If KISS is anyone's idea of "mediocre" then sign me up.

Maybe KISS never achieved legitimacy elsewhere, but honestly, who cares? They were extremely relevant to millions of listeners, and I'm not talking about the makeup. I know some musician friends who would rank KISS above Led Zeppelin in terms of personal musical influence.

There is a WORLD of difference between the type of "image" KISS created and the manufactured "pop tarts" we have today. Image was always a big part of the KISS package, but they also wrote CLASSIC songs which people still love TODAY. Let's check back in 20 years and see how today's radio "hits" hold up against "Detroit Rock City" and "Shout It Out Loud."

It's fun to dream of some make-believe world where "real" and "independent" musicians save the music industry, but I'm not holding my breath. Sometimes things are popular simply because they're popular, despite quality or potential for longevity. Is if fair? Nope. Is it rational? Nope.

If you want to blame someone, how about the Beatles? They almost single-handedly destroyed the demand for debonair Rat Pack-style crooners and created the kind of crazed youth marketing we "enjoy" today. Oh, but wait, the Beatles are "real" musicians, right?