Kiss was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973 by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. Known for their face paint and stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid-1970s with shock rock-style live performances which featured fire-breathing, blood-spitting, smoking guitars, shooting rockets, levitating drum kits, and pyrotechnics. The band went through several lineup changes, with Stanley and Simmons remaining the only consistent members. The final lineup consisted of them, Tommy Thayer, and Eric Singer.
The original line-up of Kiss in 1975 (L–R): Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley
Kiss original lineup in 1974. L–R: Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley
Simmons and Frehley share a microphone in 1978.
Simmons performing with Kiss in 1979
Paul Stanley is an American musician who was the co-founder, frontman, rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the hard rock band Kiss from the band's inception in 1973 to their retirement in 2023. He was the writer or co-writer of many of the band's most popular songs. Stanley established The Starchild character for his Kiss persona. Stanley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 as a member of Kiss.
Stanley in 2010
Stanley singing "Love Gun" in Montreal, Quebec
Stanley, Singer and Thayer performing at the Azkena Rock Festival; June 26, 2010
Stanley and Thayer in concert with Kiss at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California in 2006