Just caught Gene Simmons promoting his new autobiography, "Kiss and Make-Up." What a character! He stated that he created KISS largely as a response to what he felt were underwhelming performers; several guys playing an instrument fronted by a guy holding a microphone. The performance, in other words, never lived up to the music. So this Israeli immigrant, who came to America at the age of 9 and was immediately stunned at the "bigness" of everything (women, advertising, food, etc), combined his love of America's "bigger, faster, bolder" with his passion for rock-n-roll. Thus was born KISS. So -- I've always enjoyed the music & spectacle of KISS, but never so much that I could be called a KISS Army member...until now. True American success story, with a kick-a** soundtrack.