This timeline was initially based extensively on Alex Carranza's original KISS ARMY FAQ chronology, many other sources have been referenced with additional and later facts including Dale Sherman's book, Black Diamond, and many other archival news sites, magazines, interviews, etc.
J U M P S T A T I O N
1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979 · 1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989 · 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 ·
1945
December 20th - George Peter John Criscuola born, son of Joseph and Loretta Criscuola, in Brooklyn, New York.
1947
Unknown - Feri Witz and Florence Klein marry in Jund, Hungary and soon afterwards move to Palestine breaking the British blockade of the region.
1949
August 25th - Gene Simmons born, Chaim Witz, son of Florence and Feri Witz, in Haifa, Israel.
1950
January 16th - Robert Kulick born in Queens, New York.
July 12th - Paul Charles Caravello born at Lutheren Hospital in Brooklyn, NY, the son of Albert and Connie.
1951
April 27th - Paul Daniel Frehley born in the Bronx, to Carl Danel and Esther Frehley. Karl was the son of Dutch immigrants while Esther was the youngest of seven children of the Hecht family who had emigrated to North Carolina from Germany at the turn of the 19th/20th Century.
1952
January 20th - Stanley Harvey Eisen born in Manhattan, New York, son of William and Eve.
August 6th - Vincent John Cusano was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Terri and Alfonso.
1953
December 12th - Bruce Howard Kulick was born in Brooklyn, New York.
1954
Unknown - Feri and Florence Witz divorce. Gene wouldn't see his father again.
1956
February 7th - Mark Leslie Norton, in Hollywood, California.
1958
May 12th - Eric D(oyle?). Mensinger, the son of John born in Cleveland, Ohio.
Unknown - Peter sings in a corner group, "Stars", doing mostly for fun doo-wop songs...
Unknown - Gene and his mother emigrate to America, following the foot-steps of two of Florence's brothers who had already moved there. Landing at La Guardia Airport after surviving the trauma of a one-stop flight on El Al on which Gene threw up twice (practice for the future)...
1959
Unknown - Gene starts attending Public School 92 in Corona, where he'll stay until 1963...
April 26th - John Corabi born in Philadelphia, PA...
1963
Unknown - Peter fills in for the absent drummer for Joey Greco & The In Crowd, and is offered the position full time. The band performs jazz/rock material at the Metropole, opening for Peter's hero Gene Krupa, from whom Peter is soon getting drumming pointers!
Unknown - Gene attends Joseph Pulitzer Junior High School 145 in Jackson Heights where he'll stay until 1965...
1964
February 7 - The "British Invasion" begins with the Beatles landing in America...
February 9 - The Beatles invasion of America, and the plethora of bands that soon follow, has a tremendous effect on many young Americans, including some future members of KISS during the band's first broadcast on US television on the Ed Sullivan Show. The Beatles perform "All My Loving", "Till There Was You", "She Loves You", "I Saw Her Standing There", and "I Want to Hold Your Hand"...
February 23 - A second performance of the Beatles, also filmed on the 9th, airs on the Ed Sullivan Show...
Unknown - While attending Joseph Pulitzer Junior High School in Jackson Heights, Gene Simmons puts together his first band, Lynx, with Danny Haber and Seth Dogramajian. Playing a school talent show, the band are introduced as "The Missing Links" and the name sticks. Danny and Seth play guitar while Gene sings with the three harmonizing...
Unknown - Ace Frehley starts messing around with his brother, Charley's guitar...
1965
April 22 - Paul Frehley gets his first guitar, a Japanese electric, a gift from his father on his 14th birthday...
Unknown - At Elmhurst's Newtown High School, "The Missing Links" become the "Long Island Sounds" with the addition of guitarist and long-time friend Stephen Coronel and drummer Stan Singer. Allen Graff replaces Danny Haber on guitar...
Unknown - Paul Stanley gets his first guitar, an acoustic, and starts taking lessons...
Unknown - At some point, probably during this year, during his time at the Metropole, Peter Criscuola fills in on drums for one set for Joey Dee's band...
Unknown - Peter Shepley and Mike Brand are working together. Between 1965 and 1966 they'd write several songs, including "Lonely Street", " Can't Stand This Love (Goodbye)", "Morning", and the eccentrically titled "Off To See The Wizard".
1966
Unknown - Peter joins The Barracudas..
May 27th - The Long Island Sounds, one of Gene's early bands, plays the Jewish Community Center in Jackson Heights, NY...
July 3rd - Lydia Di Leonardo and George Peter John Criscoula meat in a bar in Brooklyn where Peter is playing with the Barracuda's...
Unknown - Ace joins his first High School band, The Four Roses, who soon start playing school concerts.
Unknown - Paul Stanley gets his first electric guitar, and starts playing in bands soon afterwards. His first band would be "Incubus" which would become "Uncle Joe". With Matt Rael (Guitar) and Neil Teeman (Drums) the band would be a power trio without bass player, since they didn't know one...
Unknown - "Uncle Joe" record a Paul written song, "Stop, Look To Listen" at Mayfair Recording Studios in New York City...
1967
January 5 - Peter's band, The Barracudas, release a 7" single featuring "It's Been So Long" b/w "Affection."
Spring - Peter joins The Sounds Of Soul!
Unknown - Paul Stanley graduates to Matt Rael's older brother's band "Post War Baby Boom". With a female lead vocalist, "Maxine", the band would also include Jon Rael Unknown - Paul Stanley, with his band "Post War Baby Boom", record a demo of "Never Living, Never Loving" at CBS/Columbia Studios in New York City. The song would be written by Paul Stanley, though it's not clear who sang on the recording since Maxine got sick a few days before the session...
Unknown - Paul Carravello's first proper band cuts an independent single, "I Cry At Night" b/w "Your Turn To Cry", which they unsuccessfully shop around to record labels...
