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KISS Bio

Following the demise of Wicked Lester, Kiss were formed in 1972 by Paul Stanley (b. Paul Eisen, 20 January 1950, Queens, New York, USA; rhythm guitar, vocals) and Gene Simmons (b. Chaim Witz, 25 August 1949, Haifa, Israel; bass, vocals), who went on to recruit Peter Criss (b. Peter Crisscoula, 27 December 1947, Brooklyn, New York, USA; drums, vocals) and Ace Frehley (b. Paul Frehley, 22 April 1951, Bronx, New York, USA; lead guitar, vocals). At their second show at the Hotel Diplomat, Manhattan, in 1973, Flipside producer Bill Aucoin offered the band a management contract, and within two weeks they were signed to Neil Bogart's recently established Casablanca Records. In just over a year, Kiss had released their first three albums with a modicum of success.

In the summer of 1975 their fortunes changed with the release of Alive! , which spawned their first US hit single, with the reissued live version of 'Rock And Roll All Nite' climbing to number 12 in November. The appeal of Kiss has always been based on their live shows: the garish greasepaint make-up, outrageous costumes and pyrotechnic stage effects, along with their hard-rocking anthems, combined to create what was billed as 'The Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Show On Earth'. Their live reputation engendered a dramatic upsurge in record sales, and Alive became their first certified platinum album in the USA. Destroyer proved just as successful, and also gave them their first US Top 10 single, earning Peter Criss a major songwriting award for the uncharacteristic ballad, 'Beth'.

Subsequent releases, Rock And Roll Over , Love Gun and Alive II , each certified platinum, confirmed the arrival of Kiss as major recording artists. By 1977 Kiss had topped the prestigious Gallup poll as the most popular act in the USA. They had become a marketing dream: Kiss merchandise included make-up kits, masks, board games, and pinball machines. Marvel Comics produced two super-hero cartoon books, and a full-length science-fiction film, Kiss Meet The Phantom Of The Park, was even produced. The ranks of their fan club, the Kiss Army, had swollen to a six-figure number.

In September 1978 all four group members released solo albums on the same day, a feat never before envisaged, let alone matched. At the time, this represented the biggest shipment of albums from one 'unit' to record stores in the history of recorded music. The albums enjoyed varying degrees of success; Ace Frehley's record came out on top and included the US Top 20 hit single, 'New York Groove'. Gene Simmons, whose album featured an impressive line-up of guests including Cher , Donna Summer , Bob Seger and Janis Ian , had a hit single in the UK with 'Radioactive', which reached number 41 in 1978. After the release of Dynasty in 1979, which featured the worldwide hit single, 'I Was Made For Lovin' You', cracks appeared in the ranks.

Peter Criss left to be replaced by session player Anton Fig, who had previously appeared on 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 a 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 December 1982. The two albums prior to his departure had featured outside musicians.

Bruce Kulick, who had contributed to the studio side of Alive II 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 that had concealed their true identities for almost 10 years was removed on MTV in the USA. Vinnie Vincent made his first official appearance on Lick It Up , an album that 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 Syndrome. Bruce Kulick was enlisted as a 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 their biggestUK hit single, 'Crazy Crazy Nights', which peaked at number 4 in October 1987 and was soon followed by another Top 40 hit single, 'Reason To Live'.

Hot In The Shade succeeded their third compilation album, Smashes, Thrashes And Hits , and included another US hit single, 'Forever', which reached number 8 in February 1990. Work on a new Kiss album with producer Bob Ezrin was delayed following Eric Carr's illness due to complications from cancer. He died on 24 November 1991, in New York, at the age of 41. Despite this setback, Kiss contributed a hit cover version of Argent 's classic 'God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You II' (UK number 4, January 1992) to the soundtrack of the film Bill And Ted's Bogus Journey, and brought in replacement drummer Eric Singer (ex- Black Sabbath ; Badlands ). The album Revenge also provided them with their highest charting US album (number 4), and their first Top 10 release since Dynasty reached number 9 in 1979.

The Kiss My Ass tribute album was released in 1994, with contributions from Lenny Kravitz , Stevie Wonder , Garth Brooks , Lemonheads , Faith No More , Dinosaur Jr, Rage Against The Machine and others. The interest in Kiss My Ass led to a historic reunion for MTV Unplugged . A stable unit with Bruce Kulick (guitar) and Eric Singer (drums), together with Simmons and Stanley, appeared to be on the cards, but Frehley and Criss returned for a reunion tour. So successful was the tour that Kulick and Singer were naturally somewhat annoyed and both quit. Their irritation was further exacerbated by the fact that a new studio album, Carnival Of Souls , featured both of them. In 1997 Vincent sued the band, alleging that they owed him royalties.

A year later Psycho Circus marked the return of the original line-up to the studio, and became the group's highest charting US album when it debuted at number 3 in October. With a history spanning three decades, Kiss' impact on the consciousness of a generation of music fans, particularly in the USA, remains enormous.

More About KISS ...

