomenon.
Thanks for the background info! 😀
and then they were dered to write a disco/pop song, and they smashed the chart with "I was made for loving you"
Not to mention at that time they had Rush opening every night. Talk about a tough act to follow. Granted most people were there to see Kiss at that time
Japan went nuts over KISS as they looked like Kabuki warriors.
Alive as the first record I ever bought. I was like 6 and my stepdad really didn’t want me to have it. I still spin it from time to time and it just rocks.
You would be floored if you saw their performance of “I Still Love You” from MTV unplugged. Paul laid down one of the best vocal performances of all time on that track and showed exactly why he was selected to star in Phantom of the Opera in ‘99. Seriously I can’t understate how impressive he was as a singer in the 90’s and early 2000’s. Incredible, operatic like vibrato and infinite chest voice.
seriously, she neeeeeeeeds to see this performance.
The MTV "Unplugged" series, Paul Stanley's voice on "I Still Love You" will completely blow you away at the range and power his voice takes on. Bluesy styling with Jazz like runs. Amazing breath control!!!!
Magic touch from the live to win video is amazing too.
I guess it's a "you had to be there" kind of thing. When I was a kid, KISS were comic book heroes come to life. There were lunch boxes, Halloween masks and even a tv movie. It was a big cultural phenomenon. In the 80's when they actually unmasked, they did prove that it wasn't just the makeup. They leaned into the whole hair metal genre and those albums also sold well.
I was “there”. I thought they (and the hype) were ridiculous then as well as now. But, I accept that other people’s taste in music/entertainment does not need to match my own. And, I will credit Kiss for what they did for Rush.
For Mrs. Elisabeth; while Kiss is not my thing, I do truly appreciate your analysis. I will watch if you continue to delve deeper into their catalog, as your insight makes tolerating them worthwhile.
Kiss vs the Phantom of the Park.
They were a cultural phenomenon - that’s undeniable. And they milked it for all they could.
But it *was* just the makeup, metaphorically speaking. They were, and are, musically and lyrically bankrupt.
@@ErinJWade They went a long time without makeup and made out pretty well:
Lick it up = Platinum
Animalize = Platinum
Asylum = Gold
Crazy Nights = Platinum
Hot in the Shade = Gold
Revenge = Gold
Alive 3 = Gold
Agreed. They were as big of a cultural phenomenon as Star Wars. Kiss merch was everywhere. Back then, the band's only merch was t-shirts and posters. Kiss has action figures, lunch boxes, you name it.
You should have picked the Unplugged version of I Still Love You. It’s soulful and a great representation of Stanley’s vocal abilities.
But this is a much better representation of what kiss was. Good choice for a first listen
What I appreciate about Kiss is they reflect the fact that this rock and roll stuff is supposed to be about having fun. Nothing is worse than watching a band that just stands there and going through the songs and act like they're doing you a favor by playing for you.
Speaking of high notes, KISS' Heaven's on Fire starts with possibly the highest note Paul's ever hit.
I think he hit higher on "Nowhere to Run" and "I was Made for Lovin' You"
The beginning of Heaven's On Fire yeah is super high, but for a a whole song it has to be "My Way"
@@docblalock1870 I love Nowhere To Run! (well both of them)
That's why they tuned a half step down in the 90s. Paul's voice just couldn't hit those notes show after show. Probably got him an extras decade of singing.
Im going with the slide up in 100,000 years.
Kiss I Still Love You Live MTV Unplugged is an amazing performance. Needs to be watched. Was hoping you would do that one first. ❤️🔥
I think for a first Kiss experience you have to go full regalia, but for a raw, stripped down display of pure talent, that unplugged performance is spot on.
Agreed, probably the best showcase of Paul's voice.
Agree!
Agree!
@@bdabusnot when so many people wrongfully accuse Kiss of being only about the show and that they can’t play or sing and that they suck. You want to shut those people down and by making them watch Kiss stripped of the show and unplugged so they are vulnerable and their talent is on full display.
I saw kiss 23 times between 1983 and 2023
I always said you don't go to hear Kiss you go to experience Kiss
Never ever failed to be satisfied. Thank you for being part of my life for 40 years
Since 1977 here. My first concert. Amazing...
😂 wasted life
Envious, only got to see them twice.
Funny. I never had any kind of a problem with Kiss, I was....indifferent. And I was the same about Iron Maiden UNTIL some friends talked me into going to a show with them. Those guys are PROFESSIONAL entertainers. The show was off the charts. I THINK I'm getting where you're coming from. But I've been wrong before.
