Blood Spitting

Lore & Background

The group rose to prominence in 1973 with live performances featuring specific pyrotechnic and physical stunts, including blood-spitting. This act was part of a larger arsenal of shock rock–style effects designed to accompany their makeup and costumes. The band members adopted comic book-style personas: Paul Stanley as the Starchild, Gene Simmons as the Demon, Ace Frehley as the Spaceman or Space Ace, and Peter Criss as the Catman.

Reader's Guide

The band's live show evolved significantly over time. In response to a wave of nostalgia in the mid-1990s, the original lineup reunited in 1996 and resumed using makeup and stage costumes. The final lineup consisted of Stanley, Simmons, Tommy Thayer, and Eric Singer. The band retired after performing their final show in New York City in December 2023, following a worldwide tour that began in January 2019.

Did You Know?

• KISS performed their first show on January 30, 1973, at the Coventry Club in Queens for an audience of fewer than ten people.
• During a New Year's Eve concert at the Academy of Music, Gene Simmons accidentally set his hair ablaze while performing his fire-breathing routine.
• The band's 1996–1997 reunion tour grossed $143.7 million on the North American leg alone, making it their most successful tour to date.
• KISS earned 30 Gold albums, though other U.S. bands like The Eagles have earned more.