March 25th - Paul 'Ace' Frehley attends Murray the K's "Music in the Fifth Dimension" festival at the Brooklyn Fox Theatre where he sees both The Who's and Cream's first gigs in New York. Cream would play after The Who and use their equipment. The bands appeared for 9 days, ending on April 2nd, so any of the dates could qualify as "first appearance", thus the first gig date is listed here...
Late - Peter joins The Brotherhood, a soul band!
Unknown - Towards the end of High School Gene plays in another band with Stephen Coronel, "The Love Bag"...
1968
April 21st - Postwar Babyboom, one of Paul Stanley's early bands, plays the Bee Hive Discoteque in Flushing, NY with The Project 5...
April 22th - Postwar Babyboom, one of Paul Stanley's early bands, plays the Bee Hive Discoteque in Flushing, NY with The Project 5...
July - Gene graduates from Newton High School...
September - Gene attends Sullivan County Community College in South Fallsberg, New York. He soon puts together a beer-bash band "Bullfrog Bheer"...
Unknown - Peter joins Chelsea with Michael Benvenga (Bass), Pete Shepley (Vocals), Mike Brand (Guitar), and Chris Aridas (Guitar). The group soon start performing a variety of folk rock.
Unknown - Paul Frehley gets his nickname "Ace" while a member of the band "King Kong"...
Unknown - Paul Caravello's Cellarmen record two songs, "I Found You (The One I Adore)" and "Then I Made A Wish" for a publishing company...
Unknown - Paul Caravello's Cellarmen record two songs, "No Matter How You Try" and "When You Grow Tired" as a backing group to a young female singer Crystal Collins...
Unknown - Paul joins Stan Singer (Drums), Marty Cohen (Bass), and Stephen Coronel (Guitar) in the band "Tree"...
1969
Unknown - Chelsea sign a two album deal with Decca Records.
January 31st - Ace Frehley attends what he considers to be one of his first "real" concerts seeing Led Zeppelin open for Iron Butterfly at New York's Filmore East... Apparently, most patrons left after Zeppelin finished their set!
August 30th - Both Paul Stanley and Bruce Kulick, then unknown to one another, attend the Led Zeppelin show at the Singer Music Festival in Forest Hills, New York...
Late 1969 - Recording of the Chelsea album which is produced by Lewis Merenstein.
Unknown - Ace Frehley meets the later Mrs. Frehley, Jeanette Trerotola...
Unknown - Gene Simmon's band, The Bullfrog Bheer, becomes a regular at the Rockland House in the Catskills...
Unknown - On weekends Gene brings his band "Bullfrog Bheer", down to New York to record demos. Recording at cheap local studios like Saunders Recording and Richcraft, Gene produces demos of "Leeta" (Klein), "Stanley The Parrot" (Klein), "Little Lady" (Coronel/Klein), "Put On Your Slippers" (Klein), "About Her" (Coronel/Klein), "Amen Corner" (Klein), "Feel Lazy Today" (Klein), "A ? In The Eve - Nancy" (Klein), "Moon Maiden" (Klein), "Eskimo Sun" (Klein), "When I Woke" (Klein), and "A Story" (Klein)...
Unknown - Gene attempts, unsuccessfully, to offer a tape of his 12 songs for publication...
Unknown - Gene forms another band, "Cathedral" with Stephen Coronel (Guitar), Stan Singer (Drums) and Marty Cohen. The previous year, and following into 1969, those three characters had played with Paul Stanley in "Tree"...
1970
Early - The Chelsea album is released and does nothing. Chris Aridas leaves the band.
Early - The Cellarmen break up with Victor, Bob, and David continuing as "Smack". Eric Carr puts together a garage band, "Things That Go Bump In The Night"...
January - Chelsea place an add in the Village Voice for a guitarist to replace Aridas. Stan Penridge responds.
January - Stan Penridge auditions for Chelsea, without Peter Criss present, who quits the band as a result of not being involved in the decision to invite Stan to join the band. The other members soon persuade Peter to rethink this decision.
January - The first Chelsea gig with Stan, playing a Young Republicans socialite cruise around Manhatten. Oddly, Peter missed the boat!
January 31st - Peter marries Lydia Di Leonardo, whom he'd been dating since 1966. Best man at the wedding is New York Doll Jerry Nolan who'd been friends with Peter Criss for quite a while...
Peter & Lydia at their wedding (1970)
July 17 - Ace Frehley roadies for the Jimi Hendrix Experience at Randall's Hall, at Randall's Island in New York, on their last NY appearance before the death of Hendix later that year. Ace basically sneaks back stage and sets up Mitch's drums for him. Stylin'!
Summer - Invited to Stephen Coronel's house, who is putting a band together, Paul meets Gene for the first time - the two do not click...
Summer - After the drummer of "Smack" quits, Eric Carr agrees to fill in for the summer reuniting The Cellarmen plus additional vocalist Gary who'd joined, along with Marty the departed drummer, when the three Cellarmen formed the band. Marty quit to go to summer camp...
August - Chelsea dies at the "Yellow Front Salon", when Mike Brand and Pete Shepley are late for a gig. Michael, Peter, and Stan blow off the first set, and then go on as a trio. Mike and Pete arrive and are not pleased - Lips is born.
September - Lips persuade Karma Sutra Records to give them some studio time...
September/October - Karma Sutra Records pays for Lips to record demos at Bell Sound Studios. The demos recorded would include "Don't You Let Me Down", "Don't Let The Blues Surround You (Love, Love, Love)", "Hooked On Rock And Roll", "I'm Gonna Love You", and "That's The Kind Of Sugar Papa Likes". Michael Benvenga would quickly quit the band when it wasobvious that they were going nowhere... Also demoed around this time is the original version of "Beth" then titled "Beck" written by Stan and Peter during Chelsea about Mike Brand's bitch wife who was always complaining...
