Oh I have, believe me. I've been well-researched on this band since youth, and have even contributed to books. It's not like I could get away with just "making up" facts, merchandise, shows, fans or the history they have worldwide. It's there for anyone to check out or see. The world is a much bigger place than just "America". Even for Kiss.
Then you should know they weren’t “insanely popular” worldwide then. Anyone can go look at their record sales on wiki and see I’m right.
Year Title Chart position Certifications (sales thresholds) US [1] AUS [5] CAN [6] GER [7] NOR [8] SWE [9] UK [10][11] 1974 Kiss Released: February 18, 1974 Label: Casablanca (#7001) Format: CD, LP, CS 87 — 82 — — — — US: Gold[12] CAN: Gold[13] Hotter Than Hell Released: October 22, 1974 Label: Casablanca (#7006) Format: CD, LP, CS 100 98 91 — — — — US: Gold[12] 1975 Dressed to Kill Released: March 19, 1975 Label: Casablanca (#7016) Format: LP, CD, CS 32 — 26 — — — — US: Gold[12] 1976 Destroyer Released: March 15, 1976 Label: Casablanca (#7025) Format: CD, LP, CS 11 6 6 36 25 4 22 US: 2× Platinum[12] Rock and Roll Over Released: November 11, 1976 Label: Casablanca (#7037) Format: LP, CD, CS 11 16 7 39 — 9 — US: Platinum[12] 1977 Love Gun Released: June 30, 1977 Label: Casablanca (#7057) Format: CD, LP, CS 4 13 3 18 — 6 — US: Platinum[12] 1979 Dynasty Released: May 23, 1979 Label: Casablanca (#7152) Format: LP, CD, CS 9 2 6 8 34 17 50 US: Platinum[12] CAN: 2× Platinum[13] NED: Platinum[14] 1980 Unmasked Released: May 20, 1980 Label: Casablanca (#7225) Format: LP, CD, CS 35 3 12 4 1 17 48 US: Gold[12] CAN: Gold[13] 1981 Music from "The Elder" Released: November 10, 1981 Label: Casablanca (#7261) Format: LP, CD, CS 75 11 — 10 7 19 51 US: 375,000[15] 1982 Creatures of the Night Released: October 13, 1982 Label: Casablanca (#7270) Format: LP, CD, CS 45 33 — 42 31 22 22 US: Gold[12] BRA: Gold[16] 1983 Lick It Up Released: September 18, 1983 Label: Mercury (#814-297-1) Format: LP, CD, CS 24 36 46 18 7 3 7 US: Platinum[12] CAN: Gold[13] 1984 Animalize Released: September 13, 1984 Label: Mercury (#822-495-1) Format: LP, CD, CS 19 40 41 25 14 8 11 US: Platinum[12] CAN: Platinum[13] FIN: Gold[17] 1985 Asylum Released: September 16, 1985 Label: Mercury (#826-099-1) Format: LP, CD, CS 20 89 54 43 11 3 12 US: Gold[12] CAN: Gold[13] 1987 Crazy Nights Released: September 18, 1987 Label: Mercury (#832-626-1) Format: LP, CD, CS 18 24 21 44 8 11 4 US: Platinum[12] CAN: Platinum[13] UK: Gold FIN: Gold[17] 1989 Hot in the Shade Released: October 17, 1989 Label: Mercury (#838-913-1) Format: LP, CD, CS 29 30 46 46 8 29 35 US: Gold[12] CAN: Platinum[13] 1992 Revenge Released: May 19, 1992 Label: Mercury (#848-037-1) Format: LP, CD, CS 6 5 11 16 4 10 10 US: Gold[12] CAN: Gold[13] 1997 Carnival of Souls Released: October 28, 1997 Label: Mercury (#536-323-2) Format: LP, CD, CS 27 54 — 36 23 29 — US: 181,000[15] 1998 Psycho Circus Released: September 22, 1998 Label: Mercury (#558-992-2) Format: LP, CD, CS 3 1 2 5 4 1 47 US: Gold[12] CAN: Gold[13] SWE: Gold[18] 2009 Sonic Boom Released: October 6, 2009 Label: Kiss Records (#2009-01) Format: LP, CD, CS 2 22 2 4 2 3 24 US: 325,000[15] NOR: Gold 2012 Monster Released: October 9, 2012 Label: Universal Format: LP, CD, CS 3 7 3 6 2 4 21 US: 200,000[15]
I'm going to take the high road and allow you to win if that's the lone criteria you use for the band not being popular in other countries. Besides, I see very healthy stats in sales for many albums in those countries! So I'm not even sure we are looking at the same thing. At any rate, I wish you the best. I have no desire to argue "documented history".
Love their 1970s output. They seemed pretty wild when I was in grade school. The first time I saw them was on Paul Lynde's Halloween special. Classic. I saw the original line up at MSG around 1999 and they were pretty good. Just fun rock & roll. Sometimes that's all you need.
Me personally, as a huge rock fan, loved Alive II but could never get into their studio stuff at all. (insert Alive II is a studio album jokes here) Especially compared to their image as a kid. Larger than life. Scary. Huge! Then you put on their albums and they're so thin. Poppy even. Flat production and to me boring guitar work. (love Ace's solos though) The 'live' stuff is miles better. Look no further than Detroit Rock City from Alive II compared to the studio version. Night & day. Fills, pick slides, quicker tempo. All work amazingly well. The studio has none of that. Just my $.02. I expect something you have to jump on as a youngster. I have many musician friends that LOVE them. And hey, I worshiped Motley Crue as a teen, so I have no room to judge. I completely get it.
Apart from their schtick and their musical chops which clearly appealed to younger people than myself, I never liked that Ace Frehley designed their band logo based on the Nazi SS symbol, and admitted it, especially suprising since Simmons and Stanley are Jewish. Simmon's real name is Chaim Weitz, and he was born in Israel. KISS Changed Their Logo For German Market
He didn't make the claim. The incorrect assumption that they weren't popular with fan bases in other countries, which is documented if you research the history of the band, was the (false) claim.
Well if it didnt happen in England, then it must not have happened at all..... Fact of the matter is, when Kiss was cancelling tours in the US due to poor sales ('83) they were still playing to 250,000 in South America.
