Who Probably Played What On What

WHO {PROBABLY} PLAYED WHAT ON WHAT...

While KISS is generally accepted to be Gene Simmons (Bass/Vocals), Paul Stanley (Rhythm Guitar/Vocals), Ace Frehley (Lead Guitar/Vocals), and Peter Criss (Drums/Vocals), the band stopped listing who played what with 1975's "Dressed To Kill" album and simply presented themselves as a unit. With replacement members, the same continued: Eric Carr (Drums/Vocals), Vinnie Vincent (Lead Guitar), Mark St. John (Lead Guitar), Bruce Kulick (Lead Guitar/Vocals), and Eric Singer (Drums/Harmonica/Backing Vocals). However, from the band's first album, players outside of the band appeared on their recordings, and before long members started inter-changing instruments for one reason or another. This section attempts to track the material recorded with members using non-primary instruments and non-band member contributions.

KISS (1974)

Nothin' To Lose - Bruce Foster on Piano

HOTTER THAN HELL (1974)

Parasite - Ace Frehley on bass

DRESSED TO KILL (1975)

Ladies In Waiting - Gene Simmons on guitar
C'mon And Love Me - Paul Stanley on guitar solo

DESTROYER (1976)

Beth - Dick Wagner on acoustic guitar
Great Expectations - Harlem Boys Choir
Detroit Rock City - Paul and Ace share lead guitar, Bob Ezrin as news-reader
Flaming Youth - Dick Wagner on lead over-dubs
Sweet Pain - Dick Wagner on guitar solo
God Of Thunder - David and Josh Ezrin as kiddie voices

ROCK AND ROLL OVER (1976)

See You In Your Dreams - Gene Simmons on rhythm guitar
I Want You - Paul and Ace share lead guitar - Paul the first half; Ace the second
Ladies Room - Gene Simmons on guitar
Hard Luck Woman - Paul Stanley on acoustic 12 string guitar

LOVE GUN (1977)

I Stole Your Love - Paul and Ace share lead guitar
Christine Sixteen - Gene Simmons on guitar and piano
Love Gun - Paul Stanley on bass
Got Love For Sale - Gene Simmons on guitar
Plaster Caster - Gene Simmons on guitar
Almost Human - Gene Simmons on rhythm guitar, Jimmy Maelin on congas
Then She Kissed Me - Paul Stanley on lead guitar; Background vocalists, The KISSettes: Tasha Thomas, Ray Simpson, and Hilda Harris

ALIVE II SIDE 4 (1977)

All American Man - Bob Kulick on lead guitar
Rockin' In The USA - Bob Kulick on lead guitar
Larger Than Life - Bob Kulick on lead guitar
Rocket Ride - Ace Frehley on bass
Any Way You Want It - Paul Stanley on lead guitar
Note: The KISS box set details that Rick Derringer played on "Larger Than Life". However, Rick's official discography omits this alleged contribution, while including his later work with the band...

DOUBLE PLATINUM (1978)

No substitutions/extras currently known: It's been long rumored that Peter didn't play on the re-recording of "Strutter"!

DYNASTY (1979)

I Was Made For Lovin' You - Anton Fig on drums, Vini Poncia on keyboards & vocals
2,000 Man - Anton Fig on drums, Ace Frehley on bass
Sure Know Something - Anton Fig on drums, Paul Stanley on guitar solo, Vini Poncia on vocals
Magic touch - Anton Fig on drums, Paul Stanley on bass
Hard Times - Anton Fig on drums, Ace Frehley on bass
X-Ray Eyes - Anton Fig on drums
Charisma - Anton Fig on drums
Save Your Love - Anton Fig on drums, Ace Frehley on bass

UNMASKED (1980)

Is That You? - Anton Fig on drums, Paul Stanley on guitar solo
Shandi - Anton Fig on drums, Tom Harper on bass, Holly Knight on keyboards, Paul Stanley on lead guitar
Talk To Me - Anton Fig on drums, Ace Frehley on bass
Naked City - Anton Fig on drums
What Makes The World Go 'Round - Anton Fig on drums, Paul Stanley on guitar solo
Tomorrow - Anton Fig on drums, Paul Stanley on bass
Two Sides Of The Coin - Anton Fig on drums, Ace Frehley on bass
She's So European - Anton Fig on drums
Easy As It Seems - Anton Fig on drums, Paul Stanley on bass and guitar solo
Torpedo Girl - Anton Fig on drums, Ace Frehley on bass
You're All That I Want - Anton Fig on drums, Gene Simmons on rhythm guitar
Note: Vini Poncia plays keyboards, precussion, and sings backing vocals throughout the album...

