by Mike Portnoy recently drew an intriguing parallel between KISS and The Beatles. He compared the band dynamics and cultural impact of both legendary groups in an interview with PipemanRadio.
The drummer highlighted how each KISS member mirrors a corresponding Beatles member in terms of their role and contribution to the band.
“Paul Stanley is the Paul McCartney character. Gene Simmons was the John Lennon character. Ace Frehley was the George Harrison character,” Portnoy said. “They align even. You had four guys that all sing and all create and contribute.”
Portnoy expanded on the comparison by explaining the broader cultural significance both bands shared.
“When The Beatles came around, it was the first time there was a band of four characters. Up until then, you just had Elvis Presleys or Chuck Berrys, but when The Beatles came around, you finally had four distinctive characters,” he continued. “And it was the same with KISS, when KISS came around — you had four characters, and they were all bringing something to image of the band.”
The comparison offers a fresh perspective on KISS’s place in rock history and their revolutionary approach to band identity.
Portnoy’s deep connection to KISS goes beyond mere observation. The Dream Theater drummer has been vocal about how the band shaped his musical journey and worldview as a young musician.
As reported by YouTube (MP Vinyl Ep 3), Portnoy described himself as a “KISS freak” and avid collector of their early albums. He shared that KISS became his generation’s Beatles—a band that defined his childhood and musical tastes after transitioning from Beatles fandom in his younger years. He described how the image, musicianship, and individual contributions of both bands were formative in his development as a musician.
The parallel Portnoy draws extends to the fourth member as well. Blabbermouth noted that he specifically likened Peter Criss to Ringo Starr, completing the four-character archetype that both bands embodied. Criss brought groove and a hard rock edge to the band’s early sound, much like Ringo’s foundational drumming in The Beatles.
Portnoy has publicly stated that Peter Criss of KISS was one of his first drum heroes. Consequence revealed that while Portnoy’s official list of 10 most influential drumming albums does not include KISS, he acknowledged that if the list were expanded, Criss and KISS would be included. This highlights Criss’s impact on his early drumming style.
The structural innovation both bands represented—moving beyond the solo artist model to a collective persona built on individual strengths—remained a defining feature of rock and roll’s evolution. The Beatles set the template for the “four-character band” in the 1960s. Each member’s distinct personality and musical contributions were essential to the group’s image and success. KISS mirrored this model in the 1970s, influencing not just music but entire generations of musicians who followed.