Since 1990 for me. Always a fantastic show.
As someone who's been a fan since hearing Rock & Roll All Night on the radio in 1975, I get it . Mind blown at the age of 5 not even comprehending what that was. Kiss was my first musical love and when ever I hear DRC it's like the first time hearing even after 48 years and hundreds of hours listening to it!! Funny that you mention Ghost because they are my current obsession. When I first hear of Ghost my inital thought was they were emulating Kiss, which is just proof of just how influential Kiss is the rock/metal genre of music!
I'm 60 now, KISS was my very first concert. I've seen them 6 times in my life. They were bombastic & so much fun. They had a wonderful way of truly bringing people together. A total feast for the eyes and ears. They colored my teenage life with loud, heart pounding rock & roll. I don't think there will ever be another band like them. They earned their place for sure.
My uncle had a big kiss poster hanging in his bedroom back in 1981…I was 9, they scared the sh outta me lol
@@DPRyan-vd5pp really? LoL
I'm 60 also the first concert I ever saw was kiss on the destroyer tour in Houston.
I'm 63 and KISS was my first concert too, Philadelphia 1976
I agree, CorpseBride64. I'm 61 and can remember how much they poured into their shows.
Personally think KISS are brilliant. A lot of very good songs. People enjoy attacking them, but they're fun and put on a great show.
I agree but people are all about the one hit wonders of today not great bands like KISS that will be remembered forever not forgotten in a week like new so called bands.
I agree, the Kiss songs that I like are so fun they tickle my mind every time I hear them:)
@@magicpumpkin3it's not new though, I was into the rock and metal scene in the 80s and 90s and KISS was absolutely reviled, they were seen as lame and cheesy but most seriously the ultimate sell outs and inauthentic. When grunge came along and killed the glam metal scene it was worse. These were not people interested in one hit wonders disliking them.
I'm older and a little wiser now and while it's not quite my thing I can see the appeal, the comcis and lunch boxes and gimmics kind of fades away and I think it may be more than nostalgia that keeps people listening and if they enjoy it nobody should be angry about it, being upset someone is harmlessly enjoying something you don't like us just too dumb and exhausting.
@@101Mant Sure some people hated KISS but they have keep a big fan base that is loyal for decades.
I was also around for the 80's and 90's.
I think people should remember if bands suck why are they remembered?
I agree, the fact that a average at best talent band can stay around so long is impressive. Keep in m8nd i was a kiss fan when i was 12 but grew out of it. Can someone tell me why when a kiss song comes on the radio the sound quality is shit . BTW this is my favorite kiss song and this video sounds like shit
Kiss has sooooo many songs and soooo many different sounds. This is just one example. Please check out more songs
How about Christine Sixteen 🤣
yeah, actually imo all their best stuff is the songs no one even knows about.
Mr. Speed
War Machine
I stole your love
etc, etc.. you know
@@hustler666100yeah, that's not weird at all.
Crazy how back then no one cared. They ALL did groupies: Steven Tyler, Ted Nugent, on and on and on. No one cared. A different time, different age..
A Million to One
Jungle
Nowhere to Run
Take Me Away (Together as One)
The list goes on
Yeah, they all sang lead at one time or another. Well, not this lineup, but the classic lineup.
Watch the MTV unplugged concert from 1995 for sure. KISS went through several phases with their sound, and they have so much to pick from for examples. Plus, in the original lineup, all four band members sang. Each with a different vocal style.
Detroit Rock City was the first song I ever heard by KISS. I remember sitting in front of the radio with my mouth open and for the first time really knowing what kind of music I really loved. There was no internet back then and KISS weren't shown on TV in our area either. The first time I saw them on the cover of Destroyer I was absolutely mesmerised and speechless. KISS were simply breathtaking at the time and there was nothing like them. When I saw KISS live for the first time, it was the second decisive experience in my musical development. The support act was a band from England called IRON MAIDEN. I will never forget that concert for the rest of my life.
Awesome! My story is similar
I was that same kid. I bought all of the teen magazines, the trading cards that made a poster…and I was a disciple of rock, brother!
Paul Stanley and Paul di´Anno. Will never forget that experience! This war my first concert at all and one of the very best. Many years later in the end of the 80ies I saw both bands again at Monsters of Rock in Bochum. Unbelievable. Time passages. I am so grateful that I was able to experience this.