During the past three decades Kiss have been the supreme live act with 300 million $ turnover in ticket sales in the last four years alone. Altogether Kiss have sold more than 80 million records worldwide and were awarded 28 gold and 31 platinum albums. To celebrate the band's 30th Anniversary Kiss teamed up with the 60 musicians from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to record a one-of-a-kind live album.

The album was recorded Febuary 28th at Melbourne's Telstra Dome after months of intense work with the conductor, the musicians and the arrangers. Paul Stanley promised one symphonic big bang and that's what the band delivered, a spectacular moment.

Divided into three sections, Kiss Symphony consists of a powerful rockset, an unplugged set with a string quartet and the evening's climax: an unparalleled grande finale with a 60 piece orchestra.

YOU WANTED THE BEST. YOU GOT THE BEST. THE HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD

… KISS … ANNOUNCE FORMATION OF KISS RECORDS …

New York, N.Y. – KISS, America’s #1 Gold Record Award Winning Champion Group (RIAA-Group category) and Sanctuary Records Group are proud to announce the formation of KISS Records, a joint venture between KISS and Sanctuary Records Group, it was announced today by Merck Mercuriadis, Chief Executive Officer, Sanctuary Group Inc. and longtime KISS manager Doc McGhee, President, McGhee Entertainment. Merck Mercuriadis commented, "We wanted the best and we got the best. KISS are the barometer that everyone looks to for gold records, ticket sales, licensing income, merchandising sales and as a result are the perfect partners for Sanctuary's 360 model. Gene and Paul have lead the way throughout their career and continue to do so with the formation of KISS Records and this revolutionary deal with Sanctuary."

"After seeing what has been going on at the major record labels," Doc McGhee adds, "KISS searched for an innovative way to reach their audience. We looked mostly at new and up and coming independent labels. In doing so, we talked with Sanctuary Records and found what we were looking for. By forming KISS Records we can control how we appear, and with the great staff at Sanctuary Records, we feel we have the opportunity to create something very special in the 21st century. Both KISS and Sanctuary Group believe that if it’s worth doing, it’s worth over doing."

Debuting on KISS Records/Sanctuary Records on July 21, KISS Symphony: Alive IV, is unlike anything recorded or released before by the Rock Icons. KISS Symphony: Alive IV, captures one of the world’s greatest performing rock bands with the prestigious 60-piece Melbourne Symphony Orchestra live before a sold-out crowd from Australia’s Telstra Dome while on the 2003 tour. The energy packed two-disc set promises to captivate and tantalize fans new and old alike with twenty-two newly recorded live tracks featuring ten classic KISS tracks backed by the 60-piece Melbourne Symphony, six never-performed-live acoustic
versions of KISS classics and six raw classic KISS tracks sans orchestra. This spectacular concert event proved to be a memorable show highlighted by the Melbourne Symphony appearing in full KISS makeup and will be released as a DVD, in the future. KISS' lead singer Paul Stanley states, "KISS Records is the continuation of the road paved by us for the past thirty years. Our first release KISS Symphony: Alive IV ushers in a new era where we will exert uncompromising attention to detail, control of quality, and overall feel and direction from concept to completion." With a sly grin, Stanley adds, "With KISS Symphony, you are cordially invited to witness the unholy marriage of black tie and black leather."

"After 30 years, KISS has finally come home. KISS Records signals the end of one era and along with our perfect partners, Sanctuary Records, the beginning of a new one. You better believe it," comments KISS bassist Gene Simmons. As for the KISS Symphony, Simmons says, "KISS and The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, never have so many grown men and women looked better in KISS make-up."

KISS’ drummer Peter Criss comments, "I am moved deeply to know that after thirty years millions of people are still being touched by our music. It was an honor to perform with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. As a writer and performer it was truly a dream come true."

"As the new kid in town, I'm honored and excited to be part of the continuing KISS legacy. I know that KISS Symphony: Alive IV will put die-hard KISS fans in the middle of the action like nothing they've ever experienced before. I was blown away by the immediate acceptance of the fans and the thrill of being onstage for a show as important as KISS Symphony, " states new KISS lead guitar player Tommy Thayer.

Over their illustrious 30-year career, KISS has sold over 80 million albums, played thousands of spectacular SRO tours and continues to garner a succession of gold and platinum awards (they currently hold the RIAA record for No. 1 most Gold albums second only to the Beatles). The legend carries on with their upcoming North American tour with Aerosmith, which kicks off on Aug. 2 in Hartford, CT.

Sanctuary Records Group is part of the Sanctuary Group, one of the world’s leading developers of intellectual property rights (IPR’s) in the fields of music, television and entertainment and the owner of the world’s largest independently owned catalogue of music and visual rights. With an ever-growing recorded music repertoire of over 100,000 tracks, Sanctuary has distribution in all of the world’s major territories. Sanctuary is also a major international artist management company, representing artists from Guns ‘N" Roses, Iron Maiden, Jane’s Addiction, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, The Who, Adam F and Buddahead, as well as 30 of the world’s top music producers. Through its visual rights licensing company and Europe’s largest live agency, Sanctuary can offer a complete service to artists. Other important areas of business include a television and DVD production division, which sells to over 100 countries worldwide and a burgeoning music-publishing arm.

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