When Kiss first exploded onto the music scene, many struggled to grasp the hype. Sure, their music fit perfectly with the booming era of four-chord stadium rock, but the flashy theatrics—superhero personas, pyrotechnics, and wild stage antics—left some skeptics wondering: why all the extra flair?
The answer was simple: Kiss wanted to stand out. Their larger-than-life identity allowed them to push the boundaries of their sound and create something uniquely their own. Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons often credited The Beatles as their inspiration for this bold approach.
Stanley explained, “Those ‘60s British groups all looked like real bands. No member of The Beatles could have fit into the Stones. No member of The Who could have been in the Dave Clark Five. You had unified images of those bands, and at the same time, there was an emphasis on the individual members.”
Simmons agreed, saying, “We also took pride in having the same freedom The Beatles had. Their philosophy was, ‘No matter what kind of music we do, it’s still The Beatles.’ That’s what was amazing about them. They weren’t trapped. They could do music hall, psychedelia—anything—and it always sounded like The Beatles.”
Kiss’ distinct vision didn’t guarantee instant acceptance, however. Some critics dismissed the band as nothing more than a gimmick, while others labeled them as satanic.
Yet, regardless of how polarizing they were, Kiss embraced their individuality. Still, not everyone was a fan of their sound. Even Paul Stanley, despite his admiration for many rock legends, wasn’t shy about expressing his disappointment with certain bands.
“Not my favorite,” Stanley said when asked about Cream, one of rock’s most revered groups. “I liked their second album Disraeli Gears quite a bit, but initially, upon hearing them, I was disappointed.”
While Cream helped shape the future of rock by blending genres in a groundbreaking way, Stanley wasn’t sold on their sound. But what bothered him even more was their 2005 reunion tour.
“When they reunited, it was clear as day that they were miserable,” Stanley remarked. “That is disrespectful to the people who love you, who have been anticipating the shows and paying to see you. It didn’t last, didn’t go well, and it shouldn’t have.”
For Stanley, putting on a show was about giving it your all, and that’s exactly what Kiss was known for. Their dedication to their live performances was unmatched, and perhaps that’s why he felt let down by Cream’s lackluster reunion.
Still, it’s surprising that Stanley wasn’t a bigger fan of the band’s music, given how highly regarded they are in rock history.