Just a quick note about this. Paul's singing style in this live version is a bit different than the studio version. When you get time, check out the original studio version.
Yeah, the studio voice is singing in proper harmonies and melodies. The live version is him just showing off, lol.
In MTV "Unpllugged - I Still Love You", Paul's vocals will blow you away, here's' the real power of Paul voice. And on the KISS "Symphony", listening again "Detroit Rock City", really awesome!!
No truer words have been spoken.
Paul's Voice was VERY strong on that one! I think another to check out is Donnington in 1989 and listen to Strutter. It is probably the highest I've ever heard him sing.
She’s covered I still love you, this isn’t the first time she’s heard Kiss, maybe first time in make up
Highly recommend
@@kevinriley4190It's called"I still love you" and I can't find any proof of your claim that she covered that song.
Life time member of the KISS army here. Glad you're finally listening to my boys. If you want a good sample of Paul, listen to I Still Love You from the MTV Unplugged. Absolutely phenomenal control. I will ALWAYS love my boys! ❤
I Still Love You MTV unplugged will blow you away 🔥🔥🔥
This
I just asked her to take a listen and hopefully she puts it on. I totally agree ❤
IMO the better choice to start the KISS journey
I’ve seen them 4 times in my life, once in each of the past 4 decades, and they always put on a great show. Despite the comments about not being great musicians but entertainers, I think they were both. Paul Stanley was a great vocalist and guitarist. Gene Simmons was good singer and great bassist. Ace Frehley was not a good singer but was a great guitarist. And Peter Criss was an awesome drummer that sang well when given the chance. I think for their performance, it was mostly about giving their audience a wonderful experience and memory.
Really I think he's the best singer of the band peter was good to
I saw them in Atlanta before there first album came out the out fits were home made they were awesome!
They were both great singers and showmen.
They have so many great songs, both in 70's and in 80's.
Their style and theatrics grabbed our attention in the 70's. Releasing two "live" albums also helped build excitement to see them. My friends and I dressed up as KISS for a 6th grade end-of-school show. I was Ace, and we did Rocket Ride. I even strapped a smoke bomb to the back of my guitar for the guitar solo. Luckily, we were the last act of the day, so the principal wasn't too hard on us for it. Everyone wanted to be KISS!!
I recommend the song "I still love you", by Kiss if you want to really get a good feel for Kiss.
The members of the band did their own makeup as characters they wanted to be. Paul: Rock star, Ace: Space man, Gene: Demon, Peter: Cat man
Let's not forget Eric Carr as the chicken....I mean, the hawk. Then the fox.
Which Eric was the Fox in this Performance
Thanks for the history lesson turbo. And Paul started out with a bandit mask and then switched over to a star.
And Vinnie Vincent the Wiz, Wizard, Ankh Warrior, Egyptian Wizard, Pharaoh, Sphinx, Wizard of Odd, etc., etc….
Years later, Paul Stanley played in the Phantom of the Opera.Stanley got a call from his agent asking if he’d be interested in auditioning for the part of the Phantom and got to play him with the Toronto company, what he calls “the hardest work I’ve ever done.” When that ended, he went back to concentrating on his highly successful band, but gained an even greater appreciation for the art form.
KISS just "retired" after 50 years. Paul's voice has taken its toll but KISS performs! Has been my favorite band for ever and 62 years young....
What's amazing all theses years on you tube, and know she finally hears Kiss. They just been around for only fifty years.
She conveniently never heared any music at all.
@@riesmeisterit is sometimes hard to believe but some people have led more sheltered lives I guess.
Well, the lady has taste and wanted to avoid them for as long as possible.
OMG! You have to listen to the Kiss song... I still love you (live from MTV unplugged 1995) You will freak out when I see how long Paul Stanley can hold a note with vibrato! It's all acoustical, and absolutely mind-blowing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you like ballads like that? ugh
I can't stand that crap
KISS, the best marketing band on the planet.
you mean the most over-hyped band on the planet..they had like 2-3 good songs total
@@msaltalolayou're very generous. they had zero good songs max. if any rock band could be considered Disco it's this one.
@@msaltalolaNo, I mean what I write. I know, unusual in this day in age.
@@EmmaBadOneThey had quite a few great songs
@@boscotheman82 good thing art is subjective
KISS is an experience and were shocking to many parents when they arrived in the 70s and is the first music where my parents and I parted ways. To me songs like Deuce, Parasite, Shock Me were an escape from my boring, confined, controlled Catholic school life. KISS was my way of giving the finger.
