List of Kiss members

Kiss is an American hard rock band from New York City, New York. 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.[1] The band's lineup remained stable for seven years, before Criss left on May 17, 1980 after an injury and increasing personal tensions.[2] He was replaced by Eric Carr, after Anton Fig filled in for 1979's Dynasty and 1980's Unmasked.[3] Two years later Frehley also left the band.

The original and current lineups of Kiss performing live in 1977 (top) and 2013 (bottom), respectively.

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.[4] 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".[5] He was replaced the following month by Mark St. John, who performed on Animalize.[6] After contracting arthritis which made it difficult to perform, he was temporarily replaced on the Animalize World Tour by Bruce Kulick; however, when his condition failed to improve, the replacement was made permanent in December and St. John was fired.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9] After performing with the band for several songs as part of MTV Unplugged the previous year,[10] Frehley and Criss officially rejoined Kiss in April 1996 for a reunion tour.[11] 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.[12]

The following year, Frehley also left Kiss for a second time, with Tommy Thayer taking over his position in March 2002.[13] In October that year, the band announced a special show with the Melbourne Symphony to feature original drummer Criss,[14] who subsequently remained a full-time member.[15] By February 2004, Criss was out of the band for a third time, with Singer returning to take his place again.[16] With the current lineup, Kiss has released two studio albums: 2009's Sonic Boom and 2012's Monster.[1]

Members

Current
Image Name (persona) Years active Instruments Release contributions
 Paul Stanley
(The Starchild)		 1973–present
  • lead and backing vocals
  • rhythm guitar
  • occasional bass
 all Kiss releases
 Gene Simmons
(The Demon)
  • lead and backing vocals
  • bass
  • occasional guitar
 Eric Singer
(The Catman)
  • 1991–1996
  • 2001–2002
  • 2004–present
  • drums
  • percussion
  • piano
  • backing and lead vocals
 all Kiss releases from Revenge (1992) to Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions (1997), and from Sonic Boom (2009) onwards}}
 Tommy Thayer
(The Spaceman)		 2002–present
(session member in 1989 and 1992)
  • lead guitar
  • backing and lead vocals
  • Hot in the Shade (1989) – "Betrayed" and "The Street Giveth and the Street Taketh Away" only
  • Revenge (1992) – backing vocals on select tracks only
  • all Kiss releases from Psycho Circus (1998) onwards

Former
Image Name (persona) Years active Instruments Release contributions
 Ace Frehley
(The Spaceman)
  • 1973–1982
  • 1996–2002
    (guest in 1995, 2018)
  • lead guitar
  • backing and lead vocals
  • occasional bass
Peter Criss
(The Catman)
  • 1973–1980
  • 1996–2001
  • 2002–2004
    (guest in 1995)
  • drums
  • percussion
  • backing and lead vocals
  • all Kiss releases from Kiss (1974) to Dynasty (1979)
  • You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!! (1996)
  • Psycho Circus (1998)
  • Alive! The Millennium Concert is the best (2000)
  • Kiss Symphony: Alive IV (2003)
 Eric Carr
(The Fox)		 1980–1991
(until his death)
  • drums
  • percussion
  • backing and lead vocals
  • occasional guitar and bass
 all Kiss releases from Music from "The Elder" (1981) to Revenge (1992)
 Vinnie Vincent
(The Ankh Warrior)		 1982–1984
  • lead guitar
Mark St. John 1984
(died 2007)		 Animalize (1984)
 Bruce Kulick 1984–1996
(guest in 2018)
  • lead guitar
  • keyboards
  • backing and lead vocals
  • occasional bass
 all Kiss releases from Animalize (1984) to Psycho Circus (1998)

Touring
Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
 Gary Corbett 1987–1990 keyboards Corbett was the band's first live keyboardist, performing on the Crazy Nights and Hot in the Shade Tours.[17]
 Derek Sherinian 1992 Sherinian took over from Corbett for the 1992 Revenge Tour, before Kiss ceased using live keyboardists.[18]

