Fifty years of fire, facepaint, and fist-pumping anthems — KISS were a cultural juggernaut. And now, rock journalist Martin Popoff brings the band’s larger-than-life story to, well, larger-than-life pages with KISS at 50, a beautifully produced hardcover tribute to the most theatrical band in rock and roll.
From their birth in the gritty clubs of 1973 New York to their final flame-blazing farewell tours, Popoff chronicles 50 essential KISS moments. There’s everything from their legendary Casablanca signing to the infamous Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park, from the unmasking era of the ’80s to the diehard devotion of the Kiss Army. It’s a deep dive into one of music’s most passionately followed acts — and every fan will find something to scream “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” about.
What makes this book a standout isn’t only the writing — it’s the visuals. Unpublished photos, gig posters, ticket stubs, and a fold-out timeline bring the KISS experience to life. You can practically hear the pyro explode just flipping the pages. Popoff’s writing hits hard, like a Gene Simmons bassline, with detail, love, and insider knowledge only decades of rock journalism can bring.
If you ever air-guitared to “Detroit Rock City” or painted your face like the Starchild, this book was made for you. KISS at 50 is a monument to half a century of rock and roll history, and a reminder that there will never be another band quite like KISS.
