Were you a fan? My staight cousins were into the bombastic rock/pop. I was fascinated for the androgynous glam.

Also can someone explain the crotch shadow on "Ace" Frehley? (2nd from right). It can't be his real hard on, but it doesn't make sense as a natural falling shadow, either.

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 14

September 26, 2021 12:27 AM

The only thing I liked about them was that they had a slow ballad called "Beth," which is such a hilariously terrible name for a song.

by Anonymous

reply 1

September 25, 2021 4:52 PM

Gene and Paul have aged horribly.

by Anonymous

reply 2

September 25, 2021 5:17 PM

Totally a fan. I have a homemade Paul Stanley costume. It is inspired by the look that was evolving during the first couple of records. My services have been requested at scooter rallies, karaoke nights, and birthday parties.

They are abhorrent in every sense. Yet, like most of my guilty pleasures, I am attracted to the mix of glam and garbage. They don’t get their due as primordial metal gods. The infighting is legendary. Plus, Gene dated Cher and Diana Ross!!! It’s a high quality shit show, for sure.

During a MTV Christmas special, Paul Stanley managed to sexualize a toy robot.

Peter Chriss was on Donahue to confront his imposter.

Ace is a Trump supporter, and once used Pokémon Go to get to a gig on time.

I dunno, they managed to get around. As my friend Tractor would say, Good Work Men.

by Anonymous

reply 3

September 25, 2021 5:30 PM

Also, there is the unfolding saga of Vinnie Vincent, and the tragedy of Eric Carr. This band has it all in a sub-Beatles trash way. Oh, the drama!!!

by Anonymous

reply 4

September 25, 2021 5:34 PM

I was always fascinated by the fact that Paul got nastier during the unmasked era. Filthy! I remember watching this video for the first time with my cousins. When the figure is descending the stairs, my cousin Andy wondered, “who is this hot chick?!?” Then, BAM!! Paul in a captain’s cap!!!

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 5

September 25, 2021 5:47 PM

Vinnie Vincent was a tranny right? He seriously looked like a women without make up.

by Anonymous

reply 6

September 25, 2021 6:00 PM

I always thought they were so trashy and commercial--they were like third-rate mass-produced versions of Alice Cooper.

by Anonymous

reply 7

September 25, 2021 6:07 PM

I had the Vinnie Vincent instructional guitar video. He was hot!

by Anonymous

reply 8

September 25, 2021 7:00 PM

I don't know about "sexy," but definitely popular with kids (teens). They had a niche with the costumes. Now, I think Gene Simmons is disgusting.

Paul Stanley recently tested positive for Covid while on tour.

I used to read "Metal Sludge" regularly.

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 9

September 25, 2021 7:07 PM

I’m 34 and can say I have never met anyone my age who listens to them. They’re totally of yesteryear and have never been revived amongst millennials. I only know “Lick It Up” because whenever I watched VH1 that was the video they’d show without their makeup, and the “Rock and Roll All Night” song. And I know one of them thinks they were abducted by aliens from the Howard Stern Show.

They were very ugly to me. Without their makeup.

But I’m curious as to how popular they were.

by Anonymous

reply 10

September 25, 2021 7:34 PM

Pretty clunky, unmemorable band. Just a creation of the PR machine, really.

by Anonymous

reply 11

September 25, 2021 7:38 PM

R10 is being coy. KISS is one of the biggest selling rock groups of ever.

by Anonymous

reply 12

September 25, 2021 8:02 PM

Label mates at Casablanca with the Village People and Donna Summer.

by Anonymous

reply 13

September 25, 2021 8:37 PM

Very popular in the 70s. Their gimmick couldn’t last forever.

by Anonymous

reply 14

September 26, 2021 12:27 AM