“I Was Made for Lovin’ You”

Rock bands were finding disco to be a lucrative side hustle in the last 1970s. The Rolling Stones broke the mold with 1977’s “Miss You.” Never shy about doing whatever they could to make money, KISS followed, bringing in their first outside songwriter to create the 1979 disco hit, “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.”

It was the first hit for Desmond Child, who would go on to become one of the most successful songwriters ever.

Paul Stanley of KISS collaborated with Child and producer Vini Poncia on “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.” Child would go on to write or co-write songs like:

• “I Hate Myself for Loving You” — Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
• “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Livin’ on a Prayer,” and “Bad Medicine” — Bon Jovi
• “Dude (Looks Like a Lady),” “Angel,” and “Crazy” — Aerosmith
• “Livin’ La Vida Loca” — Ricky Martin

Child has worked with Cher, Bonnie Tyler, Selena Gomez, Kelly Clarkson, Alice Cooper, Dream Theater, Roxette, and Diane Warren, as well.

Stanley said the melody line for “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” was lifted from “Standing In the Shadows of Love” by The Four Tops. At a 30th Anniversary show in Melbourne, KISS performed the song with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, whose members donned KISS-style makeup with their tuxedos.

While drummer Peter Criss appears in the video, Late Night with David Letterman and session drummer Anton Fig played on the recording as Criss was deemed “unfit to play” by the producer. Reasons were never fully disclosed, but Criss left the band in 1980.

Gene Simmons hated performing this song live because he had to sing like a girl. A strange complaint from a man wearing makeup, but nobody said any of this had to make sense.

Enjoy!