KISSARMY FAQ FILE
CS.UWP.EDU ARCHIVE DATE 09-AUGUST-1994
VERSION 2.0
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* * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * **** * **** KISSARMY MAILING LIST FAQ FILE
Version 2.0 - Parts 1,2,3,4,5
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* * * * * * * * * By Alex Carranza
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Welcome to the KISSARMY KISS FAQ File, version 2. This document has
been put together as a attempt to answer some of the most commonly
asked questions about the rock band KISS. This FAQ is intended as an
introductory guide to novices, and an information gathering tool
for both new and old fans.
There have been numerous additions to these files since version 1,
but still comments and additions from readers are welcomed.
The contents of this document have been organised as follows:
PART 1: FAQ. A Question and Answer section. It also contains other
information such as KISS fan club addresses, poll results and
tour dates from 1973 to 1994.
PART 2: CHRONOLOGY. It details most of the band's important
activites from about 1966 through 1994.
PART 3: DISCOGRAPHY. Featuring all of KISS' US and foreign
releases. It includes detailed information on sales
status and chart performance on each record/single.
Updated to include discographies by ex-members, current
memebrs and other KISS-related albums.
PART 4: BOOTLEG DISCOGRAPHY. Lists name, recording info and
contents of many KISS bootlegs.
PART 5: COLLECTABLE PRICING GUIDE. It contains lists of prices
of many KISS collectables such as rare LPs, presskits,
tourbooks, bootlegs, etc.
******************************************************************************
KISSARMY FAQ:
To make things easier, have your sofware search for the next
occurance of "@Q".
----------------------- Q & A -------------------------
Summary Of Questions:
@Q1: WHO/WHAT IS KISS?
@Q2: WHAT IS THE KISSARMY MAILING LIST AND HOW DO I USE IT?
@Q3: I AM NEW TO KISS. WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND I BUY FIRST?
@Q4: IS THERE A KISS DISCOGRAPHY AVAILABLE ONLINE?
@Q5: WHERE CAN I GET THE LYRICS TO THEIR SONGS?
@Q6: ARE THERE ANY KISS BOOTLEGS?
@Q7: WHERE CAN I GET THESE COOL BOOTLEGS??
@Q8: ARE THERE ANY UNRELEASED KISS SONGS?
@Q9: HAS KISS RECORDED ANY SONGS BY OTHER ARTISTS?
@Q10: WHAT SONGS BY OTHER ARTISTS HAS KISS PERFORMED LIVE?
@Q11: WHAT KISS SONGS HAVE BEEN RECORDED BY OTHER ARTISTS?
@Q12: WHAT SONGS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED ON EACH TOUR?
@Q13: WHAT BANDS HAS KISS OPENED FOR?
@Q14: DID ANYONE EVER REFUSE TO LET KISS OPEN FOR THEM?
@Q15: WHAT BANDS HAVE OPENED FOR KISS?
@Q16: WHY ARE THERE DIFFERENT US AND JAPANESE VERSIONS OF 'THE ELDER'?
@Q17: WHY ARE THERE TWO VERSIONS OF CREATURES OF THE NIGHT?
@Q18: WHY WERE SONGS ON CREATURES OF THE NIGHT REMIXED?
@Q19: WHY IS THE SOUND SO POOR ON SOME KISS CDs?
@Q20: WHAT'S THAT SIGN ON 'HOTTER THAN HELL' AND 'CRAZY NIGHTS'?
@Q21: HOW HAVE KISS' ALBUMS/SINGLES PERFORMED ON THE CHARTS?
@Q22: WHICH KISS ALBUM/SINGLE HAS BEEN THE MOST SUCCESFUL FOR KISS?
@Q23: HOW MANY ALBUMS HAS KISS SOLD?
@Q24: WHAT KISS ALBUMS HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED GOLD/PLATINUM?
@Q25: WHEN/WHERE WERE THEY BORN?
@Q26: WHY DID PETER/ACE/VINNIE/MARK LEAVE?
@Q27: WHAT DID THEY DO BEFORE THEY MEET EACH OTHER/JOINED KISS?
@Q28: WHAT IS 'WICKED LESTER'?
@Q29: WHAT OTHER BANDS HAVE MEMBERS OF KISS BEEN IN?
@Q30: WHAT ARE THEIR REAL NAMES?
@Q31: WHAT MOVIES HAS GENE SIMMONS BEEN IN?
@Q32: WHICH TV SHOWS HAS KISS APPEARED IN?
@Q33: WHO PLAYED WHAT?
@Q34: WHAT'S THE STORY ABOUT ACE BEING ELECTROCUTED ONSTAGE?
@Q35: WHAT'S THE ASKING PRICE FOR COLLECTABLES/RARE ALBUMS?
@Q36: MISCELANEOUS:
a) KISS FAN CLUBS
b) KISS FANZINES
c) WHO'S WHO IN KISSTORY?
d) STRANGE WAYS READER'S POLL
e) KISSARMY ALBUMS POLL
f) KISSARMY POLL: FAVOURITE VERSIONS OF KISS KLASSICS
g) OTHER RANDOM BITS OF INFORMATION
h) ARTICLE: HOW KISS GOT THEIR NAME
i) ARTICLE: GENE SIMMONS BLOOD RECIPE
j) TOURDATES 1973-1994
@Q37: PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS DOCUMENT
Answers:
@Q1: WHO/WHAT IS KISS?
KISS is a legendary Rock/Heavy Metal band formed in New York
City in early 1973. The original band line-up was Gene Simmons
on Bass/Vocals, Paul Stanley on Rhythm Guitar/Vocals, Peter
Criss on Drums/Vocals and Ace Frehley on Lead Guitar/Vocals.
One of the most distinctive features in the early days of KISS,
was the bizarre makeup and costumes its members wore (from 1973
to 1983).
The first KISS record, simply titled `Kiss' was released on
18th February, 1974. The band has since released 25 more albums.
Throughout its 20-year history, KISS has undegone several line-up
changes, starting with the departure of drummer Peter Criss in
1980. His replacement was Eric Carr, who stayed with the band until
his tragic death from cancer in November, 1991. Ace Frehley left in
1982 and a string of replacements followed: Vinnie Vincent (1982-1984),
Mark St. John (1984), and Bruce Kulick (1984-Present). Drummer
Eric Singer joined the band in 1991.
@Q2: WHAT IS THE KISSARMY MAILING LIST AND HOW DO I USE IT?
The KISSARMY mailing list was created to
provide a forum for fans of the rock group KISS. It is currently
unmoderated and open to posts from anybody. The list exists in
both a digest and a non-digest format. The main list is KISSARMY
and the digest is KISSARMY-Digest. To subscribe, send a command
like the following in the body of a mail message to
:
SUBSCRIBE KISSARMY "Your real name here"
For example:
SUBSCRIBE KISSARMY "Gene Simmons"
To receive the daily digest of posts to the KISSARMY list, replace
KISSARMY with KISSARMY-Digest.
A number of resources are available from this server as well: FAQs
(like the one you are reading), discographies, lyrics, pictures, etc.
For instructions on how to access these send the commands HELP and
DIR on separate lines in the body of a mail message to
.
Archives of KISSARMY postings are available from
. Each archive is named KISSARMY.yyyy-mm,
where "yyyy" is the current year and "mm" is the month. To
retrieve all archives, send a mail message containing the command
SEND KISSARMY to
.
To retrieve the archive for a particular month, specify the proper
file name in the SEND command. For example, to retrieve the
archives for January 1992, the command would be:
SEND KISSARMY.1992-01
Further administrative requests regarding the KISSARMY list should
be sent to
Internet: .
See also question 5 of this document for further information.
@Q3: I AM NEW TO KISS. WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND I BUY FIRST?
ALBUMS:
a) Greatest Hits compilations are always a good place to start, as
they concentrate on the band's most popular songs. "Smashes, Thrashes
And Hits" covers most of their history; from 1974 to 1985 (1974-1987
on the European version). It also contains two new 1988 tracks.
"Double Platinum" a double album, contains the best songs from their
first six albums, plus a 1978 version of their classic "Strutter".
This one is highly recommended for getting hold of the best of their
early material. "Kiss Killers" is another good one to get. It covers
their very best from 1974 to 1981 including the 1979 top-10 hit "I
Was Made For Lovin' You", as well as four brand new tracks.
Unfortunately, "Kiss Killers" is only available in the US as an
import, so it may be hard to find and a bit more expensive than
other records.
b) Live albums are also a good source of `best' songs. "Alive!" is
definetely the one to go for here. This was the record that first
put KISS on the map, and it's still one of their greatest. After
"Alive!" you can get "Alive II", a live recording from Los Angeles
1977 containing songs from their next three studio albums after
"Alive!" plus five new studio cuts. "Alive III" is the band's
most recent album, and it covers songs from almost every one of their
earlier albums. This one you can buy after you get "Alive II".
c) Studio albums. After you've got one of the greatest hits or the live
albums, you may want to think about getting some of their best
studio works. Recommendation of these is a rather difficult task,
but I'll try none the less. Keep in mind this is only this author's
opinion; you will get different ones from everyone you ask. Here it
goes: Start with "Destroyer"; this is often called KISS' best album.
You can't go wrong with this one. "Creatures Of The Night" and
"Revenge" are some of their heaviest (and best). The first three
albums "Kiss", "Hotter Than Hell" and "Dressed To Kill" include their
best and most often heard songs. A favourite amongst KISS fanatics is
1981's concept album "Music From The Elder", the soundtrack to a movie
that never got made. It features some of the finest music KISS has
ever put on record and some of their best playing too. Beware though,
this is NOT typical KISS by any means!. Ace Frehley's solo record is
another great album no KISS fan should be without.
VIDEOS:
a) Two home videos document the history of the band, "Exposed" and
"Extreme Close Up". Both include lots of early concert footage,
music videos and interviews. The best bet is probably "Extreme
Close Up", as it covers a lot more and includes more videos. Also,
lots of "unrehearsed" candid moments...
b) Concert videos. 1984's "Animalize Live Uncensored" is the one to
buy first. Filmed at Detroit's huge Cobo Hall, it features an
excellent concert from the group's 1984 tour. "Konfidential"
documents the band's 1992 Revenge Tour. It includes many of the
songs found on the "Alive III" album, as well as a good number
of early makeup performances.
MOVIES:
a) There's only one KISS movie, "KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park".
It is currently available on video at a very good price. No need
to get it, unless you're a hard-core fan who must have absolutely
everything related to KISS.
[Note: There is another version of this movie, released theatrically
outside the U.S. in 1979 called "KISS In Attack Of The Phantom".
It is not available on video commercially though.]
@Q4: IS THERE A KISS DISCOGRAPHY AVAILABLE ONLINE?
Sure there is. It is part 3 of this document. It is also available via
gopher at (go to #3, #11, #1 and then #3); via WWW at
; anonymous ftp from
the music archives at or , under the
/pub/music/artists/k/kiss/discog directory. This a very complete
discography listing all of KISS' albums and singles, as well as lots
of KISS-related albums, such ex-members efforts, tribute (cover)
albums, etc. You are very much encouraged to check it out.
