Were you made for lovin' KISS? What's not to love about the pyrotechnic concerts, symbolic painted faces, or classic American rock music? Fans of this famous 70's rock band express their devotion through a multitude of ways. They call themselves the KISS Army and they have been keeping up with the band since the beginning. The KISS Army fan club is at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the fandom that surrounds the band. Along with club memberships, fans also stay involved through cosplay, memorabilia, and attendance at conventions.
KISS Army
The majority of KISS' fan base comes from the United States but it is split pretty evenly between like and dislike for the band (4). This could be due to the controversial stunts pulled by the band including provocative lyrics, extreme performances, and the individual band mates' expressive personalities (6). Early controversy for KISS had them blacked out on some radio stations which is where the KISS Army stemmed from. In 1975, two fans, Bill Starkey and Jay Evans, started the KISS Army as a protest against these radio stations. The success of the protest might not be entirely credited towards the fan club, but it is still prominent that the strength of the fandom let on hope for the future of the band. Today, there is a KISS Army official website with paid membership that gives fans access to all things related to KISS including news, merchandise, an overview on the band, tour dates (when applicable), and an outlet to send in fan mail or pictures.
"Dressed To Kill"
KISS is usually recognized by and known for their face paint, heavy metal outfits and hair. Each member rocks a different face painting style to help differentiate each other; the stage names that correlate to their makeup include the Starchild, the Demon, the Spaceman, and the Catman. Fans participate in cosplay where they dress up like the members while attending concerts or conventions (5). This is a way for fans to support the entire band as well as their favorite member(s). Decked out in shiny or spiky clothing, wearing wigs or teased hair, and topping the look off with the iconic face paint is how fans show up to KISS events.
KISS Fan Re-creates the Iconic Looks
Time to Shrine
Merchandise is often expected to be owned by fans. You have the basic T-shirts, hats, or vinyls, but KISS has had some strange memorabilia released throughout the years that avid collectors have bought and saved. A fan by the name of Vern Simon was deemed to have the biggest KISS shrine and was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for it before having to sell it off due to financial reasons (3). Some KISS-related items he owned included dolls, toy cars, comic books, condoms, and a toothbrush (3). Yes you read that correctly, condoms! Member of KISS, Gene Simmons often mentions how they sell a plethora of merchandise from condoms to caskets, and he's not kidding. The "KISS-Kasket" went for $4,000 and it was targeted towards die-hard fans, pun intended, who wanted to worship the band even through death (2). Apart from these extreme fans, almost every fan of KISS owns some of this merchandise to bond within the community they've made and to represent the band that they love.
Conventions
Though the start of the band was over five decades ago, the fandom is usually passed on from parents to children and KISS events become a gathering for generations of fans to celebrate their favorite band. The first official US KISS convention took place in 1995 with the band on site, but there were and are unofficial conventions hosted by the fans themselves. At the official convention there was trading and selling of memorabilia, tribute bands, Q&A sessions, autograph signings, and unplugged sets where KISS would play songs based off of requests from the fans. The official convention was a dream come true for fans to be able to mingle with their idols, but the unofficial conventions hold a special place as well since it brings together these generations of people with the same admiration for rock and KISS.
Fans in KISS Makeup At Convention (1)
A Lasting Impression
The talented members of KISS and their insane performances have stolen the hearts of thousands. From dressing like them to collecting absurd items relating to them, devoted fans will always live with a little piece of the band. KISS has been disbanded and the members are getting up there in age, but through online fan bases and in-person conventions, the soul of rock and roll lives one through the fans.
Works Cited
(1) Chapman, Adam. “Kiss Are Returning to Australia One Final Time.” 4CA, 29 May 2023, www.4ca.com.au/trending/music/kiss-are-returning-to-australia-one-final-time/.
(2) Ginsberg, Scott. “Premium Caskets: What Are the World’s Most Expensive Caskets Sold?” Titan Casket, Titan Casket, 22 Mar. 2024, titancasket.com/blogs/funeral-guides-and-more/top-7-most-expensive-caskets-in-the-world#:~:text=The%20Kiss%20Kasket%20%2DPriced%20at,to%20decorate%20the%20expensive%20casket.
(3) Minnesotan on Quest to Prove His Collection of Kiss Memorabilia Is World’s Largest, www.kare11.com/article/news/local/land-of-10000-stories/minnesotan-vern-simon-on-quest-to-prove-his-collection-of-kiss-memorabilia-is-worlds-largest/89-855da532-0b71-447d-a9e3-2129a6f30d65. Accessed 1 May 2024.
(5) WhatCulture. “15 Things Only Kiss Fans Will Understand.” WhatCulture.Com, WhatCulture.com, 13 Aug. 2015, whatculture.com/music/15-things-only-kiss-fans-will-understand?page=5.
(6) Writer, Staff. “Kiss Horrified the Elites, Which Is Why Americans Loved Them.” The State Journal-Register, State Journal-Register, 9 Apr. 2019, www.sj-r.com/story/opinion/columns/2019/04/10/kiss-horrified-elites-which-is/5482443007/.
Hi! My full name is Victoria Arlene Rodriguez, but I like to be called Vicky. I’m from the Bronx, New York, and moved to Pennsylvania in 2018. I loved the city, but Pennsylvania was a better fit for my family and me. I love to read scary books and watch scary movies, but I hate scary games. In my free time, I love to pick up new hobbies such as sewing, knitting, braiding hair, and doing nails. I am obsessed with sloths and one of my goals is to meet one in a wildlife sanctuary. I also love koala bears and penguins, and my family always laughs at how many stuffed animals I have on my bed.
ZIPD conference Hey, my name is Katie and I am from Limerick, PA. I am currently a freshman and my major is finance. To apply my major to real life situations, I am an active member of Bloomsburg Investment Group and I am hoping to get a position on the executive board this spring. I also am the treasurer of the Bloomsburg Social Work Club which combines two things that I am passionate about; dealing with finances and helping the community. Chubs!! Tiger!! One fun thing about me is that I have two cats named Tiger and Chubs. My cats are a very important aspect of my life as they have been around since I was five years old. Senior Night As I said in my introduction to the class, I used to cheer for twelve years. I started in kindergarten and did not miss a football game through my senior year. I also did competitive cheer from 4th to 8th grade. I love to travel and have been to four countries, Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.
Hello, my name is Reese Harmon. This is my second semester at Bloomsburg University, majoring in Medical Imaging. I grew up in the town of Bloomsburg and feel very at home attending the university. I love spending as much time outdoors as possible camping, hiking, and fishing with my friends and family. I don't enjoy playing sports, but I love watching hockey and going ice skating. One of my favorite places to travel to is Seneca Lake in New York. I go every summer with my family and our family friends. We spend a week camping, driving to cool locations, and relaxing on the lake! I did horseback riding for 7 years and was on the International Equestrian Association team for the stable I rode at. I competed in multiple shows and made it to regionals twice! I unfortunately don't ride horses anymore, but I would like to again in the future. This is my golden retriever named Tucker, he is eight years old. He loves going on walks and car rides. Tucker also loves coming with us cam
Comments
Post a Comment