Unknown - An argumentative Ace get's his cheeks broken in a fight with a disgruntled bar owner who refused to pay a drunken Ace for a gig.
Unknown - Gene starts recording demos with music teacher Brooke Ostrander, at Brooke's apartment using his 4 track. Brooke would play piano on "Leeta"...
Late - Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Stephen Coronel form a band, Rainbow, who start performing gigs.
Late - Paul Caravello and Victor Cohen, both ex-Cellarmen and Smack, hook up with John Henderson and other musicians in the band Salt 'N Pepper. While Victor would quit in 1973, Eric would remain with John until the end of the 1970's...
1971
February 22 - Lips record demos at RCA Studios in New York City. The band is supplemented with additional session rhythm guitarist John Amato. Five songs would be demoed, "Baby Driver", "Dirty Livin'", "Baby, Don't You Let Me Down" (Version 1), "You're My Woman", and "Baby, Don't You Let Me Down" (Full Length)...
October - Lips present their demos to Bob Reno at Buddah Records, who rejects the material...
Fall - Rainbow, becomes Wicked Lester, with the addition of Brooke Ostrander (Keyboards) and Tony Zarella (Drums).
November - Wicked Lester start recording demos. Material would include "Long Long Road", "She", "Love Her All I Can".
December - Wicked Lester get an one album deal with Epic Records. However, the label apparently does not care for Stephen Coronel, and with the growing personal issues between him and Paul, he is asked to leave the band...
December - Gene & Paul use advance money from Epic to rent the famous loft on the 4th floor of a building at 10th East 23rd St.
December 15 - Ron Leejack "officially" joins Wicked Lester.
1972
Unknown - Wicked Lester play the Richmond College Armory, to an empty hall...
Unknown - Wicked Lester play a Jewish B'nai B'rith in New Jersey...
Unknown - Wicked Lester play a movie theatre during intermission...
January - Epic Records rejects the attempt by Wicked Lester to record an album.
May - Peter and Lydia take a beltated honeymoon/holiday in England where Peter tries unsuccessfully to get the gig as Elton John's drummer. Elton goes with Nigel Olssen who he'd used both in the studio and live for most of his career in the 60's and 70's...
August 17th - Wicked Lester studio sessions mixing the album.
August - Peter's ad in the East Coast Issue of "Rolling Stone" magazine appears. Gene spots the ad...
Autumn - Peter Criss joins Wicked Lester who continue as a trio in addition to Gene and Paul still working with the other band of the same name.
Wicked Lester MK-III (December, 1972)
Autumn - Paul and Gene get a gig singing backing vocals on former Laura Nyro singer, Lyn Christopher's debut album. They appear on three tracks on the album which is released in early 1973. During this time Gene, Paul and Peter also do AMC commericals...
October 13th - Stephen Coronel gets paid for his performance on the aborted Wicked Lester album. $200...
December 1st - Feeling the need to embelish the band's sound with a second guitarist, Paul places an add in Village Voice for a guitarist, "with flash" suggesting that the band had an "album out soon"...
December 7th - Paul's ad is printed in the Village Voice, for one day only...
December - Wicked Lester, still a trio, play a showcase for Epic A&R man, Don Ellis, at the loft resulting in the band finally being dropped by Epic. Don, apparently, didn't get the image changes Lester was going through, having a bucket of confetti thrown over him during "Firehouse", or Peter's brother puking over his shoes. Two other songs are performed, "Strutter" and "Deuce"...
December 27 - Paul receives payment of $1200 from the Epic advance from Wicked Lester's manager Lew Linet...
1973
January 3rd - Ace Frehley auditions for the band, jamming out to "Deuce" with them, where he lets rip with every lick he knows! Contrary to popular belief, Ace does not interrupt Bob Kulick's audition by just plugging in and playing, but he does audition after Kulick finishes.
January 15th - Ron Leejack "oficially" leaves Wicked Lester.
January - The "Wicked Lester" name is finally dropped and becomes "KISS". With the band's name no longer a selling point in the industry the band consider new names, including "Fuck", "Crimson Harpoons", "Albatross", and even "Rainbow", before Paul comes up with what would be the band's name while he, Peter, and Gene are together in a car...
January 17th - Asked back for a second audition, Ace is hired and is then informed that the band doesn't actually have a record deal anymore. Ron Johnsen continues as the band's manager, a role he'd performed since the Wicked Lester days in addition to engineering duties at Eddie Kramer's Electric Lady Studios.
January 20th - Ace comes up with the KISS logo.
January 30th - KISS play their first concert at the Popcorn, renamed "The Coventry" that night, in Astoria, Queens. The concert is attended by 3 people!
January 31st - KISS start experimenting with make-up designs...
February 1st - KISS concludes their first 3 night stint at Coventry and retires to the loft to rehearse, write music, and develop as a band...
June 1st - KISS attend the Alice Cooper show at Madison Square Garden, "to see how it's done" by the master.
June 2nd - KISS play the Daisy for the first time.
June - KISS get their first review in a local New Jersey paper which famously describes the band as being, "four wild men from Borneo", while generally savaging them!
June 12th - KISS, enter Electric Ladyland Studios, NY, to record a demo with Eddie Kramer's pique interested enough to produce the sessions with Ron Johnson engineering. The session is financed with money owed to Peter, Gene, and Paul for commercial work they'd done there earlier...
July 13th - KISS self produce a showcase at the Hotel Diplomat. They send an invitation to Bill Aucion who gets to sit next to Peter's sister who spends the show shouting at him about how great the band is!
August 11th - A further showcase at the Diplomat, with Street Punk and Luger, this time Bill Aucoin is in the audience.
August 13th - Following a show at the "Grand Ballroom" of the Diplomat, Aucoin offers to become band's manager usurping the role previously held by Ron Johnsen...
August 17th - Neil Bogart at a KISS show at the Daisy.
