Key

I thought the same thing. Glad i'm not the only one. I didn't see any similarity between the two.

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea

I think the hair killed Hair Metal.

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Stop and find a pretty shell for her
Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here

Neapolitan

^ fixed

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Musicwhore A-Z

'Soulflower', despite your disdain towards KISS it might interest you to know that they actually have a few "disco tinged" songs in their catalog. Here are the most obvious ones:

'I Was Made For Lovin' You' ( from 1979's 'Dynasty' )

'New York Groove' ( from Ace Frehley's 1978 KISS solo album )

'Burning Up With Fever' ( from Gene Simmons' 1978 KISS solo album. It also features Casablanca label mate Donna Summer ).

'Sure Know Something' ( from 1979's 'Dynasty' ).

Additionally, Peter Criss' 1978 KISS solo album itself is very R&B influenced. You might like it 'Sunflower'.

I think MANY people would be surprised to hear how diverse the early years of KISS actually are. In short order, their 2014 Rock Hall induction was long overdue. "Gimmicks" alone can't sustain a 40 year career no matter how strong that image supposedly is. That said, I'll openly acknowledge that KISS ( specifically Paul and Gene... ) perpetuate that myth THEMSELVES with their obsession over the BRAND that simply wouldn't exist without the BAND providing the awesome soundtrack, so to speak ( ).

Again, great thread 'Sunflower' and great comments to the rest BOTH pro and con ( ). Many interesting points indeed.

Neapolitan

I think Donna Summer is more of a legitimate artist than Kiss. At least Donna Summer could sing where Kiss couldn't play their instruments all that well.

There is a difference between the "music industry" and the Rock and Roll HOF. The "music industry" care only about turning the gears of the money machine, it doesn't care about how good or bad the music is. The music industry doesn't care about art for art sake, just sales - album and concerts sale. On the other hand the Rock and Roll HOF is non-profit and is about preserving the history of Rock. It recognizes pre-Rock and Roll artist that contributed to the formation of Rock and Roll. So in some small sense it recognizes art for art sake, by recognizing those past artist for their contribution toward the formation of Rock and Roll.

Kiss wasn't a band all that concerned about their musicianship, it was about gimmicky entertainment. The music industry didn't care how gimmicky Kiss was, as long as they sold concert tickets, and made album sales.

The RnRHOF were absolutely right to keep that junk band out, but it buckled under the pressure and by doing so lost all credibility as institution that should exist to promote Rock as a art-form.

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Soulflower

Probably the most level headed post here,

Excellent post!!!!!!

Soulflower

Thanks! I will check them out

Also, I wouldn't say KISS had a 40 year career. They were popular during their period but they were not big in the 80's, 90's or currently. I was shocked to see the number of bands they have influenced because there really isn't any artistic merit behind anything they did.

Urban Hat€monger ?

I don't think Kiss were any better or worse than most 70s popular rock acts, I think they get a raw deal.Actually their popularity in the U.S. declined but increased around the world during the 80s. Which is why they played in front of something like 150,000 people in Brazil in 1983 and had their biggest selling album outside the US in 1987 when they put out Crazy Nights. And the 90s was their reunion tour when they put the make up back on so I don't know where you get that they weren't popular then.

And why doesn't it count as a career at the times you're selling less records?
That is the dumbest thing I ever heard.

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Forward To Death

neardeathexperience

Right from the beginning Kiss has always maintained that they are a act. Four made up characters that play hard rock music. Just like Alice Cooper as they became more popular they reinvested their earnings into more elaborate stage props. They are a audio and visual presentation. I really don't know what you are trying to get at when you say they are not concerned about their musicianship? From what I could see the drummer beat out some quality beats and the guitarists played their guitars well enough to make some rock and roll songs. This is not rocket science here they played very simple non complex music. I do not remember Donna Summer even playing a instrument! If you think the music executives at Casablanca where "both " Donna Summer and Kiss were employed did not want her to crank out hit after hit to make them more money you are blind to the fact......Just for the record Grand Funk is not in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and they were better then Kiss and Donna Summer!