Wild because the band members are hardcore Conservatives like your parents
once again we are asking you to check out the unplugged version of "I still love you" which showcases Paul's incredibly powerful pipes.
also "I was made for loving you" for his falsetto, through the roof. I think he broke the recording studio control booth window on that one. pretty sure.
Watch the MTV Unplugged from 95 doing I Still Love You for some of Paul's most amazing vocals. No make up. No bombast. Just pure musical talent. You won't be disappointed.
It's an Eventide H-3000 harmonizer, used for doubling slightly out of pitch on Paul's vocal.
I don' t think so, H3000 didn't exist at this time. It' s Chorus I think.
it can't be, h3000 was first made 8 years after this recording
KISS is not a band you went to see for the singing, the music, or the songwriting. You went to see them for the show. And put on a show , they did.🤘
Like Marilyn Manson. A circus.
so you went to see a shit show literally lol if they can't sing & the music sucks, etc why bother??
@@msaltalolapeople easily attracted to bright lights and shiny things.
I vehemently disagree with all of that. Paul was one of the all time greats as a singer. And as far as simple short (albeit dumb) rock songs, they were as good as anyone.
@@MetalPersonJall time greats? Sure, in a list of 100,000 vocalists he sits firmly at 100,000
Kiss was my first concert ever. My mum and brother took me to a liveshow auf the psycho Circus tour in germany... absolut fantastic. Gene Simmons flew over the crowd while he bit on his bloodpill...
Stanley once said, “There had been an accident outside of an arena in Charlotte. Someone was killed coming to the concert. I thought, how odd and how striking, and the juxtaposition of someone coming to a Kiss concert, which celebrates being alive, to lose your life. That was the twist of ‘Detroit Rock City.’ To change it from a song about your amazing city to something much more epic.”
My first concert was Kiss, with AC/DC opening! I was three and half years old. Our seats were on Gene's side of the stage. The two memories that have stuck with me are the fire and explosions around Gene, and Angus Young of AC/DC in his schoolboy outfit. I dressed up as Gene Simmons for Halloween for several years in a row after that.
Awesome!!! My first concert was Elvis, seriously. My first concert with just friends and no adults, Nugent, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Mahogany Rush, and St Paradise.
My favorite KISS story is from one time when their ride back to the hotel after the show was stuck in traffic, so they walked. They were still in costume & makeup but the crowd from the show was so dressed up for the show that no one could tell it was them. Says it all about what an experience their shows were!
KISS was the best kind of "famous" back in the day. No one knew what they looked like, so they could walk down the street and everyone left them alone. Also, the tabloids wouldn't publish photos of them without makeup because the mystery of it sold more papers.
@@seanj3667 It was definitely a different time. For people who didn't live through the 70s and 80s it's hard to comprehend just how popular KISS was. They would have concerts shown on prime time TV. The same time slots that were usually reserved for things like Muhammad Ali fights, The World Series, etc. Very few music acts had the massive level of popularity it took to do that especially considering there were only 3 TV stations across the entire country. I remember Elton John being another so that speaks to the level of fame and popularity they had.
@@seanj3667 The National Enquirer did.
My favorite one is when Paul Stanley met Guns n Roses for the first time. Paul said, they played some recordings for him and he was really impressed. Paul then said he made a couple of suggestions on a couple of songs, and that he was blown away by their live show. Paul also said Slash kept asking him how to get endorsement deals for free equipment. In a later interview (after GnR made it big) Slash said Paul had a diva attitude, tried to tell them what to do and how to do it, nobody in GnR even liked KISS. Really ran Paul over the coals. Paul then said, a few months later, Slash called him wanting more advice on getting endorsement deals. Paul asked him about the interview and Slash admitted to saying those things. Paul said, "piece of advice kid, don't s*** where you eat." and hung up. In later interviews, Slash kind of admitted, he knew he had screwed that one up.
Slash seems to have unscrewed up, dude has sold more Les Pauls than Gibson themselves and he doesn't even play real Les Pauls. How many Ibanez did Paul sell?
In 1980 Paul Stanley never received any sinning lessins. In order to keep his voice he had lessins during the 80’s. To hear Pauls amazing voice, check out the 1993 MTV unplugged version of “I still love you” it is nothing less than mindblowing❤️
I recorded a Kiss cover once ("Love Gun") and by the second verse you could hear my throat closing up. Literally had tears in my eyes. 😆
Kiss was my very first concert in the late 70's. I was 15yo and it was Abilene, Tx...as a small town country boy surrounded by old school country music, I left blown away by the show.