August 24th - KISS is offered a recording deal with Casablanca Records after a show at the Daisy.
August 25th - KISS, now with record deal, play a second night at the Daisy. Eddie Solon mixes that night's show which includes "Firehouse", "Life In The Woods" (alternatively known as "Want You Beside Me"), "Simple Type", "Acrobat", "Deuce", "100,000 Years", and "Black Diamond"...
August 30th - Start of a 5-day stint at the Coventry with Wild Honey opening.
September 2nd - Final show at the Diplomat before recording first album.
September (?) - KISS play a showcase at Le Tang Rehersal Halls for producers Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise, Neil, Bill, Joyce, Sean Delaney, and other executives at the fledgling Casablanca label... it is at this showcase that Gene admit's "borrowing" the facial grimace and tongue work from Richie Wise, who had done the same when performing with Dust...
September 24-25th - Two days of recording sessions at Bell Sound Studios to record the catalog of rough songs in the band's repetoire...
October 10th - Band enter Bell Sound Studios, NYC, to record first album. While the band will pretty much use material developed during the year, and material written even earlier. A song never recorded for the first album is a Gene composition, "Mistake". Another popular fable is that all of Acrobat is recorded, which is not the case...
November - recording of the first album completed with only finishing touches to be applied. Around this time, Amaze-O The Magician is brought in to teach Gene how to breathe fire!
November 1st - KISS "officially" signed to Casablanca with a 4 album deal and $15,000 advance, becoming Casablanca's first artist.
December 4th - Gene and Paul attend the Who's "Quadrophenia" show at the Spectrum in Philadelphia...
December 21st - Start of a final 3-day stint at the Coventry.
December 23rd - Last club date, at the Coventry.
December 31st - Industry premier at the Academy Of Music, NYC, opening for Blue Oyster Cult with Iggy Pop and Teenage Lust, where Gene sets his hair on fire doing the trick for the first time in concert! This incident is handled with style with a roadie extinguishing the fire with a jacket, while the set continues uninterupted! Unfortunately, the band is not invited back for a second set that night, but it doesn't matter!
1974
January 2nd - Variety magazine prints a positive review of the KISS performance at the Academy of Music.
January 8th - KISS headline the last ever concert at Filmore East, reopened especially for the occasion, in a special dress rehersal reported by Rolling Stone Magazine. The gig is attended by press, critics and label executives.
January 26th - The band return to the Academy Of Music, this time in support of Redbone and Argent.
February 5th - KISS begin a tour Canada for several days.
February 18th - "KISS" released, spends 23 weeks in the charts and eventually reaches #87 in the US album charts.
February 19th - West Coast release of the album. The band plays this night at Century Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, for Casablanca's official inveiling. The party is attended by many notable personalities, including Alice Cooper who makes the famous quote: "What they need is a gimmick!"
February-April - On tour with Manfred Mann's Earth Band and Savoy Brown.
February 19th - KISS record live segements for Dick Clark's "In Concert".
February 24th - KISS appear on Don Kirshner's "Rock Concert".
March 25th - Performing two sets at the Bayou in Washington DC, KISS play "Love Theme From KISS" and "Much Too Young", the only known time that these were both performed.
March 28th - "Nothin' To Lose" single released. That same day KISS again play The Academy Of Music, this time opening for Argent, Larry Coryell's Eleventh House, and Renaissance.
March 29th - KISS' TV appearance televised with them playing Nothin' To Lose, Firehouse, and Black Diamond on ABC's "Dick Clark". Gene is also interviewed, much to the discomfort of other guests.
April - "Kissin Time" recorded in 3 hours for a Kissing promotion by WSHE in Ft. Lauderdale in Florida, much against the band and producers wishes. The song is reworked rapidly in the studio.. Kerner and Wise again produce this Bogart manipulated piece...
April 7th - KISS play for the first time at the Michigan Palace in the Rock City of Detroit...
April 26th - First proper tour begins in Toronto, Canada, opening for Manfred Mann & Savoy Brown when Michael Quatro drops out of the tour.
May 10th - "Kissin' Time" single released.
May 13th - Eric Singer attends his first concert at the Allen Theatre in Cleveland. He sees Foghat with the Marshall Tucker Band...
May 21st - KISS play Firehouse on the Mike Douglas Show.
May 24th - At a show in Portland, OR, KISS play "Kissin' Time" for the first and only time.
May 31st - KISS concert at Long Beach arena, CA, with Jamesgang opening, broadcast on the radio... Paul also gets his tattoo this day, at Lyle Tuttle's studio in LA.
June - "Kissin' Time", recorded as a promo for WSHE radio station in Ft. Lauderdale, FLA, reaches a dismal #83 in the singles chart and fails to ignite sales of the album, much to Bogart's chargain.
June 1st - Paul get's tattooed at Lyle Tuttle's parlour in Los Angeles, CA.
June 3rd - Last date of the tour in Ancorage, Alaska.
June 14th - Eric Singer sees KISS play at the Allen Theatre in Cleveland, OH... (?)
June 19th - Paul collapses onstage at the Electic Ballroom, Atlanta, Georgia, and the band is forced to take a break.
July - The first album is reissued to include "Kissin' Time". Initial copies are still released on the Warner Brothers dristributed NB-9001 record.
July 5th - Second Tour with Blue Oyster Cult starts in Baton Rouge, LA.
August - Band record Hotter Than Hell at Village Recorder Studios, LA, CA, with producers Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise who had moved to California from New York. Bogart wanted the band working with the same people as on the first album. The album has the working title "The Harder They Come", while the recording sessions in LA are not the happiest time for the band used to the New York atmosphere with Gene being unable to drive and Paul's guitar being stolen. Like the first album HTH is essentially live recording with somewhat more embelishments than the first...
August - Photo session with Norman Seef, for Hotter Than Hell, where everyone is wrecked, except Gene. Paul is so drunk the band eventually lock him in a car so he could pass out safely.