@Q5: WHERE CAN I GET THE LYRICS TO THEIR SONGS?
a) Via email:
Send any of the following commands in the *body* of a mail message to
KISSserv@WKUVX1.WKU.EDU:
HELP !Gets a help message
DIR !Get listing of all files available
DIR LYRICS !Get listing of all lyrics files available
SEND xxxx !Send a "package", for example, SEND LYRICS sends
all lyrics
SEND LYRICS.xxx !Send lyrics for a particular album
b) Via Anonymous FTP:
FTP to cs.uwp.edu (or ftp.uwp.edu). The lyrics should be under the
/pub/music/artists/k/kiss/lyrics directory.
c) Via WWW:
Point your Mosaic or Chimera client to URC
http://www.galcit.caltech.edu/~aure/strwys.html
d) Via Gopher:
Gopher to gopher.wku.edu and follow the following path: #3, #11,
and #7. There you'll see a list of all the band's albums. Go to any
entry you wish.
@Q6: ARE THERE ANY KISS BOOTLEGS?
Hundreds. KISS fans are very lucky in that respect. Everything from
early unreleased work to live concerts from every tour. Please refer
to part 4 of this document for list of KISS bootlegs.
@Q7: WHERE CAN I GET THESE COOL BOOTLEGS??
This is a little tricky. You might want to try small independent
record shops (don't even bother with the big chains), or collector's
magazines such as Goldmine, Discovery, or Record Collector in the
UK. They usually have a pretty good inventory. Also, record
conventions are an excellent place to find these. But, always keep
in mind BOOTLEGS ARE ILLEGAL, so be careful. And since very little
quality control is enforced by these bootleg houses, watch out for
poor sounding discs, mislabeled covers and plain rip-offs.
Another good way is by trading with other KISS fans. The KISSARMY
mailing list is an excellent place for this.
@Q8: ARE THERE ANY UNRELEASED KISS SONGS?
Yes. Here's a list of what's known.
1) GIVE IT TO YOU EASY: Possibly an outtake from the "Kiss" album
recording sessions, October 1973. Some
insist this is a Wicked Lester track, but
there is no way to know for sure...yet.
2) YOU'RE MUCH TOO YOUNG: Although never recorded by the band, this
song was performed at at least one show back
in 1974. Gene sings lead vocals.
3) LET ME KNOW (Live): Recorded live on 29 April, 1975 at Allen Theatre
in Cleveland for the "Alive!" album.
4) AIN'T NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS: Recorded during the "Destroyer"
sessions, Jan-Feb 1976. Written by Michael
Des Barres and sung by Peter Criss.
5) BETH (Acoustic): Initially recorded version on acoustic guitar
only. Shelved after the song was re-recorded
with the New York Philarmonic orchestra.
6) GOD OF THUNDER: Outtake from the same "Destroyer" sessions.
Paul Stanley sings lead vocals.
7) GREAT EXPECTATIONS: Early demo of the song featuring the original
lyrics which mentioned each band member by
name.
8) QUEEN FOR A DAY: Outtake from the "Rock And Roll Over" sessions.
Supposedly Ace Frehley on vocals. We're not
sure whether this song in fact exists.
9) LOVE GUN (Early Mix): From the 1977 "Love Gun" sessions. In fact,
The whole Love Gun album is available in
an early mix form (often incorrectly referred
to as "unmixed".)
10) TAKE ME (Live): Recorded live on 26-28 August, 1977 for "Alive II".
It never made it to the album.
11) HOOLIGAN (Live): see above.
12) DO YOU LOVE ME (Live): see above.
13) BAD BAD LOVIN': 1978 Gene Simmons demo. Features a very funky
sax solo. Lyrics to this song are avilable
at the lyric archives (see question #4).
14) REPUTATION: see above.
15) LOVE IS BLIND: see above.
16) FOUREVER: see above.
17) LOVE CAME TO ME: Left-overs from the Gene Simmons' solo album
sessions, 1978.
18) HEARTTHROB: see above.
19) IT'S GONNA BE ALRIGHT: see above.
20) TONIGHT YOU BELONG TO ME: Outtake from Paul Stanley's solo album
sessions, 1978.
21) TAKE ME AWAY: see above.
22) RUMBLE: Peter Criss demo for the "Dynasty" LP. Co-written by
Vini Poncia. 1979.
23) OUT OF CONTROL: see above. Later recorded for Peter's second
solo album, 1980.
24) THERE'S NOTHING BETTER: see #18
25) DIRTY LIVIN': see #18. Very Different from what ended up on the
album.
26) DEADLY WEAPONS: Recorded in either February or March of 1981 at
Ace Frehley's "Ace In The Hole" studio for
an album the band planned to release before
"The Elder". First apperance of Eric Carr on
a KISS track. Written by Paul Stanley & Gene
Simmons. Sung by Paul.
27) FEEL LIKE HEAVEN: Same recording sessions. Written and sung
by Gene Simmons. Later recorded by Peter
Criss for his third solo LP.
28) REPUTATION: Same as #22. Gene Simmons lead vocals.
29) DON'T RUN: Early demo of Dark Light. Recorded in early 1981 at
IRS studio. Sung by Ace (different lyrics).
30) I WANT YOU ONLY: Early demo of "A World Without Heroes" sung
by Paul Stanley rather than Gene Simmons as it
appeared on record. Same recording location as
#25. Different lyrics.
31) IT'S MY LIFE: Recorded during the 1982 "Creatures Of The Night"
sessions. Written by Simmons and Stanley, it
features Gene Simmons on lead vocals and Bob
Kulick on lead guitar. Later recorded and
released by Wendy O. Williams.
32) LEGENDS NEVER DIE: Also recorded during the "Creatures" sessions.
Not much is known except that the drum track
was later used as the basis for the 1984
version on Wendy O. Williams's album.
(see discography).
33) SO MANY GIRLS, SO LITTLE TIME: Gene Simmons demo from the "Lick It
Up" sessions, 1983.
34) SEXY FEEL: Eric Carr drum track from the Lick It Up sessions, 1983.
35) HELLO HELLO: Gene Simmons demos for the "Asylum" album, 1985.
36) 100 PERCENT: See above.
37) NOBODY'S PERFECT: See above.
38) KEEP YOUR TAIL BETWEEN YOUR LEGS: See above.
39) SECRETLY CRUEL: See above. Different lyrics.
40) I HAVE JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT: See above
41) TAKE IT LIKE A MAN: See above.
42) WE WON'T TAKE IT ANYMORE: See above.
43) RUSSIAN ROULETTE: See above.
44) HIDE YOUR HEART: Original version recorded during the "Crazy
Nights" sessions in Los Angeles, 1987.
Later re-recorded for "Hot In The Shade".
45) SWORD AND STONE: Also recorded during the "Crazy Nights" sessions.
It was later given to the group Bonfire to
record for the "Shocker" movie soundtrack.
46) BETRAYED: Alternate version, 1989.
47) THE STREET GIVETH AND THE STREET TAKETH AWAY: See above.
48) I JUST WANNA: Early mix leaked to a Los Angeles radio station in
February of 1992. Not much different, but not
the same version that appeared on the album.
49) I JUST WANNA (Live): Original mix before it was edited. It contains
both Paul Stanley's and the audience's loud
screams of "fuck" (as in "I just wanna fuck",
the way the song was always performed live).
There are also about 10 unreleased live songs recorded for "Alive III"
that were shelved --according to Paul. none of these though has been
made available yet.
OTHER KISS RELATED TRACKS:
--------------------------
Jenilee
- A Peter Criss tune about his daughter. Probably recorded
during the mid to late eigthties. Not sung by Peter.
Don't Go
Rock And Roll Survivor
- Two tunes by Peter Criss that are supposed to be from the
1980's. Details unknown.
Audio Video
The Girl Can't Dance
The Hurts On
Baby It's You
Gotta Find A Party
Rock Or Be Rocked
I Got The Touch
- Produced tracks by Ace Frehley from 1984. Vocals - Ace.
Angel
Back On The Streets
Animal
- Tracks from Ace Frehley's unreleased record from 1985.
Vocals - Richie Scarlett.
Give It To Me Any Way
Back Into My Arms Again
- Tracks from Ace Frehley's unreleased record from 1985.
Vocals - Ace.
@Q9: HAS KISS RECORDED ANY SONGS BY OTHER ARTISTS?
Yes...
And then (S)He Kissed Me --- by The Crystals (on LOVE GUN)
Any Way You Want It --- by Dave Clark Five (on ALIVE II)
God Gave Rock n' Roll To You --- by Argent (on REVENGE)
Kissin' Time --- by Bobby Rydell (on KISS)
New York Groove --- by Hello (on ACE FREHLEY solo)
2000 Man --- by The Rolling Stones (on DYNASTY)
Star Spangled Banner --- by Francis Key (on ALIVE III)
Tossin' And Turnin' --- by Adams/Malou (on PETER CRISS solo)
When You Wish Upon A Star --- from the Pinocchio movie!
(on GENE SIMMONS solo )
@Q10: WHAT SONGS BY OTHER ARTISTS HAS KISS PERFORMED LIVE?
Communication Breakdown --- by Led Zeppelin (on Paul Stanley's
solo tour)
Hey Joe --- by Jimmy Hendrix
La Bamba --- by Richie Valens
Oh Susannah --- trad. Written by Stephen C. Foster
Sunshine Of Your Love --- by Cream
Whole Lotta Love --- by Led Zeppelin
Won't Get Fooled Again --- by The Who
Johnny B. Goode --- by Chuck Berry
White Christmas --- trad. (performed on Christmas, of course)
Winchester Cathedral --- by New Vaudeville Bank
@Q11: WHAT KISS SONGS HAVE BEEN RECORDED BY OTHER ARTISTS?
Lots!!. Here's a partial list:
A World Without Heroes --- Cher
Beth --- Coffin Break (Punk Version!)
Beth --- The Hard Ons
Beth --- Peter Criss (Technically his song, but he re-recorded it)
Beth --- Gartnerlosjen
Black Diamond --- The Replacements
Black Diamond --- Yoshiki
Calling Dr. Love --- Hullabaloo
Calling Dr. Love --- Shandi's Addiction
Calling Dr. Love --- Blant De Primitive
Charisma --- The Plunderers
Cold Gin --- Death Angel
Cold Gin --- Skid Row
Cold Gin --- Muck
C'mon And Love Me --- Skid Row
Christine Sixteen --- All
Christine Sixteen --- Gin Blossoms
Danger --- Legend
Detroit Rock City --- Bullet Lavolta
Detroit Rock city --- Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Deuce --- Ace Frehley (recorded after he left the band)
Deuce --- Hellmen
Deuce --- Lenny Kravitz w/ Stevie Wonder
Deuce --- Red Kross
Deuce --- The Replacements
Deuce --- The Treepeople
Deuce --- Graceland
Do You Love Me? --- Girl
Do You Love Me? --- Girlschool
Do You Love Me? --- Nirvana
God Of Thunder --- Melvins
God Of Thunder --- White Zombie
Goin' Blind --- Dinosaur Jr.
