Elvis Presley a Fan of KISS? Late Singer Surprised by How Good Band Was

KISS scored people's attention with its song and even the late King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley, was immediately impressed the first time he heard the band performed.

Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss established the rock band in New York City in 1973. Their early music made the band one of the best bands since the 1970s.

Before Elvis Presley's death in August 1977, the late King of Rock and Roll was able to hear KISS' songs and immediately became a fan of them.

Elvis Presley Said KISS Was "Good"

In a new interview with Artists on Record, Presley's stepbrother Billy Stanley recounted the time they listened to KISS' "Alive!" together in 1975.

According to Stanley, he bought the band's album after seeing a KISS show for the first time. He then played the record in the basement of Graceland, making Presley come down to ask what he was playing.

Stanley showed the "Can't Help Falling in Love" singer the album cover, leading his stepbrother to sit on the couch to listen to the record even more. He played "Let Me Go Rock and Roll" twice as per Presley's request.

"I said, 'What do you think?' He said, 'Well, I understand the whole thing. You know, Kiss - keep it simple, stupid. And they got the makeup so they can walk around when they get off the stage," Stanley said. "Nobody sees them and knows who they are or anything like that.' He said, 'Good idea.'"

Elvis Presley Liked KISS' Guitarist

While Presley already spoke about his love for KISS and its songs, he particularly told Stanley that the guitarist - Ace Frehley - "got some X-rated guitar licks."

Before walking out of the basement, the late singer explained to his stepbrother what Frehley did in the songs, noting that he did three chords which left listeners wanting more.

Presley died of heart failure on Aug. 16, 1977. He was found unconscious by his then-fiancée, Ginger Alden, and was declared dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital after unsuccessful series of CPR.

Although he was no longer able to listen to KISS, his daughter, Lisa Marie, ultimately became a fan of the band.

"I'm surprised ... she didn't say something to Elvis," he went on. "Because Elvis would have had a meeting with them ... 'Let me introduce you guys to my daughter.'"

Lisa Marie, however, died of the same cause on Jan. 12.