do you consider KISS hard rock or heavy metal?

[jabber1990]

I have never been sure about how to label them, so i'll come here and ask and I like to ask different people, it turns into a fun debate (until it gets violent, and it usually does) but what do you think?

oh, don't answer with "classic rock" because its a cop-out answer, and also I don't like to put Kiss and Elvis in the same category (obviously I'm not an elvis fan) how would you like it if they put Tom Petty and Metallica in the same category? unless the category was "awesome" or "people who've been on The Simpsons"

[closetnudist]

I think they're heavy metal.

[Mark]

I'd say hard rock.

[tunick1981]

I don't know... Heavy or rock&roll... For me is just a great group with a high power music. Lick it up!!! 

[skycladsusy]

Hair band, glam rock of the 70's & 80's. Lots of make-up, costumes & guys looking like girls. Not heavy metal.

[INnudeguy]

Hair band, glam rock of the 70's & 80's. Lots of make-up, costumes & guys looking like girls. Not heavy metal.

NOT EVEN a hair band.  Their music is totally different then the HAIR band groups.   When they first come on the scene they were rightly considered METAL but what METAL has morphed into is so far beyond what they are that now I'd put them in the HARD ROCK genre.

[joers1023]

definitely a heavy metal band.  they are really loud and crazy.  i tend to think of rock as more mellow and traditional, and KISS is not even close to either of those two things

[closetnudist]

the tongue, the bloody mouth, breathing fire..  the starchild looked like a girl? yeah.. heavy metal!

[skycladsusy]

They may have started out on the heavy metal side but got softer and softer in the 80's and 90's. Once they took off their black & white make-up, platform boots & studded black leather, they started wearing lipstick, eyeliner, rouse, teased hair high enough any southern girl would have been envious of. GLAM rock.

A heavy metal band would never be caught dead wearing pastels or bright, day-glo colors.  Watch the video for "Tears are falling". Sorry boys they evolved from heavy metal to hair band. Not saying they have bad music, I like them.

 Hair band pictures below, 2 bands for reference.

[skycladsusy]

Looking like a girl doesn't make a band heavy metal. 

[closetnudist]

Do you think being androgynous is part of the heavy metal or rock?

[skycladsusy]

Heavy metal is harsh, rough, in your face, normally powered by strong lead guitar. Motorhead is straight up heavy metal. Wendy O (who sang with Lenny & Motorhead on a song) was a female heavy metal singer. Joan Jett was/is another hard rock female.  KISS was heavy then got softer. They followed the music trend of the 80's and 90's which turned them into a glam band. Not saying glam is bad. I like Motley Cru, Poison and others. Motley Cru was and is a hair band, nothing more. KISS have evolved. they never fit into 1 classification good. What they are however are leaders ( of whatever genre) other bands have followed their styles and music a lot. Its funny I like music older than me.

[nudetrail]

hard rock

[AElf]

Really REALLY OLD!

[Dario Western]

More of a good time rock'n'roll band than heavy metal, even though they are popular with metal fans.  I mean, you can't compare them to the likes of Deicide, Type-O-Negative or Cradle of Filth, can you?