Kiss’ Start to Now as Innovative Rockers

Let’s leap into 2016 with a new attitude and showcase the most interesting and lesser known artist of our time with a feature we all ‘A to Z.’ Here’s the letter “K.”

Kiss is a rarity in that they chose the road less traveled in rock. Here were grown men wearing makeup, breathing fire on stage, spewing blood and initiating fireworks during songs in 1970! Kiss began with the birth of Chaim Witz in Israel in 1949, and the dreams of a better life in America. Gene Simmons (as we know him) and his mother would then move to Queens, NY.

Gene rocked the local bar scenes in Long Island in the late 60s, and eventually created the group ‘Wicked Lester’ with Kiss band member Paul Stanley. The boys eventually became Kiss, and were able to grow a simple rock band into a multi-million dollar business.

In over 40 years of music, various lineup changes, countless tours and awards (2013 Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame) Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss could not have known what fate would hold for them the moment they jumped on stage wearing women’s mascara, but it all turned out just fine.

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Photo credit: Jstone / Shutterstock.com