10 Rock Bands That Had Alter Egos
7. Metal Superheroes - KISS
From day one, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons always thought that rock was more than just notes on a page. Up until then, every one of their favorite bands always had an X-factor whenever they played live, whether that be Arthur Brown's crazy antics or the Beatles and the Stones whipping the audience into a frenzy. To become a rock star, you needed something more, and KISS gave us the first hard rock superheroes.
Looking to differentiate themselves from the glam scene that was happening around the same time in New York, each member of the band adopted their own persona, with Gene Simmons as the Demon, Paul Stanley as the Starchild, Peter Criss as the Cat, and Ace Frehley as the Spaceman. This wasn't just a gimmick either, with the band never showing their true identities in front of the camera and giving you a circus act whenever they came to town.
Acting like a superhero is one thing, but these guys were looking to go above and beyond, with the Demon known for spitting blood onstage and the Spaceman playing guitar so well that his guitar would shoot rockets and bellow smoke whenever he played. The fans may have paid just to see a show, but they got the full rock and roll experience presented to them every time KISS donned the stage.