In 1976, Kiss was already a legend. Following their successful 1975 album “Alive!”, the band had established themselves as a worldwide phenomenon. After years of effort and sacrifice, the quartet would enjoy the fruits of fame and money. However, the band’s ambition, alongside their management team, was ever-growing, leading them to hire Bob Ezrin to produce “Destroyer”. Ezrin, who had previously worked with bands like Pink Floyd, contributed to a true gem where each of Kiss’s members musically outdid themselves, breaking out of their comfort zone and resulting in an ambitious work that sold over 7 million copies.
Amidst this work, there were hundreds of disputes that would deteriorate the relationship between the four original members: Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss.
What can we hear?
We hear a band stepping out of their comfort zone in Hard Rock to experiment with a much more technically advanced musical sound. It was also Kiss’s first album to feature additional musicians, such as the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, heard on songs like “Beth” or “Great Expectations”. Bob Ezrin, the producer of “Destroyer”, encouraged the band to experiment with a much richer musical sound, demanding each member to elevate their level of execution. This made Peter Criss (drums) and Ace Frehley (guitar) uncomfortable since they were already living a Rockstar life full of parties and addictions by this time.
We hear much more complex structures and arrangements compared to their previous works, resulting in a series of signature songs for the band and its members:
- “Detroit Rock City”: Paul Stanley’s iconic track, featuring one of the best guitar solos in rock history, with Ace Frehley accompanying.
- “Beth”: The song that would increase the fortune of drummer and vocalist Peter Criss, his standout moment through the band’s first ballad, arranged with piano and orchestra.
- “God Of Thunder”: Originally written and performed by Paul Stanley but ultimately taken by Gene Simmons to bring life to his character through a song seemingly pulled straight from the depths of darkness
The musical maturity of Kiss
That’s right, Kiss found one of the most mature points in the first stage of their career, with their four original members, both personally and musically. We can appreciate a special interest in self-improvement as musicians. Just listen to the guitar riff and bass of “Shout It Out Loud”, the drums of “Detroit Rock City”, the guitar solos of “Do You Love Me?”, and the lyrics of “Beth”. Not to mention the excellent vocal level of Paul, Peter, and Gene, with their tremendous harmony arrangements. Truthfully, the album would have been even more legendary if Ace Frehley had sung as well. However, at this time, he still hadn’t gained enough confidence.
“Destroyer” is the perfect example that self-discomfort in life yields incredible results if done with perseverance. Commercially, the album marked a series of must-haves that would be tattooed in the band’s live setlists. At least 5 out of 9 songs cannot be missed in their performances.
A look at the classic lineup of the band
Paul, Gene, Ace, and Peter are synonymous with nostalgia four musicians who came from the bottom to conquer the entire world through a project full of energy, music, and also marketing. “Destroyer” is a pleasant reminder of this lineup that dreamed of being heard in practically every home on planet Earth, achieving it through their music or image, even in later years. Who doesn’t know Kiss? Who could say they’ve never heard them in their life? The truth is that to date, we haven’t met anyone who said “Me”.
“Destroyer” is a masterpiece in the history of Rock, a very positive and ambitious album where every drop of sweat shed during its production can be heard.
How do you think ‘Destroyer’ marked a pivotal point for Kiss musically and commercially, and what impact did it have on the band’s legacy and the rock music scene at that time? Leave us your comments!