MUSIC FROM "THE ELDER" (1981)

The Oath - Paul Stanley on lead guitar
A World Without Heroes - Paul Stanley on lead guitar
Dark Light - Bob Ezrin on bass
Escape From The Island - Bob Ezrin on bass
I - Allan Schwartzberg on drums
Odyssey - Tony Powers on keyboards
Only You - Gene Simmons on rhythm guitar

KILLERS (1982)

Nowhere To Run - Bob Kulick on lead guitar
Partners In Crime - Bob Kulick on lead guitar, Paul Stanley on bass
Down On Your Knees - Bob Kulick on lead guitar, Mikel Japp on guitar, Paul Stanley on bass
I'm A Legend Tonight - Bob Kulick on lead guitar, Paul Stanley on bass

CREATURES OF THE NIGHT (1982)

Creatures Of The Night - Unknown (pos. Mike Porcaro) on bass; Steve Ferris on lead guitar; Adam Mitchell on guitar
Danger - Bob Kulick on guitar; Jimmy Haslip on bass
Keep Me Comin' - Bob Kulick on guitar
I Still Love You - Eric Carr on bass; Robben Ford on lead guitar
Rock And Roll Hell - Robben Ford on lead guitar; Jimmy Haslip on bass
War Machine - Gene Simmons on rhythm guitar
Note: Other session players on this album may even include Bruce Kulick!

LICK IT UP (1983)

Exciter - Rick Derringer on guitar solo

ANIMALIZE (1984)

Thrills In The Night - Jean Beauvoir on bass & backing vocals
Get All You Can Take - Jean Beauvoir on bass & backing vocals
Under The Gun - Jean Beauvoir on bass & backing vocals
Heaven's On Fire - Paul Stanley on bass
I've Had Enough (Into The Fire) - Paul Stanley on bass
Lonely Is The Hunter - Bruce Kulick on guitar solo
Murder In High Heels - Bruce Kulick on guitar
Note: Alan Schwartzberg did additional drum fills on some tracks...

ASYLUM (1985)

Tears Are Falling - Paul Stanley on bass
Uh! All Night - Jean Beauvoir on bass

CRAZY NIGHTS (1987)

Hell Or High Water - Bruce Kulick on bass
Note: Both Phil Ashley and Paul Stanley perform keyboards on the album. Tom Kelly sings backing vocals...

SMASHES, THRASHES & HITS (1988)

No substitutions/extras currently known but one can wonder whether Gene plays on either new song...

HOT IN THE SHADE (1989)

Rise To It - Paul Stanley on slide guitar
Betrayed - Tommy Thayer plays some acoustic & electric guitars
The Street Giveth, And The Street Taketh Away - Tommy Thayer plays some acoustic & electric guitars
Little Caesar - Eric Carr on bass/vocals, Bruce Kulick on all guitars
Forever - Bruce Kulick on bass, Phil Ashley on keyboards
Hide Your Heart - Phil Ashley on keyboards
Silver Spoon - Charlotte Crossley, Valerie Pinkston, and Kim Edwards-Brown on backing vocals
Cadillac Dreams - Pat Regan and Paul Stanley on 'brass'
You Love Me To Hate You - Kevin Valentine is rumored to play drums

REVENGE (1992)

Domino - Gene Simmons on rhythm guitar
Tough Love - Bruce Kulick on bass
Every Time I Look At You - Bruce Kulick on bass; Paul Stanley on acoustic guitar; Dick Wagner on guitar solo
Carr Jam 1981 - Eric Carr on rhythm guitar
Take It Off - Kevin Valentine on drums
Note: Tommy Thayer sings backing-vocals on some tracks...

CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1995)

I Will Be There - Bruce Kulick on bass
Rain - Bruce Kulick on bass
Jungle - Bruce Kulick on bass
It Never Goes Away - Bruce Kulick on bass
I Walk Alone - Bruce Kulick on bass & lead vocals
In The Mirror - Bruce Kulick on bass

PSYCHO CIRCUS (1998)

We Are One - Paul Stanley on bass; Gene Simmons on guitar
I Finally Found My Way - Paul Stanley on bass; Shelly Berg on acoustic piano; Bob Ezrin on Fender Rhodes
I Pledge Allegiance - Paul Stanley on bass on chorus
Within - Bruce Kulick on backwards guitar intro
You Wanted The Best - Ace Frehley on guitar solo
Journey Of 1,000 Years - Shelly Berg on acoustic piano
Note: It's pretty obvious that there are other players on the album, mainly Tommy Thayer (providing the majority of lead guitar) and Kevin Valentine (drums). The only song the original four members play on is "Into The Void"...

