BIOGRAPHY: KISS - A Definitive Timeline of the Rock Band
KISS has left an indelible mark on popular music through its unique presentation of four distinct characters in makeup – Starchild, Demon, Spaceman and Catman – reeling off irresistibly catchy hit songs amid fire-and-explosion-filled stage shows.
Beyond the bells and whistles, the band has also distinguished itself through its remarkable longevity in an industry filled with burned-out talents and one-hit wonders. Here's a look at the key moments in the band's history through a half-century of rockin' and rollin' all night and partying every day:
1970: Paul Stanley meets Gene Simmons
Guitarist Paul Stanley, still going by his birth name of Stanley Eisen, meets bassist Gene Simmons, then known as Gene Klein, in New York City. They soon team with Steve Coronel, Brooke Ostrander and Tony Zarrella to form the short-lived band Wicked Lester.
January 30, 1973: KISS plays their first show
The original KISS lineup of Stanley, Simmons, drummer Peter Criss and guitarist Ace Frehley performs its first show before a sparse audience at the Popcorn Club/Coventry in Sunnyside, Queens.
August 10, 1973: The band scores their first record deal
After a show at Manhattan's Hotel Diplomat, KISS meets TV producer and neophyte manager Bill Aucoin, who promises to land the band a record contract in two weeks. The following month KISS is announced as the first act signed Neil Bogart's Casablanca Records.
February 18, 1974: Their debut album, 'KISS,' is released
KISS releases its self-titled debut album, which features signature tracks like "Strutter" and "Deuce." Three days later the band enjoys its inaugural television appearance on the Dick Clark-hosted ABC in Concert.
Also check out Biography's bio on both Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.
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