Kiss

Because of Dr. H’s comments on the band Kiss the last couple of weeks, I want to share my opinion on the band. (Warning Dr. H: you will hate this post)

Last week we talked about a concert review from the Des Moines Register that was written in the 1970s. The reviewer went to a Kiss concert with an opening act of Johnny Cougar. The reviewer couldn’t say enough good things about that Johnny Cougar and mentioned Kiss as the same old, same old. To quote the reviewer (Irv Canfield), “but o! That Johnny Cougar!”

Now on occasion I have listened to a Johnny Cougar song but I have to say, I have seen his act before. Hundreds of music artists out there are just like Johnny Cougar. They claim to be as ‘American as apple pie and baseball.’ Kiss’s image is something no other band can even attempt to mirror.

What other band do you know that can paint their faces white, wear crazy costumes and 12 inch platform shoes? I dare you to name one. I’ll let you think for a minute.










Couldn’t think of one? Thought so.

When I was 16, my best friend and I drove to Denver and spend $200 to see a Kiss, Aerosmith and Saliva concert. I’ve been to my fair share of concerts over the years (for those of you who know me really well, not all of the concerts have been country thank you very much) but none of them can compare to that concert. Without a hesitation in my mind I can say that was the best concert I have ever attended.

At only 16, I knew I was seeing legendary bands with reputations bigger than I could ever imagine. The atmosphere was incredible with thousands of face-painted crazy fans, pyrotechnics to boot and enough adrenaline to keep us rockin’ n’ rollin’ all night (excuse the pun on words and if you don’t get that, go listen to Kiss and then come back and read the rest).

As Irv Canfield put in his review of Kiss, “they (Kiss) are not rock n’ roll, but an obscure music form known as ‘Trend-ola.’” I beg to differ. If Kiss was ‘trendy’ in the 1970s, why do thousands of people become fans of Kiss even today? Why are they still popular with the younger generations?

I don’t think Dr. H knew there was such a big Kiss fan sitting in his class when he spouted off his opinion. I sing like crazy along to Kiss and wear a Kiss concert t-shirt to bed. No offense Dr. H, our musical tastes are at opposite ends of the spectrum.