Is there a worse Classic Rock band than Kiss?

[Anybodyhome]

If you are talking sheer musical talent you'd have to include AC/DC in that mix. The biggest difference between the two (aside from the costume theatrics) is the fact AC/DC bases their entire musical career on 3-chord hacks. At least Kiss wrote some actual tunes encompassing more than a 3-chord riff. I saw Kiss during their Kiss Alive! tour in 1975 and it was pretty damn amazing. I saw AC/DC some years back in Charlotte at the old Coliseum and it was so fugging loud at times you couldn't discern the words or the music.

If you're talking about marketing success, is there no bigger self-promoting genius than Gene Simmons? True, the guy completely screwed over Ace Frehley and Peter Criss and he's pretty much a jerk-off asshat, but he's made millions selling anything he can put a kiss logo or likeness on.  

The bottom line is if you simply accept a band for what it is and not approach the whole industry as though you're some kind of wine connoisseur with your nose in the air, you'll eventually hit upon some great stuff that doesn't get a lot of play. Can't begin to tell you how many bands I've seen live in a bar with a few dozen people who go on to much bigger and better things... Warren Haynes and Gov't Mule in front of about 50 people in a bar in Asheville 1998; Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies, different bar in Asheville, maybe 25 people; Blackberry Smoke, Bucked Up Saloon in Kernersville in front of a couple hundred; Devon Allman, renovated movie theater in Martinsville, VA with about 40 people...   

[Kevin Greene]

They were never good when they were "good".

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

KISS is hot garbage...most overrated band ever. 

Any band that had to resort to having Michael Bolton write songs for them is far from good. 

Outside of the guitar solo in Detroit Rock City its all fire and make-up. 

[Mol3m4n]

My tongue is longer than Gene's.

[Zaximus]

KISS had some catchy tunes, but musically weren't that great, but they were great performers and yeah, Gene wrote the book on merchandising for a band (or a brand as well for that matter).   But like some posters said, you have to take a band for what it is, and they did have some catchy tunes.  They are like the Nickelback of today, and like someone mentioned, AC/DC is Nickelback as well.    But AC/DC had crazy catchy tunes, and the fact they still have good stuff without being complex deserves some credit in a way.

And for mentioning Rush, I assume that was a troll, if not, ban lol.   Rush are one of the most musically gifted bands ever, but I agree his voice gets annoying at times, musically they are above most of the rest and still putting out good music and good tours.

Personally, I hate Boston.  Not saying they are bad or anything like that, I just hate them, not sure why, maybe played out, not sure.  

[MadHatter]

all sizzle, no steak for me - I have a friend that is a KISS freak but he grew up on Long Island in the 70s...

they were an average garage band that ended up having a great stage show.  Their singing and musicianship was definitely below average.

[Moorgan]

Foreigner, .38 Special or other bands like that? Asia, Europe? One hit wonder "classic rock" bands might be worse. I've never liked Kiss. As a kid in the 70s though I sure did enjoy the whole demon and superpower thing. But even then I thought the music was meh.

[frash.exe]

I'm okay with the fact that people like Rush and think they're such talented performers but to me the vocals just sound like a cat being bisected by piano wire and I can't get past that so I have no interest in their music.

[IMON KRAQUE]

Rush was outstanding if you remove the vocals. AC\DC with Bon Scott rules. But I agree with Boston just being annoying. But the worst and I do mean worst was...Styx. 

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

Rush is just outstanding..stop this nonsense. 

[stankowalski]

Rush was outstanding if you remove the vocals. AC\DC with Bon Scott rules. But I agree with Boston just being annoying. But the worst and I do mean worst was...Styx. 

 

[Raskle]

Oh god.. another one of these threads.... 

 

poo on a Band A, have someone else come in and say, "Yeah, but Band B was bad too," then have someone else say "WUT?!?! But Band B is the bestest evah!! Yu R Nutz!!!"

 

Gets fuging old seeing the same rhetoric over and over and over again....

 

 

Here's a thought... you don't like a band, don't mention them. Amazing how much folks contemplate the music of those they deem "inferior" bands around here. If they're so bad that they make your ears bleed, you don't have to listen to them. You don't even really have to think about them. But meh, I guess that's my take on life. 

Personally, I like KISS, but I can see why a lot of folks wouldn't. Even though they're not a virtuoso group, they've sold millions of albums and landed in the R&R Hall of Fame after a 40+ year career making music. They're just a  group of guys who said fug it, we're doing our own thing, and turning it up to Volume 11 while we're at it! Who gives a poo if we're considered the most musically gifted?... we're gonna have a shitload of fun instead!

 

You know what?.. that kinda works for me, and for a lot of other folks too.

[lymelizzard]

Most Gold Albums

[TN05]

Rush

Take that back.