by John 5 discussed KISS’s historical popularity and his memorabilia collection in a recent interview with Ultimate Guitar.
“I have my Instagram, Knights in Satan’s Service, because that’s what the parents used to think ‘Kiss’ stood for, and people can get a hold of me,” John 5 explained. “It’s the magnitude: Kiss was worldwide, super, super, super popular.”
“Think of anything, like Taylor Swift. They were as big and had so much merchandise all over the world,” he continued. “And I just collect up until from ’73 to ’83, and it’s just endless. I mean, it is endless merchandise. But that’s what makes it fun. It’s like shoveling sand. It ain’t gonna end.”
The guitarist shared these thoughts while discussing his extensive KISS memorabilia collection from the band’s first decade.
Historical data from the band’s peak years supports John 5’s comparison of KISS’s popularity to Taylor Swift’s current status.
Records from Britannica reveal KISS’s extraordinary success in the late 1970s. Their dedicated fan club, the KISS ARMY, expanded to hundreds of thousands of members by 1975.
A milestone in the band’s success emerged through KISS Online archives. A nationwide Gallup poll named them the number-one band in the United States in June 1977.
The period from 1973 to 1983 stands as KISS’s most iconic era. Their groundbreaking performances and vast merchandise range transformed them into a global phenomenon.
John 5’s referenced merchandising empire established KISS as pioneers in artist branding. Their approach created standards that modern artists like Taylor Swift continue to follow.