Goin' Blind --- The Melvins
Hard Luck Woman --- Garth Brooks
Hard Times --- Hard Times
Hide Your Heart --- Robin Beck
Hide Your Heart --- Ace Frehley
Hide Yout Heart --- Molly Hatchett
Hide Your Heart --- Bonnie Tyler
I Want You --- King Snake Roost
I Was Made For Lovin' You --- The Jungle Medics
Is That You? --- Girl Monster
Lick It Up --- Hard Ons
Love Gun --- Surfin' Caesars
Love Gun --- Ramjam
Love Her All I Can --- Anthrax
Mainline --- Mother's Love
Makin' Love --- Thrust
Only You --- Doro Pesch
Parasite --- Anthrax
Parasite --- Smelly Tounges
Parasite --- Hedge Hog
Plaster Caster --- Lemonheads
Rip It Out --- Chemical People
Rock n' Roll All Nite --- Poison
Rock n' Roll All Nite --- Cosmic Dropouts
Rock n' Roll All Nite --- Toad The Wet Sprocket
Rocket Ride --- Ace Frehley (same as above)
Rocket Ride --- For Love Not Lisa (w/ Ace on lead vocals/guitar)
She --- Anthrax
She --- Paraplegic
Shock Me --- Red House Painters
Shock Me --- Motorpsycho w/ Dag Ingebrigtsen
Shout It Out Loud --- DumDum Boys
Snowblind --- Skin Yard
Strange Ways --- Spaceman Stiff
Strutter --- Extreme
Strutter --- Grunt People w/ Linda Johansen
Sure Know Something --- Whipper w/ Rock Hard
Thief In The Night --- Wendy O. Williams
Tomorrow --- The Stuck
Unholy --- Die Artze
War Machine --- The Instigators
Watchin' You --- Lost At Last
@Q12: WHAT SONGS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED ON EACH TOUR?
KISS Tour (opening act) 1973-1974
----------------------------------
Deuce / Strutter / She / Firehouse / Nothin' To Lose / 100,000 Years / Black
Diamond / Let Me Go, Rock And Roll (Kissin' Time on occasion)
HOTTER THAN HELL tour 1974
---------------------------
Deuce / Nothin' To Lose / She / Firehouse / Strutter / 100,000 Years
Let Me Go, Rock 'N' Roll / Cold Gin / Let Me Know / Got To Choose
Watchin' You / Black Diamond
DRESSED TO KILL tour 1975
-------------------------
Deuce / Strutter / Got To Choose / Hotter Than Hell / Firehouse
Nothin' To Lose / C'mon and Love Me / Parasite / She / Watchin' You /
100,000 Years / Black Diamond / Rock Bottom / Cold Gin
Rock And Roll All Nite / Let Me Go, Rock 'N' Roll
ALIVE! tour 1975-1976
----------------------
Deuce / Strutter / C'mon And Love Me / Hotter Than Hell / Firehouse /
She / Guitar Solo / Parasite / Nothin' To Lose / Bass Solo / 100,000 Years /
Drum Solo / Black Diamond / Cold Gin / Rock And Roll All Nite / Let Me Go,
Rock And Roll
DESTROYER tour (Europe) 1976
----------------------------
Deuce / Strutter / Flaming Youth / Hotter Than Hell / Firehouse / She / Guitar
Solo / Nothin' To Lose / Shout It Out Loud / 100,000 Years / Drum Solo /
Black Diamond / Detroit Rock City / Rock And Roll All Nite / Let Me Go, Rock
And Roll
DESTROYER tour (States) 1976
----------------------------
Detroit Rock City / King Of The Nighttime World / Let Me Go, Rock And
Roll / Cold Gin / Guitar Solo / Shout It Out Loud / Strutter / Nothin'
To Lose / Do You Love Me / Watching You / Drum Solo / Bass Solo / God Of
Thunder / Rock And Roll All Nite / Deuce / Firehouse / Black Diamond
ROCK AND ROLL OVER Tour 1976-1977
---------------------------------
Detroit Rock City / Take Me / Let Me Go, Rock And Roll / Ladies Room /
Firehouse / Makin' Love / Cold Gin / Guitar Solo / Do You Love Me /
Nothin' To Lose / Bass Solo / God Of Thunder / Drum Solo / I Want You
/ Rock And Roll All Nite / Shout It Out Loud / Beth / Black Diamond
LOVE GUN tour 1977
------------------
I Stole Your Love / Take Me / Firehouse / Ladies Room / Love Gun /
Hooligan / Makin' Love / Christine Sixteen / Shock Me / Guitar Solo /
I Want You / Calling Dr. Love / Shout It Out Loud / Bass Solo / God Of
Thunder / Drum Solo / Rock And Roll All Nite / Detroit Rock City / Beth /
Black Diamond
ALIVE II tour 1977-1978
-----------------------
I Stole Your Love / King Of The Nighttime World / Ladies Room /
Firehouse / Love Gun / Let Me Go, Rock And Roll / Makin' Love /
Christine Sixteen / Shock Me / Guitar Solo / I Want You /
Calling Dr. Love / Shout It Out Loud / Bass Solo / God Of Thunder /
Drum Solo / Rock And Roll All Nite / Detroit Rock City / Beth /
Black Diamond
DYNASTY tour 1979
-----------------
King Of The Nighttime World / Let Me Go, Rock And Roll / Move On /
Calling Dr. Love / Firehouse / New York Groove / I Was Made For Lovin'
You / Christine Sixteen / 2,000 Man / Guitar Solo / Love Gun / Bass
Solo / God Of Thunder / Drum Solo / Shout It Out Loud / Black Diamond /
Detroit Rock City / Beth / Rock And Roll All Nite
Also: Radioactive & Tossin' And Turnin' on the early leg of the tour.
UNMASKED Tour (Europe) 1980
---------------------------
Detroit Rock City / Cold Gin / Strutter / Calling Dr. Love / Is That
You / Firehouse / Talk To Me / You're All That I Want / 2.000 Man /
Guitar Solo / I Was Made For Lovin' You / New York Groove / Love Gun /
Bass Solo / God Of Thunder / Drum Solo / Rock And Roll All Nite /
Shout It Out Loud / King Of The Nighttime World / Black Diamond
Also: You're All That I Want
UNMASKED tour (Australia) 1980
-------------------------------
Detroit Rock City / Cold Gin / Strutter / Shandi / Calling Dr. Love /
Firehouse / Talk To Me / Is That You / 2.000 Man / Guitar Solo / I Was Made
For Lovin' You / New York Groove / Love Gun / God Of Thunder / Drum Solo /
Rock And Roll All Nite / Shout It Out Loud / King Of The Nighttime World /
Black Diamond
CREATURES OF THE NIGHT tour 1982-1983
-------------------------------------
Creatures Of The Night / Detroit Rock City / Calling Dr. Love /
Firehouse / Guitar Solo - Paul Stanley / I Want You / Guitar Solo
- Vinnie Vincent / I Love It Loud / Cold Gin / Bass Solo / God Of
Thunder / Love Gun / Drum Solo / War Machine / I Still Love You /
Shout It Out Loud / Black Diamond / Rock And Roll All Nite
LICK IT UP Tour (Europe & Some U.S. dates) 1983
-----------------------------------------------
Creatures Of The Night / Detroit Rock City / Cold Gin / Fits Like A
Glove / Firehouse / Guitar Solo - Paul / Exciter / War Machine / Gimme
More / Guitar Solo - Vinnie / Bass Solo / I Love It Loud / I Still
Love You / Drum Solo / Young And Wasted / Love Gun / Black Diamond /
Lick It Up / Rock And Roll All Nite
LICK IT UP tour (U.S.) 1983-1984
--------------------------------
Creatures Of The Night / Detroit Rock City / Cold Gin / Fits Like A
Glove / Firehouse / Guitar Solo - Paul Stanley / Gimme More / Guitar
Solo - Vinnie Vincent / War Machine / Bass Solo / I Love It Loud / I
Still Love You / Drum Solo / Young And Wasted / Love Gun / All
Hell's Breakin' Loose / Black Diamond / Lick It Up / Rock And Roll All Nite
ANIMALIZE tour (Europe) 1984
-----------------------------
Detroit Rock City / Cold Gin / Strutter / Fits Like A Glove / Heaven's
On Fire / Guitar Solo - Paul Stanley / Under The Gun / War Machine /
Drum Solo / Young And Wasted / I've Had Enough / Bass Solo / I Love It
Loud / I Still Love You / Creatures Of The Night / Love Gun / Rock And
Roll All Night / Lick It Up / Jam Session / Black Diamond
Also: Burn Bitch Burn, Get All You Can Take and I've Had Enough.
ANIMALIZE tour (U.S.) 1984-1985
-------------------------------
Detroit Rock City / Cold Gin / Creatures Of The Night / Fits Like A
Glove / Heaven's On Fire / Guitar Solo - Paul Stanley / Under The Gun /
War Machine / Drum Solo / Young And Wasted / Bass Solo / I Love It
Loud / I Still Love You / Love Gun / Black Diamond / Oh Susannah /
Lick It Up / Rock And Roll All Nite
ASYLUM tour 1985-1986
----------------------
Detroit Rock City / Fits Like A Glove / Cold Gin / UH! All Night / War
Machine / I Still Love You / Under The Gun / Tears Are Falling / I
Love It Loud / Love Gun / Rock And Roll All Nite / Heaven's On Fire /
Won't Get Fooled Again / Lick It Up
CRAZY NIGHTS tour (U.S.) 1987-1988
----------------------------------
Love Gun / Cold Gin / Bang Bang You / Shout It Out Loud / Fits Like A
Glove / Crazy Crazy Nights / Guitar Solo / Drum Solo / War Machine /
Reason To Live / Heaven's On Fire / Bass Solo / I Love It Loud / Lick
It Up / Rock And Roll All Nite / Detroit Rock City
Also: When Your Walls Come Down, Hell Or High Water and No, No, No a couple
of times.
CRAZY NIGHTS tour (Japan) 1988
-------------------------------
Love Gun / Cold Gin / Bang Bang You / Calling Dr. Love / Fits Like A
Glove / Crazy Crazy Nights / Guitar Solo / No No No / Reason To Live /
Heaven's On Fire / Drum Solo / War Machine / Bass Solo / I Love It
Loud / Lick It Up / Black Diamond / I Was Made For Lovin' You / Shout
It Out Loud / Strutter / Rock And Roll All Nite / Detroit Rock City
Also: No, No, No.
