Kiss was formed in New York in '72 by guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley (Stanley Eisen) and Gene Simmons (Gene Klein). The
line-up was rounded out by drummer Peter Criss (Crisscoula), located through a Rolling Stone ad, and lead guitarist Ace
Frehley (Paul Frehley), who answered an ad in the Village Voice. The band's cartoon image, kabuki makeup and 4th-of-July
stageshow concept was in place from the start, and they began promoting their own hall shows in NYC. Until the early
'80s, Kiss was unstoppable, with two huge-selling Marvel Comics, a network TV movie and four simultaneously-released
solo albums under their studded belts. In '80, Criss left for a solo career and since then, the drum and lead positions have
been ever-changing. In '83, the band stripped away the makeup and celebrated renewed interest.
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