Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of Kiss wrote this track, which became their signature song and was usually played as the last song in their encores. Stanley told Bruce Pollock: "Originally Gene and I would tend to help each other fill in the gaps. 'Rock and Roll All Night' came about because we felt we needed an anthem, a song that could be the rallying cry for all of our fans. So I went back to the hotel and came up with the chorus and the melody. Then I went down to see Gene and he came up with the verses. We used to write a lot like that. As Gene and I became better writers we became either less willing to bend on our individual ideas, or it may have been that we both figured our songs would be stronger if developed by the person who wrote them." (Pollock is a contributing writer to Songfacts. Check out his column They're Playing My Song.)
The studio version of the song released on April 2, 1975 peaked at #68 on the Hot 100. A subsequent live version, recorded at Cobo Hall, Detroit on May 16, 1975, was released as a single later in the year. That one eventually reached #12 in early 1976.
This was featured in the 1993 movie Dazed And Confused. It also appeared in these films:
Why Him? (2016) The Nice Guys (2016) Gulliver's Travels (2010) Role Models (2008) Less Than Zero (1987)
Kiss performed this at the closing ceremonies of the 2002 winter Olympics from Salt Lake City, while Katarina Witt and Kristi Yamaguichi skated to it.
The chorus of this song is also heard at the beginning of the song "Detroit Rock City", from the Destroyer album, as part of the intro to the original version of "Detroit Rock City."
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Suggestion credit: Jeff - Haltom City, TX
Kiss produced a video for this where they performed the song along with the cast of That '70s Show.
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Suggestion credit: Patrick - Conyers, GA
On the 1996 Kiss Unplugged album, each of the original band members sang a line of this as they played it on acoustic instruments.
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Suggestion credit: Gary - Steeleville, IL
The members of Kiss provided their voices for an episode of Family Guy where Peter and Lois are following a Kiss tour. As the band plays this song, they hold the microphone up to Lois in the crowd to sing along after the line, "I wanna rock and roll all nite and..." Even though most people (including non-Kiss fans) know the words, Lois doesn't know the words and says "have a wonderful time." This leads to her revelation that she just pretends to like Kiss for Peter's sake, which upsets him until they go to a restaurant and meet the band, who recognize Lois from when she was a groupie known as "Loose Lois." Peter is honored that his wife slept with Kiss.
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Suggestion credit: Bert - Pueblo, NM
The American rock band Poison recorded a cover of this song on the soundtrack of the 1987 film Less Than Zero. It later appears on their 2006 compilation The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock and again on their 2007 cover album Poison'd!.
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Suggestion credit: Alec Thorp - Yorktown Heights, NY
On May 1, 2009, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons' voices appeared on the television show The Fairly OddParents on the channel Nickelodeon. Kiss plays the role of the "Galactic Guardians of the White Wand." The song "Rock and Roll All Nite" is played at the beginning and end of their concert.
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Suggestion credit: Zach - Pocahontas, AR
This song is referenced in the 1996 episode of The Simpsons, "Homerpalooza," where Homer says, "I used to rock and roll all night and party every day, then it was every other day. Now I'm lucky if I can find half an hour a week in which to get funky."
Speaking with 77 WABC Radio's Bernie & Sid In The Morning in 2019, Paul Stanley said that rather being about getting high, stoned and/or drunk, "Rock And Roll All Nite" is a song of celebration.
"It was, 'I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day. I wanna have a great time and make the most of life,'" he explained. "And that's really what both my point of view and Kiss's point of view has always been - to celebrate life and to make the most of life - because, as far as I know, we don't get a second chance. So this is our bite of the apple. So, make the most of your life."
Kiss performed this at the 1999 Super Bowl pre-game show with dancers dressed like the band.
Bo from Indian River, MiI was given Paul's busted guitar by a security member after a show in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It's framed and hangs on my wall.
Jason from Aurora, CoThere are alot of artists and bands who have earned their way into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but NONE more deserving than KISS! The people at the R&R hall of fame need to wake up and realize where the REAL talent lies, They're not called the Hottest band in the WORLD for nothing!
Jeff from Williamsport, PaAnyone that says this song is annoying doesn't enjoy rock-n-roll. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a big joke. Kiss (and Rush, Moody Blues, Grand Funk, Chicago, Def Leppard, Heart, Stevie Ray Vaughn and many others) are NOT in, yet they've added Madonna, ABBA, and Conway Twitty!
