Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Easily identified by their trademark
face paint and stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid-1970s on the basis of their elaborate
live performances, which featured fire-breathing, blood spitting, smoking guitars, and pyrotechnics. Kiss
has been awarded 34 gold albums to date. The group's worldwide sales exceed 80 million albums.

The original lineup of Paul Stanley (vocals and rhythm guitar), Gene Simmons (vocals and bass guitar), Ace
Frehley (lead guitar and vocals), and Peter Criss (drums, percussion and vocals) is the most successful and
identifiable. With their makeup and costumes, they took on the personae of comic book-style characters: The
Demon (Simmons), Starchild (Stanley), Spaceman (Frehley), and The Catman (Criss). The band explains that the
fans were the ones who ultimately chose their makeup designs. The "Demon" makeup reflected Gene's cynicism
and dark elements. Paul Stanley became the "Starchild" due to his tendency to be referred to as the
"starry-eyed lover" and "hopeless romantic." Ace Frehley's "Spaceman" makeup was a reflection of him wanting
to go for a ride in a space ship and supposedly being from another planet. Peter Criss' "Catman" makeup was
in accordance with the belief that Peter had nine lives due to his rough childhood in Brooklyn. Due to
creative differences, both Criss and Frehley were out of the group by 1982. The band's commercial fortunes
had also waned considerably by that point.

The first Kiss performance was on January 30, 1973, for an audience of three at the Popcorn Club (renamed
Coventry shortly afterward) in Queens. In March 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 band’s 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 Buddha Records executive Neil Bogart's new label,
Emerald City Records (which was shortly afterward renamed Casablanca Records).

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 premier at the Academy of Music in New York City,
opening for Blue Öyster 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.

In 1983, Kiss abandoned their makeup and enjoyed a commercial resurgence throughout the rest of the decade.
Buoyed by a wave of Kiss nostalgia in the 1990s, the band announced a reunion of the original lineup (with
makeup) in 1996. The resulting Kiss Alive/Worldwide/Lost Cities/Reunion Tour was the top-grossing act of
1996 and 1997. Criss and Frehley have since left Kiss again and have been replaced by Eric Singer and Tommy
Thayer, respectively. The band continues to perform, while Stanley and Simmons have remained the only two
constant members.

On August 11, 1999, Kiss was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in the "Recording Industry" category.
August 13 saw the nationwide premiere of a Kiss-themed motion picture, titled Detroit Rock City. The movie
takes place in 1978, and focuses on four teenagers (featuring Edward Furlong) willing to do anything to
score tickets for a sold-out Kiss show in Detroit.

On December 4, 2001, KISS was one of the honorees at the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
("The Recording Academy") Heroes Award ceremony, at the NARAS New York Chapter. NARAS has 12 chapters
throughout the United States, hence 12 ceremonies throughout the year, with the honorees each being honored
by the chapter closest to their residence. By receiving this honor, which NARAS has renamed the "Recording
Academy Honors," KISS effectively received NARAS' second-highest career honor, right behind the Lifetime
Achievement Grammy Award