The American band Kiss is known for the facial makeup they have been using in their musical performances since the beginning of their career.
Each makeup represents a well-defined character, i.e. The Starchild, The Demon, The Spaceman and The Catman. Previously, new members also got characters like The Fox and The Ankh Warrior.
Paul Stanley, The Starchild, between 1973 and 1974 he occasionally adopted another makeup, The Bandit which he finally abandoned in 1974. A curiosity: Mark St. John and Bruce Kulick never used makeup since they were present in the formation only in the period in which the band did not use them (from 1983 to 1996).
The historic American band Kiss is known for the facial makeup that is used in their musical performances since the beginning of their career, which began in the early 70s. Each makeup represents a well-defined character. Let's discover them all.
The singer and guitarist of Kiss, Paul Stanley is The Starchild. It is said that this may be a reference to Stanley Kubrick “2001: A Space Odyssey” 's film, but in any case the character would represent the transformation of an astronaut into a superior being that has the appearance of a fetus called, precisely, The Star Child. This character would be a sort of lover to "Don Giovanni" and would mix feminine elements with other more virile ones.
The bassist and singer of Kiss, Gene Simmons, plays the character of The Demon. In 2019, on social networks, Simmons revealed the source of inspiration for the creation of this character. It is Lon Chaney Sr American actor, director, screenwriter and make-up artist who died in 1930 and known as the man of a thousand faces.
The character of The Spaceman was initially played by guitarist Ace Frehley and since 2002 by Tommy Thayer (pictured). The Spaceman makeup requires the use of white wax, black lipstick and silver stars around the eyes.
The character of The Catman has been played, over the years, by drummer Peter Criss and currently by Eric Singer (pictured). The character's makeup includes white wax, red lipstick, black mustache and green color surrounding the eyes.
The Fox was played by drummer Eric Carr, who was part of the Kiss from 1980 to 1991, the year of his death.
The character The Ankh Warrior was played by guitarist Vinnie Vincent, who was part of the Kiss for a short time in the early 80s.