ARTICLE HIT PARADER FEBUARY 1997 BY ROB ANDREWS
It's something that goes beyond the incredible music, beyond the outrageous image and beyond the hall of fame legacy. It's goes way past the pyrotechnic explosions, way past the firebreathing insanity and way past the Gods Of Thunder stage personas. It even ventures beyond the incredible 75 million albums sold over a 24 year span.
What is it, you ask? It's that magical, mystical element about KISS that has kept two generations of fans enthralled, entertained and energized. Quite simply, it is what has become known far-and-wide as the KISS phenomenon. No other band in rock history-not the Beatles, the Stones or even Led Zeppelin-ever managed to cast as special a web over their throng of followers as KISS has been able to continually cast over their ever-loyal KISS Army. It's a love affair that has now lasted for nearly 25 years, and as Gene Simmons,Paul Stanley,Ace Frehley and Peter Criss continue on their precedent-shattering, record-breaking, sold-out trek across the face of Mother Earth, that love affair, that special, one-of-a-kind bond that exists between KISS and their followers, has never been stonger.
What is about KISS that has made them so special for so long? Certainly there have been bands that played louder, band that wrote catchier songs and bands with even more outrageous images. Somehow,however, it seems that no matter how hard those others bands may have tried to capture certain elements of the inexplicable KISS magic, they failed miserably in fully comprehending the depth and breadth of group's appeal. There may have been countless bands over the last two decades that have been influenced by KISS, but despite the best efforts of those groups to mimic their heroes, most have at best managed to convey a mere fraction of the chemistry that rock's legendary Costumed Crusaders have created with unmatched aplomb since 1973.
Granted there have been times when some of KISS' legendary luster has seemingly begun to pale-albums and tours in the mid-'80s where it appeared as if the band was going though the motions rather than adding to their inimitable list of stage and studio accomplishments. But today, with Ace,Peter,Paul and Gene back together again, finally answering the call to arms issued by their followers ever since the original KISS broke asunder in 1979, any past misadventures have gladly been forgotten. As soon as those four rockers-the one-and-only original KISS-Stood on stage together in Detroit's Tiger stadium on June 28, 1996, it was as if the preceding 17 years apart had been nothing more than a bad dream. In the minds of many-probably including the band members themselves-it may have appeared as if everyone in attendance had been caught up in a giant time warp, a swirling vortex of sight and sound that had transported them all back to 1977, a time when rock was hard rock and KISS rules the rock world as it had never been ruled before!
"I don't know if you can really recapture past glories, and I don't know if that our intention," Simmons said. "We're just doing this because it's what out fans have wanted us to do--demanded that we do---for more than a decade. The time was right to make it happen, and I must say that the response has been most rewarding for all of us. "We're doing this because it was time for the original KISS to come back and prove to everyone what great rock'n'roll is about."
From the moment of their inception, KISS has played a unique role in the rock world. They have gladly accepted the roles of anti-heroes,larger-than-life comic book characters come-alive, a band not scared to make conservative action groups scream in anguish of their fans scream with joy. It always seemed as if KISS had come from somewhere totally unique-a place that no other band had ever dared to travel. In look, sound ans attitude they were a stark contrast to the plues-loving, open-shirted flower children of the '60's and '70's. At a time when the lilting strains of singer/songwriters like James Taylor and the Eagles were dominating the airwaves, KISS came along to figuratively and literally clear the air. They roared into town straight from the gates of Hell, and Heaven forbid any wimpy singer/songwriter that would dare stand in their path!
Now, some 23 years after their inception on the streets of New York City, KISS remain as special and unique as ever. In their wake they left a genaration of bands not only influenced by their spectacular sound, but a generation of band that wanted to be KISS; White Zombie,Soundgarden,Marilyn Manson,Stone Temple Pilots,Nine Inch Nails…the list goes on and on. Seemingly all the leaders of the hard rock's new breed, the forerunners of the so-called "alternative" rock revolution grew up on KISS' dragon-skinned knee,learning the the tricks of the trade from the unquestioned masters of the form. But while some younger fans may wrongly believe that " their" generation of bands have far surpassed their influences in terms of style, substance and showmanship, let the truth be known! When KISS hits the stage in all their black-and-silver glory, there is no question about who still rules the hard rock roost. Let the pretenders to the metal throne beware, the Big Boys, the Kings Of The Hill, The one-and-only Gods Of Thunder are out of their self-imposed hibernation to reclaim their royal scepter. KISS in on a roll once again, and every other band had better lead, follow or get out of the damn way because otherwise Gene,Paul,Ace and Peter are liable to run their asses over!
"It's always a great compliment when younger bands approach us and say what a big influence we've had on them," Stanley said. "But they had also better realize that we're here to blow them off the stage any chance we get. We're very likely to ask just about any band out there to open for us; we know a lot of them would like to do that. But we're warning them now. They better be up to the test, because we're ready to show 'em all how it's really done".
At time when rock and roll is in dire need of a savior, when a generation of nay-saying, do-nothing, can't-tour, wont't-smile,hate-life bands have convinced a generation of fans that rock and roll is a wait for death rather than a celebration of life, KISS has come along to save the day once again. Like western heroes of old, KISS has ridden out of the sunset to reclaim their position in the rock pantheon and help save the rock world from devouring itself. So get your asses out of bed. Put away your Nirvana and Pearl Jam discs-at least for a little while. It's time to forget the Gen X "who is us" mantra for a short time ans remember those ultimate words to live by; I Wanna Rock And Roll All Nite, And Party Every Day.