Why Classic Rock Fans Hated KISS?

KISS has been a rock band since the 1970s, famous for their flashy stage appearance, iconic makeup, and huge selection of merchandise. Even with their huge popularity and crowds of loyal fans, the band is often the target of criticism. On the Ultimate Guitar forum, people are talking about why the band has such a mixed image.

More About the Show than the Music

A common complaint about KISS is that they put showmanship over musical depth. “For the same reason that I’m not a big Phish fan,” commented Born2Fun, a forum member. He also said that the band’s draw was like Phish’s, which is called “the Scene,” where people go to see the acts rather than the music. From this point of view, the band’s elaborate performances might make their songs less important.

Another forum member, Slap-happy, said:

“They were not featured as prominently in the UK when I was growing up and when I got around to checking them out I was, to be honest, pretty disappointed. I found the music to be pretty lackluster and quite dull. The imagery was interesting but that was about it. Only latterly, with Gene being a fool in public, Paul promoting anything with six strings and the re-emergence of the merchandising have actually made me go out of my way to avoid them. Whilst I don’t actually hate them, I have zero interest or like of anything they are associated with.”

Selling Things and Being Real

Another point of disagreement is how much the band has been commercialized. KISS has sold a lot of different merchandise, from action toys to coffins with their logo on them. Some fans think that the band’s focus on branding takes them away from their realness. For some reason, it makes them look more like a business than true artists.

Style and Changes in Music

Some people don’t like KISS’s simple rock style, which is made up of catchy hooks and straightforward lyrics. Some people say that their music is too simple and not creative enough. Fans, on the other hand, like how the band’s energy stays high and how nostalgic their hits are.

Legacies and Power

Even though they’ve been criticized, KISS has had a huge effect on rock music. A lot of artists have been influenced by them, and their impact has lasted for decades. Their style might not be to everyone’s taste, but their contribution to the genre and their ability to keep a loyal fan group show how important they are in the music world.

In the end, the argument about how good KISS is continues. In the rock world, it’s just a matter of having different tastes, expectations, and even ways of expressing yourself.