DETROIT ROCK CITY OST (1999)

Nothing Can Keep Me From You - Bruce Kulick on Bass, Steve Ferrone on Drums

WE'RE A HAPPY FAMILY, A TRIBUTE TO THE RAMONES (2003)

Do You Remember Rock 'N Roll Radio - Gene Simmons on bass/vocals, Paul Stanley on guitar/vocals, Eric Singer on drums, Scott Paige on saxaphone, Derick Sherinian on keyboards

GENE SIMMONS - ASSHOLE (2004)

Sweet & Dirty Love - Gene Simmons on vocals, background vocals, and bass; Bruce Kulick on rhythm and lead guitar; Eric Singer on drums.
Firestarter - Gene Simmons on vocals; Dave Navarro on lead guitar; The Overseer produced and provided electronica.
Weapons Of Mass Destruction - Gene Simmons on vocals, background vocals, bass, and rhythm guitar; Bruce Kulick on rhythm and lead guitar; Eric Singer on drums.
Waiting For The Morning Light - Gene Simmons on vocals and background vocals; Beautiful - Gene Simmons on vocals; Mark Addison on drums, bass, keyboards, guitar, and background vocals; Nina Singh on drums, vocals, guitar, percussion, and loops.
Asshole - Gene Simmons on vocals and background vocals; Frank Tolstrup on drums, bass, rhythm guitar, and percussion; Thomas Ruud on lead guitar.
Now That You're Gone - Gene Simmons on vocals, background vocals, and bass; Jeff Diehl on all instruments; Sophie Simmons, Zachary Grant, and Kylie O'Brien on background vocals.
Whatever Turns You On - Gene Simmons on vocals; Dave Williams on vocals and harmonies; Holland McRae on lead guitar; Dan Crupier on drums; Brian Lebarton on piano; Shannon Tweed, Louise Tweed, Michelle Casio, and Nira Weiss on background vocals.
Dog - Gene Simmons on vocals; Bag on all instruments, vocals, and background vocals.
Black Tongue - Gene Simmons on vocals, background vocals, and bass; Dweezl Zappa on lead guitar; Richie Kotzen on guitar; Dweezl, Ahmet, Moon Unit, and Gale Zappa on background vocals.
Carnival Of Souls - Gene Simmons on vocals, background vocals, and bass; Ritchie Kotzen on rhythm and lead guitar; Nick Simmons, Chris and Steve Parrish on background vocals; Drum machine on drums=)
If I Had A Gun - Gene Simmons on vocals; Bag on all instruments and background vocals.
1,000 Dreams - Gene Simmons on vocals; Bag on all instruments and background vocals; Unknown steel guitar player.
Everybody Knows - Gene Simmons on vocals; other players unknown.
You're My Reason For Living - Gene Simmons on vocals; Jesse Damon on guitar and backing vocals; Mark Hawkins on guitar; EJ Curse on bass; Brian Fox on drums.

PAUL STANLEY - LIVE TO WIN (2006)

Live To Win - Corky James on bass; Brad Fernquist guitar solo; Harry Sommerdahl on keyboards and Programming.
Lift - Sean Hurley on bass; Harry Sommerdahl on keyboards and Programming.
Wake Up Screaming - Corky James on bass; Brad Fernquist guitar solo; Tommy Denander on guitars; Harry Sommerdahl on keyboards and Programming.
Everytime I See You Around - Brad Fernquist guitar solo; Bruce Kulick on bass; David Campbell with strings orchestration; Russ Irwin on piano and keyboards.
Bulletproof - John 5 guitar solo; Andreas Carlsson on guitars and additional background vocals; Sean Hurley on bass; Harry Sommerdahl on keyboards and Programming; Zac Rae on piano; C.C. White on additional background vocals.
All About You - Corky James on bass; Brad Fernquist on guitars and solo; Harry Sommerdahl on keyboards and Programming.
Second To None - Brad Fernquist guitar solo; Bruce Kulick on bass; David Campbell with strings orchestration; Harry Sommerdahl on keyboards and Programming; Greg Kurstin on piano.
It's Not Me - Corky James on bass; Brad Fernquist on guitars and solo; Russ Irwin on piano.
Lovin' You Without You Now - Brad Fernquist guitar solo; Bruce Kulick on bass; David Campbell with strings orchestration; Greg Kurstin on piano; Brian Steckler on keyboards.
Where Angels Dare - Corky James on bass; John 5 on guitars and solo; Sean Hurley on bass; Harry Sommerdahl on keyboards and Programming; C.C. White on additional background vocals; John Shanks on additional background vocals.