| "Parasite" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Kiss | |
| from the album Hotter than Hell | |
| Released | October 22, 1974 |
| Recorded | August 1974 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 3:02 |
| Label | Casablanca Records |
| Songwriter(s) | Ace Frehley |
| Producer(s) | Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise |
"Parasite" is a song by American rock band Kiss, released in 1974 on their second studio album, Hotter Than Hell . As one of the album's heaviest songs, it was performed on the following tour, but dropped from the band's setlist on the Destroyer Tour and not played again until the Revenge Tour in 1992.
"Parasite" is one of three songwriting contributions from Ace Frehley on the album, the others being "Strange Ways" and "Comin’ Home." [1] He was insecure about his singing ability, so passed that duty to Gene Simmons. Known for its simple but heavily distorted repeated broken chord riff, the song is a departure from the band's glam rock style. [2] Loudwire writer Eduardo Rivadavia opined the song displayed "blue-collar, dare we say proto-punk, greatness," [3] while Spectrum Culture journalist Will Pinfold called it a "proto-metal/grunge masterpiece" with a hint of groove in its fast-but-imprecise riffing. [4]
