KISS Solo Albums - Comparisons

I have been an avid KISS fan since I was two years old. Little backstory: one day, I was just looking at my dad’s books, and I found his KISS book called Kiss and Sell. I was interested in their makeup, and ever since then, I have loved them. They are my favorite band of all time. I have met three of the original members, Ace Frehley, Peter Criss (twice), and Paul Stanley. I have also seen the band twice live (2016 and 2019). I will be comparing all their solo albums and what they have done for me musically. 

KISS is a band founded in 1973 by members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley,  Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley. They were together with that lineup from that year until 1979. 

On September 18, 1978, each member released their own solo album with their own face and color. These colors include red (Gene Simmons), purple (Paul Stanley), green (Peter Criss), and blue (Ace Frehley). The significance of the solo albums is that the band was not getting along at the time, and they released them so they could each have their own voice and keep the band together. 

Of all the solo albums, the most unexpected breakout hit was Ace Frehley’s because he was not considered a prolific writer until later in his career. It was also the biggest seller of the four albums, as Frehley became a fan favorite in the late 70s.

For this review, I will go through each one and how they are different concerning sounds and instruments, and what each member was going for. 

Gene Simmons- This album by Gene was very inspired by the Beatles’ sound, which many people were surprised by. With the band name of the Demon, they expected a dark KISS-like sound, which only occurred in one or two songs on this album. The songs that really emphasize the Beatles’ influence are “Mr. Make Believe,""See You Tonite,” and “Always Near You (Nowhere to Hide)”. 

Paul Stanley- Paul’s album very much sounds like a KISS album. There were some changes to the sound here and there, but it was mainly a KISS-inspired album sound-wise. The songs that very much express this are “Wouldn’t You Like To Know Me,” “It’s Alright,” and “Tonight You Belong to Me.”

Peter Criss- Peter’s solo album is the one that stands out to me the most, and others as well; it is a very jazz-influenced album. In Peter’s early times playing drums in bands, he would be a jazz drummer. Most of the songs on this album express that fact, but some of the tunes are also very emotionally driven with sad instruments. The emphasis on jazz is mainly in the tunes “That’s The Kinda Sugar Papa Likes,” “Rock Me, Baby,” and “Hooked On Rock and Roll.” That tune was one of my personal favorites, especially because of the visual lyrics about how music can affect you. 

Ace Frehley- Lastly is Ace Frehley’s solo album which is a very KISS-sounding album. Hitting differently after he died, I reminisce more on the memories I have with the album and realize how different my taste in the tunes is. Those would be “What’s On Your Mind?,” “Wiped-Out,” and “Fractured Mirror.”

My Ranking of the Albums + Cyclone Rating 

The way I would rank these albums are, 

1. Paul Stanley 

2. Gene Simmons 

3. Ace Frehley 

4. Peter Criss 

Although I have a very personal connection to Peter Criss’s album and many childhood memories, I find that musically, I connect with Paul Stanley’s more, and I realize that Gene and Paul’s albums are the ones I listen to the most. For a ranking of all the albums together, I would give them a 5.5 cyclones because they are all so brilliant and different in their own ways, which makes it a special listening experience for any KISS fan.