September - Recording of "Hotter Than Hell" completed.
September - Divorce between Warner Brothers and Casablanca, caused partially by Warner's dislike of the band and Bogart's wish to be truely independent. Casablanca soon re-releases (3rd Issue) the first KISS album, the first release of an independent Casablanca.
October 22 - Hotter Than Hell released. It only reaches #100 in the US album charts. The single "Let Me Go, Rock And Roll" fails to chart at all, but remains a mainstay in the KISS live setlist.
December 31st - KISS close out the year playing the Collesium in Evansville, IN, with the Raspberries.
1975
Unknown - Gene Simmons discovers Angel, and get's them signed to Casablanca.
January 6th - KISS's show at the Winterland in San Francisco is professionally filmed by promoter Bill Graham.
January - KISS, who are receiving numerous big offers from other record labels, have a meeting at Kenny Kerner's apartment with Kenny, Richie, Bill, Joyce, and the band where they discuss leaving Casablanca following the end of their contract... Immediately after this meeting its' contents are leaked to Bogart who promptly fires Kerner and Wise, and decides to produce their third album himself.
February - due to the lack of success with Hotter Than Hell, KISS reenter studios, this time Electric Lady Studios in New York, to record their third album with Neil Bogart, who is using his role in an attempt to usurp Bill Aucoin's position with the band. However, Bill soon buys out co-manager Joyce Biawitz (who was Neil's girlfriend) share in Rock Steady, finally forcing his and Neil's cooperation...
March 19th - Dressed To Kill released. It eventually reaches #32 in the US album charts.
March 21st - KISS play the first of two sold out gigs at the Beacon Theatre in New York organized by Bill Aucoin.
March 24th - The KISS show at Cleveland, OH, recorded for use on possible live album.
March 27th - KISS film segements at the Michigan Palace for use in videos.
April 1st - KISS film live segments for the Midnight Special at NBC Studios in Burbank, CA...
April 2nd - "Rock And Roll All Nite" the first single off the album is released and eventally makes it to #68 in the singles charts.
May 16th - KISS play Detroit's Cobo Hall, the show is recorded for Alive!
June 21st - A second show in Cleveland, OH, is recorded for use on the Alive! record.
July 10th - Second single from Dressed To Kill released. "C'mon and love me" doesn't trouble the charts.
July 23rd - A third show in Wildwood, NJ, is recorded for use on the Alive! record.
August - KISS in the studios to do some clean-up recording work for Alive with Eddie Kramer brought in to capture the glory of the KISS performance!
September 10th - Alive! released. It hits #9 in the US album charts and eventually sells over 9 million copies.
October 6th - Start of "KISS Week" in Cadillac, MI.
October 8th - KISS call in to WATT AM Radio in Cadillac to do a radio interview...
October 9th - KISS in their famous visit to Cadillac, Michigan... Double Yellow Line opens for the band at their show at the high school that night.
October 10th - KISS awarded the key to the city of Cadillac and then appear in the town's homecoming parade.
October 14th - A live version of "Rock And Roll All Nite" released which storms up the charts to #12 to be the band's first hit.
November 21st - First official gathering of the KISS army in Terra Haute, IN.
December 4th - Alive! certified Gold by the RIAA, the first KISS album to attain any sales award.
December 15th - KISS do an instore signing at Peaches, a record store, in Atlanta, GA, where they also place their hand-prints in cement outside the store...
December 31st - KISS close out the year with a concert in Nassau, NY, with Blue Oyster Cult and Leslie West opening. This night, KISS receive their gold awards for "Alive!" backstage prior to the show.
1976
Early - KISS re-sign with Casablanca for a further two albums...
January 24th - The live version of "Rock And Roll All Nite" reaches its' peak position in the charts.
February 20th - KISS add their footprints to the sidewalk outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, CA.
March 1st - "Shout It Out Loud" released. It reaches #31 in the charts helping the "Destroyer" album sell its first 892,000 copies...
March 15th - "Destoyer" released and reaches #11 in the album charts.
March 26th - Protestors march against KISS' concert in Harrisburg, PA.
April 30th - "Flaming Youth" released as a single. While it only reaches #74 in the singles charts, it is the first KISS single to feature a picture sleeve, a feature Casablanca was experimenting with at the time.
May - "Alive" certified Gold in Australia for sales of $150,000...
May 10th - Ace Frehley gets married to longtime girlfriend Jenette!
May 13th - KISS play their first ever European concet at Manchester's Free Trade Hall, in England. Shortly afterwards the Destroyer album makes #22 in the UK album charts, the first KISS album to chart in the UK. Alive! charts soon afterwards making it to #49.
June 15th - A Special Summer KISS Tour album released in the States to promote the Destroyer Tour. At the same time, probably somewhat earlier to coincide with the visit to the UK, a 7" version is issued there with no picture cover, but the same songs...
July 3rd - "Spirit Of '76" Tour begins in Norfolk, VA.
July 21st - The Originals released. The triple repackaging of the first three albums sell's 250,000 copies, earning it Gold ceftification from the RIAA.
July 28th - "Detroit Rock City" single released, it fails to chart, while B-side "Beth" gets more airplay in certain rock markets.
August - "Beth" is rereleased as the A-side and later (9/25) reaches #7 in the charts, it eventually sells a million copies and becomes KISS' first Gold single and major hit.
August - "The Originals" reaches its high chart position in the US at #36...
September 12th - The "Destroyer" Tour concludes in Springfield, MA.
September - (?) Gene records some demos of song ideas he's working on. Tracks cut include "Burning Up With Fever", "High And Low" (which would become Dr. Love lyrically), "Jelly Roll", "Daily Planet" (an instrumental which would become "100%" in 1985), and "Rotten To The Core"...
September 20th - KISS return to the studio, the Nanuet Theatre Go Round, to record "Rock And Roll Over" with Eddie Kramer...
