Rock and roll music
| "Detroit Rock City" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Kiss | ||||
| from the album Destroyer | ||||
| A-side | "Beth" | |||
| Released | July 28, 1976[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1976 | |||
| Studio | Record Plant, New York City | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Casablanca | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Bob Ezrin | |||
| Kiss singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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Singles chronology
Detroit Rock City
KISS
Discográfica: Casablanca · Estudio de grabación: Record Plant, New York City · Productor: Bob Ezrin
1976 single by Kiss
"Detroit Rock City" is a song by the American hard rock group Kiss, released on their 1976 album Destroyer. The song was written by Paul Stanley and producer Bob Ezrin.
Leer másReview
1976 single by Kiss
"Detroit Rock City" is a song by the American hard rock group Kiss, released on their 1976 album Destroyer. The song was written by Paul Stanley and producer Bob Ezrin.
Leer másBackground
"Detroit Rock City" began with a guitar part by Paul Stanley, who explained: "I had the basic riff of the song, the `get up, get down` part, but I didn`t know what the song was about except it was about Detroit."[4][full citation needed]
Stanley explained the song`s origin further in 2023:
"Detroit Rock City" is an interesting one, because Detroit really embraced us before any other city. We were an opening act everywhere else, but in Detroit we were a headliner. It started as a tribute to Detroit, and then it kind of took a left turn, because we played Charlotte once, and somebody coming to the arena was killed in an accident. And I thought how bizarre that somebody on their way to something so life affirming loses their life. So there`s a juxtaposition in that song about singing about how great Detroit is, and actually about someone going to the show who doesn`t make it.[5]
Bassist Gene Simmons played an R&B-influenced bassline, which he considered a departure from his usual style.[6]
In 2014, Paste ranked the song number three on their list of the 20 greatest Kiss songs,[7] and in 2019, Louder Sound ranked the song number one on their list of the 40 greatest Kiss songs.[8]
Personnel
Kiss
- Paul Stanley – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Gene Simmons – bass, backing vocals
- Ace Frehley – lead guitar
- Peter Criss – drums
Additional personnel
- Bob Ezrin – spoken word and keyboards
Charts
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] | 99 |
1976 single by Kiss
"Detroit Rock City" is a song by the American hard rock group Kiss, released on their 1976 album Destroyer. The song was written by Paul Stanley and producer Bob Ezrin.
Background
"Detroit Rock City" began with a guitar part by Paul Stanley, who explained: "I had the basic riff of the song, the `get up, get down` part, but I didn`t know what the song was about except it was about Detroit."[4][full citation needed]
Stanley explained the song`s origin further in 2023:
"Detroit Rock City" is an interesting one, because Detroit really embraced us before any other city. We were an opening act everywhere else, but in Detroit we were a headliner. It started as a tribute to Detroit, and then it kind of took a left turn, because we played Charlotte once, and somebody coming to the arena was killed in an accident. And I thought how bizarre that somebody on their way to something so life affirming loses their life. So there`s a juxtaposition in that song about singing about how great Detroit is, and actually about someone going to the show who doesn`t make it.[5]
Bassist Gene Simmons played an R&B-influenced bassline, which he considered a departure from his usual style.[6]
In 2014, Paste ranked the song number three on their list of the 20 greatest Kiss songs,[7] and in 2019, Louder Sound ranked the song number one on their list of the 40 greatest Kiss songs.[8]
Personnel
Kiss
- Paul Stanley – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Gene Simmons – bass, backing vocals
- Ace Frehley – lead guitar
- Peter Criss – drums
Additional personnel
- Bob Ezrin – spoken word and keyboards
Charts
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] | 99 |
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-20120620172353.jpg "Jungle (radio edit)")
