Welcome to Monday’s Music Move Me. I’m happy you’re including me in your day. This week’s theme is easy, it’s whatever music moves you! I kicked off this series, Name That Band, about a year and half ago intending to do others. That didn’t happen but I’m here to correct that now. This is how it works, I’m going to give you the name of a successful band that started off with a really bad name. Are you ready to begin the game?
In the early 70s this New York City based rock group known as Wicked Lester played. Under this moniker, the group recorded an album with Epic Records in 1972 which got shelved and played for live shows a few times.
Do you know who this band is after sampling their first album as Wicked Lester? I can’t say for sure if this is enough to go on. Of course knowing who they are I recognize the lead singer’s voice. The two founding band members, yep I’m not ready to tell you just yet, decided Wicked Lester needed a new direction including a new name and music style.
The idea for the new band name came from a conversation these guys had after listening to a potential drummer who joined the group but I’ll tell you about that in a few minutes. While still going by Wicked Lester, the three focused on a harder rock style music. They picked up their lead guitarist shortly after forming one of the most iconic rock bands out of the 70s. The band planned other changes that no doubt propelled their new look and sound into orbit.
Who are these guys you ask? You’ll know who it is when you read the first name. The band included the originals Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley who added drummer Peter Crisis then lead guitarist Ace Frehley. You know who they are, don’t you? If I’m honest the only name I know from the band is Simmons. We know these boys as Kiss!
Remember I mentioned the new band name came from a conversation Simmons and Stanley had with Crisis.
He [Crisis] mentioned he was once in a band called Lips, inspiring Stanley to propose they start calling themselves Kiss. “Get the f*#@ out of here,” Criss complained. “That’s a terrible pansy name.” As would happen many times in the future of the group, things did not go the way the drummer wanted, though he learned to live with Kiss. “Good kissing makes for good laying,” he wrote in his memoir Makeup to Breakup. “It’s sexual, it’s cool.” And it’s infinitely better than Wicked Lester. ~Rolling Stones Magazine
Looking back, I think it’s funny how I really didn’t give them much attention until their power ballad “Beth” hit and I was like, That’s Kiss? After that, I gained a new appreciation for their talent. In the Wiki article Stanley reports Kiss’ days are expected to come to a close in the upcoming year. Regardless of when this chapter ends it’s been a journey filled with memories, music, and money.
This is a music linky party. Your co-hostesses are listed in my side bar just below the 4M banner. Every other week we have a suggested music theme to build your song set around and all participants share YouTube or Vimeo videos for our music enthusiasts. Themes aren’t mandatory to gain access to the dance floor but failure to meet the basic guideline (post must contain music) puts your URL in danger of being removed or labeled – NO MUSIC.
I hope you like this new series. I’ll do my best to get another put together before long. On Wednesday, I have a double headliner ready to publish. A brand new BOTB themed series and another installment of my Maine photo memories. I hope you’ll stop by for a visit. This is CAAC signing off, have a boogietastic! X💋X💋, Cathy
Your Spark of encouragement this week.
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. [Matthew 7:1-2]”