Kiss

Another entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, and perhaps the most controversial, is Kiss. At the same time, Kiss is the most popular act going into the Hall this year. So where is the controversy? Rock and roll snobs hate Kiss.

Kiss was formed in 1973 in New York, and their eponymous debut album was released 40 years ago this month. They have sold over 40 million records, and have 28 gold records, the most of any American rock band. But the argument against Kiss has always been that without their gimmick--the stage makeup--they are pretty much an average rock band. After listening to The Very Best of Kiss, I have to agree.

Certainly Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, the main two figures in Kiss and the only men who have never left the band, are marketing geniuses. They hit on the idea of having a gimmick, and adding the kabuki makeup and giving each member of the band a comic-book like identity. The stage shows (I've never seen one) were full of pyrotechnics, fire-breathing, and levitating drum kits. The songs are simple, straight-ahead rock songs, the kind that fifteen-year-old boys respond to. They were big when I was in junior high--they looked kind of scary, which teenagers like.

But the music, well, it's mostly pedestrian. There is nothing interesting about it. They have a few good songs. "Detroit Rock City" is eminently listenable, and "Calling Dr. Love" is okay. Their biggest hit, "Rock and Roll All Nite," is catchy, even if the lyric is sophomoric. They also branched out to ballads. "Hard Luck Woman" sounds like a Rod Stewart song, and "Beth," another smash, written by drummer Peter Criss, is a pretty song, until you listen closely to the lyric and realize the guy is a dick--he's telling his girlfriend that he's rehearsing with the band, and will be there eventually.

The best song on the Best of disc is "New York Groove," which was on bassist Ace Frehley's solo album (in 1978, each member released their own). It has been used in many films as a perfect New York song, and it's hard not to tap your foot and sing along with. Interestingly, it's the only song from the four solo albums to make it to the Best of record, and was not written by a member of the band.

Kiss pretty much stopped being an important act in the early '80s, and since then have been on a never-ending nostalgia tour. They are a brand now, a merchandise powerhouse, even up to Kiss-brand coffins. I wish I could say that they are under-rated musically, but this is not the case. Kiss is all show.