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Kiss '76: Twelve Months That Defined the Hottest Band in the Land
Take a lively look back at the most significant 12-month span in Kiss’s career, 50 years on, joining Paul, Gene, Ace, and Peter as they conquer the world.
1976 suffered no shortage of notable events…Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine” beat the Yankees in the World Series. Jimmy Carter beat Gerald Ford at the ballot box. Rocky lit up the big screen. And some guy named Bruce Jenner lit up the Summer Olympics. And it was all set against the backdrop of the United States Bicentennial.
Kiss stomped into the fray with their platform boots, barnstorming the world and still finding time to record and release two of their all-time bestselling albums. Formed in 1973, Kiss had already grabbed attention with their outrageous makeup, stage show, and (of course) music. But in 1976 the band truly took off, unleashing Destroyer and Rock and Roll Over in a span of just eight months and logging more than 100 performances in North America and Europe.
In Kiss ’76, Martin Popoff presents month-by-month narratives following the band around the world, across stages and through studios. The book
Detailed analyses of both albums, including the recording sessions, sleeve art, and moreInfo panels detailing the albums’ personnel, key dates, and track listingsListings of tour dates and venuesExclusive author interview material from figures like guitarist Ace Frehley, producer Bob Ezrin, and collaborator Kim FowleyMonth-by-month sidebars offering concurrent world, entertainment, and music news, putting the band’s impressive achievements in the context of that momentous yearStunningly illustrated pages featuring performance and offstage photography, as well as period memorabilia and flat art
This nostalgic and handsomely produced book offers a unique look at a critical chapter in the band’s career, sure to appeal to the legions of Kiss fans.
1976 suffered no shortage of notable events…Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine” beat the Yankees in the World Series. Jimmy Carter beat Gerald Ford at the ballot box. Rocky lit up the big screen. And some guy named Bruce Jenner lit up the Summer Olympics. And it was all set against the backdrop of the United States Bicentennial.
Kiss stomped into the fray with their platform boots, barnstorming the world and still finding time to record and release two of their all-time bestselling albums. Formed in 1973, Kiss had already grabbed attention with their outrageous makeup, stage show, and (of course) music. But in 1976 the band truly took off, unleashing Destroyer and Rock and Roll Over in a span of just eight months and logging more than 100 performances in North America and Europe.
In Kiss ’76, Martin Popoff presents month-by-month narratives following the band around the world, across stages and through studios. The book
Detailed analyses of both albums, including the recording sessions, sleeve art, and moreInfo panels detailing the albums’ personnel, key dates, and track listingsListings of tour dates and venuesExclusive author interview material from figures like guitarist Ace Frehley, producer Bob Ezrin, and collaborator Kim FowleyMonth-by-month sidebars offering concurrent world, entertainment, and music news, putting the band’s impressive achievements in the context of that momentous yearStunningly illustrated pages featuring performance and offstage photography, as well as period memorabilia and flat art
This nostalgic and handsomely produced book offers a unique look at a critical chapter in the band’s career, sure to appeal to the legions of Kiss fans.
176 pages, Hardcover
Published February 24, 2026
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About the author
Martin Popoff
191 books251 followersAt approximately 7900 (with over 7000 appearing in his books), Martin has unofficially written more record reviews than anybody in the history of music writing across all genres. Additionally, Martin has penned approximately 85 books on hard rock, heavy metal, classic rock and record collecting. He was Editor-In-Chief of the now retired Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles, Canada’s foremost metal publication for 14 years, and has also contributed to Revolver, Guitar World, Goldmine, Record Collector, bravewords.com, lollipop.com and hardradio.com, with many record label band bios and liner notes to his credit as well. Additionally, Martin has been a regular contractor to Banger Films, having worked for two years as researcher on the award-winning documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage, on the writing and research team for the 11-episode Metal Evolution and on the ten-episode Rock Icons, both for VH1 Classic. Additionally, Martin is the writer of the original metal genre chart used in Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey and throughout the Metal Evolution episodes. Martin currently resides in Toronto and can be reached through martinp@inforamp.net or www.martinpopoff.com.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 28, 2026
I would really like to give this a 4 or even a 5...or a 3.5. But as much as I like Martin Popoff, and watch him on YouTube with Pete from Sea of Tanquility, I am regrettably stuck with giving this a 3. It just fell a little short for me.
Displaying 1 of 1 review