CRAZY NIGHTS tour (Europe) aka. MONSTERS OF ROCK 1988
-----------------------------------------------------
Love Gun / Fits Like A Glove / Heaven's On Fire / Cold Gin / Black Diamond
/ Bang Bang You / No No No / Firehouse / Crazy Crazy Nights /
I Was Made For Lovin' You / Deuce / Reason To Live / Tears Are Falling
/ I Love It Loud / Strutter / Shout It Out Loud / Lick It Up / Rock
And Roll All Nite / Detroit Rock City
PAUL STANLEY SOLO TOUR 1989
---------------------------
I Stole Your Love / I Want You / Tears are Falling /
Tonight You Belong To Me / C'mon And Love Me /
Wouldn't You Like To Know Me / Heaven's On Fire / Hide Your Heart /
I Still Love You / Crazy Crazy Nights / Reason To Live /
Lets Put The X In Sex / Love Gun / Goodbye / Communication Breakdown /
Detroit Rock City
HOT IN THE SHADE tour aka. ROCKIN' AMERICA TOUR 1990
----------------------------------------------------
I Stole Your Love / Deuce / Heaven's On Fire / Rise To It / Fits Like
A Glove / Crazy Crazy Nights / Strutter / Calling Dr. Love / Hide Your Heart
/ Black Diamond / Lick It Up / Cold Gin / Forever / God Of Thunder / Under
The Gun / I Love It Loud / Tears Are Falling / Love Gun / Detroit Rock City /
I Want You / Rock And Roll All Nite
Also: I Was Made For Lovin' You repaced Under The Gun during the second leg
of the tour. Also, C'Mon And Love Me was peformed at times.
CLUB Tour 1992
---------------
Love Gun / Deuce / Heaven's On Fire / Parasite / Shout It Out Loud / Strutter /
Calling Dr. Love / I Was Made For Lovin' You / Unholy / 100,000 Years / Take
It Off / God Of Thunder / Firehouse / Tears Are Falling / I Love It Loud /
I Stole Your Love / Cold Gin / Detroit Rock City / I Want You / God Gave Rock
And Roll To You / Rock And Roll All Nite
U.K. REVENGE Tour May 1992
---------------------------
I Stole Your Love / Deuce / Heaven's On Fire / Parasite / Shout It Out Loud /
Strutter / Calling Dr. Love / I Was Made For Lovin' You / Unholy / 100,000
Years / Take It Off / God Of Thunder / Firehouse / Tears Are Falling / I Love
It Loud / Love Gun / Cold Gin / Detroit Rock City / I Want You / God Gave Rock
And Roll To You / Rock And Roll All Nite
REVENGE U.S. Tour 1992
-----------------------
Creatures Of The Night / Deuce / I Just Wanna / Unholy / Parasite /
Heaven's On Fire / Domino / Watchin' You / Hotter Than Hell /
Firehouse / I Want You / Drum Solo / Forever / War Machine / Rock And
Roll All Nite / Lick It Up / Take It Off / Cold Gin / I Love It Loud /
Detroit Rock City / Shout It Out Loud / God Gave Rock And Roll To You
II / Love Gun / Star Spangled Banner
Also: Christine Sixteen a few times.
1994 SHOWS
----------
Deuce/ Detroit Rock City / Calling Dr. Love / Strutter / Parasite / Got To
Choose / Goin' Blind / Lick It Up / I Stole Your Love / War Machine /
Cold Gin / I Love It Loud / Makin' Love / Black Diamond / Heaven's On Fire
Not all songs performed at all shows. Domino performed in Nashville on July.
@Q13: WHAT BANDS HAS KISS OPENED FOR?
Aerosmith (1974)
Argent (1974)
Black Sabbath (1974)
Blue Oyster Cult (Academy Of Music 12/31/73)
The Brats (R & R Party 54 Bleeker St, 8th floor, NYC, 2/73)
Faster Pussycat**
Fleetwood Mac (1974)
Rory Gallagher (1974)
Iron Maiden*
Jo Jo Gunne (1973)
Manfred Mann (1974)
New York Dolls (1973)
Iggy (Pop) and The Stooges (Academy Of Music 12/31/73)
Savoy Brown (KISS tour, Alaska 1974)
Suzi Quatro (KISS tour, Spring 1974)
Teenage Lust (1973)
Wishbone Ash (1974)
Whitesnake**
ZZ Top (1974)
* Mosters Of Rock show, Donnington, England, 20 August, 1988.
** Due to some 'freak' reason, KISS was put third on a four band bill.
Exhibition Stadium, Toronto, Canada, 17 June, 1990.
@Q14: DID ANYONE EVER REFUSE TO LET KISS OPEN FOR THEM?
Yes, only two bands...Mott The Hoople and Queen.
@Q15: WHAT BANDS HAVE OPENED FOR KISS?
Accept (1984)
AC/DC (Alive II, their 1st American tour)
Aerosmith
Anthrax (Crazy Nights, 2nd half)
Bryan Auger and Trinity
Axe
The Bailey Brothers (Monsters Of Rock '88)
Backstreet Crawler
Baalam And The Angel
Billy Squier
Black 'n Blue (Asylum)
Blue Oyster Cult (1975)
Bon Jovi (1984)
Bow Wow
Brother Cane (Nashville 1994)
Cheap Trick (1977)
Cockney Rebel
Danger Danger (Hot In The Shade)
David Lee Roth (Monsters Of Rock '88)
Detective
Dokken
Dr. John
Ethos
Faster Pussycat (Revenge)
Michael Fenelli
Fleetwood Mac (Nashville 1994)
J. Geils Band
Girl
Great White (Revenge)
Guns 'N' Roses (Monsters Of Rock '88)
Sammy Hagar
Hammersmith
John Hammond
Helloween
Headpins
Heavy Metal Kids
Heavy Pettin'
Helix
I Mother Earth (Blazefest 1994)
Iron Maiden (1980)
James Gang (1975)
Jo Jo Gunne (1975)
Journey
Judas Priest (Dynasty, Priest's 1st American tour)
King Kobra (Asylum)
Kings Of The Sun
Krokus
L.A. Flying Saucers
Legs Diamond (Rock And Roll Over)
The Leslie West Band
Little Ceaser (Hot In The Shade)
Loverboy
Luger (Hotel Diplomat, August 1973)
Man
Megadeth (Monsters Of Rock '88)
John Cougar Mellencamp
Molly Hatchet
Montrose
Mother Station (Nashville 1994)
Motley Crue (Creatures Of The Night)
Mountain
Mullenjack
Nantucket (Dynasty)
New England (Dynasty)
Night Ranger (Creatures Of The Night)
Ted Nugent (Crazy Nights)
Open Skyz (Blazefest 1994)
The Outlaws
Pearl Harbour and The Explosions
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
Piper
Planets (Hotel Diplomat, August 1973)
Plasmatics (1984)
Suzi Quatro (1975)
Queensryche (Animalize)
The Raspberries
Riot (Lick It Up)
The Rockets
Rush
Salty Dog (Paul Stanley solo)
Scorpions (1976)
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies (Blazefest 1994)
Bob Seger (Destroyer)
Shake City (One show, 1990)
Shooting Gallery (Revenge Club Tour)
Silver Head
Slade
Slaughter (Hot In The Shade)
Stray
Street Punk (Hotel Diplomat, August 1973)
Sweet
Stick (Blazefest 1994)
Styx
The Sweet
.38 Special
Pat Travers
Trixter (Revenge)
T. Rex
Marshall Tucker Band
Uriah Heep
Vandenberg (Lick It Up)
Vixen
W.A.S.P. (1985)
Winger (Hot In The Shade)
White Lion (Crazy Nights)
Wild Honey (Coventry, Summer 1973)
Wendy O. Williams
Edgar Winter
Roy Wood's Wizzard
Gary Wright
Y&T
@Q16: WHY ARE THERE DIFFERENT US AND JAPANESE VERSIONS OF 'THE ELDER'?
The Japanese version of the album is actually the version KISS wanted
to release back in 1981, but the record company wanted a more
commercial album. Hence the songs were moved about, some of the sound
effects were deleted, and a new track, "Escape From The Island", was
added to the US version.
@Q17: WHY ARE THERE TWO VERSIONS OF CREATURES OF THE NIGHT?
KISS felt the album didn't recieve the exposure it deserved when it
was first released in October of 82, so they re-released it on their
new label Mercury with a new cover and new mixes.
@Q18: WHY WERE SONGS ON CREATURES OF THE NIGHT REMIXED?
Apparently Gene Simmons thought the drums on "Creatures Of
The Night", "I Still Love You" and "War Machine" were a bit too
heavy. The first two were remixed but "War Machine" was only 'toned-
down'. For the record, Gene Simmons was the one who originally
insisted the drums be as loud as they are on the 1982 album. He
sat down with the engineer at the Power Station studios and worked
for weeks until that particular thunderous sound was to his liking.
@Q19: WHY IS THE SOUND SO POOR ON SOME KISS CDs?
It's not a problem confined only to KISS CDs. Back in the mid
eighties when the CD revolution took place, every record company
wanted to capitalise on the craze by releasing their artists' whole
catalogue on CD. This meant, very little care was taken in finding
the true masters (in many cases LP masters were used), and in
equalising these masters (carefully) to digital standards. Only
now have record companies realised their mistake and the
unsatisfaction on the part of the public and begun re-releasing
better sounding versions of early CDs. KISS' catalogue may not be
too far off in the future (hopefully). In fact, early mistakes have
been fixed in recently released CDs, so that's a hopeful sign.
True state-of-the-art audiophile masters of KISS' albums exist,
but have not yet been relased.
@Q20: WHAT'S THAT SIGN ON 'HOTTER THAN HELL' AND 'CRAZY NIGHTS'?
That's the Japanese character for "strength", "power", etc. It's
called "Chikara" in Japanese. As to why the band keeps on using it
over and over ... we don't know.
@Q21: HOW HAVE KISS' ALBUMS/SINGLES PERFORMED ON THE CHARTS?
ALBUMS
------
Love Gun #4 1977 3P
Revenge #6 1992 G
Alive II #7 1977 3P
Alive! #9 1975 4P
Dynasty #9 1979 3P
Alive III #9 1993 --
Destroyer #11 1976 3P
Rock And Roll Over #11 1976 2P
Crazy Nights #18 1987 P
Animalize #19 1984 P
Asylum #20 1985 P
Smashes, Thrashes... #21 1988 P
Double Platinum #22 1978 P
Gene Simmons #22 1978 P
Lick It Up #24 1983 P
Ace Frehley #26 1978 P
Hot In The Shade #29 1989 G
Dressed To Kill #32 1975 P
Unmasked #35 1980 G
Paul Stanley #40 1978 P
Peter Criss #43 1978 P
Creatures Of The Night #45 1982 G
The Elder #75 1981 G
Kiss #87 1974 G
Hotter Than Hell #100 1974 G
SINGLES
-------
Beth #7 1976 G
Forever #8 1990
I Was Made For Lovin'.. #11 1979 G
Rock And Roll All Nite #12 1975 (live version)
New York Groove #13 1978
Hard Luck Woman #15 1976
Calling Dr. Love #16 1976
Christine Sixteen #25 1977
Shout It Out Loud #31 1976
Rocket Ride #39 1978
Hold Me, Touch Me #46 1978
Radioactive #47 1978
Sure Know Something #47 1979
Shandi #47 1980
Heaven's On Fire #49 1984
Tears Are Falling #51 1985
Shout It Out Loud #54 1977 (live version)
A World Without Heroes #56 1981
Love Gun #61 1977
Reason To Live #64 1987
Crazy, Crazy Nights #65 1987
Lick It Up #66 1983
Hide Your Heart #66 1989
Rock And Roll All Nite #68 1975
Flaming Youth #74 1976
Rise To It #81 1990
Kissin' Time #83 1974
Let's Put The X In Sex #97 1988
I Love It Loud #102 1982
Singles not on this list didn't chart.
