Expert: Geoff Wickens - 3/16/2005

Question
What was the name of the band Kiss right before they changed it to the current name?


Answer
Sorry for the delay ... required a bit of background history and I was able to get you a little more into the make-up (pardon the pun) of KISS:

KISS is a New York City-based heavy metal band that became famous in the mid 1970s. KISS was born out of the ashes of Wicked Lester. Although "heavy metal" did not exist when the band was formed in 1972 it can be said that they invented a big part of the sound and style which now belong to heavy metal. The band is known for its elaborate stage shows, loud music, and extravagant costumes. Until 1983 the band never appeared in public without their make-up (which disguised their real identities). The band first appeared without their make-up in 1983 on a MTV news special. They had to remove the makeup to be a viable band of the oblivious 1980s (platform shoes died with disco). KISS put it back on in 1996 for their Alive Worldwide Reunion Tour.

The original members of KISS (and their made-up personas) are Paul Stanley (star child), rhythm guitar/vocals; Gene Simmons (demon), bass/vocals; Ace Frehley (space-ace), lead guitar/vocals; and Peter Criss (catman), drums/vocals. William 'Gui' Aucoin was the original manager 1973-1981. Doc McGhee is the current manager. Sean Delaney was the group's first road manager and creative director.

Originally inspired by the New York Dolls, The Harlots of 42nd Street, and other New York glam scene bands. They felt that the feminine look did not work for them.

The band's name was rumored to stand for "Knights In Satan's Service" or "Knights ,n Service of Satan" but this is an urban legend - propagated in the 1970s by Minnesota-based evangelists the Peters Brothers - which Gene Simmons has denied in his book. Simmons states that Paul Stanley suggested the name on the spur of the moment while they were stopped at a traffic light. Paul has also stated that the band name is not an acronym (the original name of the band was Wicked Lester, 1969-1972). Ace designed the infamous lightening bolt logo, and the rest is KISStory.

The first ever KISS performance was in 1973 to an audience of 10 at the Popcorn Club (renamed Coventry shortly afterwards) in New York City.

The group released their first two albums in 1974, both produced by Kenny Kerner and Ritchie Wise, (KISS and Hotter Than Hell). The cover of their debut, KISS, showed the group in their makeup, mimicking the cover of the Beatles' With the Beatles album. At the time, no one really knew what to make of the group's look. Topping at #87 in the charts, the album did feature a few chestnuts in the group's career; "Strutter," "Deuce," "Cold Gin," and the closer "Black Diamond." The follow-up, Hotter Than Hell featured a Japanese influenced cover, an attempt to make people think the group were well-known worldwide. The album did less well than their debut, reaching just #100 on the Billboard album chart.

In 1975, having achieved recognition, but no big hit single, Casablanca Records head Neil Bogart stepped in to produce their next album. Trading in the rawer sound of KISS and Hotter Than Hell for a more clean, produced sound with Dressed To Kill. The album included two important songs in the group's career; "C'mon And Love Me," their first big radio hit, and "Rock And Roll All Nite," which became their first hit single. In 1975, they released the live album Alive!, a lion's share recorded at Detroit's Cobo Hall. The album was a huge success. Following it, the group decided to expand their musical horizons and make a more venturesome album. The result was Destroyer, KISS' most commercially successful album, which included the hits "Beth", "Detroit Rock City," and "Shout It Out Loud."

On New Years' Eve 1975, Blue Öyster Cult opened for KISS at Nassau Coliseum, two years to the day after KISS opened for them.

KISS starred in a made for NBC television movie KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park (1978).

In 1997, the original band reunited after 17 years apart, and launched their wildly successful reunion tour. In 1998, the band released "Psycho Circus", and departed on the ensuing 3-D tour, with a circus as the opening act. The tour was mildly successful, but the band continued to dominate the rock world.

In 2003, KISS released "KISS SYMPHONY" with Gene Simmons,Paul Stanley, Peter Criss and Tommy Thayer, backed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Peter Criss left the band again in late 2003, and was replaced with Eric Singer, who along with Tommy Thayer performed during KISS' 2004 "Rock The Nation" Tour, with 80's hair band Poison as the opening act.


In case you missed it (amongst all the other information), the original name of the goup was "Wicked Lester".

Thanks for the question... I hope you got more information that you were looking for.

Geoff