971 - 75: Early Years: Wicked Lester Gene Simmons Paul Stanley Epic Records

97175: Early years[edit]
Kiss traces its roots to Wicked Lester, a New York City-based rock and roll band led by co-
founders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. They recorded one album, which was shelved by Epic
Records, and played a handful of live shows. Simmons and Stanley, feeling that a new musical
direction was needed, abandoned Wicked Lester in 1972 and began forming a new group.
[11][12][13]

In late 1972, Simmons and Stanley came across an ad in the East Coast version of Rolling
Stone placed by Peter Criss, a veteran drummer from the New York City scene, who was previously
in bands called Lips and Chelsea. Criss auditioned for, and joined the new version of Wicked Lester.
The trio focused on a much harder style of rock than Wicked Lester played. They also began
experimenting with their image by wearing makeup and various outfits.
[14]
In November 1972, the trio
played a showcase for Epic Records A&R director Don Ellis, in an effort to secure a record deal.
Although the performance went well, Ellis hated the group's image and music. On top of that, as he
was leaving, he was vomited on by Criss' brother.
[15]

In early January 1973, the group added lead guitarist Ace Frehley. Frehley impressed the group with
his first audition, although he showed up wearing two different sneakers, one red and one orange. A
few weeks after Frehley joined, the Wicked Lester name was dropped and the band became Kiss.
[16]

The Kiss logo
Stanley came up with the name as he, Simmons, and Criss were driving around New York City.
Criss mentioned that he was in a band called Lips, so Stanley said something to the effect of "What
about Kiss?"
[17]
Frehley created the now-iconic logo, making the "SS" look like lightning bolts, when
he went to write the new band name over Wicked Lester on a poster outside the club where they
were going to play.
[18]
The runic letters happened to look similar to the insignia of the Nazi SS, a
symbol that is now illegal to display in Germany. Therefore, to avoid controversy, since 1979 most of
the band's album covers and merchandise in Germany have used a modified version of the logo
instead, in which the letters "SS" look like the letters "ZZ" backwards.
The band's name has repeatedly been the subject of many rumors pertaining to its alleged hidden
meanings. Among these rumors are claims that the name is an acronym for "Knights In Satan's
Service", "Kinder SS", or "Kids In Satan's Service". These claims have been denied by Simmons
himself.
[19][20]

The first Kiss performance was on January 30, 1973, for an audience of three at the Popcorn Club
(renamed Coventry shortly afterward) in Queens. For the first three gigs, January 30 to February 1,
they wore little to no makeup; the iconic makeup designs associated with Kiss made their debut
during the March 910 shows at The Daisy in Amityville, NY. On March 13 of that year, the band
recorded a five-song demo tape with producer Eddie Kramer. Former TV director Bill Aucoin, who
had seen the group at a handful of showcase concerts in the summer of 1973, offered to become the
bands manager in mid-October. Kiss agreed, with the condition that Aucoin get them signed to a
recording contract within two weeks. On November 1, 1973, Kiss became the first act signed to
former teen pop singer and Buddah Records executive Neil Bogart's new label Casablanca
Records.
[21]

The band entered Bell Sound Studios in New York City on October 10, 1973 to begin recording
their first album. On December 31 the band had their official industry premiere at theAcademy of
Music in New York City, opening for Blue yster Cult. It was at this concert that Simmons
accidentally set his hair (which was coated in hairspray) ablaze for the first of many times while
performing his inaugural firebreathing stunt.
[22]

Kiss' first tour started on February 5, 1974 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, at the Northern Alberta
Jubilee Auditorium. The bands self-titled debut album, Kiss, was released on February 18.
Casablanca and Kiss promoted the album heavily throughout the spring and summer of 1974. On
February 19, the band performed "Nothin' to Lose," "Firehouse," and "Black Diamond" for what
would become their first national television appearance, on ABC's Dick Clark's in Concert (aired
March 29). On April 29, the band performed "Firehouse" onThe Mike Douglas Show. This broadcast
included Simmons's first televised interview, a conversation with Douglas in which Simmons
declared himself "evil incarnate," eliciting titters from an uncomfortable and largely confused studio
audience. Fellow guest Totie Fields remarked that it would be humorous if, beneath all the make-up,
Simmons was "just a niceJewish boy." Simmons deftly parried this remark with neither a
confirmation nor denial, by saying simply, "You should only know." To which she responded, "I do.
You can't hide the hook," a reference to the Jewish nose.
[23]

Despite the publicity and constant touring, Kiss initially sold just 75,000 copies. Meanwhile, the
group and Casablanca Records were losing money quickly. The band (while touring) stopped in Los
Angeles in August 1974 to begin recording their second album, Hotter Than Hell, which was
released on October 22, 1974. The only single, "Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll," failed to chart and the
album stalled at No. 100.
[24]

From left to right: Bill Aucoin, Peter Criss, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, Joyce and Neil Bogart
With Hotter Than Hell quickly dropping off the charts, Kiss was pulled from their tour to quickly
record a new album. Casablanca head Neil Bogart stepped in to produce the next album, trading in
the murky, distorted sound of Hotter Than Hell for a cleaner and slightly poppier sound. Dressed to
Kill, released on March 19, 1975, fared slightly better commercially than Hotter Than Hell. It also
contained what later became the band's trademark song, "Rock and Roll All Nite".
[25]

Although Kiss albums had not proved to be big sellers, the band was quickly gaining a reputation as
a top-flight live act. Kiss concerts featured things such as Simmons spitting "blood" (primarily raw
eggs and food coloring) or "breathing fire" (spitting flammable liquid at a torch); Frehley soloing as
his guitar burst into flames (light and smoke bombs placed inside the guitar); Criss's elevating drum
riser that emitted sparks; Stanley's Townshend-style guitar smashing; and pyrotechnics throughout
the show.
[26]

By late 1975, Casablanca was almost bankrupt and Kiss was in danger of losing their record
contract. Both parties desperately needed a commercial breakthrough if they were to survive.
[27]
That
breakthrough came in an unlikely form a double live album.
[28]

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