kiss

Kiss was founded in January 1973 by Gene Simmons (real name: Chaim Witz, later (Eu)Gene Klein) and Paul Stanley (real name: Stanley Eisen). They wanted to make KISS the band 'they always wanted to see, but never got to see', as they called it 'The Hottest Band in the World'. The band was completed by Ace Frehley (real name: Paul Daniel Frehley) and Peter Criss (real name: George Peter John Criscuola).

The group name Kiss was chosen by Paul Stanley and taken from a song by The New York Dolls, 'Looking for a kiss'.