Kiss formed in 1973 in New York City by bassist Gene Simmons and guitarist Paul Stanley , who had previously played together in the band Wicked Lester . Seeking a new style for the group, the duo hired drummer Peter Criss and guitarist Ace Frehley in January 1973. With the new members, the name Wicked Lester was dropped, and the quartet became Kiss. In March of the same year, the band performed with the members' famous makeup for the first time.
In 1974, Kiss released their self-titled debut album, which achieved little commercial success. Their second album, *Hotter Than Hell *, followed the same pattern. Under pressure from their record label, the group quickly recorded their third album in 1975, *Dressed To Kill *, which featured one of Kiss's greatest songs to date, "Rock And Roll All Nite". Even without the expected success, Kiss became known throughout the United States for their spectacular live performances, which included blood spitting and pyrotechnics.
With the live album Alive!, also released in 1975, the band broke through worldwide and earned their first gold album certification. Their next three albums, Destroyer (1976), Rock And Roll All Over (1976) and Love Gun (1977) were also successful. In '77, the American Gallup poll named Kiss the most popular band in the country.
Kiss continued to enjoy great popularity throughout the 1970s. In 1979, tensions between Criss and the other members grew, and at the end of the year the drummer left the band. In 1980, drummer Eric Carr joined the band, and in 1981 Kiss released an album completely different from their previous ones, Music From 'The Elder' . The result left Frehley particularly dissatisfied with Kiss's new musical direction. Despite appearing on the cover of Killers and Creatures Of The Night (both from 1982), the guitarist did not participate in the recording of the albums, and the band changed guitarists for several years, including Vinnie Vincent , Mark St. John , and finally Bruce Kulick , who joined in 1984 and became one of the non-founding members who would play in the band the longest.
In 1983, Kiss decided to abandon the characteristic makeup of each member. The album Lick It Up , from the same year, marked the beginning of a new phase for the band. With the lineup of Simmons, Stanley, Carr, and Kulick, Kiss released successful albums such as Asylum (1985), Crazy Nights (1987), and the compilation of hits Smashes, Thrashes & Hits (1988). In 1991, Kiss lost Eric Carr, who died due to a heart tumor. The new drummer, Eric Singer, made his debut on the 1992 album, Revenge .
In 1996, Kiss appeared at the Grammys with the original lineup and makeup, back to their roots, and announced a world tour to mark their return. The first album of the reunited lineup was Psycho Circus , in 1998. It was later revealed that most of the guitar work on the album was recorded by future band member Tommy Thayer .
During the Farewell Tour , Criss left the band and was replaced by Eric Singer again, and Ace Frehley decided it would be his last tour. Guitarist Thayer joined in his place in 2003 for Kiss's tour with Aerosmith . With the lineup of Simmons, Stanley, Thayer, and Singer, Kiss released their last two albums, Sonic Boom (2009) and Monster (2012).
Kiss has received 28 gold albums, the most of any American band, and has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, making them one of the most commercially successful bands of all time. Kiss was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
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