ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996              TAG: 9610030074
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 6    EDITION: METRO 

KISS MILESTONES

1972

Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley hire Peter Criss.

1973

Ace Frehley joins the lineup. Influenced by the New York Dolls, the makeup goes on and the Kiss personas are born: the demon, the star child, the cat man and the space man.

1974

Kiss releases its first album (called, appropriately, ``Kiss'') and goes on tour. The band also releases its second album, ``Hotter than Hell.''

1975

Kiss releases two more albums, and the Kiss Army gathers for the first time.

1976

``Kiss Alive!'' goes platinum, Kiss releases ``Destroyer,'' and songs such as "Beth," "Detroit Rock City" and "Shout it Out Loud" get radio play.

1977

Kiss plays Madison Square Garden, tours Japan and releases two more albums. Marvel Comics features Kiss as superheroes.

1978

Kiss releases ``Double Platinum'' and films "Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park," a made-for-TV movie. The four solo albums are released.

1979

Kiss releases ``Dynasty.''

1980

Peter Criss officially leaves to pursue a solo career. Eric Carr takes his place. Kiss releases ``Unmasked.''

1981

Kiss releases ``Music from the Elder.''

1982

Ace Frehley leaves the band, which releases two more albums with Vinnie Vincent on guitar.

1983

Last show with makeup. Kiss releases ``Lick it Up.''

1984

Kiss releases ``Animalize.'' Bruce Kulick replaces Vincent as a guitarist.

1985

Kiss releases ``Asylum.''

1987

Kiss releases ``Crazy Nights.''

1989

Kiss re-signs with Mercury and Polygram Records.

1991

Eric Carr dies of cancer. Eric Singer replaces him.

1993

Kiss releases ``Alive III'' and appears on "The Arsenio Hall Show."

1994

Kiss tribute album is released; Kiss joins Garth Brooks on "The Tonight Show" to sing "Hard Luck Woman."

1995

Frehley and Criss join Kiss for "MTV Unplugged."

1996

Simmons, Stanley, Frehley and Criss put their makeup back on and appear at the Grammys. Kiss releases "Unplugged," the band's 29th album and announces a reunion tour. Tickets for the kickoff show at Detroit's Tiger Stadium sell out in 47 minutes.

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