@Q22: WHICH KISS ALBUM/SINGLE HAS BEEN THE MOST SUCCESFUL FOR KISS?
"Beth" which hit #7 in 1976 and "I Was Made For Lovin' You" were
certified gold single by the RIAA in the seventies. Since then,
no other KISS single has attained the same status although "Forever"
came close in 1990; it charted #8 in January of that year. KISS'
biggest selling album to date remains "Alive!" (#9), released in 1975.
It has sold something in the neighbourhood of 9 million copies.
@Q23: HOW MANY ALBUMS HAS KISS SOLD?
Last time these figures were released (1987), KISS' worldwide sales
catalogue stood at 70 million records.
@Q23: WHAT KISS ALBUMS HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED GOLD/PLATINUM?
Refer to question 20. G stands for Gold, and P for Platinum (duh!).
@Q25: WHEN/WHERE WERE THEY BORN?
Name Birthdate Location
---- --------- --------
Gene Simmons August 25, 1949 Haifa, Israel
Paul Stanley January 20, 1952 Queens, NY
Peter Criss December 20, 1947 Brooklyn, NY
Ace Frehley April 27, 1955 Bronx, NY
Eric Carr July 12, 1953 Brooklyn, NY
Vinnie Vincent August 6, 1952 Connecticut, CT
Mark St. John February 7, 1956 Anaheim, CA
Bruce Kulick December 12, 1953 Brooklyn, NY
Eric Singer May 12, 1958 Cleveland, OH
@Q26: WHY DID PETER/ACE/VINNIE/MARK LEAVE?
There are many sides to these stories. Peter apparently left because
he wasn't happy in the band. Ace says he left because he didn't like
the musical direction the band was taking (around 1980-82), and he
was always outvoted by Gene and Paul. Vinnie Vincent was fired, twice,
due to his ever-growing ego problems. Same with Mark St. John,
although the official version is that he had to leave because he
was suffrering from Reiter's Syndrome (a form of Rheumatism).
@Q27: WHAT DID THEY DO BEFORE THEY MEET EACH OTHER/JOINED KISS?
Gene: Studied at City University of New York, Sullivan
County Community
College (Plattskill, NY), and Richmond College (Staten Island)
Worked as teacher (6 months)
Bodyguard
Typist (at Vogue)
Ace: Cab Driver
Mail man
Liquor store clerk.
Paul: Studied music at New York High School of Music.
Peter: Played in various Jazz, Soul and Rock bands.
Eric Carr: Fixed gas ranges.
Bruce: Worked at a New York City public library.
@Q28: WHAT IS 'WICKED LESTER'?
Wicked Lester was a band Gene and Paul were in before forming
KISS. The band's line up was: Simmons-Bass/Vocals, Stanley-Guitar/
Vocals, Ron Leejack-Lead Guitar, Brooke Ostrander-Keyboards,
Tony Zarella-Drums, and Steve Coronel-Guitar (at first). The group,
minus Coronel, recorded an album, produced by Ron Johnsen, for
Epic Records in October 1972. It was never released, although its
cover was later used on another group's (Laughing Dogs, 1979) album.
@Q29: WHAT OTHER BANDS HAVE MEMBERS OF KISS BEEN IN?
Gene: Long Island Sounds
Rising Sun
The Missing Link
Bullfrog Beer
Cathedral
Rainbow
Wicked Lester
Paul : Uncle Joe
Rainbow
Wicked Lester
Peter: The Barracudas
Chelsea (released one album, 1971)
Lips
Ace: The Exterminators
The Four Roses
The Muff Divers
Molimo (recorded one unrelased album, 1971 or 1972)
Bruce: Black Jack (which featured Michael Bolton)
Good Rats
Billy Squier
Eric: Salt and Pepper
Creation
Mother Nature-Father Time
Binoic Boogie
Flasher (All the same band with different names)
Vinnie: Treasure
Warrior
Dan Hartman
Singer: Lita Ford
Black Sabbath
Badlands
Gary Moore
Alice Cooper
Paul Stanley solo tour band
@Q30: WHAT ARE THEIR REAL NAMES?
Gene Simmons was born Chaim Witz and later changed his name to
Eugene Klein. Paul Stanley's real name is Stanley Paul Eisen.
Peter Criss's is Peter Criscuola. Ace Frehley's is Paul Frehley.
Eric Carr was born Paul Daniel Carrovello. Vinnie Vincent was
born Vincent Cusano and Mark St. John was born Mark Norton. Bruce
Kulick and Eric Singer use their real names.
@Q31: WHAT MOVIES HAS GENE SIMMONS BEEN IN?
"Runaway", "Wanted: Dead Or Alive", "Miami Vice" second season
opener, "Trick Or Treat", "Never To Young To Die", "The Decline Of
Western Civilization Part 2" (which also features Paul Stanley), "Red
Surf" and an episode of the "Hitchhiker" titled "O.D. Feeling".
@Q32: WHICH TV SHOWS HAS KISS APPEARED IN?
Hundreds. Here's list of TV shows where KISS has performed, not
just been interviewed:
Midnight Special, February 1974, Dick Clark's "In Concert", February
1974; Don Kirshner's "Rock Concert", February 1974, The Mike
Douglas Show, February or April, 1974, Paul Lynde's "Halloween
Special", October 1976, American Music Awards, January 1978, "The
Land Of Hype And Glory", January 1978, HBO concert, July 1979, "Solid
Gold", November 1981, "Fridays TV", November 1981, San Remo Music
Festival (Italy), December 1981, MTV In Concert, January 1985, Top
Of the Pops (England) 1987, Countdown (Germany) 1992, The Arsenio
Hall Show, May 1993, The Tonight Show, July 1994, Late Night, July
1994.
@Q33: WHO PLAYED WHAT?
For the most part each member played the instrument he's most
associated with: Gene Simmons-bass, Ace Frehley-lead guitar, Paul
Stanley-rhythm guitar and Peter Criss-drums. Nevertheless, there are
countless tracks where Ace would play bass on, or Gene guitar, there's
even a few lead solos done by Paul. Eric Carr played bass and guitar
on occasion. Bruce Kulick has also done a few bass tracks.
Please refer to the Discography file for a more detailed answer.
@Q34: WHAT'S THE STORY ABOUT ACE BEING ELECTROCUTED ONSTAGE?
Ace Frehley was nearly electrocuted onstage during "Detroit Rock City"
in Lakeland, Florida, 11 December, 1976. He was out for some ten
minutes or so, but eventually rejoined the rest of the band onstage
for the rest of the concert. He flew to New York the next day to
buy wireless guitars!. Gene Simmons set his hair on fire during
this same show.
@Q35: WHAT'S THE ASKING PRICE FOR COLLECTABLES/RARE ALBUMS?
Refer to part 5 of this FAQ. Also, the book "KISS Collectables
Identification and Price Guide" by Karen and John Lesnieski is
highly recommended for finding this information out.
@Q36: MISCELANEOUS:
a) KISS FAN CLUBS:
---------------
Details on how to join and cost etc, have been left out intentionally,
as they change quite often. If you'd like to join any of these fan
clubs, I suggest you write first and find out what you need to do.
I have included telephone numbers wherever possible. At the end of the
list you will also find the address of the Ace Frehley fan club "Rock
Soldiers".
AUSTRALIA: KISS CRAZY KNIGHTS
P.O. Box 408
Welland, South Australia 5007
Australia
OH YEAH
P.O. Box 1312
Glen Waverly, Victoria 3150
Australia
CANADA: KISS EXCITER
P.O. Box 409
Stn. B, London, Ontario
Canada N6A 4W1
KISS THIS
c/o Mount Olympus Enterprises
431 Boler Rd. P.O. Box 200023
London, Ontario
Canada N6K 2K0
Tel: (519) 641-1552
EUROPE: KISS ARMY INTERNATIONAL
P.O. Box 62
A-1217 Vienna
Austria
THE KISS EXPLORER ARMY
P.O. Box 528
2280 AM Rijswijk
The Netherlands
JAPAN: KISS FAN CLUB
c/o Polystar Co. Ltd
Aoyama Ellie Bldg.,
5-1-2 Minamiaoyama
Minato-ku, Tokyo 107
Japan
UNITED KINGDOM: KISS CRAZY
41 North Road
London N7 9DP
England
UNITED STATES: KISS ARMY INTERNATIONAL
c/o Tim Smith (USA Director)
RT 1 Box 95
Prospect Hill, NC 27314
U. S. A.
KISS CENTRAL
P.O. Box 827
Hagerstown, MD 21741
U. S. A.
ROCK SOLDIERS (The Official Ace Frehley Fan Club)
980 Broadway Suite 662
Thornwood, NY 10594
U. S. A.
b) KISS FANZINES:
-------------
As with fan clubs, details on how to recieve these have been left out
on purpose. Write and enquire; the people who run these things are
usually nice enough to write back with details and even sometimes
send you a sample issue of their magazine. Entries with an (*) at their
side indicate fanzines and people I'm familiar with and recommend.
AUSTRALIA: SACRIFICE MAGAZINE
9 Brunnich Pl.
Florey, A.C.T. 2615
Australia
CANADA: FIREHOUSE MAGAZINE
c/o Margaret & Ronn Roxburgh
#66-7158-138 Street
Surrey, BC
Canada V3W 7V7
UNITED STATES: STRANGE WAYS (Electronic Magazine) *
c/o Adam Zucker
4716 Ellsworth Ave #604
Pittsburgh, PA 15213 U.S.A
(Available at no charge via email)
*Internet: zucker@vms.cis.pitt.edu
*America Online: azeeeman@aol.com
(Also available on the World Wide Web)
*URC: http://www.pitt.edu/~zucker
THE KISS ALLIENCE
6 West Prospect Street
Greenville, RI 02829
U. S. A.
KISS POTPOURRI/THE GENE SCENE *
c/o Elaine Manning
3221 Midway Drive Suite 501
San Diego, CA 92110 U. S. A.
Tel: (619) 224-9229
THE NEW ENGLAND KISS COLLECTORS' NETWORK *
c/o Karen and John Lesniewski
168 Oakland Avenue
Providence, RI 02908 U. S. A.
Tel: (401) 273-4246
KISSAHOLICS
P. O. Box 22334
Nashville, TN 37202
U. S. A.
KISS FIRE *
P.O. Box 1461
Fairfield, CT 06432
U. S. A.
KISS WORLD CLASS NEWSLETTER *
c/o Peter Arquette
P.O. Box 10863
Blacksburgh, VA 24062
U. S. A.
KISS MONTAGE
P.O. Box 337
Harmony, RI 02829
U. S. A.
KISS BEAT
RR #2 Box 53
Beardstown, IL 62618
U. S. A.
HOT SHADOWS INTERNATIONAL
P. O. Box 91605
Louisville, KY 40291
U. S. A.
THE NEON GLOW
c/o Ken Gullic
P. O. Box 551422
Dallas, TX 75355
U. S. A.
KISS MASK
P.O. Box 381
Rancocas, NJ 08073
U. S. A.
c) WHO'S WHO IN KISSTORY?
