Kiss was an American hard rock band from New York City, US. Formed in January 1973, the group originally featured rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley, bassist Gene Simmons, lead guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss, all of whom contributed to vocals. The band's lineup remained stable for seven years, before Criss left on May 18, 1980, after an injury and increasing personal tensions. He was replaced by Eric Carr, after Anton Fig filled in for 1979's Dynasty and 1980's Unmasked. Two years later Frehley also left the band.

Frehley was replaced by Vinnie Vincent, who debuted with the group in December 1982 after contributing to Creatures of the Night earlier in the year. Vincent also performed on Lick It Up, but was fired at the end of the album's promotional touring cycle in March 1984 for what Simmons called "unethical behavior". He was replaced the following month by Mark St. John, who performed on Animalize. After contracting arthritis which made it difficult to perform, he was temporarily replaced on the Animalize World Tour by Bruce Kulick; St. John's condition improved, performing two full shows and one partial show with Kiss in November 1984. However, it quickly became apparent that Kulick was a more natural fit musically than St. John. As a result, the replacement was made permanent in December and St. John was fired.

The lineup featuring Kulick was the most stable since the band's first incarnation, only ending on November 24, 1991, when Carr died of heart cancer. Due to his illness, Carr was temporarily replaced by Eric Singer for the recording of Revenge, and upon Carr's death Singer joined the band permanently. After performing with the band for several songs as part of MTV Unplugged the previous year, Frehley and Criss officially rejoined Kiss in April 1996 for a reunion tour. The group released new album Psycho Circus in 1998, but by January 2001 had splintered again, as Criss left between legs of the Kiss Farewell Tour and was replaced by Singer.

The following year, Frehley also left Kiss for a second time, with Tommy Thayer taking over his position in March 2002. In October that year, the band announced a special show with the Melbourne Symphony to feature original drummer Criss, who subsequently remained a full-time member. By February 2004, Criss was out of the band for a third time, with Singer returning to take his place again. The final line-up consisting of Stanley, Simmons, Singer and Thayer released two studio albums: 2009's Sonic Boom and 2012's Monster. Frehley died on October 16, 2025.

Members ImageName Years activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsPaul Stanleyall Kiss releasesGene SimmonsAce FrehleyPeter CrissEric Carr1980–1991all Kiss releases from Music from "The Elder" (1981) to Revenge (1992)Vinnie Vincent1982–1984 Mark St. John1984 Animalize (1984)Bruce Kulick1984–1996all Kiss releases from Animalize (1984) to Psycho Circus (1998) Eric Singerall Kiss releases from Revenge (1992) to Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997), and from Sonic Boom (2009) onwardsTommy Thayer

Touring ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsGary Corbett1987–1990(died 2021)keyboardsCorbett was the band's first live keyboardist, performing on the Crazy Nights and Hot in the Shade Tours.Derek Sherinian1992Sherinian took over from Corbett for the 1992 Revenge Tour, before Kiss ceased using live keyboardists.

Session ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsBruce Foster 1973–1974Kiss (1974) Warren Dewey fire engineDick Wagner Brooklyn Boys Chorus1975–1976additional vocalsDestroyer (1976)David and Josh Ezrin voices New York Philharmonic orchestraBob Ezrin Jimmy Maelen1977 conga drumsLove Gun (1977)Eddie Kramer1977keyboardsRay Simpsonbacking vocalsHilda Harris Tasha Thomas1977 backing vocalsBob Kulick Anton Fig drumsVini Poncia Tom Harper1980bassUnmasked (1980)Holly Knight keyboardsTony Powers 1981Music from "The Elder" (1981)Michael Kamen 1981 orchestral arrangementsAllan Schwartzberg Robben Ford1982lead guitarCreatures of the Night (1982)Steve FarrisAdam Mitchelladditional guitar and end lickDave Wittmanbacking vocalsJimmy HaslipbassMike Porcaro1982 Rick Derringer 1983 guitar soloLick It Up (1983)Desmond Child 1984backing vocalsAnimalize (1984)Mitch Weissman Jean Beauvoir Tom Kelly 1987backing vocalsCrazy Nights (1987)Phil Ashley keyboardsCharlotte Crossley1989backing vocalsHot in the Shade (1989)Valerie PinkstonKim Edwards-BrownPat RegansaxesAll Star Cadillac BrasshornsKevin ValentinedrumsJesse Damon1991–1992backing vocalsRevenge (1992)Jaime St. JamesThe Crossroads Boys Choir 1995–1996Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997)Nick SimmonsCarole Keiser Shelly Berg1998Psycho Circus (1998)Brian Whelanpiano

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesJanuary 1973 – May 1980Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar Gene Simmons – vocals, bass Peter Criss – drums, vocals Ace Frehley – lead guitar, vocalsKiss (1974) Hotter than Hell (1974) Dressed to Kill (1975) Alive! (1975) Destroyer (1976) Rock and Roll Over (1976) Love Gun (1977) Alive II (1977) Dynasty (1979) Unmasked (1980) You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!! (1996)May 1980 – December 1982Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar Gene Simmons – vocals, bass Ace Frehley – lead guitar, vocals Eric Carr – drums, vocalsMusic from "The Elder" (1981) Killers (1982) December 1982 – March 1984Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar Gene Simmons – vocals, bass Eric Carr – drums, vocals Vinnie Vincent – lead guitar, backing vocalsCreatures of the Night (1982) Lick It Up (1983)April – December 1984Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar Gene Simmons – vocals, bass Eric Carr – drums, vocals Mark St. John – lead guitar, backing vocalsAnimalize (1984)December 1984 – November 1991Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar Gene Simmons – vocals, bass Eric Carr – drums, vocals Bruce Kulick – lead guitar, backing vocalsAsylum (1985) Animalize Live Uncensored (1985) Crazy Nights (1987) Smashes, Thrashes & Hits (1988) Hot in the Shade (1989) Revenge (1992) December 1991 – April 1996Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar Gene Simmons – vocals, bass Bruce Kulick – lead guitar, backing vocals Eric Singer – drums, vocalsRevenge (1992) Alive III (1993) Kiss Konfidential (1993) Kiss Unplugged (1996) Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997)April 1996 – January 2001Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar Gene Simmons – vocals, bass Ace Frehley – lead guitar, vocals Peter Criss – drums, vocalsPsycho Circus (1998) Alive! The Millennium Concert (2006)January 2001 – March 2002Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar Gene Simmons – vocals, bass Ace Frehley – lead guitar, vocals Eric Singer – drums, vocalsnoneMarch – October 2002Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar Gene Simmons – vocals, bass Eric Singer – drums, vocals Tommy Thayer – lead guitar, backing vocalsOctober 2002 – March 2004Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar Gene Simmons – vocals, bass Tommy Thayer – lead guitar, backing vocals Peter Criss – drums, vocalsKiss Symphony: Alive IV (2003)April 2004 – December 2023Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar Gene Simmons – vocals, bass Tommy Thayer – lead guitar, vocals Eric Singer – drums, vocalsInstant Live (2004) Rock the Nation Live! (2005) Jigoku-Retsuden (2008) Alive 35 (2008) Sonic Boom (2009) Sonic Boom Over Europe (2010) Monster (2012) "Yume no Ukiyo ni Saite Mi na" (2015) Kiss Rocks Vegas (2016)November 14 & 15, 2025Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar Gene Simmons – vocals, bass Tommy Thayer – lead guitar, vocals Eric Singer – drums, vocals Bruce Kulick – guitar (guest)none

References

External links Kiss official website