Don’t let their short stature fool you, Minikiss can rock just as hard as their full-size idols!

The band, from New York, USA, are proving that they are “Hotter Than Hell” with their high energy rock shows and very BIG stage presence.

And the foursome, who recently appeared on our Italian TV show Lo Show dei Record, certainly turn heads in their full Kiss gear and makeup. 

With an average height of 138.55 cm (4 ft 6.5 in), Minikiss has earned a record title for the shortest band (male).

Louis Fatale, the founding band member, says he was originally inspired to create Minikiss because Kiss had always been his favourite rock band.

“I would like to start by saying I had the biggest love for 80s hair/metal bands and my first love was Kiss and Gene Simmons,” said Louis.

“Kiss was created in NYC and Minikiss was born in NYC.”

But it was actually by happenstance that Louis came up with the idea to form the band.

“I was moving and came across my vinyl records and found my Kiss Alive! album and it just hit me: Minikiss,” said Louis.

“The rest is history.”

Minikiss began as a novelty act as four little people dancing on a bar in costumes and make-up, lip-syncing to the lyrics by their full-size counterparts.

The first gig Minikiss participated in was on 30 October 1996 when a friend, Andy Hirsh, who was a manager at a NYC club called The Lava Lounge told Louis he needed a new act that year.

When Louis told Andy about his desire to create a miniature Kiss tribute band, he thought it was a fantastic idea.

Over the next month, Louis worked on searching for band members, costumes, and makeup that would fit the role.

“Our first show was lip-syncing to a Kiss CD and playing blow up guitars like you see at parties,” Louis wrote in a biography.

“We stood on top of the bar, and we sung five songs from the actual Kiss CD. We were a hit!”

Minikiss was such a hit, in fact, that in 2010 they were featured in the Dr. Pepper featuring Kiss Super Bowl Sunday commercial which aired all year.

They also had appearances on Gene Simmons’ reality show Family Jewels, Conan O’Brien, The George Lopez Show, HBO live sessions, Thrift Hunter, and even appeared in the movie Mall Cop 2.

Additionally, they have toured with A Perfect Circle, Jackyl, Blue Oyster Cult, Air Supply, Peter Frampton and many others.

The band gets together on a monthly basis to practise and especially loves performing the song “I Was Made For Loving You.”

Louis admits he is usually nervous before a show but once he hits the stage, he just does what feels natural to him.

“We just put on our gear and rock the stage!”

When Minikiss isn’t performing Kiss tributes, they also enjoy singing Guns N’ Roses songs and would love the opportunity to perform with Kid Rock in the future.

Minikiss was excited to learn of their Guinness World Records title achievement and Louis says friends and family were “extremely happy for us.”

For those wanting to form their own rock band, Louis has a bit of advice to offer:

“Practice, be nice, and know how to work the audience,” he said.

“And just keep rocking.”