AC/DC vs. KISS
 

I thought about this today. I am a huge KISS fan, though I have no delusions that they were great songwriters or great musicians. They were ok, and at times, pretty good. But only to a real KISS fan. Anyone on the outside only saw the flash and no substance view. Which is fair enough. They were a lot of flash, more than ayone else ever dared to do. But they had a lot of songs that were pretty good that no one ever heard unless they bought KISS albums.

Anyway, I was thinking about it today, and AC/DC was playing, and I thought...how different are these two bands, really? So, I started comparing them to see what the similarities and differences are.

They both play pretty basic, major chord rock songs. They both had a gimmick. Of course, KISS was far and away more over the top than Angus' school boy get up.

So, here is my assessment of the two:

Lead Guitar: Clearly, Angus Young has it all over Ace Frehley.

Rhythm Guitar: I couldn't really come to a conclusion on this one. I would have to give the nod to Pual Stanley over Malcom Young, simply because Paul Stanley plays some lead guitar here and there. What that has to do with rhythm guitar, I don't know.

Bass: Gene Simmons over Cliff Williams, easily. Whether you like the guy or not, if you listen to KISS, you will hear, Gene's bass has a roaming, melodic kind of funk to it, while Cliff's bassline rarely strays far from the bass note of the chord being played.

Drums: Peter Criss, while average at best, does get some interesting things going every once in a while, while Phil Rudd, like Cliff Williams, doesn't stray at all. I don't recall so much as a drum roll from Phil Rudd. Edge to Criss.

Vocals: Gene grunts and growls his way through most of his songs, Brian Johnson is kind of screechy, and I always thought he sang from his throat, not down in his daiphram. Paul Stanley easily has the best voice of the three, but Ace Frehley, when he sings, is so awful, he detracts points. I don't really have a clear decision here.

Songwriting: Hmmm...neither are great, but I give the edge to AC/DC, simply because they can write about things other than woman. LOL.

So, I guess, overall, individually, KISS has the edge, but as a band, I'd say AC/DC is taken more seriously.

Any thoughts?

AC/DC had Bon Scott (How on EARTH did you miss him out of your vocalist and songwriting sections)

AC/DC get my vote purely on that basis.

Oh, I didn't miss it, I just didn't want to start getting in to this whole different line-up thing.

Bon Scott is one of my favourite lyricists for the simple reason in the hands of someone else they could sound horribly cliched but he injects his sense of humour into every song.Listening to his lyrics you really get a feel for the type of guy he was.

If you compare AC/DC`s first 5 albums with their 80s & 90s material you`ll see just how poor Brian Johnson is in comparison.

I like both bands, but I've always preferred AC/DC.

Apparently Bon Scott picked him out. still, Bon kicks ass over Brian.

Bon Scott was dead......

I agree with Urban about Bob being the superior vocalist/lyricist... Though ironically enough, Back In Black is still my favorite.

AC/DC for me... Don't give a crap about Kiss, really, i liked Love Gun, but thats it.

The story goes, Bon scott saw him and said something like, That guy would be a great frontman for this band. So when he died, the band sought him out.

Bon Scott wrote most of the lyrics for that anyway.