Kiss have just recentley retired from touring. Paul is now 72, and has had some vocal issues for the past few years, but he was truly one of the best for many years.
You must do I Still Love You from the MTV Unplugged session. Paul Stanleys passion and vocal ability will blow you away.
I remember when Pail Stanley was in "The Phantom of the Opera" , still was suprised with how much he related with the character with himself being born without an ear
I recently took my teenagers to see KISS (current lineup) at the Hollywood Bowl. Whether or not you think they're great musicians, songwriters, or singers, they are incredible performers dedicated to giving their fans a show to remember. When you think of a "rock concert", these guys set the bar. That show was something my kids will remember for life.
I have been a fan of theirs for over 45 years, they gave me confidence and courage as an introverted boy.I can only thank them for changing my life.
KISS is a way of life. Some get it. Some don’t.
The ABSOLUTE **MUST** for Kiss vocals... you gotta do "I Still Love You" from MTV Unplugged. Paul Stanley was unparalleled vocal greatness. Unfortunately all of this "power" caught up with him about 15 years ago, and he has since truly struggled vocally. He had to have throat surgery at one point even, but continued to struggle. But for the first 35 years in the spot light, no one could touch what he was particularly doing, with vocal range, power, showmanship, and style.
You should also totally check out his performance as the Phantom, "Music of the Night" for sure. He got RAVE reviews for that performance, with one music teacher saying she'd never seen a performance so perfect and sincere. it was very personal for Paul, as he was born with a facial deformity and consequently is deaf in one ear.
On a final note, every one in Kiss sings, including replacement members. So you've got nine total vocalists for this band. All of them unique, and some quite great.
I remember being really impressed with Paul's vocals, as never before, when KISS KILLERS was released in 1982, it was a greatest hits record with 4 new songs included, his singing on those 4 new songs was very impressive.
Agreed. Paul was in top form on UNPLUGGED.
KISS - I STILL LOVE YOU (MTV Unplugged)
Yep.
Apex Paul Stanley
I second this!
Up
definitely!
Paul's voice was shot by the last few years of touring(they quit touring at the end of 2023) But he still put every ounce of energy he had into every performance
"Phantom of the Opera"
Paul's vocal range runs the scale.. Paul performed as The Phantom in the Toronto version of the Production back around 1994.. I've heard clips and he is phenomenal.. Unfortunately there are no professional recordings of his performance that I am aware of... But as others have said.. Check out "I still love you" unplugged.. And "I was made for loving you" to give a bigger taste of Paul's Voice
I'm just amazed that someone can be alive on this planet for however long you are old and not have at least heard a KISS song on the radio, in a movie, on a commercial, at a carnival , at the grocery store.
I've always believed she has lived a ridiculously sheltered life and, nothing proves that more then her never hearing or seeing KISS before.
Some people are just lucky
I've managed to go my entire 40 years without hearing a single Kiss song to completion. Usually just enough passing thru on a radio scan to know it wasn't for me. I was never a fan of the Nugent/Kiss/Motley Crue style of rock. Alice Cooper wasn't completely horrible, but I really only liked one of his.
I look at that stage of metal as an unfortunately necessary stepping stone to much, much, much better things...
I'm from the era, and I just really found out about them lately on youtube. I was already listening to Genesis, Camel, Caravan, Yes, Led Zeppelin... I remember Beth was a hit and other kids talking about them, but I had no interest.
I became a fan in the late 80s and it was years before I heard them on the radio. Never heard anything other than RNRAN until the reunion.
All I have to say is to experience the vocal capabilities of Paul Stanley is to watch what they did on MTV unplugged and he sang “I still love you”. You definitely will be intrigued.
Yes! THIS 👍🏽
SI
His vocals on this are heavily dubbed. That's later era Stanley on alot of this. I think they " fixed" alot of material for the KISSTORY DVDs
Absolutely! I still love you, unplugged Version, unbelivable.. she has to react to that!!
Unplugged mtv I Still Love you. Vocals are awesome.