Jedd from Savannah, GaI love Kiss, they were my first concert,I was at the Forum the second night when they were taping for Kiss Alive 2 and am in the picture of the crowd on the inside of the album cover
Tomas from Prague, Czech RepublicIt's true what they said, it's an anthem for all the people that love rock n' roll
Stormy from Northport, MiAnytime,anywhere,at any decent party,this song plays and someone ALWAYS turns it up! Good stuff.
David from Youngstown, OhThe lyrics to this song are so simplistic and repeats the two lines over and over and over and over again. Yet it so rocks!!
Jason from Denver, CoI wonder what the total dollar value of all the guitars that Paul Stanley smashed during this song is. CHA CHING
Alex from Bundaberg, AustraliaKISS will always be the best band in rock and roll history no matter what!
Bob from Mason City, IaKISS will always be the greatest band ever. When the sex pistols and Madonna make it into the rock and roll hall of fame before KISS, there's is something wrong with America. Liberals have too much control over everything. When 4 guys make it HUGE from New York City and worked crap jobs there, and never get invited to be on snl......WTF
Cristina from Long Beach, Cathey actually play very well and this is a song that you can dance to all night and you can sing along to but the best is the guitar solo wow that gives me the chills
Mark from Grafton, United StatesKiss' popularity has to be based on their stage show - certainly not their music. This is the only song I can stand of theirs, and it is very repititious. No one in the band can sing, either. How they made as much money as they did is a mystery to me.
Rob from Brockton, Mausually kiss plays this for their encore at live shows
Joe from Bellingham, WaI remember when it was 11:30PM, fourth of July 1987, in Los Angelas, me and my cousins got a boom box blasted this up, shooting roman candles through the streets and screaming the lyrics! Andre! if you're reading this man, that was an awesome night!
Tom from East Lyme, CtThis song is so annoying and repetitive...
Patrick from Tallapoosa, GaThis is a song that will get you pulled over because you have to crank it up LOUD when it's played on the radio.
Caitlin from Upper Township, NjHands down, one of the best rock songs ever recorded!
I'm Awesome from Boulder, Cothis song is great but kiss has alot of others that are just as good if not better....
Alec from Macomb, Miever sice i was 8 this has been my favorite Rock Song.
Patrick from Tallapoosa, GaThere was an episode of "The Simpsons" where Homer tried to be cool for his kids. Unfortunately he isn't, and when he realizes this, he says he used to "rock and roll all night and party every day. Then it was every other day..."
Deo from Annandale, VaThis is the only KISS song I will listen to.
Jack from Soperton, GaGene Simmons' bass work makes this song really good. Ah, the good ole 70's...posters on the bedroom wall, awfully designed clothing in the closet,an underpowered hi-fi in the corner, and KISS blowing the crap out of the speakers.
Mleissa from Wasaga Beach, CanadaThis song definately sums up classic rock. Just some good songs that you could destroy your bedroom to. Ye-ah Lol
Sabrina from Montreal, CanadaThis song is awesome!! Kiss ROCKS!!!
Jonathan from Oklahoma City, OkRock and Roll all nite is the ROCK AND ROLL NATIONAL ANTHEM!!
Tom from Lausanne, SwitzerlandIn my KISS collection, which goes up to Animalize or thereabouts, this is the only song which can be heard on three sequentially released albums. That makes for a nice trivia question to stump your friends with.
Charlie from Thomaston, Dci love waching ace whip out the solo in concert
Frank from Staten Island , NyIts a simple song, but it pretty much sums it all up for everyone. Will KISS ever drop this from their setlist?
Will from Portland, OrIf we had to sum up the entire era of rock music in one song, this would be it. The anthem of rock. One of the few songs I can play the solo to. Not my very favorite song, but definitely sums up rock and roll
Jimbo from Corpus Christi, TxThis is the song of songs. KISS is still rockin'.
Jeff from Haltom City, TxKnown, unofficially of course, as the national anthem of rock and roll.
Matt from Amarillo, Txin the movie detroit rock city the kids are playing it for practice
Ozzy from Detroit, Mepaul always breaks his guitar after the song