----------------------
This is a listing of the names that come up most often when talking
about KISS.
Aucoin, Bill: Band manager from 1973 to 1980. Helped them get first
Casablanca contract after attending one of the concerts (11
August, 1973). Formerly producer of "Flipside" TV show.
Benvenga, Michael: Singer for Peter's early band Chelsea. He is thanked on
the back of his 1978 solo album.
Bogart, Neil: President of Casablanca Records and the person who did the most
to help KISS become the huge success it did in the early 1970s.
(He even financed the band's first three tours on his VISA
credit card!). Died of cancer in 1982. KISS' Creatures Of The
Night album was dedicated to his memory.
Bowen, Pamela: Wife of musician Paul Stanley: married 1992 (1 child).
Carr, Eric: b. Paul Daniel Carrovelo; drummer and singer for KISS, 1980-1991.
Died of cancer in November 1991.
Child, Desmond: Singer for disco band Rouge. Co-writer of many KISS songs
including "I Was Made For Lovin' You" and "Heaven's On Fire".
Corbett, Gary: Kiss keyboardist during the Crazy Nights and Hot In The Shade
tours. Never recorded anything in the studio with the band.
Coronel, Stephen: Original guitarist for Wicked Lester (1972). Co-writer of
early Gene Simmons songs such as "Goin' Blind" and "She".
Criss, Lydia: First wife of drummer Peter Criss. Now involved with KISS
merchandise at KISS conventions. She's the person for whom "Beth"
was written.
Criss, Peter: b. Peter Criscuola; drummer and singer for KISS 1973-1980.
Cusano, Vincent: Aka, Vinnie Vincent. Lead guitarist for KISS 1982-1984.
Delaney, Sean: Roadie for KISS in the early days. Put out the flames in Gene's
hair when it caught fire. Later hired by Bogart as administrator
of security during KISS' tours. Also worked as executive
producer of Double Platinum as well as Peter Criss' and Gene
Simmons' solo albums.
Drago: Name given by Gene Simmons to engineer Warren Dewey while
recording first album. The name, according to Simmons, fit
because Dewey was a short man with a black beard and very
strange behaviour. When something went wrong in the studio,
everyone would yell "Where's Drago?" [see back credits of first
album "Kiss"]
Ezrin, Bob: Producer of KISS albums Destroyer, (Music From) The Elder and
Revenge. Other projects include Alice Cooper and Pink Floyd.
Ezrin, David: Son of producer Bob Ezrin. David is the speaking child on the
song "God Of Thunder".
Fig, Anton: British drummer. Appears on Ace Frehley's solo album, on
Dynasty and on Unmasked. Also on Frehley's post KISS albums
Frehley's Comet, Live + 1 and Trouble Walkin'. Currently with
Dave Letterman.
Frehley, Ace: b. Paul Frehley; lead guitarist and singer for KISS 1973-1982.
Frehley, Jannette: Wife of guitarist Ace Frehley. Co-writer of "Speeding
Back To My Baby".
Gggarth: Engineer Garth Richardson (Alive III). The three g's are
because he stutters.
Glixman, Jeff: New York producer and musician. Producer of Paul Stanley's
1978 solo album.
Harris, Larry: Vice director of Casablanca Records.
Jackson, Michael James: LA producer of KISS albums Kiss Killers, Creatures
Of The Night and Lick It Up. Co-producer of Animalize.
Johnsen, Ron: Producer of Wicked Lester's unreleased 1972 album.
Kaye, Carol: KISS publicist. Also with Ace Frehley and Eric Carr.
Kerner, Kenny: Producer of KISS albums Kiss and Hotter Than Hell. Originally
with NY band Dust.
Kramer, Eddie: (also Edward) British producer. His work with KISS includes
the band's 1973 demo, Alive!, Rock And Roll Over, Love Gun,
Alive II and Alive III. He also produced Ace Frehley's 1978
solo album and many of his post-KISS records as well. Kramer's
other work includes the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin.
Kulick, Bob: NY session musician; brother of guitarist Bruce Kulick.
Auditioned unsuccesfully for KISS in 1973. Appears on Alive II
(side 4), Paul Stanley solo, Unmasked, Kiss Killers and
Creatures Of The Night.
Kulick, Bruce: KISS lead guitarist since 1984.
Kulick, Christina: Wife of musician Bruce Kulick; married 1989 (no children)
Lesniewski, Karen and John: Editors of the New England KISS Collectors' Network
fanzine. Organised the very first KISS convention which took
place in Boston on 1 March, 1987.
Marks, Howard: Public relations manager for KISS 1978-1992.
Mazer, Larry: KISS management. No longer with them it seems.
Neaves, Lee: One of the two youths pictured on the back of Alive!. Lee is the
one with his arm up in the air.
Nevison, Ron: Producer of Crazy Nights. Other work includes Ozzy Osbourne and
Heart.
Poncia, Vini: Producer of Peter Criss' 1978 solo album, as well as of
Dynasty and Unmasked.
Redoute, Bruce: One of the two youths pictured on the back of Alive!.
Simmons, Gene: b. Chaim Witz; KISS co-founder, bassist and lead singer.
Singer, Eric: KISS drummer since 1991.
St. John, Mark: b. Mark Norton; KISS lead guitarist in 1984.
Stanley, Paul: b. Stanley Eisen; KISS co-founder, guitarist and lead singer.
Tweed, Shannon: Girlfriend of musician Gene Simmons (2 children).
Vincent, Vinnie: b. Vincent Cusano; KISS lead guitarist 1982-1984.
Wise, Richie: Producer of KISS albums Kiss and Hotter Than Hell. Originally
with NY band Dust.
Wittman, Dave: NY engineer. With KISS since 1972.
d) STRANGE WAYS READER'S POLL
--------------------------
What follows are the results of Strange Ways' 1st Annual Reader's
Poll. It appears here by permission of Adam Zucker, who owns the
copyrights on it.
Question 1: What are your favorite KISS albums?
1. Alive! 6. Dressed To Kill
2. KISS 7. Music From the Elder
3. Destroyer 8. Hotter Than Hell
4. Revenge 9. Creatures Of The Night
5. Alive II 10. Love Gun
Question 2: What are your least favorite KISS albums?
1. Peter Criss
2. Asylum
3. Animalize
4. Crazy Nights
5. Dynasty
Question 3: Who is (or was) your favorite member of KISS
1. Gene Simmons (44.8%)
2. Ace Frehley (31%)
3. Paul Stanley (17.2%)
4. Peter Criss (6.9%)
Question 4: What is your favorite KISS video?
1. I Love It Loud (original) 6. Domino
2. Unholy 7. Rock And Roll All Nite
3. I Just Wanna 8. Uh! All Night
4. Hide Your Heart 9. Tears Are Falling
5. Crazy Crazy Nights 10. Heaven's On Fire
Question 5: What is your least favorite KISS video?
1. All Hell's Breaking Loose
2. Tears Are Falling
3. Lick It Up
4. Uh! All Night
5. Let's Put The X in Sex
Question 6: What KISS songs are your favorite?
1. Detroit Rock City 21. I Stole Your Love
2. Strutter 22. Mr. Speed
3. Black Diamond 23. Got To Choose
4. Cold Gin 24. King Of The Nighttime World
5. Rock And Roll All Nite 25. Sure Know Something
6. I Love It Loud 26. Love Gun
7. God Of Thunder 27. Almost Human
8. Unholy 28. War Machine
9. Uh! All Night 29. Rock Bottom
10. Domino 30. Firehouse
11. Watchin' You 31. I
12. Deuce 32. Hard Luck Woman
13. Rocket Ride 33. Shout It Out Loud
14. She 34. Makin' Love
15. Calling Dr. Love 35. Heaven's On Fire
16. I Just Wanna 36. Take It Off
17. Shock Me 37. Goin' Blind
18. All Hell's Breakin' Loose 38. Hotter Then Hell
19. Flaming Youth 39. Two Timer
20. Parasite
Question 7: What KISS songs are your least favorite?
1. Baby Driver
2. Great Expectations
3. Anyway You Want It
4. King Of The Mountain
5. Kissin' Time
6. Let's Put The X In Sex
7. Shandi
8. I Was Made For Loving You
Question 9: What KISS album has the Best cover?
1. Destroyer
2. Creatures Of The Night (original)
3. Hotter Than Hell
4. Rock And Roll Over
Question 10: What KISS album has the worst cover?
1. Asylum
2. Creatures Of The Night (re-release)
3. Music From The Elder
4. Animalize
Question 11: Did you like KISS better when they wore make-up? Or do you
prefer KISS later-day KISS, without the makeup?
Make-up: 44%
Without make-up: 4%
No preference: 52%
Question 12: How many times have you seen KISS in concert?
Average: 4 times
High: 12
Low: 0
Question 13: Which KISS Tour Was Your favorite?
1. World Tour 1977-78
2. Hot In The Shade
3. Revenge Club Tour
4. Dynasty
Question 14: How old are you?
Average: 24.5 years old
High: 35
Low: 15
Question 15: How long have you been a KISS fan?
Average: 16.75 years (or since mid 1977)
High: 23
Low: 6 months
e) KISSARMY ALBUMS POLL
--------------------
Conducted and posted to the KISSARMY by David Clayton Tyson on
February of 1994. Readers were asked to rate KISS albums from 0 for
worse to 5 for best.
ALBUM AVERAGE # OF 5 VOTES RECIEVED
1. Kiss 4.24 13
2. Hotter than hell 3.54 2
3. Dressed to Kill 3.92 6
4. Alive I 4.70 30
5. Destroyer 4.55 26
6. R&R Over 3.71 3
7. Love Gun 3.75 7
8. Double Plat. 3.56 8
9. Alive II 4.05 7
10. Gene 3.13 4
11. Paul 3.73 8
12. Ace 4.22 14
13. Peter 1.78 0
14. Dynasty 3.43 4
15. Unmasked 3.06 2
16. The Elder 4.11 18
17. Killers 3.49 2
18. Creatures of Night 4.29 16
19. Lick it Up 3.39 2
20. Anamilize 3.00 0
21. Asylum 2.90 0
22. Crazy Nights 2.97 0
23. Smashes, Thrashes 3.26 4
24. Hot in the Shade 3.30 3
25. Revenge 4.43 19
26. Alive III 3.77 11
Top 5 Rated Albums Worst 5 Rated Albums
1. Alive I - 4.70 1. Peter - 1.78
2. Destroyer - 4.55 2. Asylum - 2.90
3. Revenge - 4.43 3. Crazy Nights - 2.97
4. Creatures of the Night - 4.29 4. Animalize - 3.00
5. Kiss - 4.24 5. Unmasked - 3.06
Total Album Average: 3.63
Total Average with Makeup(and Ace): 3.70
(kiss-killers)
Total Average post Makeup(and Ace): 3.48
(Creatures-Alive III)
Total Average through Kiss-Love Gun: 4.06
Total AVerage solo albums: 3.22
Total Average of collections: 3.44
Total Average of Alive albums: 4.17
f) KISSARMY POLL: FAVOURITE VERSIONS OF KISS KLASSICS
--------------------------------------------------
I conducted this informal poll, July of 1994. Readers were asked to
choose their favourite version of 10 KISS classics from amongst the
various versions available throughout the band's catalogue.
