Tomorrow, KISS will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And while the band’s original lineup won’t be playing since Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are playing hardball and demanding the current lineup of Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer play, the band are still in the spotlight. And as they celebrate their 40th anniversary, it’s interesting to note that the band, and those related to it, have taken some decidedly commercial forays into pop music. So without further ado, here are some of the most commercial things that KISS took part of over their career.
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Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton is best known as a soft rock balladeer, or if you’re an Office Space fan, a “no talent ass clown.” But Bolton, real name Michael Bolotin, actually had his first taste of success in Blackjack, a hard rock band that opened for Ozzy. He even auditioned for Black Sabbath in 1983, but at some point, decided to make music for the parents dropping their kids off at Sabbath concerts instead, and the rest is history. However, KISS’ most successful single aside from “Beth” was “Forever,” a 1989 power ballad co-written by Michael Bolton, then at the height of his wuss-rock powers. In addition, KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick played on several Bolton albums, from 1983 through to 1987’s The Hunger, his first breakthrough album.
