KISS, now celebrating its 40th 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 four 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 number three 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.
23 Responses
There was a Cribs special years ago called GODS OF ROCK where Gene proudly announced that Kiss were the #1 gold record champion of all time. They’ve had that honor for quite some time.
Hey Gene and Paul, I helped! I own all but three of your records and that’s on purpose. I’ve even bought multiple copies of the same records over the years to either replace damaged or lost/stolen records or just to upgrade from vinyl to cd.
Me too James! Had, and still have almost everything from the first album to REVENGE on vinyl, cassette, and CD! Only have PSYCHO CIRCUS on CD, sorry Gene & Paul, LOL! 😉
I lost count on the concerts, and the merchandise? FUGGEDABOUTIT!! From ’74 to even today, I must have spent somewhere around 40-50G’s on Kiss, holy sh-t, “LICK IT UP!” Cheers! 😉
yes, let the haters come forth. I tend to agree with Craig, if it were not for Gene & Paul, there would be no legacy. Say what you want, but Ace and Peter should get on their hands & knees and thank the good Lord that they crossed paths with Gene & Paul and ended up making a fortune and becoming successful. Then, they blow it not once, but twice? I don’t blame Gene & Paul: I couldn’t work with them neither. Have you ever had a relationship with a druggie/alcoholic that did not want to help themself? It will destroy you if you don’t separate yourself from them. Just like the your employer (assuming you have a job): if you don’t perform, or show up for work, you will be replaced. All of this nostalgia about the “music” and the original members? It is a business afterall, and to their credit, they became successful treating it as a business. Too bad Ace & Peter could not see that, they sure had the opportunity and have no one to blame but themselves. And while I’m still ranting, I don’t see the issue with Tommy & Eric donning the Spaceman & Catman characters. No one made Ace & Peter sell their rights to the characters back to Gene & Paul, no one did. An analagy would be the Batman movies: there have been several actors portraying Batman, but it is still Batman. So, no I don’t have a problem with it; just like I got over my first girlfriend decades ago, I got over Ace & Peter and kept on keeping on.
i thought riaa meant alcoholics anonymous of rhode island. maybe I think too much.
Just to clarify this: So there’s plenty american solo artists with more gold plaques than Kiss and foreign groups as well, Kiss has most gold records as an AMERICAN BAND.