October 11th - The scheduled end of the recording sessions in Nanuet, NY...
October 19-21st - KISS film their appearance for Paul Lynde's Halloween special at ABC Studios in Hollywood...
October 31st - KISS' appearance on Paul Lynde's Halloween Special broadcast with the band performing 3 songs: Beth, Detroit Rock City, and King Of The Night Time World.
October 31st - Gene and Paul attend a show at Gazzarri's in Los Angeles and get and invitation to a show case at the Starwood the following week to check out new bands.
November 1st - Rock And Roll Over is released and is the first album to ship RIAA certified Gold.
November 5/6th - Gene discovers "Van Halen" at the Starwood and soon produces their first demo for them. This demo includes: "On Fire", "Woman In Love", "House In Pain", "Runnin' With the Devil", "She's the Woman", "Let's Get Rockin'", "Big Trouble", "Somebody Get Me a Doctor", "Babe, Don't Leave Me Alone" and "Put Out the Lights". Unfortunately, Bill Aucoin and Neil Bogart pass on the opportunity...
November 7-13th - Scheduled band rehearsals at SIR Studio B in New York...
November 11th - Rock And Roll Over receives its' Gold certification while Destoyer is also certified Platinum.
November 12-21st - Full production rehersals at Redding Armory, Redding, MA, for the new tour KISS experiment with an electric version of "Beth." KISS would arrive November 14...
December 1st - "Hard Luck Woman" is released as a single and reaches #15 on the US charts in a vain attempt to repeat the success of the novelty "Beth".
December 11th - At the first concert of the Rock And Roll Over Tour at Lakeland, FLA, Ace electrocutes himself on stage, though he is able to continue the show after a short recovery. Later in the show Gene sets his hair on fire... "Beth" is integrated into the live show.
December 29th - Steve Gerber submits his plot synopsis for the KISS Marvel Comic book to KISS' management...
Late - KISS and Casablanca negotiate their largest contract, for five albums between 1/1/77 and 6/30/79. The contract defines solo albums as equaling 1/2 of an album with minimum number of songs to equal an album being 5, thus confirming that the solos were not just something done to keep the band together in 1978.
1977
January - The Originals released in Japan in preparation for the Japanese Sneak attack tour...
January 5th - Rock And Roll Over becomes KISS' second album to be certified Platinum.
January 15th - Ace, Chris Lendt, and Eddie Balandas spend a day-off at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. The following day they rejoin the tour in Denver...
February 10th - KISS win a People's Choice Award for "Beth." The band's award is accepted for the band by Lydia Criss.
February 21st - Blood extracted from the members following a concert at Nassau Colliseum for the Marval Comic Special!
February 28th - Dressed To Kill becomes the first pre-Alive! album to be certified Gold by the RIAA.
March - Peter's former Chelsea/Lips bandmate and bassist Michael Benvenga dies aged 28...
March 3rd - "Calling Dr Love" issued as a single. It reaches #16 the following month.
March 18th - KISS visits Japan for the first time on its' Sneak Attack Tour.
April 2nd - The KISS show at Tokyo's Budokan Hall is filmed and later shown on HBO in 1978.
April 4th - Final show in Japan. Filmed and recorded for possible future use. The material recorded is produced and fully mixed by Eddie Kramer for planned use as a live album, but this is abandoned when it is decided to use new material on the next tour for this concept. However, "Beth" from these sessions does later turn up on Alive II along with material from the LA Forum shows...
April - Following the shows in Japan, Peter and Lydia Criss vacation in Hong Kong...
May - KISS return to the studio with Eddie Kramer to record Love Gun.
May 26th - The blood KISS had "donated" is mixed with the ink at Borden Ink Plant, Depew, NY, for the first KISS Marvel Comic.
June 30th - Love Gun is released and ships Platinum. It features Ace's first lead vocal on "Shock Me" recorded while he lies on his back in a darkened studio. Love Gun is RIAA certified both Gold and Platinum.
June - "Christine Sixteen" released as a single and reaches #25 in the charts.
June 30th - The first Marvel Comic, allegedly containing some of the members blood in the ink, is released.
July - "Love Gun" released as a single and only manages to reach #61 in the charts.
July 9th - Love Gun Lp enters the charts. It will eventually hit #4 and be KISS' highest charting album until 1998.
August 4th - After touring Canada the previous month, the American leg of the Love Gun Tour kicks off in Salt Lake City.
August 25th - KISS appear on LA Radio Station 10-Q, with host Don Steele, in the famous event where the band are wearing helmets and masks to obscure their faces...
August 26th - The first of three shows taped at the LA Forum, Los Angeles, CA.
September - KISS enter Electric Lady Studios, NY, to record studio songs for the forthcoming Alive II album. Ace Frehley only participates in the recording sessions of his own song, "Rocket Ride", so KISS draft in Bob Kulick, who had auditioned for KISS in January 1973, to fill in on the other tracks while Ace spaces out nextdoor to the studio watching TV. Contrarty to popular belief Rick Deringer has nothing to do with these sessions.
October - A live version of "Shout It Out Loud" released. It reaches #54 in the charts in January.
October 14th - Alive II released and ships Platinum. The album reaches #7 on the US charts while only reaching #60 in the UK where it charts for just 1 week...
November 1-9th - KISS rehearsals in Newburgh, NY for the tour.
November 15th - The "Alive II" Tour starts in Oklahoma City.
December 14th - KISS begin a three night soldout stand at Madison Square Garden.
December 17th - On a day-off between dates Aucoin Management throw a private party for the road crew at JP's in New York.
1978
January - The Originals II, a repackaging to the second group of three studio albums, released in Japan, exactly a year after the release of the first Originals package.
January 16 - KISS appear on the American Music Awards via satellite from Largo, MD.
January 21 - Peter, Paul, and Ace playfully attack Gene on stage at the end of their performance in Detroit...
