KNIGHTS IN SATANS SERVICE

MyGen Profile GeneratorKISS is a New York City-based rock band that became famous in the mid to late 1970s. The band was known for its elaborate costumes and stage sets, and the fact that the band never appeared in public without their kabuki make-up which disguised their real identities, made people wonder what was the meaning…In the 70’s the band that struck the greatest fear in the hearts of the God-fearing, was KISS. The "Knights in Satan's Service," were considered by many to be a device created by the fallen one himself, to seduce and ravish the souls of Lady Liberty's children…The band's name was rumored to stand for "Knights In Satan's Service" but this is an urban legend which Gene Simmons has denied in his book. Simmons states that Paul Stanley suggested the name on the spur of the moment while they were stopped at a traffic light… “One day Paul and Peter and I were driving around, brainstorming for new names. I had thought of a few, like Albatross, but I wasn't happy with any of them. At one point - we were stopped at a red light – Paul said, “How about Kiss?” Peter and I nodded, and that was it. It made sense. Hindsight is 20/20, of course, and since then people have talked about all the benefits of the name: how it seemed to sum up certain things about glam rock at the time; how it was perfect for international marketing because it was a simple word that people understood all over the world. But we just liked the name, and that was that”. --- GENE SIMMONS From the book KISS AND MAKE-UP.“At that time misinformation about the band began to spread in the southern Bible Belt states, including a rumor that the name KISS stood for Knights In Satan's Service, and that the four of us were devil worshipers. Ironically, this rumor started as a result of an interview I gave in Circus magazine after our first album; in response to a question, I said that I sometimes wondered what human flesh tastes like. I never wanted to really find out, but I was curious intellectually. Later on, this comment seemed to ignite the whole idea that in some way KISS was aligned with devil worship. When I was asked whether I worshiped the devil, I simply refused to answer for a number of reasons: the first reason, of course, was that it was good press. Let people wonder. The other reason was my complete disregard for the people who were asking. The religious fanatics who were asking these questions didn't deserve the time of day. The uneducated always point to religious principles. Through the years, whenever religious fanatics accosted me, especially in the southern states, and quoted the Old Testament at me, I would quote them back chapter and verse. They didn't know that I had been a theology major in school. An idiot is an idiot…whether he quotes the Bible or not”. --- GENE SIMMONS From the book KISS AND MAKE-UP.According to Paul Stanley, KISS was a momentary inspiration that sounded dangerous and sexy at the same time. KISS denies the silly fundamentalist rumor that the name stands for "Knights In Satan's Service"…This whole idea came about when I bought an old vintage t-shirt down on Melrose Ave. in Hollywood, CA. The shirt first read “Knights Baseball.” I thought it would cool to blackout the word "baseball" and have the words "In Satan's Service" screened in. My band, Beautiful Creatures, was set to open for KISS for a few shows, so I thought it would be a great idea to don my shirt at the show. Gene LOVED it! He told me that no one owned the name and I should trade mark it and sell the shirts. I thought, since he gave his blessings and I am friends with him and Paul, why not? I called my lawyer the next day and the rest is Kisstory…“I own the name 'Knights In Satan's Service'… Now I know I'm going straight to hell. Do not pass go, do not collect two hundred dollars, just go straight to hell.” --- KENNY KWEENS, BEAUTIFUL CREATURES -----------------------------------------------------------