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TLDR;

  • Kiss’ song “(You Make Me) Rock Hard” was co-written by two famous songwriters.
  • Kiss’ Paul Stanley did not like the song or its music video.
  • “(You Make Me) Rock Hard” appeared on a hit album.
Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons, and Paul Stanley of Kiss in black-and-white
Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons, and Paul Stanley of Kiss | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Kiss isn’t afraid to use innuendos in its music. For example, Kiss’ Paul Stanley worked with two major songwriters to pen a track called “(You Make Me) Rock Hard.” Stanley had major issues with the song.

What Paul Stanley thought of the title of ‘(You Make Me) Rock Hard’

Kiss worked with some of the most famous songwriters in the music business. For example, they repeatedly worked with Desmond Child. Child co-wrote hits such as Alice Cooper‘s “Poison,” Katy Perry‘s “Waking Up in Vegas,” and Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.” 

The band also collaborated with Diane Warren. Warren is behind songs such as Cher‘s “If I Could Turn Back Time,” Ace of Base’s “Don’t Turn Around,” and LeAnn Rimes’ “Can’t Fight the Moonlight.” Once, Stanley wrote a Kiss song with Child and Warren called “(You Make Me) Rock Hard.”

During a 2021 interview with Rolling Stone, Warren discussed the origin of the song. “I thought it was a really good title for a Kiss song!” she said. “It was kind of funny. And then, you know, Paul loved it. And we ended up writing the song. I can’t believe I came up with that title.“

What Paul Stanley had to say about ‘(You Make Me) Rock Hard’ in retrospect

While Stanley may have liked the title of “(You Make Me) Rock Hard,” he didn’t like the song as a whole. In his 2014 book Face the Music: A Life Exposed, Stanley discussed some of Kiss’ songs from the late-1980s. “To begin with, the songs were horrible,” he said. “‘Rock Hard’ was written by me, Desmond Child, and Diane Warren — a case of three great minds gone terribly wrong.”

Furthermore, Stanley disliked the music video for “(You Make Me) Rock Hard.” He regretted not holding a guitar in the video. He also hated the gaudy fashion he wore in the clip. Stanley was upset the models who appeared alongside him looked like the models from Robert Palmer videos.

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The way listeners in the United States and the United Kingdom reacted to the song

“(You Make Me) Rock Hard” did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Kiss released “(You Make Me) Rock Hard” on the compilation album Smashes, Thrashes & Hits. Smashes, Thrashes & Hits became a modest hit, reaching No. 21 on the Billboard 200 and remaining on the chart for 27 weeks.

The Official Charts Company reports “(You Make Me) Rock Hard” did not chart in the United Kingdom either. Meanwhile, Smashes, Thrashes & Hits hit No. 62 there. It stayed on the chart for two weeks. 

While “(You Make Me) Rock Hard” wasn’t a hit, it remains an interesting connection between Kiss and two famous songwriters.

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