The Only KISS Song That Aged Horribly And Why

A pioneering punk scene emerged in New York City in the middle of the 1970s. In the heart of the punk movement, KISS—a band that did more than just play rock music—performed it. Iconic musicians like Patti Smith, the Ramones, and Television were also changing the music landscape. KISS raised the bar for glam rock and shock rock with their famous facial paint and extravagant theatrical costumes. Along with their hard rock hits, the band’s spectacular stage presence—which included pyrotechnics, fire breathing, and levitating apparatus—became synonymous with them. KISS’s outrageous performances still captivate audiences decades later.

KISS and the Misogyny Debate

But KISS didn’t just stir up controversy with their explosive live shows—they were also known for pushing boundaries with their lyrics, often dipping into the uncomfortable and, at times, offensive. In 2014, during a live Q&A, KISS’ Gene Simmons was confronted by the garage rock band The Black Lips via a video stream. They boldly told him, “Mr. Simmons, we’re here to tell you that the day of misogynistic, sexist rock and roll is over. We call for the complete and utter surrender of the KISS army. Lay down your guitars. Do you accept our terms of surrender?”

Instead of addressing the criticism, Simmons fired back with snarky comments about the band’s living conditions, saying, “I wanted to compliment your mum for the wonderful way she designed the decoration of the basement that she lets you live in.” While his response was dismissive, the band’s comments were rooted in KISS’ long history of controversial tracks, especially those featuring sexist themes—none more infamous than the song “Christine Sixteen.”

“Christine Sixteen”: A Creepy Classic?

“Christine Sixteen” was released in 1977 as part of KISS’ sixth studio album, Love Gun, which peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200 and became their highest-charting album. However, the song’s lyrics are, to put it mildly, unnerving. Even though it is technically legal in some countries, Gene Simmons, who was 27 at the time, sings about his obsession with a 16-year-old girl—an incredibly upsetting topic. To put it mildly, the lyrics of the song are really disturbing. For example, “I don’t usually say things like this to girls your age, but when I saw you coming out of school that day, I knew, I’ve got to have you.”

In addition to the awkward age difference, the song’s possessive tone only exacerbates the situation. “She’s been around, but she’s young and clean,” sings Simmons. Because of the song’s unsettling content, some radio stations refused to play it, but it was nevertheless well-liked enough to reach number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Unfortunately, there are other rock songs from that era that romanticize unsuitable relationships besides “Christine Sixteen.” The Knack’s “My Sharona” and Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen” are just two examples of the legendary rock tunes that normalized adult men’s obsession with young girls. Despite all of the criticism, Simmons’ unrepentant use of these lyrics sparked debate over what was considered appropriate in rock and roll at the time.