Overview:
President Donald Trump announced yesterday that the legendary rock band Kiss was among the five inductees for the Kennedy Center Honors at the end of this year. Many people disregard Kiss’s music and only associate them with their stage show. However, if you look at their musical style and influence, you’d be surprised.
You wanted the best! You got the best! The Hottest Band in the World! KISS!!!
Those were the introductory words that started off concerts of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Kiss. They retired from touring at the end of 2023. This was after nearly six decades of not only touring but also making albums and being featured on magazine covers worldwide. However, Kiss is about to be introduced at an occasion many would have previously least expected.
KISS at the Kennedy Center Honors?
Kiss will be honored at the Kennedy Center Honors on December 7th. President Donald Trump announced this yesterday, while a portrait of the original Kiss was unveiled in the Kennedy Center. Kiss will be honored at this event along with Gloria Gaynor, Sylvester Stallone, Michael Crawford, and George Strait.
This announcement regarding Kiss may come as a bit of a surprise for many. The history of the band has never been synonymous with critical praise.
KISS’s Reputation
Throughout Kiss’s career, they were known for putting on an outlandish stage show. The problem is that that’s what some people, especially many of the band’s critics, regard Kiss as only being successful at. I think it’s time to consider something that, personally, as a Kiss fan, I found to be even more appealing than their stage show. It is their music. It influenced more people than you think.
Hair Metal
Given Kiss’s hard rock style that was glitzed with makeup and costumes, it’s obvious that they greatly influenced the presentation of hair metal bands popular in the 1980s. However, don’t disregard how their music did as well. The early albums of Kiss, which were a combination of classic hard and glitter rock, influenced hair metal bands from the likes of Mötley Crüe to Twisted Sister.
Kiss also made later albums that had more of a pop sound to them, like their 1980 album “Unmasked.” That type of sound was reminiscent of the music of later hair bands like Poison and Bon Jovi.
Influencing Other Types of Metal
Many other subgenres exist under heavy metal. Not all of Kiss’s songs were flashy. Their 1982 album “Creatures of the Night” put together elements of the classic heavy metal sound that was emerging at the time. Coincidentally, this was around the time the late Ozzy Osbourne was pursuing a solo career.
Also, other songs from Kiss that were considered dark, like “God of Thunder,” can arguably be seen as precursors to songs from thrash metal bands. These bands emerged in the 1980s, like Metallica and Megadeth.
Since then, many other subgenres of heavy metal have emerged. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, many people were listening to rap metal. Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine was the one who inducted Kiss into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. Members of nu metal groups, like Slipknot, have also cited Kiss as an influence.
Progressive Rock
Although progressive rock bands over the years have combined elements of hard rock and heavy metal, their music was considered more thought-based than what Kiss usually recorded. However, in 1981, Kiss released a concept album called “Music from “The Elder.”” While many Kiss fans discredit it, others say it’s an underrated gem.
The Influence of Kiss on Grunge Rock and Punk Rock Is Noteworthy
This may sound surprising since grunge rock, which emerged in the mainstream in the early 1990s, seemed like the antithesis of Kiss. However, Kiss was one of the bands that influenced many of the grunge artists to pursue music in the first place.
Some people say grunge represented the resurgence of punk rock. People forget that Kiss was influenced by the New York Dolls, a band that combined hard rock with what was considered in the early 1970s as glam punk. The music of the New York Dolls sounded raw.
Bands with the musical style of the New York Dolls not only influenced powerful rock acts like Kiss and Aerosmith but also groups representing the enormous wave of punk that happened in the late 1970s, like the Sex Pistols. Both grunge and alternative rock were inspired by punk. However, even metal acts like Guns N’ Roses and Motörhead utilized it in their music, too.
The first three studio albums from Kiss, “Kiss,” Hotter Than Hell,” and “Dressed to Kill,” have a very garage rock sound to them. This sound arguably can be considered similar to both punk rock and grunge.
Nirvana covered the KISS song “Do You Love Me.” Dave Grohl, Nirvana’s drummer, who later formed the Foo Fighters, has always praised Kiss as one of his favorites. Alice in Chains and the Smashing Pumpkins even opened for Kiss a time or two.
Country?????
Kiss influenced country music. Yes, it’s true. Legendary country singer Garth Brooks not only drew inspiration from Kiss’s live shows, but he also likes their music. “Hard Luck Woman,” a soft rock song by KISS, was redone by Brooks in the 1990s.
Disco????????
Disco exploded during the late 1970s. It was in opposition to rock and roll. However, Kiss performed a disco song in 1979 called “I Was Made for Loving You.” It did well on the charts and was performed in Kiss concerts.
KISS Receives the Recognition They So Greatly Deserve
With Kiss being honored at the Kennedy Center this December, it could be argued that it showcases an acceptance of the band’s music and accomplishments.
Kiss was more than just a presentation and stage show. Their music inspired many different genres of rock, from hair metal to grunge to both rap metal and nu metal. Even country artists have recognized Kiss.
The late Jimmy Buffett referenced Kiss in his song, “Mañana,” singing, “Don’t try to describe a Kiss concert if you’ve never seen it.” The same goes for their music. Don’t try to describe it if you haven’t heard all of it.
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