KISS Songs to check out
• I Was Made For Loving You
• Tears are Falling
• Heavens on Fire
• I Love It Loud
• I Want to Rock & Roll All Night
• BETH
• Lick It Up
• Put the "X" in Sex
• Love Gun
• You Make Me Rock Hard
• Unholy
PLEASE REVIEW I STILL LOVE YOU FROM THEIR MTV UNPLUGGED!!!! Paul has an awesomely versitile voice, despite being born with no external right ear and having hearing loss there as well. Can't sing well if you can't hear, right. Paul is phenomenal. He even played the phantom in The Phantom Of the Opera, so you know he's got pipes made for more than tock and roll god level. ❤
I never understood the questioning of their musicianship. All the iconic riffs and melodies. Gene's bass lines. Paul's solid rhythm work. Ace and Peter never over playing, only what the song required. (When able due to substance abuse). I do agree their lyrics were throw away, for the most part.
Marketing, yes. Imagery, yes. But bottom line is I heard and liked their music long before I ever saw a picture of them.
The issues is “all the song required” was very bad, especially by todays standards. Back then they were on par with many of the mediocre bands of the time. If you grew up during that time and were a fan you’re gonna be fueled by nostalgia rather than unbiased opinion.
I became a fan in the 90s as a kid. Love their music more than most bands of the 70s and 80s still to this day
@@TheMedicinalManCan't argue the nostalgia part. I was 10 in 1975 when I first heard Rock and Roll All Nite off the Alive album on the radio. Four months later I was gifted the Album for Christmas. That's when I first saw what they looked like. I like them as much as Black Sabbath, Led Zep, Aerosmith, any hard rock band. My ears liked what they heard.
By "required" I too am referring to today's standards where there often is too much playing. I don't need to hear an Eruption caliber solo in every song, nor do I need to hear a drummer nearly the entire length of the composition with feet as fast as Fred Flintstone's while trying to get his car going.
I'm definitely biased.😊
@@alwaysemployed656 I'm a trained bass player. Your comment is false. He's a solid rock player and always has been. You just hate the makeup.
@@TheMedicinalMan please tell me more about what i'm supposed to like and not like. and what's good and what's bad. i need you to decide for me. pretty please!
*Elizabeth starts talking about the costuming* Me - should... should we tell her about GWAR?
Yes...I think she has already sampled Slipknot, so we need to keep going down the rabbit hole!
We should
Sheer Brilliance !!
Lol!! Absolutely, GWAR will make her eyes fall out!
or Lordi
Not just a concert but a friggin’ show. This band took you on a ride and left you exhausted. At the end of the show you knew you’d never forget it!
I'm 43 years old, and a Kiss fan since 1993. 31 years been extremely happy with his music! And will be until I die!
You have to do the unplugged live version of "I still love you" that really showcases Paul Stanley's voice.
KISS is THE ultimate rock and roll fantasy come to life. A lot of their songs were simple, fun anthem style tracks, but it was their visuals and presence that was larger than life. You just didn’t have anyone that looked or performed that way on that grand of scale back in the day (Alice cooper is one of the very few, but he was more macabre and vaudeville). KISS practically influenced every single rock and metal band that came after them, that’s a fact.
I know here in Detroit, KISS is immortal and we roll out the red carpet for them anytime they come to town. HUGE influence on our city.
they inspired tens of thousands of people to become musicians. nuff sed.
In the 70s Alice Cooper was about the only one with the outrageous outfits and shock rock act. KISS saw the success he was having and essentially asked themselves "what if we had 4 Alice Coopers on stage?" Thus began the journey of creating the makeup and stage show to blow away an audience
And the Rock and Roll HOF used the lie of lack of influence to keep them out back when they only let rock acts in. I had the docents at the HOF tell me that, back when influence was regarded more than sales. Man, things have changed.
the KISS "Destroyer" album was my introduction to hard rock/heavy metal when I was about 5 years old. Although I have never seen them in concert, I have always been a fan.
Bummer you've been a fan so long and never saw them in concert. It was always special!
KISS- I Still Love You from MTV Unplugged will change your entire look on kiss and you will become a fan right away
In the mid 70’s there was nothing like Kiss, no stages that size, no light or smoke machines like they had, the were no AC/DC, no Judas Priest, no Van Halen, nor Iron Maiden, that’s what made them great, even these groups were their opening act in different tours.
The music was not complicated, songs about simple things that made life good in those years. Their stage presence was great, they are more than 6 foot tall guys in high heels, cool costumes, they were the super heroes that played hard rock. And they had a huge merchandising, you could not get another band lunch box or an action figure or anything you can imagine. I think all that is what made them stand out in many things that didn’t exist back then.
No light shows? Seriously? Blue Oyster Cult had a full-blown laser light show way before these guys were anything. And BTW, Kiss used to open for the Cult. Like Ace Frehley said..."it was never about the music"...no shit. Shallow crap.
