Today (Wednesday) marks the 40th anniversary of KISS's first-ever show, in front of three people at Queens, New York's Popcorn club.
On the band's website, founding members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons comment on the big day, but so do replacement players, drummer Eric Singer and guitarist Tommy Thayer, who were 14 and 12, respectively, when KISS played that first show. Peter Crissand Ace Frehley have not commented on the milestone anniversary.
Paul Stanley writes, "My dream from the start was five years of glory with KISS. Along with Peter and Ace, we kicked doors open that stood in our way, and every band member who has stood with me at some point during these decades has played an essential part in turning that five-year dream into a phenomenal 40-year reality. I thank each of you for your contribution to this milestone."
And Simmons writes, "To the KISS Army, who made it all possible for us. To Paul, without whom I would never have been able to achieve my dreams. And to the band -- past and present -- for continuing to treat the stage as holy ground and the fans as our bosses. Here's to another 40 years!"
