Parasite (song)

1974 song by Kiss

"Parasite"

Song by Kiss
from the album  Hotter than Hell
Released| October 22, 1974
Recorded| August 1974
Genre|

* Heavy metal
* proto-punk

Length| 3:02
Label| Casablanca Records
Songwriter(s)| Ace Frehley
Producer(s)| Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise

This article is about the Kiss song. For other songs, see Parasite (disambiguation) § Songs.

"Parasite" is a song by American rock band Kiss, released in 1974 on their second studio album, Hotter Than Hell. As one of the album's heaviest songs, it was performed on the following tour, but dropped from the band's setlist on the Destroyer Tour and not played again until the Revenge Tour in 1992.

## Composition

[edit]

"Parasite" is one of three songwriting contributions from Ace Frehley on the album, the others being "Strange Ways" and "Comin’ Home."[1] He was insecure about his singing ability, so passed that duty to Gene Simmons. Known for its simple but heavily distorted repeated broken chord riff, the song is a departure from the band's glam rock style.[2] Loudwire writer Eduardo Rivadavia opined the song displayed "blue-collar, dare we say proto-punk, greatness,"[3] while Spectrum Culture journalist Will Pinfold called it a "proto-metal/grunge masterpiece" with a hint of groove in its fast-but-imprecise riffing.[4]

## Album appearances

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* Hotter Than Hell \- studio version
* Gold \- studio version
* Kiss Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums \- studio version
* Kiss Alive! 1975–2000 \- Alive! version
* Ikons \- studio version
* Kiss Alive 35 \- live version

## Personnel

[edit]

* Gene Simmons – lead vocals
* Ace Frehley – lead guitar, bass, backing vocals
* Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar (disputed), backing vocals
* Peter Criss – drums, backing vocals

## Cover versions

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* Anthrax's version first appeared as the B-side of their 1988 single "Antisocial" and also appears on their EP Penikufesin. It was re-released on the 1991 compilation album Attack of the Killer B's and 1994 live album Live: The Island Years.
* Sebastian Bach covered the song on his 2004 live video Forever Wild.
* Ace Frehley recorded an updated version for his 2016 covers album, Origins, Vol. 1.
* Amphetamine Reptile recording artists Mog Stunt Team cover the song on their 1997 album King of the Retards.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo (2019-10-22). "50 Years Ago: Kiss Just Misses Breakthrough on 'Hotter Than Hell'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2025-05-02.
2. ^ Lumley, Lance (October 22, 2019). "KISS: 'Hotter Than Hell'". Sleaze Roxx. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
3. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo (August 2, 2016). "Kiss Albums Ranked". Loudwire. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
4. ^ Pinfold, Will (September 27, 2022). "Resequence: Kiss: Hotter than Hell". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved May 2, 2025.

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Kiss

* Paul Stanley
* Gene Simmons
* Peter Criss
* Ace Frehley
* Eric Carr
* Vinnie Vincent
* Mark St. John
* Bruce Kulick
* Eric Singer
* Tommy Thayer

Studio albums|

* Kiss
* Hotter than Hell
* Dressed to Kill
* Destroyer
* Rock and Roll Over
* Love Gun
* Dynasty
* Unmasked
* Music from "The Elder"
* Creatures of the Night
* Lick It Up
* Animalize
* Asylum
* Crazy Nights
* Hot in the Shade
* Revenge
* Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions
* Psycho Circus
* Sonic Boom
* Monster

1978 solo albums|

* Ace Frehley
* Gene Simmons
* Paul Stanley
* Peter Criss

Live albums|

* Alive!
* Alive II
* Alive III
* Kiss Unplugged
* You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best!!
* Kiss Symphony: Alive IV
* Alive! The Millennium Concert
* Kiss Alive 35
* Kiss Sonic Boom Over Europe
* Kiss Rocks Vegas

Compilations|

* Double Platinum
* Killers
* Chikara
* Smashes, Thrashes & Hits
* Greatest Kiss
* The Very Best of Kiss
* The Millennium Collection: The Best of Kiss
* The Best of Kiss, Volume 2: The Millennium Collection
* The Best of Kiss, Volume 3: The Millennium Collection
* Jigoku-Retsuden
* Kiss 40

Box sets|

* The Originals
* The Box Set
* Kiss Chronicles: 3 Classic Albums
* Kiss Alive! 1975–2000
* Ikons

Video albums|

* Animalize Live Uncensored
* Exposed
* Crazy Nights
* X-treme Close-Up
* Kiss Konfidential
* Kiss My Ass: The Video
* Kiss Unplugged
* Psycho Circus 3-D Video
* The Second Coming
* Kiss Symphony: The DVD
* Rock the Nation Live!
* Kissology Volume One: 1974–1977
* Kissology Volume Two: 1978–1991
* Kissology Volume Three: 1992–2000
* Kiss Rocks Vegas

Tribute albums|

* Hard to Believe: A Kiss Covers Compilation
* Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved
* A Tribute to the Creatures of the Night
* Kiss My Grass: A Hillbilly Tribute to Kiss
* Spin the Bottle: An All-Star Tribute to Kiss
* Gods of Thunder: A Norwegian Tribute to Kiss
* Lick It Up – A Millennium Tribute to Kiss
* Kiss My Ankh

Concert tours|

* Club Tour
* Kiss Tour
* Hotter than Hell Tour
* Dressed to Kill Tour
* Alive! Tour
* Destroyer Tour
* Rock & Roll Over Tour
* Love Gun Tour
* Alive II Tour
* Dynasty Tour
* Unmasked Tour
* Creatures of the Night Tour
* Lick It Up World Tour
* Animalize World Tour
* Asylum Tour
* Crazy Nights World Tour
* Hot in the Shade Tour
* Revenge Tour
* Kiss My Ass Tour
* Alive/Worldwide Tour
* Psycho Circus World Tour
* The Farewell Tour
* Alive 35 World Tour
* Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour
* The Hottest Show on Earth Tour
* The Tour
* Monster World Tour
* Kiss 40th Anniversary World Tour
* Freedom to Rock Tour
* Kissworld Tour
* End of the Road World Tour

Films|

* Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park
* Detroit Rock City
* Scooby-Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery

Merchandising|

* Action figures
* Comics
* Kiss: Psycho Circus
* Pinball
* Pinball video game
* Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child
* Kiss Kasket
* Kiss by Monster Mini-Golf
* Los Angeles Kiss
* Bibliography

Related|

| Articles|

* Discography
* Band members
* Songs
* Awards
* Kiss Army
* Operation Payback
* "Road to Europe"
* Rock School
* Gene Simmons Family Jewels
* The Elder

|

Bands|

* Black 'n Blue
* Chelsea
* Eric Singer Project
* Frehley's Comet
* Mini Kiss
* Union
* Vinnie Vincent Invasion
* White Tiger
* Wicked Lester

Albums|

* Anomaly
* Asshole
* Cat #1
* Gene Simmons Vault
* Let Me Rock You
* Live to Win
* One for All
* Out of Control
* The Original Wicked Lester Sessions
* Origins Vol. 1
* Origins Vol. 2
* Rockology
* Space Invader
* Spaceman
* Trouble Walkin'
* Unfinished Business

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