Is KISS The Beatles of our generation?

I feel some sympathy for Klaatu, I like them myself and the whole fiasco about them being the next Beatles was not their doing.

What's that old saying..."Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." In that case the Beatles had to know their success would spawn a lot of imitators.

I am not a big Badfinger fan though...I have a few of their albums but never found them compelling.

Lord Grendel said:

What's that old saying..."Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." In that case the Beatles had to know their success would spawn a lot of imitators.

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Because The Beatles were so good, I don't think anyone could copy them properly. The Monkees copied their style commercially, but they were only adequate. Same with Oasis (although vastly inferior).

I don't think Paul McCartney ever criticised anyone who copied them. That seems the right attitude to me.

I don't know too much about Klaatu to be honest, they just didn't sound a lot like The Beatles to me. Versions of Badfinger without Pete Ham are to be avoided, but otherwise I love them.

I don't know much about Kiss either and I certainly don't see how they fit with The Beatles.

Postscript: Having said all this, the progressive rock bands took their cue from two albums, Pet Sounds and Sgt Pepper.

Slip'nn2Darkness said:

The only group that comes close to having a Beatle sound would be Cheap Trick. KISS would only rate up there with the Beatles on popularity.

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I think the KISS popularity is what is being referred to. I can't imagine their sound being compared to the Beatles.

Do Kiss have international popularity or are they like American football?

Big Ears said:

Do Kiss have international popularity or are they like American football?

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They are popular. Not even close to the Beatles, of course. But they are more famous for the whole painted face/coostumes, marketing stuff and Gene Simmons rather than being know for their music. I don't think many people know more than 2-3 Kiss songs. I am a HUGE rock music fan and I can only recognize 1 Kiss song.

Magic said:

I agree!

BUT I thought people were comparing the Jonas Brothers as the new Beatles not too long ago.

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Back in the 1980's the masses said the same thing about Duran Duran. The pop songs, the teenage girl hysteria and all that.

Oh and about KISS? Nah...and I do like them.

Syd said:

They are popular. Not even close to the Beatles, of course. But they are more famous for the whole painted face/coostumes, marketing stuff and Gene Simmons rather than being know for their music. I don't think many people know more than 2-3 Kiss songs. I am a HUGE rock music fan and I can only recognize 1 Kiss song.

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That's a good song (especially the live version) but no where near the best thing they've ever done. The live album "Alive!" is maybe the best one to start with since it has good versions of a lot of their better songs.

They were quite a bit more than just a novelty act.

The comparison is fun but the quality chasm is ridiculous, so it's not worthy of serious consideration.

Having said that, I do think that critics continue to under value Kiss as nothing more than a make up and marketing novelty act. Is that so? Well how about Calling Dr Love, Deuce, Detroit Rock City, Strutter, Beth, Cold Gin, Lick It Up, Heaven's On Fire, Love Gun, Shout It Out Loud, I Was Made For Loving You, Rock N Roll All Nite et al.

A huge rock band with more to add musically than most care to admit. And put it this way, the musical landscape would have been a lot less colourful without them, yes?

Yeah, besides they supported Rush. That should be worth something......right?

I believe there are probably folks out there that only know one or two KISS songs, but the majority of people that know KISS know MANY songs, along with the millions of fans that own all the albums.

So most people?? Nah...I don't buy it....one could AT LEAST recognize 10 tunes...and a REAL non fan?? Possibly 1 or 2...JMO