Kiss

Kiss is an American hard rock band formed in New York City in January 1973 by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, alongside drummer Peter Criss and lead guitarist Ace Frehley. From the outset the band built its identity on a concept that set it apart: each member adopted black-and-white face makeup and a comic-book alter ego, and never appeared publicly out of character. Their live shows became legendary spectacles of fire-breathing, blood-spitting and heavy pyrotechnics. The 1975 live record Alive! and its hit version of "Rock and Roll All Nite" made them stars. Destroyer (1976) and Love Gun (1977) cemented the classic lineup's run. In September 1983 Kiss removed the makeup live on MTV to launch Lick It Up. In 1996 the classic lineup officially reformed in full makeup; the resulting tour was among the highest-grossing of the year. Kiss was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. The End of the Road farewell tour ran roughly 250 shows, concluding on 2 December 2023 at Madison Square Garden. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, Kiss remains one of the best-selling rock acts of all time.