Big stages, lights, smoke... their Kiss Alive album came out in the 70s. I saw them on a small stage many times. Any lights (except for the flashing red lights for Fire House) was probably the club's. After a bit, they were an opening act at concerts. The Alice Cooper Band had huge stage shows in the 70s.
@@susanc9062 KISS was opening for BOC as a brand new band in 1974. BOC opened for KISS new years eve 1975.
I attended the very last Kiss concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City last December 2. I was given a commemorative gold-plated ticket for the event!
Nice!!! I was at Nov 1st and 3rd. No gold plated ticket but they were great shows.
I was there too. I got one as well
I've always said this about KISS: "They're an amazing band that know how to play their instruments and churn out great songs, and they just happen to be wearing make-up. But that's their persona. It raises the awe factor to another level. It works. Makeup or no makeup, I like their music."
They’re competent musicians. That’s all they need to be. Not everybody has to be Stevie Ray Vaughan or Eddie Van Halen.
I dislike when people say how kiss only had their stage show going for them and not the music.
I’m sorry but I disagree. Songs like God of Thunder, King of The Nighttime World, War Machine, or Creatures of The Night resonate with people because those songs make people feel larger than life.
You really should try KISS unplugged, “I still love you”, if you want to see not only kiss performing musically well, but the singer you saw there, Paul Stanley, performing particularly well. Keep in mind he was the final Phantom of the Opera at the end of the 10 year run of the show at the renown Toronto Pantages theater. There was an approximate 20 year run that Paul Stanley‘s voice, yes, eventually lost due to all of the air he was pushing, was absolutely top echelon
In the vein of so many other comments. They were "good enough" at the things they were just OK at, but absolute masters of the things they were great at! You could like their songs, or not like their songs, but nobody can ever say they went to a KISS concert and wasn't entertained.
Well said!
Wonderful comment.
"KISS!"
I've been a fan of KISS going on, good lord, forty plus years, and I can honestly say most of the music is very good. However, it is the live shows that make it even better.
Thanks for finally getting to KISS.
Mike You have been a KISS fan for only forty years ??!! clearly either a "late comer", too young or in some limited location, residence, country 😙
KISS became a sensation as they were introduced to the public fifty years ago; more so as they were introduced within the 'commercial' RockNRoll scene.
Then introduced to the public more via public, live, tour shows, as they became available, popular with their "theatrics" including costumes, costume changers, pyrotechnics, while remaining with their "unknown" actual appearance mystique.
Apparently they were originally a "Studio Band" which became commercial success, then live performance, show, presentation, theatrical success too.
Always, still remember, recall the first time, instance, one of my close buddies played their first released album with the cover photo, along with others within that same time period.
It was a revival period which clearly opposed the poor "Disco" era, though it had some good melodic aspects and close dancing; but Booooring, repetitive, lacking creativity - current "Pop" is quite similar though better than the horrible, meaningless, mostly disgusting "Rap" [heard the earl versions first in 1980 - Yuuuck, horrible disgusting, etc.]
The KISS live experience is what this is about. Until you are in the middle of the crowd feeling the heat of the explosions while they are exuding their musical energy and theatrics right in front of you, you just can't fully comprehend that which is KISS.
You have to try I Was Made For Lovin’ You, which i think is a drastically different song from Detroit Rock City and I believe is a much better example of the range of Paul Stanley’s voice. Also it’s a studio track vs a live track. Story behind the song in a nutshell was that Kiss claimed anyone could write a disco track & did this basically on a lark to prove their point. Can’t say I’m a fan of disco but this song is a guilty pleasure.
KISS was the first band I really connected with in my youth, around '76 at 11 years old. For me, it was the whole package. Like many kids, I loved horror movies and books, sci-fi, and super heroes. KISS was all of those things, plus music and a live show like no other. My first concert was KISS in December of '77, and every concert since then has been compared to that experience. They are the reason I'm a musician today.
I have a soft place in my heart for KISS. The first concert I attended was KISS (AC/DC opened for them) in Dec 1977 at Market Square Arena Indianapolis.
KISS always entertained me throughout my younger years for sure. Always got my $ worth!!!!
I was at that show. It was my first KISS Concert. Bon Scott carrying Angus on his shoulders.
@@quietthundersurvival hell yeah!! It was spectacular, the whole concert!!
