I'm all for new great mind-blowing music, I just haven't found any yet. There's has been moments of brilliance here and there, but it doesn't last long. The body of work is usually brief and not overly impactful. Nirvana probably being the exception to that rule, brief but impactful. Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, The Beatles (together and separately), The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Talking Heads, Simon and Garfunkel, David Bowie, Queen, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, The Who, Hendrix, CSN, Joni Mitchell, Santana, Springsteen, Aretha Franklin and even The Beach Boys all had phenomenal output, were impactful, and the reason they're still played today is because the stuff was and is still great. The same reason the still perform Mozart and Beethoven. The same reason we still love Van Gogh's work. I was a music teacher for 20+ years, and even though the kids were into the new stuff, they all seemed to like the great stuff from the 60's and 70's and early 80's as well. They're music lovers like anyone else and embrace what is good regardless of when it came out. I really think the problem is with the music industry. The good stuff is not getting through because if you're not good looking, or look good on video, you're not going to get signed. Janis Joplin would never get signed today. The Mamas and Papas would never make it unless they fired Mama Cass and replaced her with a Britney Spears clone. Not sure Aretha Franklin would even get signed. If you're a female artist and don't look like all men would desire you, or refuse to act like a pole dancer in a video, then forget about a career. These great bands or artists that don't get signed aren't necessarily business savvy and end up perishing and/or staying very local. The internet has been great for some people, but you still have to have a sense of marketing and business, and many artists don't have it. They need the help a good record company would provide.
KISS doesn't belong in the pantheon in which The Beatles and Dylan and many of the above exist, but like a ball player who manages to play 25 years and amasses lots of hits and a loyal following of loving fans, they do deserve kudos recognition for being survivors, having a good output, being great entertainers on stage, and for still filling concert halls.
Alice Cooper in the 70's is the best show I've ever seen, though his music I liked but didn't love. He's still at it. Yay, Alice. I saw McCartney solo in his prime, and I had never saw and felt such charisma coming from a stage. He's still at it. Dylan's later albums, Love Nad Theft and Time Out Of Mind have been great.