5 of 20

Write now Article Tools

Let's make a case for KISS to be inducted by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Obviously, we know that KISS deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It appears that the Hall of Fame is generally a Jann Wenner's favorites list which is why U2 gets inducted and Eric Clapton gets inducted three times (once with the Yardbirds, once with Cream and once by himself). Yes, there are the obvious choices such as the Beatles, and each member except Ringo, was inducted on their own. But the absence of KISS in the Hall of Fame is tantamount to an abomination of everything that the Hall of Fame should stand for.

Although artists such as Alice Cooper and the Crazy World of Arthur Brown (remember the song "Fire"? "I am the god of hellfire, and I bring you...") are the roots of modern theatrical rock shows, Kiss took the word "show" to new heights. Using the death defying antics of fire breathing, and areal acrobatics, KISS was able to combine a Ringling Brothers "bang for your buck" with every show from 1974-1982. When the band removed the makeup, their popularity waxed and waned, but had resurged on the nostalgic front with the reuniting of the 4 original members in makeup. Since 2004, original members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley remain in the touring quartet along with Eric Singer who was a member of the band from 1991-1996, and Tommy Thayer who was a member of the band's administrative arm.

Kiss has held the top spot on the Gallop Poll for many years during the 1970's, their catalog of Cd's and LPs have placed them with 28 verifiable gold records with the RIAA (quite an achievement in itself).

Many bands recognize KISS as an influence on them, and many guitar players look to Ace Frehley as their reason for choosing the guitar. Garth Brooks has always looked to Kiss as an inspiration, and it shows during his performances. KISS influence has gone beyond rock and roll.

KISS has also made it commercially acceptable to market merchandise as a band. Unfortunately Brian Epstein didn't have to the foresight to see the impact of marketing and to take a slice of the pie for himself and the Beatles when he gave SELTAEB, Inc. the rights to market Beatles products. It has only been in recent years that the Beatles have been marketing their own merchandise, and no differently than Kiss.

KISS was also the first band to jump on the ISP bandwagon. In, 1998, with the real proliferation of the internet as we know it and before the expansion of broadband, there was only America Online, Compuserve and a couple of other internet service providers. The release of Psycho Circus allowed the fan to place the disc into their computer and enroll in KISSONLINE, a self run internet provider source. Which has since dropped the ISP component and has become www.kissonline.com.

There is not a corner of the globe where you cannot go and not notice the impact of KISS, not only musically, but culture and fashion as well. It's a Kiss World and we only live in it.

So, for their influence on staging, performance, and marketing alone KISS should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The music and popularity are just icing on the cake.

However, because Jann Wenner doesn't like Kiss, I doubt the viability of their being the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...be we as fans can only hope otherwise.

Learn more about this author, Adam Nierenberg.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Who should be inducted next into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
We want to hear your view. Write now!