The Outrageous Life of Legendary KISS Rockstar Gene Simmons

In the early years, KISS did not become a major commercial force right away. The band’s first albums helped build a loyal following, but their records were not yet matching the attention their live shows were beginning to generate.

Onstage, though, KISS had something that separated them from other bands. The makeup, fire, blood, costumes, and loud performance style made concerts feel like full-scale events. Even before the charts caught up, audiences understood that KISS was built to be seen as much as heard.