Kiss on Your List: Thoughts Inspired by Ace Frehley's Passing

As long-time readers are aware, it would be something of an understatement for me to note that I have never been a fan of KISS.

In fact, one of the best things I ever wrote for publication was a review of the four simultaneous 1979 KISS members solo albums done in the style of a Raymond Chandler detective story.

It's tone was not, shall we say, enthusiastic. 😎

That allowed, a lot of my younger friends -- people whose opinions I respect despite their callow years (that's a joke, people) -- do think highly of KISS, and they have often expressed why in passionate and plausible ways. Two obvious recent examples: Our amigo Sal Nunziato over at Burning Wood just last Friday, and former Video Review colleague Doug Brod, whose recent book They Just Seem a Little Weird makes the case for them quite persuasively.

And of course I would not be so foolishly arrogant as to dismiss Sal and Doug's views out of hand, although, as I've hopefully made clear, I remain, er, unconvinced about KISS on a fairly profound, perhaps even cellular, level.

But, finally, I would be remiss if I did not conclude by acknowledging that one of my all time favorite bands, The Replacements, liked KISS. A lot.

I mean, a REAL lot.

And that they also did this superb cover of one of their songs.

So when all is said and done, what I'm really getting at today is -- there's just no way I'm gonna argue with Paul Westerberg and company on this subject.

And despite my larger personal feelings about KISS's music, I'm just gonna leave it at that.

For now. 😎😎