When I was a kid, I was one of the few boys in my neigborhood that didn't like KISS. I don't know if it was the whole blood spitting thing, the flames and make-up, or what for the most part was really poorly written, sung, and played music. A lot of the guys had KISS action figures and they had every single album. I still remember being asked to go see a concert with some friends and telling them that I didn't want to go. Everyone just looked at me like I was insane. The concept just never struck me as anything I wanted to be a part of.
As I have grown older I have often looked back to when I was a kid and wondered if I was too conservative in what I was attracted to. I passed on break dancing, didn't understand the Michael Jackson years, and never really understood Siouxsie and the Banshees and the like. When I contemplate these things I will download a few .mp3s, maybe read about the band and see if I had missed out on something that others didn't. Every once-in-a-while I'll find something that I like that I hated when it was popular (sssh, but there are some decent Fleetwood Mac and Dixie Chicks songs). But there is one band that I have tried to like time and time again and only do so for the wrong reasons (cheese factor), KISS.
Over the past month or so I have watched more KISS footage on VH1 than any human should be subjected to and here are my findings. They are the most over-rated band of all time. Notice I said band -- not performers, not marketers. With the exception of maybe 1/2 dozen songs, their discography blows and their movie was worse. They sound like crap in concert and their skills as musicians are limited at best (I am referring to original lineup, not the new"characters" on stage). I think the best guitar solo I have ever heard from Ace Frehley took place in this Dunkin' Donuts commercial. But they put on a hell of a stage show and they know how to promote themselves.
Have you ever heard a true artist or musician say that they don't want to put out any more music? I haven't. Usually artists put out music long after they should have stopped. Read this interview with Gene Simmons and tell me that this guy is an artist. He's a business man. A marketer. An asshole. I think after reading this you will call him just about anything but an artist.
Still think I am wrong about KISS? Watch the video below and ell me I am wrong. Take away their makeup and they are Cinderella without the talent.
3 comments:
I was afraid of KISS when I was like 7 or so.
I'm still afraid of Gene. Have you seen him without makeup?
What about when they were on Scooby Doo?
Or their appearance in the Book of Mormon?
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