KISS

KISS were founded in 1972 by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, who invited Peter Criss and Ace Frehley. After their second show in Manhattan, producer Bill Aucoin offered the young men a contract. For the first year of working at Casablanca Records, they had released three albums, none of them profitable. However, in summer 1975, KISS recorded the concert album Alive, which became the first step to the glory. The band got incredibly famous for their concert shows. The KISS members used spectacular scenic images, broad variety of pyrotechnical effects and, naturally, played outstanding music. It was simple, but extremely effective, rock music. The idea of makeup and costumes was proposed by Criss and found unanimous acceptance among the other musicians. Extravagant outfit and behavior on stage together with musical skills became the keys to the young band's success. Alive was their first platinum album in the USA.

Destroyer, the following record released by KISS, was also a good seller. Afterwards, they produced Rock’n’Roll Over (1976), Love Gun (1977), and Alive II (1977), each to run platinum. KISS reached the highest peak of their popularity in 1976-1978. Alive II was followed by the simultaneous release of four solo albums recorded separately by each KISS member. The musicians expected to occupy an even greater position in the world music this way. For the same purpose, they played themselves in a fiction movie. However, neither solo albums nor acting brought the results the musicians wanted. The band started loosing its power at the market. Soon, the lineup went through the first change. Eric Carr substituted Peter Criss. The renewed KISS recorded Music From The Elder in 1981. This record symbolized the band's deviation from the trademark sound, as it featured some ballads, choiring and orchestral performance. Nevertheless, the new album failed to cause significant attention. In a year, KISS presented another record – Creatures Of The Night. The audience welcomed it warmer than its predecessor, and yet it was not on a par with the best of KISS. Shortly after, Frehley decided to quit.

Trying to change the situation, the band utilized a new image. In 1983, the musicians appeared on an MTV show without makeup, for the first time in the ten-year history of the band. In 1991, KISS were stuck by a tragedy. Eric Carr died of cancer at 41. Eric Singer stepped behind the drums. The 1992 release Revenge hit the Best 10 in the USA. Within a long period, the band was going through changes in the lineup until 1996, when it was announced of the long-expected reunion in the original lineup. However, the comebacks, Frehley and Criss, made a minimum contribution to Psycho-Circus, the 1998 album, which topped the USA charts. The lead-guitar and drums were recorded by the session musicians. The very fact of the old lineup restoration guaranteed high sales for this record. As the new millennium arrived, KISS went on entertaining their fans with hot shows. The announcements of new performances often came along with statements about one of the members leaving the band, which did not ruin KISS. Nowadays, KISS carry on touring and producing DVDs with their best concerts and interviews. In 2009 KISS released their new long-awaited album titled Sonic Boom (Deluxe Edition). ). A year later KISS pleased their fans by the fresh live album Kiss Sonic Boom Over Europe (2010). That record included various compositions from the recently released long play Sonic Boom and numerous songs that had become classical ones and that are so much loved by rock and roll lovers. Excellent selection and energy of the legendary KISS’ show were the basic elements of the wonderful live album, which is a great addition to any music lover’s collection.