Kiss or Queen?

[Verbeek]

A long running debate I've had with a mate since high school: At their respective peaks, which was the bigger (more popular) band? I personally think Kiss.

 

[Monkster]

KISS, whoever heard of the Queen Army?

 

[bunsen burner]

KISS at their peak. I haven't seen a band that were any bigger since. They were huge in this country in 79/80. Anyone remember all the KISS merchandise going around at the time? The bubblegum cards? They were just a big monstrous gimmick that kids fell for hook, line, and sinker.

But they suck and as a whole Queen are the more popular and by far better band.

 

[Boozecoaster]

KISS at their peak. I haven't seen a band that were any bigger since. They were huge in this country in 79/80. Anyone remember all the KISS merchandise going around at the time? The bubblegum cards? They were just a big monstrous gimmick that kids fell for hook, line, and sinker.

But they suck and as a whole Queen are the more popular and by far better band.

Cheers saved me posting it.
Fireworks do not make music, nor does white house paint.

 

[Verbeek]

KISS at their peak. I haven't seen a band that were any bigger since. They were huge in this country in 79/80. Anyone remember all the KISS merchandise going around at the time? The bubblegum cards? They were just a big monstrous gimmick that kids fell for hook, line, and sinker.

But they suck and as a whole Queen are the more popular and by far better band.

Very good point. I remember once reading somewhere that in 1979, Kiss was the 5th largest corporation in the USA. That is unheard of!!!

Personally, I don't really care much for either band but I'll admit I was a HUGE Kiss fan 'till I was about 17-18 and realised they were/are the greediest scumbags ever... I still like some of their tunes though.

 

[Contra Mundum]

Cant compare - like Apples and Oranges - but - if performance is measured by Anthemic Hits Kiss Wins Hands Down

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Saw both live.

Kiss 1980 at VFL Park, Queen 1983? at the old swimming pool.

Kiss better live.

Queen better albums.

 

[bunsen burner]

Personally I think their tunes suck. I like I Was Made For Lovin' You (great catchy bass line), don't mind Sure Know Something and RocknRoll All NIght, but the rest is low grade garbage.

 

[bunsen burner]

Cant compare - like Apples and Oranges - but - if performance is measured by Anthemic Hits Kiss Wins Hands Down

Surely you jest?

What anthems? I can think of two. I can think of a good 10 Queen anthems.

 

[Contra Mundum]

Surely you jest?

What anthems? I can think of two. I can think of a good 10 Queen anthems.

1. Black Diamond
2. Detroit Rock City
3. Rock n' Roll All Nite
4. Deuce
5. Shout It Out Loud
6. Tears Are Falling
7. Psycho Circus
8. C'mon and Love Me
9. Beth
10. Strutter
11. God gave Rock and Roll to YOU
12. Lick it Up

 

[Strawberry Pancakes]

Before my time, but I definitely prefer Queen.

Kiss just don't do it for me.

Queen = Awesome

 

[Contra Mundum]

Hammer to Fall is fantastic but and probably is superior to anything Kiss put out

 

[bunsen burner]

1. Black Diamond
2. Detroit Rock City
3. Rock n' Roll All Nite
4. Deuce
5. Shout It Out Loud
6. Tears Are Falling
7. Psycho Circus
8. C'mon and Love Me
9. Beth
10. Strutter
11. God gave Rock and Roll to YOU
12. Lick it Up

You're obviously living in a different world to most other people. Most people would have only heard of 3 or 4 of those songs. Compare that to Queen and most people would agree Queen are far ahead in the anthem stakes:

Bohemian Rhapsody
Another One Bites the Dust
We Will Rock You
Fat Bottomed Girls
We Are the Champions
Killer Queen
You're My Best Friend
Somebody to Love
Tie Your Mother Down
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Keep Yourself Alive

 

[ssreid]

Kiss were better performers but I think Queen's music is just ahead.

 

[Contra Mundum]

You're obviously living in a different world to most other people. Most people would have only heard of 3 or 4 of those songs. Compare that to Queen and most people would agree Queen are far ahead in the anthem stakes:

Bohemian Rhapsody
Another One Bites the Dust
We Will Rock You
Fat Bottomed Girls
We Are the Champions
Killer Queen
You're My Best Friend
Somebody to Love
Tie Your Mother Down
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Keep Yourself Alive

looking at this list you are probably right - I can't be objective I saw Kiss two nights in a row when they came in 1980 - but as I said you cannot compare the two they appeal to different parts of the brain - you can't dissassociate the songs from the vaudeville act with Kiss where as Queens where the consumate professionals - they're set on Live Aid will live forever.

 

[bunsen burner]

It's funny this thread should be mentioned because around 1980 KISS were big. About on a par with how big ABBA were. I haven't seen anything bigger since. Sure Michael Jackson and Madonna were bigger, but they didn't create the same levels of hysteria at one point in time.

