In the history of rock and roll, KISS has been one of the biggest bands ever. From their music to their merchandise sales to their live performances, they’ve made strides very few have. To measure their impact against others in their genre, you would have to look at bands such as the Rolling Stones, AC/DC, or the Beatles. With over 100 million albums sold worldwide, KISS has positioned themselves to be mentioned in the rarefied air alongside these fellow contemporaries.
Beginning as Wicked Lester, Chaim Witz and Stanley Eisen tried to make the band work, but both knew changes needed to be made if they were ever going to make it big. A major step they took was changing their names, with Witz becoming Gene Simmons and Eisen becoming Paul Stanley.
Eventually, the two would be joined by Peter Criss and Ace Frehley, starting a new band named KISS. It didn’t take long for the band to make an impact. Their signature makeup and costumes made them stand out, but surely one significant thing that has set them apart over the years is the hit songs that have come to define them.