February 3rd - Alive II Tour ends in Providence, RI.
February - "Rocket Ride" released as a single, it manages #39 in the charts.
February - KISS enter Electric Lady Studios in New York to re-record "Strutter" for inclusion on their forthcoming compilation Double Platinum.
March - A promotional only sampler, Taste Of Platinum, is issued to radio stations.
March 29th - KISS start a 5 day sold out stand at Budoken Hall, Japan, beating The Beatles record of 4 days.
April 2nd - The first of many compilations is released. Double Platinum reaches #22 in the charts, while the single culled from the album, Strutter '78, fails to chart.
May - Filming of KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park commences in California. The filming is finished in June.
May 19th - KISS play a free concert at Magic Mountain, Valencia, CA, which is filmed for inclusion in the film.
August 28th - The second Marvel Comic goes on sale.
September 18th - The four solo albums are released and ship 5 million copies. However, many of these soon turn up in cut-out bins leading to the RIAA revising their certification methods.
September - Four singles are released off the solo albums. Paul's "Hold Me, Touch Me" reaches #46 in the charts. Gene's "Radioactive" makes #47. Peter's "Don't You Let Me Down" fails to chart, while Ace's "New York Groove" moves steadily up the charts becoming the biggest "hit" on any of the solo albums.
October 28th - Phantom Of The Park premiers on NBC with masses of viewers.
December 2nd - Ace's single "New York Groove" hits it's highest chart position at #13, the best of any of the singles issued in promotion of the solo albums.
December 12th - Gene Simmons hosts a KISSmas party at Fiorucci's in Beverly Hills, CA where Disney's Pinnochio is aired along with his recording of "When You Wish Upon A Star".
1979
January - A second single from Peter's solo album is issued, but "You Matter To Me" also fails to chart.
February - KISS return to New York studios to record Dynasty with Vini Poncia, the producer of Peter's solo album at the controls. Peter Criss is unavailable at some of the sessions, partially due to problems with his hands cause from a recent car accident and partially due tohis increasing personal problems, and is replaced by Anton Fig and Richie Fontana on five of the albums 9 tracks.
April 25th - The first box set is issued in Japan containing the 4 solo albums.
May 3rd - Gene and Ace appear on the Robert Klein Hour. Robert isn't about to allow the show to lack humor: "Gene Simmons just stuck out his tongue and poked a lady's eye out in the first row... It's really amazing..." It is during this broadcast that Klein famously asked Gene, "Can you reach the bridge of your nose with your tongue?" Gene responded, "I can reach the bridge on 59th Street."
May 23rd - Dynasty released. It becomes a big hit and reaches #9 in the album charts while the change in musical style with "I Was Made For Lovin' You" starts to alienate some in the KISS Army.
June 14th - The unsuccessful Dynasty Tour kicks off at Lakeland, Florida.
June 16th - "I Was Made For Lovin' You" hits #11 in the singles chart, eventually becoming KISS' second Gold single. That same day, the New England song "Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya", produced by Paul Stanley with him also on backing vocals, hits #40. The "I Was Made For Lovin' You" single is also released in the UK and reaches #50, being the first single to chart in that country!
July 6th - A show at Largo, MD, is filmed for TV broadcast.
July 10th - Dynasty certified Triple-Platinum.
July - HBO air the concert recorded at Largo, MD.
August 16th - "I Was Made For Lovin' You" awarded Gold certification.
September - "Sure Know Something" released as a second single off Dynasty. It fails to make any impact and stalls at #47.
October - The band appear on the Tom Synder show with a drunk Ace who steals the show, much to the dismay of Gene. Of course, the interview went straight downhill after the "trout" incident!
December 16th - The Dynasty Tour ends in Toledo, OH. This concert marks the last KISS performance with Peter Criss.
December 25th - The United States Patent and Trademark Office registers Ace Frehley's makeup design (No. 1128427).
December - Phantom Of The Park/Attack Of The Phantoms is released Worldwide.
1980
January - KISS enter the Record Plant Studios in New York to record Unmasked. Peter is not present, working on his own project, and is replaced by Anton Fig. Peter doesn't play a note on Unmasked, and only appears on the "Shandi" video for contractual obligations.
January 1st - The United States Patent and Trademark Office registers Paul Stanley's makeup design (No. 1128762).
January 1st - The United States Patent and Trademark Office registers Peter Criss' makeup design (No. 1128763).
February 5th - The United States Patent and Trademark Office registers Gene Simmons' makeup design (No. 1130566).
March 16th - Peter leaves the band and starts work recording his first non-KISS solo album at RCA Recording Studios in New York City.
May - Peter helps KISS vet some prospective replacements, yet even at this point his input is very minimal.
May 17th - Peter officially leaves the band which starts the search for a new drummer.
May 20th - Unmasked is released and is ignored by the fans. While it reaches #35 on the US album charts it only manages #48 in the UK...
June - "Shandi" with accompanying promotional concept video issued as a single and reaches #47 in the charts.
June 17th - The deadline date for submission of prospective drummer's info-kits to Aucion.
June 18th - Paul Caravello (Eric) finally submits his resume to Aucoin. On the day following the deadline, but dressed in a day-glo orange neon folder!
June 19th - Paul attends an interview with Bill Aucoin at his Madison Avenue office. Later that day, on the suggestion of Bill Aucoin, Paul shaves his mustache off...
June 20th - Paul recieves the call from Aucoin Management telling him that he is to audition with KISS, and what songs to learn...
June 23rd - Paul auditions with Gene, Paul and Ace, at Star Rehersal Studios, NY, bashing out 5 tunes, including Black Diamond, Firehouse, Strutter, Is That You, and Detroit Rock City, which are video recorded by the band. He manages to get the band's autographs before leaving, just in case!
