Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss made their first appearance as Kiss (after changing their name from Wicked Lester) at the Popcorn Club in Queens, NYC 47 years ago today.

Their eponymous debut album was released a year later, although it would be two live albums (released in ’75 and ’77 respectively) that solidified their status as arena rock icons. The rest is history.