A World Without Heroes

"A World Without Heroes"
Single by Kiss
from the album Music from "The Elder"
Released1981 (1981)
Recorded1981
StudioAce in the Hole, A&R Studios, & Record Plant, New York City
Genre
Length2:39
LabelCasablanca (NB-2343)
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Bob Ezrin
Kiss singles chronology
"Tomorrow"
(1980) 		"A World Without Heroes"
(1981) 		"I"
(1981)

"A World Without Heroes" is a song by the American hard rock band Kiss. It is credited as being written by Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Lou Reed and Bob Ezrin, and was originally recorded and released on their 1981 album Music from "The Elder".[1]

Kiss performing "A World Without Heroes" in their 1981 video. Left to right: Gene Simmons, Eric Carr (on drums), Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley.

Background

Originally titled "Every Little Bit of Your Heart", the lyrics were changed in order to fit the concept of the album, and Lou Reed contributed the line "A world without heroes, is like a world without sun" to the lyrics.[2]

The song is a slow ballad which features Simmons on lead vocals and Stanley notably performing the guitar solo. It was released as the lone single from The Elder album and reached No. 56 in the U.S. and No. 55 in the UK.[3]

A video was made to help promote the single. It is the first to feature Eric Carr, and was the first Kiss video to be played on MTV.[4]

Despite the video and chart performance of the single, Kiss only played it live once during their appearance on the "Fridays" TV show and did not play the song live again until fan request at Kiss conventions in 1995 led them to performing an acoustic version on their Kiss Unplugged performance and subsequent album.

Charts

Chart (1981-1982) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[5] 55
US Billboard Hot 100[6] 56

Cher version

References

  1. ^ "The KISSFAQ - UNITED STATES SINGLES DISCOGRAPHY". Archived from the original on 7 May 2006. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  2. ^ Sharp, Ken. (July 19, 1996). "The Return of KISS - 'It's Time for Spectacle'". Goldmine #147.
  3. ^ "The KissFAQ - KISS Singles Chart Action Archive". Kissfaq.com. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  4. ^ Gooch, Curt and Jeff Suhs. KISS Alive Forever: The Complete Touring History. Billboard Books, 2002. ISBN 0-8230-8322-5
  5. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  6. ^ "Kiss Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.