After the release of Dynasty in 1979, which featured the worldwide hit single, I Was Made For Lovin' You, crack appeared in the ranks. Peter Criss left to be replaced by session player Anton Fig, who had previously appeared on Ace Frehley's solo album. Fig played drums on the 1980 release Unmasked until a permanent replacement was found in the form of New Yorker Eric Carr (b. 12 July 1950, d. 24 November 1991), who made his first appearance during the world tour of 1980. A fuller introduction came on Music From The Elder, an album that represented a radical departure from traditional Kiss music and included several ballads, an orchestra and choir. It was a brave attempt to break new ground but failed to capture the imagination of the record-buying public. Frehley, increasingly disenchanted with the musical direction of the band finally left in 1983. The two albums prior to his departured outside musicians Bob Kulick, who had contributed to the studio side of Alive 2 and played on Stanley's solo album supplied the lead work to the four previously unreleased tracks on the Killers compilation of 1982 and Vincent Cusano (later to become Vinnie Vincent) was responsible for lead guitar on the 1982 release, Creatures Of The Night. By 1983 the popularity of the band was waning and drastic measures were called for.

The legendary make-up which had concealed their true identities for almost ten years was removed on MTV in the USA. Vinnie Vincent made his first official appearance on Lick It Up, an album which provided Kiss with their first Top 10 hit in the UK. The resurgence of the band continued with Animalize. Vincent had been replaced by Mark St. John (b. Mark Norton), a seasoned session player and guitar tutor. His association with the band was short lived, however, as he was struck down by Reiters Syndrom. Bruck Kulick, the brother of long-time Kiss cohort Bob, was drafted in as temporary replacement on the 1984 European Tour and subsequently became a permanent member when it became apparent that St. John would not be able to continue as a band member.

Further commercial success was achieved with Asylum and Crazy Nights, the latter featuring the biggest UK hit single, Crazy, Crazy Nights which peaked at number 4 in 1987 and was followed by a further two Top 40 hit singles, Reason To Liveand Turn On The Night. Hot In The Shade succeeded their third compilation album, Smashes, Thrashes, and Hits, and included their highest charting hit single in the USA, Forever, which reached number 4 in 1990. Work on a new Kiss album with producer Bob Ezrin was delayed because of Eric Carr's illness due to complications from cancer. He died on 24 of November 1991, in New York at the age of 41.

Despite this setback, Kiss contributed a cover of Argent's classic, God Gave Rock And Roll To You to the soundtrack of the film Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, and brought in replacement drummer Eric Singer (ex-Black Sabbath; Badlands). 1994 brought Kiss My Ass (The Tribute Album), with contributions from Lennie Cravitz, Garth Brooks, Stevie Wonder, Lemonhead, Faith No More, Dinosaur Jr., Rage Against The Machine and others.

The interest in Kiss My Ass led to an historic reunion for MTV Unplugged. As stable unit Bruce Kulick (guitar) and Eric Singer (drums) together with Simmons and Stanley appeared to be on the cards but Frehley and Criss stepped back in for a reunion tour. So successful was the tour that Kulick and Singer were naturally put out and both quit. This was even more irritating for them as a new studio album Carnival Of Souls featured Kulick and Singer. In 1997 Vincent sued the band alleging they owed him past royalties. With a history spanning three decades, Kiss's impact on the conciousness of the generation of music fans, partially in the USA, remains enormous.