July 1st - Paul is informed of his acceptance as the new drummer for KISS after Bill Aucion phones and leaves a message with his sister Loretta...
July - Paul changes his name to Eric Carr, aparently with him and his then girlfriend Pantera picking names out of a hat, and because the name "spoke well" like the other member's names did, and designs his "Fox" makeup after rejecting chicken man (The Hawk) costume designed for him while at rehersals at the Palladium!
July (Late) - Eric Carr officially announced as the new drummer for KISS...
July 25th - Eric Carr makes his live debut at New York's Palladium, the only US show done in support of "Unmasked" and the only show done with the first version of the Fox makeup which is streamlined shortly afterwards. While the band could have sold-out another show only one gig is played at this venue to around 3000 fans...
August 26th - KISS depart JFK on Pam Am flight 110 at 7pm for Rome...
August 27th - KISS arrive in Italy for their tour.
August 29th - KISS open their European Tour at Castle St. Angelo in Rome with Iron Maiden in support.
September - Casablanca releases Peter's first non-KISS solo album, Out Of Control, which quickly disappears from sight...
October 7th - KISS fly Lufthansa from Germany to Sweden...
October 13th - The European leg of the "Unmasked Tour" ends in Norway... Or does it?
November 1st - KISS arive in Asutralia...
November 9th - The KISS Unmasked Tour reaches Australia for the first time and it's hugely successful.
November - "Tomorrow" issued as a single but fails to chart.
December - Peter's first single, appropriately "By Myself" is issued, but fails to chart.
December 3rd - The Unmasked Tour ends in Auckland, New Zealand. This final concert is Ace's last with the band.
1981
January 12th - Alive! is included in a consignment of records donated by the RIAA to the Library Of Congress.
January - "Best Of The Solo Albums" released everywhere but the States, it had earlier been released (1979) in both Australia and W. Germany.
March 1st - KISS enters Ace Frehley's Ace In The Hole studios in Connecticut to start work on tracks for new LP, tentativly titled "Rockin' With The Boys". Band records classic "Deadly Weapons", Eric's first song with KISS - this song is reworked in 1985 for inclusion on the Asylum album as "Love's A Deadly Weapon".
April 7th - Jenilee Criss born to Peter and Debra...
May - Band enters IRS studios in New York to record demos of songs for the new album, which is now to be a rather obscure concept album. Later the band moves to New York's Record Plant and soon afterwards to Bob Ezrin Farms in Toronto as work on what would become the Elder continues. The earlier material is scrapped.
July 1st - Formal sessions for The Elder begin at Record Plant Studios in New York. Recording continues through August and September making the recording process the longest for any KISS album. Ace stays at home in Conneticut and works on material sent to him by the band.
September 11-13th - Shooting of the "A World Without Heroes" video...
September 20th - Jenilee Criss is christened in Darien, CT...
September 24th - KISS fly to Mexico...
September 25th - KISS make a promotional visit to Mexico and appear on TV channel 13 lip-synching to "Charisma" and "I Was Made For Lovin' You" dressed in their Elder outfits...
September 28th - KISS return to the US from Mexico...
November 16th - "Music From" The Elder is released to critical acclaim. The fans and record buying public disagree and the album only makes #75 in the US charts while failing to sell anything near 500,000 copies. Even in Britain where concept albums are more accepted the album only manages to reach #51 on the charts.
November 17th - The United States Patent and Trademark Office registers Gene Simmons' signature (No. 1178556).
November 22nd - "A World Without Heroes" released as a single. It fairs badly in the charts and eventually only makes it to #56 in the US and #55 in the UK, while an exceptional promotional video is also done for the song.
December - KISS appear on a satellite link to the San Remo musical festival performing a lypsynched version of "I" without Ace who couldn't be bothered to show up....
1982
January 15th - KISS play three songs from the Elder: "The Oath", "A World Without Heroes", and "I", live on Friday's TV show. This is Ace's final live appearance playing material with the band. One Blackie Lawless is in the audience...
January 28th - KISS appear as a trio at Studio 54 to lip-synch "I" for satellite transmission to the San Remo fesitval in Italy. Ace isn't present...
January 30th - KISS appear on the TV show "Solid Gold" lip-synching to "I" (it is possible that only the music was canned as vocals were often performed on the show). Hosted by Andy Gibb and Marilyn McCoo, the show was taped on Stage 6 at KTLA Studios, the former Warner Brothers Studios, in Hollywood, CA. The performance would have been filmed a few days before the show aired...
February - Peter starts recording his second non-KISS solo album, Let Me Rock You, recorded at Conway Recording Studios, LA. It's produced by Vini Poncia.
February 5th - Phonogram places an order for the pressing of the new UK KISS single, "A World Without Heroes" b/w "Mr Blackwell", for 7500 copies of the regular single with picture sleeve and 10,000 copies of the 7" picture disc.
March - KISS enter Record Plant Studios in LA to record songs planned for an EP, Severe Cuts, again without Ace. Bob Kulick fills in on guitar, but unlike his work in 1977 where he was asked to conform to the Ace Frehley style, this time he is allowed to let rip on his own...
May 8th - Neil Bogart dies from cancer.
May - Killers is released Worldwide except in the US, as is Peter's Let Me Rock You which pretty much fails.
July - KISS re-enter Record Plant Studios to record new album without Ace Frehley, who has been involved in a car accident. Several session musicians fill in for Ace, including one Vinnie Cusano.
September - Recording of Creatures Of The Night is finished.
October 13th - Creatures is released and reaches #45 (UK #22) in the album charts. The single from the album, "I Love It Loud", only manages #102 in the singles charts, but other songs do well overseas. Unfortunately, this album really suffers from the Elder affair with many unwilling to risk buying the album...
October 19th - The United States Patent and Trademark Office registers the "KISSVision" logo (No. 1213030). Originally filed for in 1980, the logo was planned to be used on video-cassette releases, then a very new concept...
