Kiss is one of the most iconic and influential rock bands of all time. Formed in 1973, the band is known for their elaborate stage shows, black and white face paint, and hits like “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “Detroit Rock City.” Despite undergoing numerous lineup changes over the decades, founding members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have kept Kiss alive and touring for nearly 50 years.
Kiss Timeline
Here is a brief timeline of Kiss from their formation to today:
- January 1973 – Kiss is formed in New York City, consisting of Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss.
- February 1974 – Kiss releases their self-titled debut album.
- September 1975 – Alive!, Kiss’s first live album, is released and achieves gold status.
- November 1975 – Kiss earns their first platinum album certification with Alive!
- September 1976 – Destroyer is released and becomes one of Kiss’s most popular studio albums.
- May 1977 – Kiss breaks attendance records on their Alive II Tour, performing to their largest audiences yet.
- September 1978 – All four members of Kiss release solo albums on the same day.
- 1983 – Kiss removes their makeup and enjoys a resurgence in popularity.
- 1996 – The original lineup reunites for their Alive/Worldwide Tour.
- 1998 – Psycho Circus Tour begins with the reunited original lineup in makeup.
- 2000 – Peter Criss leaves Kiss again, replaced by Eric Singer.
- 2001 – Ace Frehley’s second tenure with Kiss ends, replaced by Tommy Thayer.
- 2014 – Kiss inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- 2016-2017 – Kiss embarks on their Kiss World Tour.
- 2018 – 2019 – Kiss launches and completes their End of the Road World Tour.
- 2022 – Kiss announces residency in Las Vegas and more tour dates.
Original Lineup Departures
While Kiss experienced great success in the 1970s, the band’s original lineup would not stay intact for long. Here is a look at when each original member left Kiss:
Member | First Departure |
---|---|
Peter Criss | 1980 |
Ace Frehley | 1982 |
Drummer Peter Criss was the first to exit Kiss in 1980 due to issues with substance abuse and disagreements over musical direction. Guitarist Ace Frehley followed in 1982 as his guitar playing skills declined due to excessive drug and alcohol use.
Makeup Era Ends
By 1983, Kiss had removed their iconic makeup and costumes as they struggled to attract fans during the glam metal era. Gene Simmons stated they “had to turn the ship around” to bring attention back to their music rather than their larger-than-life image. The unmasked version of Kiss found success again with the album Lick It Up and its heavy MTV rotation. For over a decade, Kiss would perform without makeup, even during the original lineup reunion tour in 1996.
Reunion Tours
Kiss has toured over the decades with its original lineup, partial original lineups, and with replacement members donning the Catman, Spaceman, and other personas. Here are some of their major reunion tours:
- 1996 – Alive/Worldwide Tour with original lineup
- 1998 – Psycho Circus Tour with original lineup in makeup
- 2000 – Kiss Farewell Tour with Peter Criss, but non-original member Tommy Thayer as Spaceman
- 2003 – Kiss Symphony: Alive IV with Peter Criss and non-original member Tommy Thayer
- 2014 – Kiss 40th Anniversary World Tour with non-original Spaceman and Catman
- 2016 – 2017 – Kiss World Tour with non-original Spaceman and Catman
- 2018 – 2019 – End of the Road World Tour with non-original Spaceman and Catman
While not always the original foursome, the familiar visuals of the Spaceman, Catman, Demon, and Starchild uniforms and makeup remain a huge part of the enduring Kiss spectacle.
Farewell Tours
Kiss first embarked on a farewell tour in 2000 after the Psycho Circus reunion. Original members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley had once again departed, so the tour promoted it as the last chance to see Kiss in makeup. However, Kiss continued performing with replacement members Tommy Thayer as Spaceman and Eric Singer as Catman.
In 2018, twenty years after the first farewell outing, Kiss announced the End of the Road World Tour. They stated it would be their final tour ever with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. After multiple postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tour resumed and is still ongoing as of October 2022. Despite claims that it is their absolute last tour, many fans suspect that Kiss will never completely retire from the stage.
Current Lineup
While Kiss only has two original members still performing, the current lineup maintains the familiarlook and sound of the band:
- Paul Stanley – Starchild (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar)
- Gene Simmons – Demon (Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar)
- Tommy Thayer – Spaceman (Lead Guitar, Vocals)
- Eric Singer – Catman (Drums, Vocals)
Simmons and Stanley continue to anchor the band and have maintained their makeup, costumes, and personas for nearly 50 years. Thayer and Singer are both long-term members of Kiss, having first joined in 2002 and 1991 respectively. They perform as the Spaceman and Catman characters in full makeup and costumes.
Still Touring in 2022
Despite announcing various farewell tours over the past two decades, Kiss still continues to perform around the world. Here are some of their most recent and upcoming tour dates:
- October 2022 – Kiss Kruise XII from Miami to Private Island in The Bahamas
- November 2022 – Concerts in Japan
- December 2022 – New Year’s Eve concert in Dubai
- February – March 2023 – Residency in Las Vegas
- July – September 2023 – Outdoor summer concerts and festivals in various U.S. cities
Kiss shows no signs of actually retiring from live performances. 2023 will mark the band’s 50th anniversary, so it is likely they will celebrate with even more tour dates. As long as Simmons and Stanley are still able to rock and roll all night, the Kiss army will follow wherever they perform.
The Kiss Brand Lives On
Beyond just music and touring, Kiss has become a lucrative brand and business empire over the decades:
- Over 75 million albums sold worldwide
- Merchandising sales over $3 billion
- Over 3,000 licensed Kiss products
- Kiss merchandise stores in casinos and other retail locations
- Kiss-themed cruises and vacations for fans
- Kiss pinball machines, action figures, bobbleheads, and more
With Kiss’s instantly recognizable makeup designs and logos, the band has been able to market themselves on everything imaginable. Even if Kiss finally stops touring someday, it’s unlikely that the global Kiss brand will fade away anytime soon.
Legacy and Influence
Over their nearly 50-year career, Kiss has made an indelible impact on rock music and pop culture:
- Pioneered rock music spectacle with elaborate costumes and stage shows
- One of the best-selling bands of all time with over 100 million albums sold globally
- Inspired future genres like glam metal and shock rock
- Ranked by VH1 as one of the “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock”
- Earned induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014
- Featured in comic books, television, video games, and major motion pictures
From their humble beginnings playing clubs in New York City, Kiss rose to become larger-than-life superheroes of rock. They brought theater and showmanship to arenas with their explosive pyrotechnics and over-the-top antics. Though lineup changes and various reunions have occurred, their iconic makeup and costuming helps Kiss endure as one of the most recognizable bands in music history.
Conclusion
Decades after first “rock and rolling all night and partying every day,” Kiss continues to perform their spectacular live shows for audiences worldwide. Recent years have seen Kiss undertake supposed “farewell tours,” only to keep touring with new concert dates announced. While Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley cannot perform forever, the Kiss legacy and brand will likely carry on even after they finally hang up their platform boots.
Through a combination of hard rock hits, flamboyant costumes, and savvy marketing, Kiss has cemented its status as a pop culture phenomenon. Players may come and go, but the sights and sounds of Kiss remain etched in music history. Based on the band’s continual live shows and very active concert schedule, it appears Kiss plans to thrill audiences as long as possible. For die-hard fans, Kiss may never completely reach “The End of the Road.”