Also, weird seeing them take a lot of flack on here. No, they weren’t elite musicians, that’s obvious.
They wrote 2-3 absolute iconic songs, they were super solid live (before Paul’s voice left him) and they always delivered a spectacular show. Oh yeah, they’ve sold over 100 million albums. That puts them in very rarified air.
So, if you’re looking for absolute vocal/musical brilliance, no. If you’re looking for solid musicianship, consistency, and absolute stellar showmanship that is probably responsible for most of the stage shows you see today, these are the guys.
You mean the big light shows and costume crap that all kinds of folk whine about ruining the shows these days?
@@neilpatrickhairlessNo, that would be bands that don’t play entirely live and lip synch.
We're due for another polarizing Kiss song. 😇 The unplugged recommendation throughout the comment section is undeniable... but if you want more classic KISS - "I Was Made For Lovin' You" is my favourite. Fun Karaoke song. The 1979 live recording is more rock opera for you!
Paul Stanley has an incredible voice. He actually did a run in Phantom of the Opera. Check out Rock Bottom KISS MTV unplugged or I Still Love you from the same gig. He’s amazing
‘HAD’ an incredible voice..I 100% agree with you, but time and improper care of his vocal chords have taken their toll. And yeah, the Unplugged show he sounded excellent. IMO, their best and last good album was, oddly enough Carnival of Souls
My first live show was KISS in the Civic center in Tulsa Oklahoma. I was in 8th grade back in the late 70's and my brother took me to the show. Half the people that were there were dressed as Kiss. The seats were general admission and everyone was standing everywhere. (I understand this was the last purely general admission show in Tulsa). People had snuck in hair spray bottles and even when Gene wasn't breathing fire on stage, there were massive flames springing up from the crowd. The music was incredible for me in that Kiss Alive was one of the first rock albums I ever had. The show I saw was pretty much duplicated on the Kiss Alive 2 album. The staging, lighting, and pyrotechnics were incredible. Firepots blasted to the ceiling. Explosions rattled my teeth. We never sat down during the entire show. There were massive pedestals that raised the band 20' in the air for the finale. Thinking back, I can't imagine how they didn't burn the place down. No concert for me has ever quite lived up to the craziness of that one.
During his heyday, Paul Stanley had the most unique and amazing vocals. Still get chills today when hearing his 70's crooning.
If you want to hear Paul Stanley singing I think his performance on I still love you from the unplugged concert is the best example of his vocal talent
Kiss is from New York but they were embraced by us in Detroit! We use this an official Anthem for the City of Detroit! Detroit IS Rock City!
Seen them a couple of times live. Paul still sings like that. He kept his voice to this level until now. People can say what they want about KISS, but you can't say they aren't great showmen. They light up the stage and give you all the bang for your buck.
He did had to have throat surgery a few years ago but he did keep his voice for a long time.
Paul's voice hasn't been good for over 10 years .he lost his voice and uses backtracks but my opinion is he earned the right to use backtracks because of all the powerful tones he used for decades
He's great until 2012 then it went downhill very fast just look at Barcelona 2018 oh boy he can't sing anymore idk if it's him having a bad day or something
I've been a Kiss fan since 1977, when I was six years old. I wore a Paul Stanley Star Child costume to my kindergarten school Halloween parade. I've been a member of the Kiss Army ever since.
Lol
Cool 😎
Paul is a wonderful singer, with a lot of range and diversity - even playing the lead in Phantom of the Opera in Toronto years ago. Detroit Rock City is an Ode to Detroit. The anecdotal legend is that their first album sold far more in Detroit than any other place in the world. People tend not to think about Detroit as a rock and roll town but there is ALWAYS somebody playing in the area.
"I still love you" is a great showcase for Paul's voice
Especially their acoustic version on the Unplugged album
If you want another really good example of Paul Stanley's voice check out their unplugged version of I still love you. Paul Stanley also did a run as the Phantom of the Opera in Toronto in the early 2000s.
Kiss is iconic. Check out "I Was Made For Lovin' You" to hear Paul Stanley hit some high notes!
80's was full of cool music videos, Paul was lit.
God, that song rules.
Blech! Just say NO to disco KISS!
@@stk0308 I prefer to call it KISSCO 🤣
YES his vocals may break some glass in your house if you have it cranked.
Paul is one of the kindest and most real humans that I have ever spent a weekend with. He's also profoundly Deaf. Please listen to the MTV Unplugged song that a lot of people have recommended and "Shandi". He's an amazing vocalist.