How were the original members of KISS (Stanley, Simmons, Criss, Frehley) regarded by their peers and critics as actual instrumentalists?
Gene Simmons is a competent, capable bass player. Peter Criss was a competent drummer. Paul Stanley is a competent guitar player and singer and is an excellent frontman. Ace Frehley is rightfully regarded as a fantastic lead guitarist.
I had a moment of excitement where I thought there was going to be a stage show about KISS :(
In answer to your actual question, I believe Ace Frehley has always been high regarded as a good guitar player. I was a big fan but it was a long time ago and I wouldn’t have known a good musician from bad. Today I would call them “adequate” (though still enjoyable in a way) but I’m sure any of the many musicians here can give a better answer.
No argument. I would put Criss a little lower. They are basically competent, with Ace standing out.
Ace wasn’t just good…he wassmokin’ hot.
It’s an agree to disagree deal, but I personally would put Peter Criss over Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons and below Ace Frehley. Criss was trained by Gene Krupa, and in turn had some decent jazz licks with his drumming that could never be showed off within Kiss’ limited repertoire.* It also didn’t help that Criss had some horrendous drug problems (alongside Ace, and really quite possibly worst than Ace’s drug addictions…it’s why they were both let go right around the time of the production of Music From The Elder) that no doubt contributed to how limited his playing was and has unfortunately remained.
I’ll admit to being a tick biased because Criss and Frehley have always been my favorites of the quartet…Criss a little more over Frehley because I dig anything that connects jazz to rock. And that said, Gene Krupa didn’t train just anyone…saddens me to think of the wasted potential Criss had in his cleaner days (if he honestly ever had any such days).
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- As a teen, I was quite the Kiss junkie, and I even still like some of their songs as an adult and will watch some of my Kissology Volume One DVD set (covering Kiss’ 70’s concert performances and TV appearances) every once in awhile. But even though I don’t and will never have it in me to hate on Kiss, even I’ll admit that Kiss’ brand of rock was never exactly rocket science music.
Heh, that might actually work. A lot of their songs are perfect fits for a chorus to sing.
And yeah, like most bands, they were at a perfectly adequate skill level. Nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to write home about.
But, they sure knew how to put on a show!
I kind of came of age when KISS was at their peak. My first concert ever was KISS in 1976 at Cobo Arena in Detroit, of all places. I was 14.
I realized at the time that they weren’t virtuoso musicians, but damned they rocked!
I still smile and Shout it out Loud when they come on the radio. It’s pretty much “Detroit Rock City,” “Rock and Roll all Night,” and “Shout it out Loud” these days.
But the nostalgia is palpable.
And yes, they put on a HELL of a live show.
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Not sure how to edit in Tapatalk, but I’ve seen KISS 4 times now: the 1976 show, the 1996 (?) original members reunion, and twice in 2009.
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My first concert was KISS in Seattle on that same tour, I was 13. They were loud.
Most mainstream critics wrote things to the effect that all the stage effects were to cover up their lack of playing ability. Magazines that did like them (meaning Creem and Circus, pretty much) usually praised them for being fun and didn’t mention anything about musicianship.
Did anyone else here sign up for the KISS Army? I still have the comic book with the blood-infused ink!
No, I was in the New Christy Minstrels Underground Resistance.
I am officially envious…Kiss’ best ever shows were before I was around (was born in ‘83), and all the more reason for me to keep saying time and again my kingdom for a Wayback Machine. But that said, thank goodness for the said Kissology Volume One DVD set…by far the best way to get the 70’s Kiss experience for those of us who unfortunately weren’t there. In addition to really knowing how to crank it to eleven, Kiss’ concert theatrics were very honestly awesome and second to none.
