100,000 Years is the ninth track off KISS' self-titled debut album. This Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley composition was an attempt to create a New York version of the classic English band style from the 1960s, which had influenced both musicians. According to Paul, it is “A warped song about an intergalactic space traveler. To analyze it too deeply leaves me scratching my head, but it’s about time travel. It’s about space travel and the amount of time one spends going from one galaxy or planet to another and then returns 100,000 years later” (Box Set liners).
While the song may make as much sense lyrically as Gene’s “Deuce,” it has one of the toughest solos Ace ever created. Even the very technically gifted Bruce Kulick agreed on the difficult aspects of the solo, commenting, “I’ve always been impressed by that one because I feel it’s where Ace made the most of his limited vocabulary. It’s a syncopated part that’s tough to play on stage” (Guitar World, 9/93).
In Their Own Words
Paul Stanley - "I came up with the entire lyric, the melody. My recollection is that I think the bass pattern was changed and what went on top of that was basically mine".
- Quotes take from the book "Kiss Behind the mask"
Lyrics
I'm sorry to have taken so long
It must have been a bitch while I was gone
You mind if I sit down for a while
You'll reacquaint yourself with my style
Well, how could you have waited so long
You must have been a bitch while I was gone
All this time you put up with fear
In a hundred thousand years
I'm sorry to have taken so long
It must have been a bitch while I was gone
All this time you put up with fear
In a hundred thousand years
And baby won't you let me
I think I'm goin' out of my head
I'm just about to, ooh yeah,
Ha...
[Solo]
I'm sorry to have taken so long
It must have been a bitch while I was gone
You mind if I sit down for a while, would you please?
You'll reacquaint yourself with my style
100,000 Years Can Also Be Found On
Alive! 1975
Double Platinum 1978
Kiss Box Set 2001