KISS Is America's #1 Gold Record Award-Winning Group Of All Time

[GlobalObserver]

KISS, now celebrating its 41th anniversary, has earned more gold album record awards than any American band in the history of the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) gold and platinum awards certifications.

In the last 41 years, KISS has earned 30 gold albums (26 KISS albums and 4 solo albums that were all released simultaneously — a feat never before achieved by any band). KISS has 14 platinum albums, with three albums being multi-platinum.

"Congratulations to KISS — the new gold standard for albums by American bands," said Cary Sherman, Chairman and CEO, RIAA. "What an extraordinary achievement for an enduring band. Forty years later and the band is still rocking. Congratulations to KISS on their gold album milestone and continued success."

KISS remains one of the most influential bands in the history of rock and roll. Decades of record-breaking tours around the globe have included high-profile appearances at Super Bowl XXXIII, the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the Rockin' The Corps concert dedicated to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, special guest appearance on the 2009 "American Idol" finale that boasted 30 million viewers and a 2010 Dr. Pepper Super Bowl commercial and advertising campaign in support of their Hottest Show On Earth tour.

Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, with longtime members, guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, are stronger than ever with a legacy that continues to grow, generation after generation. Their last album, "Monster", proved that they are still at the top of their game with impressive sales and topping the charts worldwide debuting at No. 3 in the U.S. on The Billboard 200 album chart and Top 10 in twenty other countries. The unparalleled devotion and loyalty of the KISS Army to the "Hottest Band in the World" is a striking testament to the band's unbreakable bond with its fans.

KISS is currently celebrating two other major milestones, their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in April of 2014, as well as the band's 40th anniversary. "Kiss 40", an album celebrating 40 years of rock and roll is available now.

Read more at http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/kis...MeS9hoqHzf0.99

[GlobalObserver]

KISS were such a huge part of my pre-teen/teenage years. Congrats to all the guys who have played in KISS throughout the years, but a special thanks to those four young guys from NYC who helped make my younger years a memory to treasure. To Gene, Paul, Ace, & Peter. Cheers!

[Mikey]

I don't think you need to sell as many records today to be classified as Gold as you needed to sell in the past.

[boss]

Haven't they held this record for a long time?

[MIB41]

I think that was authored by Gene Simmons. Without question KISS is very much an accomplished band, but the gold record crown is kind of a deception by categories here. To achieve that position, they had to qualify ONLY as a band (by definition) and come from America. If you're an American solo artist (like Bruce Springsteen and Garth Brooks) or a band not from America (like the Beatles or even the Bee Gees) you can't be counted here. Unfortunately there are SCORES of American solo artists and even more artists (solo or band in formation) with foreign roots that KISS wouldn't qualify to clean their jock straps regarding album sales. So it's really more embellished than how it comes off. And their last two albums (Sonic Boom and Monster) have been the worst selling records in their career. Combined they wouldn't reach gold sales status of 500,000 units. And if you're a long time fan like me, you already understand this is actually a come down from their once bragged about Platinum standard which they have not achieved since 1987's Crazy Nights. So we're a long way from the days when they were a platinum band performing sold out shows as a headliner and not as a co-headliner as they do these days (except in some foreign territories). They are more fun now like they were in their heyday with the various projects that see them in film or animated features. Plus they have a slew of product that still seems to sell pretty well. So there is definite relevance to their identity, but the bulk of their record sales was achieved literally decades ago.

[great_chandel]

I love KISS! I always have! Ever since I was a little kid -- 8 years old! The costumes, make-up--the showmanship--never to be duplicated. Actually, Gene Simmons is a very bright guy. As a former teacher, he has been on many political talk shows. He is well-versed. I saw KISS many years ago (the original and best: Gene, Paul, Ace, Chris). They tore the house down in Reno, Nevada! I would have expected nothing less!

[mego maniac mark]

One of my all time fave's. They are a huge part of my life's soundtrack for sure.. Ace is my all time favorite . He is the sound of kiss without a doubt.

[SainthoodDenied]

I can remember my best friends brother who was 5 or 6 years older than us coming home from town with their mom, getting out of the car and running across the yard to where we were playing to show us his brand new Kiss Alive II album. We were 6 years old and thought that was the coolest thing ever, of course we followed him inside to listen to it.

[cjefferys]

I've been a fan since my best friend at the time introduced them to me in the 5th grade. They've certainly had their highs and lows, but I'll always be a fan, they've been a part of my life for a long time now. And yeah, Ace will always be my favourite too.

[Mongoose1983]

I can't think of it as "embellishment". Like it or not you got to actually get your records sold to achieve this status.

KISS is one fantastic rock band, they're old now -you can not expect them to keep releasing records like youngsters anymore. It's not easy to rock and roll when you're 60 and still be out there selling shows and records in quantities.

The impact of this band in Western culture is so huge that you can hardly define or even compare KISS with any other rock band or solo act -KISS is far more than just recorded music, toy figures or a live show.

[MIB41]

^^^ I agree that is an accomplishment, but record sales are not what pays their bills these days. As a career, yes. This is a worthy note of achievement. But as I said, it's propped up like they're doing it today and we all know that is not so. I enjoy KISS. And I'm one of the few people I know who accepts and celebrates KISS in their current formation. I really like Tommy and Eric. But they work for me today because they have gone back to being a fun band that knows how to merchandise and create new events for their image. The concerts are much better now than what they were during the reunion and Farewell tour with all original members (my opinion). I think they have finally gotten comfortable with how they need to market themselves and the politics of band membership is gone. It's good to read positive things about the band today instead of all of this internal bickering that use to pretty much define them.

[huedell]

IMHO, the issue that in today's music culture, that this achievement has very little value, thus neutering the claim, overshadows the actual claim.