I also once wanted the Volume Two set…but when it was released, I was quite disappointed with the horrifying lack of rep for the Music From The Elder/Creatures Of The Night period, and therefore never got the set. There was next to nothing for both (grossly underrated, especially The Elder) albums, no music videos (which is a crime because official videos for “A World Without Heroes” and “I Love It Loud” do exist, and more than deserved slots on the designated 1980-82 DVD), no concerts (AFAIK, not even one that featured Eric Carr on his famous tank setup). I knew Kiss wasn’t exactly proud of at least The Elder and there was a bit of drama during the production of that album, but damn…what a disservice to fans to near completely leave off official material and performances. But given Simmons and Stanley’s history of, well, editing their history, I was and still am disappointed, but not surprised.
Again, it was before my time, but during the late 90’s and its revived Kiss craze thanks to Psycho Circus, I did score a Kiss Army patch. So that almost counts. 
I also had a Kiss blacklight poster (with the members’ faces from their solo album covers), among some other posters (several of them being from a magazine promoting the Detroit Rock City movie).
While I’m at it, I have to say that if I can’t have a Wayback Machine, then my kingdom for this pinball machine. No, it’s not the classic 70’s machine (which is downright cool in its own right, and would certainly be a terrific collectible to own), but it takes that machine and updates it to the nines. I personally find the YouTube griping about it hilarious…they evidently have never played many an 80’s and especially 90’s pinball table. I wonder how they feel about the Twilight Zone and Addams Family tables (the layout of both upon which the modern Kiss table appears to be heavily based)…
Peter Criss seems like a decent guy who got caught up in Gene’s and Paul’s machinations as they got huge. I listened to Kiss when I was 12 (I have the comic book somewhere), but never really listened after.
But when I go back and hear a classic song, I don’t reflect on the drumming. Now, when I hear Aerosmith’s first four albums, Joey Kramer’s drums do jump out - there’s a reason his Walk This Way pattern endures. And I do not like Motley Crue, but I can hear how great Tommy Lee is. And I have posted to threads about how AC/DC’s Phil Rudd is a freakin’ groove badass. I don’t get that from Criss. I hear a solid player who supported the song. I respect that, but he doesn’t stand out. Obviously YMMV.
If you want to link to a song, I am happy to listen with an open mind, but his playing doesn’t stand out to me like Ace’s does.
Ha, me too.
This confuses me because I thought Kiss was famously a teetotaling drugs-are-bad band? Or was that just Gene Simmons and I’m making the other band members guilty by association
Gene is vocally anti-drug, while a douchebag on so many other topics. I believe Paul focuses on business, so if drugs get in the way, he is against them. Both Ace and Peter had big substance abuse problems. Ace’s persona as a lovable goofball drunk sums it up. Reading his autobiography was surprisingly good - he tells a story well, speaks plainly about his drug use with a “what are ya gonna do?” straightforwardness.
This thread warms my heart. I thought I was the only KISS fan of SDMB.
To answer the OP’s original question : adequate sums up their playing. Catchy songs, nothing ground breaking. KISS was always about the live shows, which is why they decided to capture that magic with the Alive! record.
As for who can play better than who? Well, during the bands heyday in the 70’s I’d say they were all equal with a nod to Ace as being the best. Over time, however, Criss & Frehley didn’t improve. Most likely because of their substance abuse. Simmons & Stanley continued to improve their songwriting, playing, and the live show theatrics. They wanted to keep giving the ticket holders their money’s worth, Ace & Peter just wanted to party.
If you can sit through some of the later reunion shows from 1999-2001, you can see what I mean. The playing is horrible. Tempos are way off from the original versions, Ace is out of tune most of the time, Peter couldn’t repeat any of his original fills - it was really bad.
Take, for example, “Strutter” or “Deuce” from the Alive! LP, and compare it with any show from the farewell tour and it will be painfully obvious.
I have no doubt that Gene has something like this in the works somewhere. There is nothing he won’t put the KISS name on.
A few years back I saw KISS makeup themed “Hello Kitty” tissue packs.
I wish I was kidding.