KISS was taking over radio stations in the 1970s, having released 14 albums, with a song from their 1977 studio album that’s ranked as their best of the decade.
UltimateClassicRock ranked “Love Gun” in the No.1 spot as the band’s greatest hit that was released in the ’70s. It was released on their album of the same name as its title track, with it having been, “a three-minute tour de force, highlighted by Criss’ memorable repeated drum figure, a great use of dynamics and one of Frehley’s best-ever guitar solos.”
The song was a moderate hit on the charts, landing at No.61 on the Billboard Hot 100. It still became a fan favorite that was performed as a concert staple and appeared on numerous live albums and compilation albums.
The interpretation behind “Love Gun” was explained by Paul Stanley as being about “a love gun is the gun you’re born with, that never comes off.” It’s often been interpreted as being about male genitalia, with the KISS member having written the song while on a flight to Japan.
“That was written in my head, the whole thing,” he said in the 2004 book KISS: Behind the Mask. “When we landed, I had to play it to make sure it worked and it was all there. I think most of the time when you write songs that are great, you know it. I always thought ‘Love Gun’ was a great song, and today, I still think it is a tremendous song.”
The guitarist has often tagged “Love Gun” as one of his favorite songs the band has ever released. It’s also the one he’s enjoyed performing the most in their careers, calling it “quintessential Kiss” and a Top 5 signature track for the band.
Part of its inspiration was also reportedly revealed by Stanley to have been thanks to Led Zeppelin. He explained that it was thanks to their 1996 track “How Many More Times” and their medley of “The Hunter” that inspired its lyrics. “The Hunter was originally a blues song sung by Albert King in 1967 that also mentions “love gun.”
In 2008, the KISS song was revived thanks to Paul Rudd and Sean William Scott‘s adult comedy film Role Models. The song is heavily mentioned in the film alongside its storyline, as Scott’s character used “Love Gun” as a way to finally bond with a child in the Big Brothers-like program.
Related: 1956 Pop Culture Hit, Ranked Among ‘Greatest Song of All Time,’ Was Written by Fred Parris While Serving in the Army
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