KISSARMY members' favourite versions of:
* STRUTTER: 1) Double Platinum version 1978. 2) Tie between the 1973 demo
version and the 1975 Alive! version.
* DEUCE: 1) Alive! version 1975. 2) Alive III version 1993.
* DETROIT ROCK CITY: 1) Alive II version 1977. 2) Destroyer version 1976.
* HARD LUCK WOMAN: Three way tie between the Rock And Roll Over version 1976,
the Double Platinum version 1978 and the Kiss My Ass version (w/
Garth Brooks on lead vocals) 1994.
* COLD GIN: 1) Alive! version 1975. 2) Kiss version 1974.
* WATCHIN' YOU: 1) Hotter Than Hell version 1974. 2) Tie between the Alive!
version 1975 and the Alive III version 1993.
* HEAVEN'S ON FIRE: 1) Animalize version 1984. 2) Alive III version 1993.
* LICK IT UP: Tie between the Animalize Uncensored version 1984 and the
Alive III version 1993.
* ROCK AND ROLL ALL NITE: 1) Alive! version 1975. 2) Dressed To Kill version
1975.
* I LOVE IT LOUD: 1) Creatures Of The Night version 1982. 2) Tie between the
Animalize Uncensored version 1984 and the Alive III version 1993.
g) OTHER RANDOM BITS OF INFORMATION
--------------------------------
*Peter Criss joined Wicked Lester, before they changed their name to KISS.
*Ace Frehley auditioned for KISS on 17 January, 1973. He became a member of
the band on the 22th of the same month.
*KISS' first live performance was the Coventry club in NYC, 30 January, 1973.
*Peter Criss's final live performance with KISS was San Diego, CA, 29
November, 1979.
*Eric Carr's first show with KISS was The Palladium, NYC 25 July, 1980.
*Eric Carr's last live performance with KISS was at the Madison Square Garden,
NYC, 9 November, 1990.
*Ace's final performance with KISS on the european television show RockPop,
November 1982.
*Vinnie's first live performance with KISS in Bismark, ND, 28 December, 1982.
*Vinnie's last live performance with KISS was Evansville, IN, 17 March, 1984.
*Mark St. John's first live appearance with KISS was Baltomore, 27 November,
1984. His last was the next night.
*Bruce's first live show with KISS Brighton, England, 30 September, 1984.
*Eric Singer's first show with KISS was at The Stone, San Francisco, CA, 23
April, 1992.
*Gene Simmons' height: 1.90 m.(6' 2-3/4"); weight: 85 kg(187 lbs).
*Bruce Kulick's height: 1.90 m.(6' 2-3/4"); weight: 73 kg(161lbs).
*Ace Frehley's height: 1.83 m.(6' 0"); weight: 73 kg.
*Paul Stanley's height: 1.79 m.(5' 10-1/2"); weight: 70 kg(154lbs).
*Mark St. John's height: 1.79 m.(5' 10-1/2"); weight: 71 kg(157lbs).
*Vinnie Vincent's height: 1.77 m.(5' 9-3/4"); weight: 68 kg(150lbs).
*Eric Singer's height: 1.77 m.(5' 9-3/4"); weight: 70 kg(154lbs).
*Peter Criss' height: 1.75 m.(5' 9"); weight: 69 kg(152lbs).
*Eric Carr's height: 1.72 m.(5' 7-3/4"); weight: 66 kg(146lbs).
*Deuce was the first song the band played as KISS. It was also the first song
recorded for their 1973 demos and the first song recorded for their debut album
"Kiss".
*Strutter was originally called "Stanley The Parrot".
*Kissin' Time was first released by Bobby Rydell in the early '60s under
the title "Twistin' Time".
*The solo on "She" is not an original KISS composition. Ace "borrowed" it
from The Doors' "Five To One".
*God Of Thunder was first recorded with Paul Stanley on lead vocals. Bob
Ezrin suggested it would sound better if Gene sang it.
*Calling Dr. Love was inspired by a Three Stooges short(!).
*Partners In Crime had to be recorded twice. The first time the key was too
high.
*Hide Your Heart was first recorded for the Crazy Nights album, but it was
rejected by producer Ron Nevison.
*Rocket Ride was written for the Love Gun album, but it was rejected by the
band.
*"Heaven" was the name of an Eric Carr/Ace Frehley tune from the 1981 Elder
sessions. Ace later released as "Breakout" while KISS put it on Revenge as
"Carr Jam 1981".
*Ace Frehley recorded all of his lead vocal work with KISS while lying on the
floor.
*I'm Alive, from Asylum, was recorded under the title "Run For Your Life", and
it was changed at the last minute to the title that wound up on the album.
*Black Diamond was initially a Gene Simmons' tune. Paul liked the title and
used it for his song.
*Christine Sixteen was the title of a Paul Stanley song which Gene stole for
the song we know.
*Gene's Love Gun demos were recorded by him with Eddie Van Halen on guitar
and Alex Van Halen on drums. They (the demos) remain unreleased.
*Deadly Weapons was the first studio work Eric Carr recorded with KISS. The
track, unfortunately, has not been released yet.
*Hotter Than Hell was recorded in less than a week. The Elder took 7 months to
complete!.
*Great Expectations' original lyrics referred to each member of the band by
name.
*Gene Simmons would often change the lyrics to Domino during the Revenge tour.
Some of the variations include the lines "I've got man-sized predicament, and
it bigger that Paul Stanley's" and "Paul Stanley bends over and I forget my
name". Let's hope Paul appreciated Gene's twisted sense of humour!
*KISS was initially going to record Elvis Presley's Jailhouse Rock for Alive
II; The Dave Clark Five's Any Way You Want It was what ended up on the album.
*The first title of 1987's Crazy Nights album was Who Dares Wins.
*Flaming Youth started as three different tracks which the band combined in
the studio into the song that appeared on Destroyer.
*Beth, KISS' biggest single ever, was considered by whole band as "filler"
material. It was not released as a single but as the B-side of Detroit Rock
City.(After the song started to get airplay, Casablanca re-released the single
with Beth on the A-side).
*KISS' first charting single wasn't even supposed to be a single at all. Neil
Bogart released it behind the band's back.
*Several TV shows and movies have had references to KISS. Here are some of the
most popular: WKRP In Cincinatti, Benson, FM, Saturday Night Live, Dazed And
Confused, etc, and...
*Quantum Leap did an entire show about a '70s band called King Thunder, in
which all the members wore facial makeup and wore platform shoes and capes.
From time to time you could see pictures of KISS' first album modified to look
like posters of the show's fictional band.
*On the cover of Dressed To Kill there's two interesting things. One, it is
the only readily available photo of the scar on Gene's right hand, caused by
a guitar string, and two, the two pieces of paper next to Gene's shoes contain
the initials P.C. and D.N. As to what they refer to, use your imagination.
*After the photo session for the Hotter Than Hell album, Paul was so drunk that
Gene had to carry him out and put him in the back of his car. Everyone in the
room was drunk, except Gene.
*Alive III remains as the only album in the KISS catalogue which hasn't been
certified either Gold or Platinum.
*KISS is ranked 4th as groups with most Gold, Platinum and Multiplatinum
albums. #1 are the Stones, #2 The Beatles, #3 Chicago and then KISS.
*The May 1994 issue of Guitar World magazine listed Ace Frehley at number nine
(9) in their "The 100 Most Important People In Guitar" article. Ace came in
ahead of such heavyweights as Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Keith Richards, Pete
Townshend, and David Gilmour.
h) ARTICLE: HOW KISS GOT THEIR NAME
--------------------------------
Posted to the KISSARMY list by Gary Lee Schmidt on 11 February, 1994.
From _Rock Names_, by Adam Dolgins:
Kiss was formed in New York City in 1972. Singer and guitarist Paul
Stanley recalls how they got their name in an interview: "We were at the
point where we were already rehearsing songs, and very clear on what
the band was about and who we were. That's the point where you have
to come with a name to kind of reflect that. I was driving my '63
Plymouth Grand Fury on the Long Island Expressway, and the name
suddenly came to me. I remember thinking to myself, 'God, I know this
is the right name, I hope I don't get any grief from the other guys.' I told
them I thought the band should be called Kiss and I held my breath,
waiting for some sort of response, and everybody went, 'Yeah, that
sounds pretty good.' So there you have it."
Q: What inspired you? Did you hear a song on the radio?
A: "I think Kiss just conjured up so may different images. It's a word I
felt, no matter where you went in the world, people were going to
recognize it. It's just a universal word, even where, obviously, they
don't speak the language. It's also short, and it looks great, and not
much more than that. It can be a kiss of death, or it can be real soft.
In that way, without having the kind of contrast, it has the same stuff to
me as Led Zeppelin, Iron Butterfly, those kind of things, where it's light
and heavy, or dark and light, but it's all in one word. Kiss has all those
connotations."
Q: Did you guys ever play under another name?
A: "Never, although, of course, those are stories that look great in print."
Q: What are some of the stories that have gotten back to you guys? I
remember something about Kids in Satan's Service.
A: "Right. There was Knights in Satan's Service, or Keep it Simple
Stupid. Then somebody was saying that we were thinking of calling
ourselves Fuck--it just never happened. It's kind of an honor and a
compliment to have rumors and myths written and spoken about you,
'cause I guess it means in some way you have some sort of importance.
But none of those stories are really true."
Q: I think there are more stories about Kiss than most other bands.
A: "And some of the best ones are unknown to the public."
Q: Are you pleased you went with it?
A: "No complaints so far."
i) ARTICLE: GENE SIMMONS BLOOD RECIPE
----------------------------------
Posted to the KISSARMY by Aaron Williams on 13 June, 1994.
Gene Simmons Downhome Stage Blood-
New York City Style
Ingredients:
6 eggs, shells and all
1/2 cup Dannon strawberry yogurt
1/3 cup cottage cheese (preferably with pineapples)
4 squirts red food coloring
1/2 cup Aunt Jemima maple syrup (extra thick)
3 heaping tablespoons corn starch
Directions:
In a two quart saucepan, combine eggs (with shells), yogurt, cottage cheese,
maple syrup and corn starch. Heat over low flame for 15 minutes, stirring
frequently. Add coloring, stir, and cover. Cook for 5 minutes, or until
mixture takes the consistency of phlegm. Makes enough for 2 concerts.
