Kiss - An Introduction

KISS, the hottest band in the world, have literally spent the last 35 years blowing up cities, countries and anywhere else their explosive live show travels to.

A band that became so well known for their trademark make-up and costumes as their party rock anthems, that at one point in the 70s they where so huge their merchandising was outselling everything in its wake. From lunchboxes to ice creams, from face masks to coffins, KISS have done and licensed it all!

Despite a string of classic rock albums in the early 70s, it was not until the release of ‘ Kiss Alive!’ a double album that was the cream of their then  live set, that KISS literally exploded.

The fire breathing blood spitting bassist Gene Simmons & his partner in crime , the incredibly agile and handsome Paul Stanley really shook the rock world onto its head with they way they toured and recorded in the late 70s. Merchandising became as important as the music, line ups changed, ambitious projects won and lost, but whatever Kiss did, they literally did it larger and bolder than anyone had ever seen before.

‘Space’ Ace Frehley, the bands popular Wildman, who’s guitar smoked and spat flames even had a huge solo hit single in 1978, due to the band simultaneously released four solo albums!

Kiss took the make-up off in the 80s after a series of commercial failures, LPs that were by now becoming stale in format and substance. Frehley and drummer Peter Criss gave way to a string of replacements, although none deep down could conjure the magic that the original line-up had. Although drummer Eric Carr became as popular as his predecessor, it was alas Carr’s death in 1991 that lead Kiss to have a rethink.

No one then would quite believe it, but a re-union (something that was constantly on the rumour mill year in year out since 1983!) was looking more likely and in 1995 the original line-up once more put the make up back on and started the whole circus once more.

Yet again personal addictions and problems would re surface, and the wheels looked set to finally come off the Kiss wagon in 2001.

Amazingly, the band with the now new replacements in Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, both sporting the original make-up, became the biggest grossing tour in 2009 with the incredible ‘Sonic Boom’ tour, a tour that is still running as we hit 2011.

Iconograpic Artist Greg Hart, born in the UK, has established himself throughout the decade as one of the most successful artists specialising in Kiss original artworks. He has painted a truly incredible collection of artworks depicting Kiss in almost every guise, line-up and pose. When we interviewed him he was proudly sitting beneath his giant Gene Simmons ‘God of Thunder’ canvas which stared out at me with an alarming accurate depiction of the blood spitting devil.

“I am trying to enjoy this piece as much as i can before he heads over to the USA, to the new owner who recently bought him..Its my favourite ever Kiss piece”

How did it all begin Greg?

”I have been a big fan since 1976 when i bought the ‘Destroyer’ LP. The image on that cover just shook me to the core. I had to know about this band. They looked like they were from outer space. I used to copy the make up onto my school books, and even painted the cover for real years later. It hangs proudly in my hall. I bought every record, single, and bit of merchandise possible, even the Kiss Pinball machine!”

About your Kiss art, it seems to be an incredible story?

“It all started when i painted a canvas of Ace Frehley’ for my own amusement really. I decided to auction it online, and was amazed it sold straight away!..so i did another, and another, and another, soon all over the world people were buying my Kiss artworks!”

Hart states that although historically Ace Frehley outsells the other members by around eight to one, recently it has become very clear that all his Kiss artworks sell almost equally and more importantly, immediately.

“I have one collector in Ohio who currently owns over 24 original Kiss artworks of mine. He is always commissioning me, and he is by far my best customer. I have a string of ladies who have commissioned Paul Stanley artworks, and i have several people in Australia who snap up all my pop art canvasses regularly. I have held several Rock exhibitions and the KISS stuff always seems to be the main talking point. People know them, recognise them and although not to everyone’s tastes, they all like the ‘over the top-ness’ of it all!”

Even i admitted that a Gene Simmons spitting blood in your front room is rather cool, and certainly unique. Not that the wife would like it.

So how many has Hart painted to date of Kiss?

“Phew..i lost count at 75!...it may even be around 100 now…”

Hart’s artworks have rocketed in value, even quadrupling in one year alone. Why do you think your Kiss artworks in particular are so popular?  i concluded.

“I like to think my artworks are unique, and individual. My style lends perfectly to Kiss and all the costumes. I call it my ‘hybrid style’. Something i have worked on for a few years now, it is far more detailed, and has a rugged texture about it. People really love it and the compliments are totally overwhelming. My facebook comments are just incredible and i sometimes have to pinch myself it is actually going on for me. This is now becoming the style people want to buy from me. Yes, it is more expensive but i feel that people really buy a piece of me when they go for one of my ’hybrids’. My last original sold for over £2000, and i still to this day pinch myself they fetch this sort of money. They are an investment. Ask my Kiss collector in Ohio! his wife must be going crazy with it all, haha!

Crazy Nights indeed…