"Love Gun"
Single by Kiss
from the album Love Gun
Released1977
GenreHard rock[1]
Length3:17
LabelCasablanca NB-895-AS (US)
Songwriter(s)Paul Stanley
Producer(s)Eddie Kramer & Kiss
Kiss singles chronology
"Christine Sixteen" / "Shock Me"
(1977) 		"Love Gun" / "Hooligan"
(1977) 		"Shout It Out Loud (Live)" / "Nothin' to Lose (Live)"
(1977)

"Love Gun" is a song by the American rock band Kiss, first released on their 1977 album of the same name. The B-side is the album track "Hooligan", a song written by drummer Peter Criss.

Paul Stanley, who sings lead vocals on the song, has claimed in several interviews since its release that it is one of his favorite Kiss songs, offering the opinion that "'Love Gun' is quintessential Kiss, and is probably one of the five signature essential Kiss songs."[2]

Stanley has also said that "The Hunter" section of the Led Zeppelin song "How Many More Times" inspired the lyrics of "Love Gun".

Stanley plays bass on the track in addition to singing and playing rhythm guitar.[3] Billboard described it as having a "high energy level" with "power guitar riffs."[4] Cash Box said that it "has cute lyrics, and the army of Kiss admirers should jack it up to respectable chart status."[5] Record World said that it features "hard-edged rock 'n' roll."[6]

"Love Gun" has been played on every Kiss tour since its release, and has made numerous appearances on Kiss live albums and compilation albums, despite the fact that it peaked at only no. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100.[7]

The song, and a love of the band itself, is featured heavily in the 2008 adult comedy Role Models, starring Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott and directed by David Wain.

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1977) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] 41
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 61
US Cash Box[10] 55

References

  1. ^ Prato, Greg. "Kiss – Love Gun". AllMusic. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  2. ^ Leaf, David; Sharp, Ken (2003). KISS: Behind the Mask: The Official Authorized Biography. Warner Books. ISBN 0-446-53073-5.
  3. ^ "Love Gun by Kiss". Songfacts.com. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  4. ^ "Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 10 September 1977. p. 62. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XXXIX, no. 18. September 17, 1977. p. 17. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. September 17, 1977. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  7. ^ "Kiss – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5438a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  9. ^ "Kiss Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending OCTOBER 22, 1977". Cash Box. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012.



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