KISS Are Huge In Japan

KISS walked down the street in Tokyo -- in full regalia, natch -- and caused a bit of a scene. I mean, that's what they were going for of course and I admit I'd be part of the crowd too if I saw KISS randomly roaming around. KISS taped a TV appearance for a Japanese TV show recently and the band played a big sold-out show in Tokyo yesterday. Here's the band making their random street appearance. I must say Tokyo looks awesome. I want to visit that city someday.

Here's some of the sold out concert in Tokyo:

You have to hand it to KISS: they were never the most musically talented, but they were always (and remain) the best at marketing and are superior at creating a great stage spectacle. They deserve to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Maybe this will finally be their year. Vote for KISS in the Rock Hall fan poll!

Comments

[Ace Steele]

I'll add this. I was 13 when I caught on to KISS. They had just released their 2nd album & were still virtually unknown. The were on a late night TV show called the Midnight Special, & they blew my mind. 6 months later, I got to see them on the "Dressed To Kill" tour that they recorded their breakthrough ALIVE~ album on. That performance has yet to be beaten! Those guys were giving 110% onstage & it showed! Even as their shows became bigger & bigger spectacles, it was hard to beat the enthusiasm they showed onstage in the early days. They still have the best live show in rock. And... are totally worthy of inclusion in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In fact, until them & Deep Purple are inducted, it's kind of a joke.

[Him]

You have me with Deep Purple, esp. the Mach II version of the band. They just released the Perfect Strangers Live DVD. Impressive.

[Gary]

Ace they're both finally nominated this year. Kiss is kicking ass in the voting from fans so far,and Purple is right behind them along with Nirvana. I saw Kiss in 1976 at the ripe old age of 13 at the Philly Civic Center. (I too got hooked after seeing them on The Midnight Special.) it was hands down the best show I've ever saw in my life,and I've seen hundreds since then,including Kiss again in 1978. That show had more "bells and whistles" but it didn't have the hungry,all out effort as the 1st did,most likely because they were a polished,well oiled machine by then and not quite as hungry?

[Rita]

Believe it or not, I fell in love with KISS while watching KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park on October 28, 1978. I was 11 so that is my excuse for thinking it was a pretty cool movie at the time.

They became my life after that, though I didn't get to see their show live until Creatures of the Night tour in '82. I stilled loved it even though by then, Peter and Ace were gone.

Big highlight of my musical life was finally getting to see the originals in'96. That was magic. Saw them four times that tour alone. To this day, KiSS will always have a special place in my heart (not gonna lie though, still wish Ace and Peter were back, despite their issues).

Can't put into words why I became obsessed with them. Maybe because they were different from pretty much everyone else. Their shows were a religious experience, for me anyway.

[jimbo]

Ace, My 1st concert ever was KISS on the Dynasty tour. There has YET to be a show that compared to it, to this day. Ive seen some great shows but that, by far was an experience I can still see and feel to this day.

[Mike]

Crazy,,, and that's not even the real KISS (whom you may recall retired after their 2001 tour).

Just goes to show the staying power of this band's image and music when a tribute act can pull in this kind of business globally.

[fletch]

ace: well said.

[oper8n]

When I was five, in 1976, I stole my sister's Destroyer LP and I was hooked. I used to set up my tinker toy cannisters as a drumset and the neighbor kids would play cardboard guitars and we would put on kickass KISS concerts. The first time I saw them was on the hot in the shade tour in 1989. Since then I have seen them many times, including the reunion tour, and I'm fortunate enough to have seen them three times with my ten year old daughter. One of my funnest moments as a dad was when she asked when we could go see KISS again. I don't write here very often, but check the site almost daily and enjoy what everyone writes and finding out about new bands and old bands with new stuff coming out. So thanks for keeping it going.

[Metalboy!]

Oper8n! Welcome back! you should comment more often. You've always had great things to say!

Ace, I remember seeing that Midnight Special, too! Stupidly, I didn't see 'em 'til the original reunion in 1996 two nights in a row at Madison Square Garden from the 4th Row.

On the 2nd night, I just wonder if Ace (Frehley, that is, hahaha!!!) remembered me from the night before from his perch on the hydraulic lift that served him up directly in front of me, making it possible for him to lower his black nail polished hand right in my face as he purposely downtroked his final E chords.

That final night, his hand was so close to my face that, if I had $immon's tongue, I could have licked it. Maybe kissing it would have been the appropriate thing to do, the ROCK Royalty that he is.

And that's what Wenner AND Gene and Paul better realize when they get in The Rock & Roll Of Fame. If Wenner gets it at all now, he better make sure, not only KISS gets in, but Purple AND Nirvana, too! Now that would be a Rock and Roll night to remember.

And $immons and Stanley better be sure they AT LEAST let Ace and Paul up there with them (AND let them play), as well as all the rest of those who contributed. Though it won't ever happen, they should also include Vinnie Vincent because of all he contributed when Ace left including penning "Lick It Up".

I also wonder if Nirvana will play with McCartney AND Courtney Love.

And I wonder who would be the one to give the speech honoring the induction of KISS. Let alone who will honor Purple and Nirvana. Ace (Steele, that is, hahaha!!!), care to speculate?

[dj]

I'm not the biggest fan of what Gene made the band out to be, but I love most of their stuff, I have yet to see them, but I want to regardless of who is there. I would love to see them with Ace and Peter though.
As far as the rock n roll hall of fame discussion goes, Kiss and Deep Purple should have been in it a long time ago. Nirvana as well, this website is bring back glam, but you have got to love Nirvana.

[Ace Steele]

I think the appropriate person to induct KISS should be their predecessor in the field of shock rock, ALICE COOPER.

Who should induct Deep Purple is a harder call. They just should have inducted Purple, last year, while Jon Lord was still alive.

[dj]

Alice is perfect to induct them!!! I think some of the Sabbath guys or metallica should induct purple.

[Metalboy!]

F*ck Metallica! They shouldn't even be let into the same room as Purple until after the induction ceremony. \m/

[MetalHair!]

Ki$$ is so gay.

[Gator]

Late to the party here, but I believe that Kiss and Purple are way overdue for induction into the "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame/Shame". They have both been up for induction before, and sadly ignored. Now, Nirvana will definitely get in on the first ballot due to politics, but it's fine with me since I actually like their music. But to constantly ignore Kiss (as well as Priest, Maiden, the Scorpions, Deep Purple, etc.) is a travesty.