KISS should probably be in the rock and roll hall of fame…
…AFTER Warren Zevon is inducted.
KISS probably deserves it at some point. Their music may be dated now, but I remember them in their heyday, and no one was bigger. And they stayed on top for a long time.
And the music wasn’t that bad. In fact, by the standards of party-rock, it was excellent. Let’s list some of the songs:
**Detroit Rock City
I Was Made for Loving You
Shout it Out Loud
Beth
Rock and Roll All Nite
Love Gun
Lick it Up
**
9 Top-40 singles, four top 10 albums, a live album that went quadruple-platinum, and for about five years they were the biggest concert draw around.
So yeah, they probably deserve their place in the RRHOF at some point. The real question is, who do they bump to get in? Because while they might deserve it, there are other bands that deserve it more.
I was into KISS in the 6th grade. Had my copy of ALIVE and Destroyer T-Shirt, sat through an amazingly bad Halloween special to see KISS perform, etc. Don’t remember caring about them ever again.
Looking at the nominees by year here, it seems like the winners tend to be “influential” or the first to bring a genre to mainstream. Was Kiss particularly influential to other bands? Seems like their heyday (I guess '75 to '78 or '79) was more at the end of a period at music started shifting in '78/'79. I guess I would have to defer to someone a few years older – was that shift because of Kiss or despite?
Personally, their hits don’t seem that memorable. I know them, but the only time I heard them dusted off and played on the radio was during their reunion tour period. On the other hand, through marketing and merchandising they were huge. Their comeback in the late 80’s was respectable and they are still a household name today. It seems like their name recognition would be enough to get them in.
But the hipsters that vote seem to be a finicky lot and I wonder how they are going to cope with selecting performers in the future. They covered the acts from the 50’s and 60’s – that was easy since their influence was old enough to be obvious. Then they picked up the giants from the 70’s; probably the stuff they grew up listening to. Finally they start working through the new wave acts from the late 70’s; easy too since these were the acts that probably led them to their hipster status. But where do they go from there? The rest of the 70’s is so-called corporate rock. The 80’s is, well, 80’s music. Are they going to induct the Styxs, Journeys, and REO Speedwagons? Then the Madonnas, Whitney Houstons, and Paula Abduls?
I bet Kiss gets in within the next few years as the nominators resist a complete move into the 80’s.
I never owned a KISS album, and I never liked their music, but they undeniably left a big mark on rock and roll. Much in the same way that a dog leaves a big mark on the carpet, but still. They forged new ground in excess and attention-whoring that became the standard for 80’s hair-metal.
Madonna, certainly. I think you’d be hard-pressed to name a more successful artist in the genre over the past 20 years.
I suppose the big question, when they get to 80’s acts, will be if Michael Jackson gets excluded due to his personal scandals or if his musical achievements are considered in a vacuum. (And I wasn’t particularly fond if his stuff, but there’s little doubt he was the biggest in his time.)
What, no mention of Psycho Circus?, which is probably my fav song of theirs because it displays their talent and survivability in the modern rock era. It had a different updated sound too, but was still noticeably KISS.
I say they go in.
They seemed to me to be the biggest show on the planet for a number of my younger years. Too bad I was too young to see them in their prime, but all of my friends had the albums and that’s all we listened to when we got together. I agree that the Live Album was incredible. Haven’t listened to it in years though.
Everyone was a KISS fan at some time in their lives, that should be enough reason for the HOF people.
Looking at the list, mainstream hard rock isn’t very well represented. Metal isn’t represented at all, but maybe it’s too early? Maybe the voters are the same people that voted for Jethro Tull to get the Grammy for best hard rock album?
Again looking at the list, there are plenty of bands who’s music is schlock. KISS is/has been a relevant band in the industry for over a quarter of a century. It seems like a no brainer to me.
I’d say no. I’m amused enough by some of some of Kiss’ music, but I suspect their popularity is almost entirely due to lurid antics (on and off state), wild outfits, and the signature goofy makeup, and had they not been audacious enough to ply that gimmickry, no one today would have the slightest idea who they are. I should think for a band to qualify for entry into the Hall of Fame, not only should the band have gained some recognition, but their music should be able to stand on its own, especially from the image of the performer, as something of such quality that it at least deserved to be lauded or immitated regardless of any other factor. I just don’t think what Kiss produced musically ever rose to that level, or did so so rarely (like once or twice, tops) as to put them out of contention. They were a phenomenal act, but a thoroughly mediocre band. I just don’t see how that combination of attributes is Hall-worthy.
I’m not surprised you liked KISS when you were in 6th grade since, to me, appreciation of them seemed to me like the rock n’ roll equivilent of training wheels. KISS was for kids who were just getting out of buying kiddie records and just getting into rock. You listened to the group for a couple years before growing out of them and moving on to real bands like Led Zeppelin or Van Halen. Nobody over the age of 13 listened to them. (In fact, in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, there’s a bit of dialogue where a girl mentions a boy’s listening to KISS as proof of his immaturity.)
As for why they’re still popular, I think about 65% has to do with their elaborate live shows, 30% is ironic appreciation (which the band is fully aware of and plays to), and the remaining 5% is nostalgia. Whether they belong is the Rock n’ Roll HOF, I can’t say since I’m not exactly sure what the criteria is. (Record sales? Longevity? Being critical darlings? Influence on other bands?)
I agree with **Loopydude ** 100%. Without the makeup, what do you have? Starz, or Angel, only much less attractive. Three or four albums, tops, then no record contact.