Ace was a legend and you're right - the musician of the band. Paul and Gene were the brains and quite possibly the smartest businessmen ever to form a band. The whole thing they invented, the look, the sound - pure genius and master stroke.

  to Paul/Gene

Definitely the case..I was lucky enough to meet them (personal meeting) on the "Kiss My Ass" tour, and they are not the arrogant "Rock Stars" that typifies the scene. There was no such thing as Rock "marketing" or "merchandise" in 1973.. They basically invented it and no one has even come close. I once owned 76 KISS T Shirts, and I still have a T-Shirt from the FIRST TOUR in 1974. It is the rarest KISS T-Shirt by a mile.

"MERRY KISSMAS".. I've still got the Poster of the band with Christmas hats on..