Rock And Roll All Nite – Kiss | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#12); 1976
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Universally derided by rock critics and moralists alike, Kiss not only thrived, it ultimately gained honors as one of the top cult bands of all time. Formed in 1972 in New York City, the band grabbed attention for its over-the-top stage show, hard-rockin’ anthems, and outrageous make-up.
Gene Simmons took on a “Bat Lizard” persona, Paul Stanley was “Star Child,” Ace Frehley became “Space Man,” and Peter Criss adopted “The Cat” disguise. Kiss churned out three albums within a year and scored its first chart entry in 1974 with, unbelievably, a cover of teen idol Bobby Rydell’s 1959 hit Kissin’ Time. The next, drawn from the third LP, was Simmons and Stanley’s Rock And Roll All Nite.
The soon-to-be signature song only reached #68 in its studio version, yet, later stormed back in a longer live version, sporting an additional Ace Frehley guitar solo. As for the band’s name, despite rumors of hidden meanings, it simply came to Paul Stanley out of the blue one day as he was tooling down the Long Island Expressway in his 1963 Plymouth.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Neil Bogart
- Kiss
Lyrics Written by:
- Paul Stanley
- Gene Simmons
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).