Rooted in the campy theatrics of Alice Cooper and the sleazy hard rock of glam rockers the New York Dolls Kiss became a favorite of American teenagers in the '70s. Most kids were infatuated with the look of Kiss not their music. Decked out in outrageously flamboyant costumes and makeup the band fashioned a captivating stage show featuring dry ice smoke bombs elaborate lighting blood spitting and fire breathing that captured the imaginations of thousands of kids. But Kiss' music shouldn't be dismissed — it was a commercially potent mix of anthemic fist-pounding hard rock driven by sleek hooks and ballads powered by loud guitars cloying melodies and sweeping strings. It was a sound that laid the groundwork for both arena rock and the pop-metal that dominated rock in the late '80s. Kiss was the brainchild of Gene Simmons (bass vocals) and Paul Stanley (rhythm guitar vocals) former members of the New York-based hard rock band Wicked Lester; the duo brought in drummer Peter Criss through his ad in Rolling Stone and guitarist Ace Frehley responded to an advertisement in The Village Voice. Even at their first Manhattan concert in 1973 the group's approach was quite theatrical; Flipside producer Bill Aucoin offered the band a management deal after the show. Two weeks later the band was signed to Neil Bogart's fledgling record label Casablanca. Kiss released their self-titled debut in February of 1974; it peaked at number 87 on the U.S. charts