Timeline

Lineups
Period Members Releases
January 1973 – May 1980
May 1980 – December 1982
  • Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Gene Simmons – bass, vocals
  • Ace Frehley – lead guitar, vocals
  • Eric Carr – drums, percussion, vocals
December 1982 – March 1984
  • Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Gene Simmons – bass, vocals
  • Vinnie Vincent – lead guitar, vocals
  • Eric Carr – drums, percussion, vocals
April – December 1984
  • Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Gene Simmons – bass, vocals
  • Mark St. John – lead guitar
  • Eric Carr – drums, percussion, vocals
December 1984 – November 1991
  • Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Gene Simmons – bass, vocals
  • Bruce Kulick – lead guitar, keyboards, vocals
  • Eric Carr – drums, percussion, vocals
December 1991 – April 1996
  • Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Gene Simmons – bass, vocals
  • Bruce Kulick – lead guitar, keyboards, vocals
  • Eric Singer – drums, percussion, vocals
April 1996 – January 2001
  • Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Gene Simmons – bass, vocals
  • Ace Frehley – lead guitar, vocals
  • Peter Criss – drums, percussion, vocals
January 2001 – March 2002
  • Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Gene Simmons – bass, vocals
  • Ace Frehley – lead guitar, vocals
  • Eric Singer – drums, percussion, vocals
 none
March – October 2002
  • Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Gene Simmons – bass, vocals
  • Tommy Thayer – lead guitar, vocals
  • Eric Singer – drums, percussion, vocals
October 2002 – February 2004
  • Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Gene Simmons – bass, vocals
  • Tommy Thayer – lead guitar, vocals
  • Peter Criss – drums, percussion, vocals
February 2004 – present
  • Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Gene Simmons – bass, vocals
  • Tommy Thayer – lead guitar, vocals
  • Eric Singer – drums, percussion, vocals
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References
  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Kiss: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  2. DeRiso, Nick (May 17, 2015). "35 Years Ago: Peter Criss Leaves Kiss – The First Time". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  3. Everley, Dave (December 10, 2016). "Dysfunctional Days & Crazy Nights: The Epic Story Of Kiss In The 80s". Classic Rock. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  4. Wilkening, Matthew (December 29, 2014). "32 Years Ago: Vinnie Vincent Plays His First Kiss Concert". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  5. Blau, Max (April 8, 2014). "The Long Kiss Goodbye: The Search for Vinnie Vincent". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  6. Cox, Adam (July 22, 2016). "KISS Retro-Active – Animalize (1984)". Decibel Geek. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  7. Floren, Ingo (July 20, 2004). The Official Price Guide to Kiss Collectibles. Ingo Floren. pp. 191–192. ISBN 9781400050291. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  8. "Eric Carr, 41, Is Dead; Rock Band's Drummer". The New York Times. November 26, 1991. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  9. "Kiss' Gene Simmons: Why We Fired Eric Carr On His Deathbed". Blabbermouth.net. November 18, 2002. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  10. Greene, Andy (December 17, 2013). "Kiss Reunite for 'MTV Unplugged' in 1996". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  11. Christopher, Michael (April 16, 2016). "When Kiss Commandeered An Aircraft Carrier For A Press Release". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  12. "Video – Peter Criss Modern Drummer Web Exclusive". Modern Drummer. February 19, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  13. Morgan, Anthony (January 2013). "KISS – Outta This World". Metal Forces. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  14. "It's Official: Kiss To Perform With Australian Symphony". Blabbermouth.net. October 21, 2002. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  15. "Paul Stanley: Ace Frehley Won't Be Rejoining Kiss". Blabbermouth.net. July 31, 2003. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  16. "Kiss: Australian Support Acts, Tour Dates Announced". Blabbermouth.net. February 27, 2004. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  17. Czynszak, Chris (December 7, 2016). "Eric Carr Remembered with Gary Corbett Pt1 – Ep265". Decibel Geek. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  18. "Derek Sherinian Gets Kissed All Over Again". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. March 11, 2003. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
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