As for KISS, I was about the only kid who didn't really like them. I thought they were okay, but that's it. Whilst everyone at primary school was heavily into KISS in 1980 I was heavily into...........Queen. And AC/DC.

 

[Mint Condition]

It's not even close on a global scale.

Queen's easily more popular.

In the UK for example, Queen have been on the album charts for more weeks than anyone...including the Beatles! They also have a large advantage in worldwide sales. KISS might have greater popularity in the US, but in Europe Queen really just destroy pretty much any artist not called the beatles, ABBA or Madonna. They kill them in Asia and South America as well.

Queen also have a couple of periods of time when they were the biggest band in the world (around 1980, and the year or so after Live Aid)...KISS have never, IMO been the biggest band in the world.

And live both were brilliant, but I'd give the edge to Queen for much better musicianship and simply Freddie Mercury's unmatched ability to control a massive audience. KISS relied too much on gimmicks. It's pretty close though, but I'd just say that Queen on a good night were better than KISS on a good night (I have quite a few bootlegs of both)...particularly to the massive audiences (70K+).

 

[whythelongface]

It's funny this thread should be mentioned because around 1980 KISS were big. About on a par with how big ABBA were. I haven't seen anything bigger since. Sure Michael Jackson and Madonna were bigger, but they didn't create the same levels of hysteria at one point in time.

As for KISS, I was about the only kid who didn't really like them. I thought they were okay, but that's it. Whilst everyone at primary school was heavily into KISS in 1980 I was heavily into...........Queen. And AC/DC.

Yes I remember that to 1980 everyone was into Kiss. I was into Mi-Sex.

BB when you mention anthems in an earlier post what is your definition of a rock anthem? You're my best friend surely wouldn't fit into the rock anthem category.

 

[Mint Condition]

Yes I remember that to 1980 everyone was into Kiss. I was into Mi-Sex.

BB when you mention anthems in an earlier post what is your definition of a rock anthem? You're my best friend surely wouldn't fit into the rock anthem category.

You're my best friend's not an anthem.

The big Queen anthems BB missed are Radio Gaga, I Want to Break Free and In the Lap of the Gods...Revisited (from their early days).

 

[bunsen burner]

BB when you mention anthems in an earlier post what is your definition of a rock anthem? You're my best friend surely wouldn't fit into the rock anthem category.

Bit of a grey area. A mixture between popularity and genre. I don't believe there's a straight out "anthem" genre - otherwise we'd see a section in record stores. I think it's more about popularity and well known to the general public although an anthem must be of a certain type of song.

So a couple of those wouldn't be anthems even though they're well known whilst a few of those KISS songs, whilst anthemic sounding couldn't really be classed as anthems as they aren't widely known.

 

[bunsen burner]

Mi-Sex.

Why are you admitting that? Did you then go on to Loverboy and Foreigner path, or did you take the Huey Lewis route?

 

[whythelongface]

Bit of a grey area. A mixture between popularity and genre. I don't believe there's a straight out "anthem" genre - otherwise we'd see a section in record stores. I think it's more about popularity and well known to the general public although an anthem must be of a certain type of song.

So a couple of those wouldn't be anthems even though they're well known whilst a few of those KISS songs, whilst anthemic sounding couldn't really be classed as anthems as they aren't widely known.

Interesting. Would an anthem be something everyone sings along to. I would think that an anthem has a big sound, you know big drums, bass and guitar and a chorus everyone knows. I would obviously consider "We Will Rock You/ We are the Champions" to be the bees knees of anthems.

I am just interested in what constitutes an anthem. Would Khe Sahn be considered an anthem?

 

[whythelongface]

Why are you admitting that? Did you then go on to Loverboy and Foreigner path, or did you take the Huey Lewis route?

Now now don't be like that. I can tell you are a closest Mi-Sex fan Yes I went through a mod phase enjoying music such as Simple Minds etc. but no never Huey Lewis (oh the disgrace to admit that).

Thankfully my musical tastes have come along way since then (well in my opinion anyway).

 

[Derek Zoolander]

KISS are a corporation. A huge money making corporation and have never denied it. I love KISS. I saw them live for the first time not long ago. They didn't have Peter Criss or Ace, but i still loved every minute of that concert and i love listening to their songs. Big heavy power chords and solid drumming. I love it.

When i was growing up i adored Queen and Freddy. Thought they were the dogs bollocks and still do. I still love listening to either of them depending on my mood. So you can definately love both.

This has very little to do with anything, just felt like sharing!

 

[bunsen burner]

Big heavy power chords

Which ones are they? KISS actually have a relatively soft sound.

Heavy power chords = Led Zep, Sabbath, Free etc

Soft rock = KISS, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue

There's a difference in heavyness/softness in sound.