Bryan Adams, the legendary Canadian rocker, isn’t just known for his chart-topping hits. His songwriting talents have paved the way for many other artists to shine.
During the 1980s, Adams was in high demand, often collaborating with other music icons. His partnership with Jim Vallance led to a string of unforgettable songs, written for big names like KISS, Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Tyler, and many more.
In a recent chat on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, Adams reflected on his experience working with KISS and how he co-wrote tracks for their 1982 Creatures of the Night album.
A Phone Call That Changed It All
Back in the early ’80s, Adams was just 21 years old and had released his album You Want It, You Got It. That’s when a surprising phone call came from producer Michael James Jackson, who was working with KISS then.
Adams recalled the moment:
“I got a call from Michael James Jackson. He said, ‘Hey, I really like your record. I’m working with KISS. Would you want to write a couple of songs with them or for them?’ I was like, ‘Is this for real?'”
Naturally, Adams said yes. Before long, he was flown out to Los Angeles to meet the band members: Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Eric Carr.
Each one sat down with Adams individually to work on different song ideas. Interestingly, though, he didn’t end up writing directly with Simmons during that first meeting, but what happened next set the stage for one of KISS’s classic tracks.
The Birth of “War Machine”
While Adams didn’t write a song with Gene Simmons face-to-face, he picked up on a key element Simmons played during their meeting. Adams recorded it on his cassette and brought it back home to Vancouver, where he shared it with his songwriting partner, Jim Vallance.
Adams explained how things fell into place: “We listened to it, and within an hour or so, we had written this song called ‘War Machine’ around Gene’s bassline.”
The track became one of KISS’s standout songs from Creatures of the Night, and it all started from that one bass riff Simmons played.
Reworking “Rock and Roll Hell”
The collaboration didn’t stop there. Vallance had a song titled “Rock and Roll Hell” that he had originally written for himself, but it hadn’t really gone anywhere.
Adams had the idea to rework the track for KISS, thinking it could be a good fit for the band.
“So I said to Jim, ‘We should retool that song for KISS.’ He agreed, and we tweaked the lyrics, added a new verse, and sent it down to the band.”
Gene Simmons liked the song but wanted a third verse, so he pitched in and added one himself. The result? Another successful KISS track crafted by Adams and Vallance.
A Surreal Experience
For Adams, the entire experience felt surreal. At just 21, he found himself writing alongside one of the most iconic rock bands of the time.
What started with a surprising phone call turned into a chance to contribute to a monumental album in KISS’s history.
While Bryan Adams is best known for his own music career, his collaborations with KISS—and many others—showcase his incredible versatility as a songwriter.
The story behind “War Machine” and “Rock and Roll Hell” is a reminder of how even the smallest musical ideas can grow into something legendary when talented minds come together.