Serving Suggestions:
With bass in hand, drool, spit and slobber all over yourself, flicking
speckles of blood 20 feet into audience with 7-inch tongue.
j) TOURDATES 1973-1994
-------------------
Compiled by Mark Kennedy (90%) and me (10%)
KISS
1973
1-30 Queens, New York Coventry (first show)
1-31 Queens, New York Coventry
2-1 Queens, New York Coventry
2-? New York, New York Bleeker Street Loft
6-2 Amityville, New York The Daisy
7-13 New York, New York Hotel Diplomat
8-10 New York, New York Hotel Diplomat (Bill Aucoin in audience)
8-24 Amityville, New York The Daisy (Neil Bogart in Audience)
8-25 Amityville, New York The Daisy
8-31 Queens, New York Coventry
9-1 Queens, New York Coventry
12-31 New York, New York Academy of Music
1974
3-? New York, New York Fillmore
4-7 Detroit, Michigan Michigan Palace
4-16 Baton Rouge, Louisiana
5-16 Detroit, Michigan Cobo Hall
5-26 Paramount Northwest
5-31 Long Beach, California Long Beach Arena
6-2 Atlanta, Georgia
San Francisco,California Winterland Ballroom
6-13 Tulsa, Oklahoma
6 Atlanta, Georgia Electric Ballroom
7-16 Baton Rouge, Louisiana
7-20 Windy City
7-? Anchorage, Alaska
7 Washington, D.C. The Bayou (played Love Theme From Kiss)
8-? Santa Monica, CA Civic Centre
8-25 ?
9-14 ?
1975
1-6 San Francisco, CA Winterland Ballroom
3-27 Detroit Michigan Cobo Hall
3-29 Cleveland, Ohio Allen Theatre
5-3 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tower Theatre
5 Boston, Massachusetts Orpheum Theater
5-25 Detroit, Michigan Cobo Hall
6-20 Detroit, Michigan Cobo Hall
7-5 Long Beach, California Long Beach Arena
7-23 Wildwood, New Jersey
8-7 Providence, Rhode Island
Largo, Maryland Capital Centre
10-9 Cadillac, Michigan Cadillac High School
12-31 Uniondale, New York Nassau County Coliseum
1976
1-25 Detroit, Michigan Cobo Hall
1-26 Detroit, Michigan Cobo Hall
1-27 Detroit, Michigan Cobo Hall
5-? Lakeland, Florida
5-13 Manchester, England Free Trade Hall
5-16 London, England Hammersmith Odeon
5-17 London, England Hammersmith Odeon
5-22 Paris, France
5-27 Lund, Sweden
7-10 New Jersey Roosevelt Stadium
7-? Miami, Florida
7-23 St. Louis, Missouri
8-12 Houston, Texas
8-20 Anaheim, California Anaheim Stadium
9-12 Springlfield, Massachusetts
12-11 Lakeland, Florida (Ace nearly electrocuted)
1977
Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Palace
2-18 New York, New York Madison Square Garden (1st MSG show)
2-21 New York Nassau County Coliseum
3-5 Lexington, Kentucky Rupp Arena
4-1 Tokyo, Japan Budokan Theatre
4-2 Tokyo, Japan Budokan Theatre
4-3 Tokyo, Japan Budokan Theatre (2 shows in one day)
7-2 Canada
7-8 Halifax, NS The Forum
7-9 Moncton, NB Coliseum
7-12 Montreal, Quebec The Forum
7-14 Ottawa, Ontario Civic Centre
7-16 Kitchener, Ontario Memorial Gardens
7-18 London, Ontario London Gardens
7-19 Sudbury, Ontario Arena
7-21 Winnipeg, MN Arena
7-24 Vancouver, BC P.N.E.
7-27 Edmonton, Alberta Coliseum
7-28 Lethbridge, Alberta Sportsplex
7-29 Edmonton, Alberta Coliseum
7-31 Calgary, Alberta The Corral
8-1 Calgary, Alberta The Corral
8-2 Regina, SASK Agridome
8-4 Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Palace
8-7 Billings, Montana Yellowstone Arena
8-8 Rapid City, SD Rushmore Civic Centre
8-11 Spokane, WA Coliseum
8-12 Seattle, WA Coliseum
8-13 Portland, Oregon Coliseum
8-16 San Francisco, CA Cow Palace
8-17 Fresno, CA Sellano Arena
8-19 San Diego, CA Sports Arena
8-21 Tucson, Arizona Convention Centre
8-22 Phoenix, Arizona Memorial Coliseum
8-26 Los Angeles, California L.A. Forum
8-27 Los Angeles, California L.A. Forum
8-28 Los Angeles, California L.A. Forum
9-1 Houston, Texas
9-2 Houston, Texas
11-15 Oklahoma City, OK Myriad Convention Centre
12-12 Louisville, Kentucky Freedom Hall
12-20 Largo, Maryland
1978
1-6 Columbia, South Carolina
1-? Largo, Maryland
1-27 Springfield, Massachusetts
2-1 Providence, Rhode Island
2-2 Providence, Rhode Island
3-? Tokyo, Japan Budokan Theater
3-? Tokyo, Japan Budokan Theater
3-? Tokyo, Japan Budokan Theater
4-1 Tokyo, Japan Budokan Theater
4-2 Tokyo, Japan Budokan Theater
Lakeland, Florida
5-19 Magic Mountain, California Magic Mountain Amusement Park
1979
6-15 Lakeland, Florida Lakeland Civic Center
7-7 Largo, Maryland Capital Centre
7-24 New York, New York Madison Square Garden
7-25 New York, New York Madison Square Garden
8-1 Providence, Rhode Island
9-7 Philadelphia, PA
9-16 Louisville, Kentucky Freedom Hall
9-22 Chicago, Illinois Amphetheatre
9-24 Milwaukee, WI
11-7 Los Angeles, California LA Forum
11-19 Vancouver, BC
11-21 Seattle, WA Coliseum
11-27 Fresno, California
11-29 San Diego, California (PC's last)
1980
7-25 New York, New York The Palladium
8-25 Lisbon, Portugal Cascais Hall
8-29 Rome, Italy Castle Saint Angelo
8-30 Perugia, Italy Stadion Communale
8-31 Bologna, Italy Stadion Communale
9-2 Turin, Italy Stadion Communale
9-5 Stafford, England Bingley Hall
9-6 Stafford, England Bingley Hall
9-8 London, England Wembley Stadium
9-9 London, England Wembley Stadium
9-11 Nuremberg, Germany Hessehalle,
9-12 Dusseldorf, Germany Philipshalle
9-13 Frankfurt, Germany Rebstockgelaende (Open Air)
9-15 Dortmund, Germany Forest National
9-17 Stuttgart, Germany Sindelfingen Messehalle
9-18 Munich, Germany Olympic Hall
9-20 Kassel, Germany Eissporthalle
9-21 Brussels, Belgium Westfalenhalle
9-23 Avignon, France Parc Des Expositions
9-24 Lyon, France Palais Des Sports
9-26 Lille, France Parc Des Expositions
9-27 Paris, France Le Bourgete
9-28 Basel, Switzerland St. Jacob's-Halle
9-30 Cologne, Germany Sporthalle
10-01 Bremen, Germany Stadthalle
10-02 Hannover, Germany Niedersachsenhalle
10-04 Hamburg, Germany Ernst-Herck-Halle
10-05 Lieden, Holland Groenoordhalle
10-06 Karlsruhe, Germany Schwarzwaldhalle
10-09 Stockholm, Sweden
10-10 Gothenburg, Sweden Scandinaviun
10-11 Copenhagen, Denmark Broendbyhallen
10-12 Oslo, Norway Drammenshallen
10-13 Oslo, Norway Drammenshallen
10-? Melbourne, Australia
11-15 Sydney, Australia Paramatta Stadium
11-18 Adelaide, Australia Adelaide Fairgrounds
12-3 Auckland, New Zealand
1981
11-20 Los Angeles, California Fridays TV Show Studio
1982
5-? Amsterdam, Holland
Las Vegas, Nevada Alladin
12-28 Bismark, ND
12-31 Rockford, Illinois Metro Centre
1983
1-12 Quebec, Canada
1-13 Montreal, Canada Forum
1-14 Toronto, Canada
1-15 Ottawa, Canada Civic Centre
1-22 Worcester, Massachusetts
3-23 Detroit, Michigan Cobo Hall
3-27 Irvine, California Irvine Meadows
3-? Berkeley, California
6-18 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
6-25 Sao Paulo, Brazil (last makeup show)
Salt Lake City Salt Palace
Montreal, Canada Rock En Stock
10-11 Lisbon, Portugal
10-13 Barcelona, Spain
10-23 London, England (Played Exciter)
10-24 Leicester, England De Montfort Hall
10-31 Paris, France
11-11 Essen, Germany
11-13 Brussels, West Germany Vorst Nationaal
11-27 Olau, Finland
11-18 Gothenburg, Sweden Scandinavium
11-20 Malmo, Sweden Isstadion
12-2 Nashville, TN Municipal Auditorium
12-19 Glens Falls, New York
12-26 Augusta, Georgia
1984
1-11 Nashville, Tennessee Municipal Auditorium
1-22 Albequerque, New Mexico
1-28 Las Vegas, Nevada
1-30 Reno, Nevada
3-3 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theatre
3-9 New York, New York Radio City Music Hall
3-10 New York, New York Radio City Music Hall
3-12 Quebec, Canada
3-13 Montreal, Canada
3-15 Toronto, Canada
3-17 Evansville, Indiana
9-30 Brighton, England Conference Centre
10-5 Glasgow, Scotland Gaumont Theatre
10-11 Ipswich, England
10-14 London, England
10-? Newcastle, England
10-26 Stockholm, Sweden Isstadion
10-27 Gothenburg, Sweden Scandinavium
10-? Dusseldorf
10 UK, West Germany, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland
11-4 Zwolle, Holland
11 Belgium, Holland, France
11-15 Allentown, Pennsylvania
11-25 Uniondale, New York Nassau County Coliseum
11-27 Baltimore, Maryland
11-28 Poughkeepsie, New York Mid Hudson Civic Center
11-29 Binghamton, New York (MSJ's last)
12-2 Boston, Massachusetts
12-7 Fort Wayne, Indiana Civic Coliseum
12-8 Detroit, Michigan Cobo Hall (filmed Animalize video)
12-15 Louisville, Kentucky Commonwealth Convention Center
12-? Salt Lake City Salt Palace
12-30 Milwaukie, Wisconsin
1985
1-31 Houston, Texas Coliseum
2-9 Oakland, California
2-11 Los Angeles, California LA Forum
Columbus, Ohio Ohio Center
Cleveland, Ohio
2-20 San Bernardino, California
2-24 Sacramento, California
3-9 Winnipeg, Canada
3-29 Meadowlands, New Jersey Brendan Byrne Arena
11-29 Little Rock, Arkansas
11-30 Nashville, Tennessee
12-1 Memphis, Tennessee
12-3 San Antonio, Texas
12-4 Dallas, Texas
12-6 Lafayette, Louisiana
12-7 Houston, Texas
12-8 Austin, Texas
12-9 Springfield, Illinois
12-11 Cleveland, Ohio
12-12 Louisville, Kentucky Freedom Hall
12-14 Detroit, Michigan
12-16 New York, New York Madison Square Garden
12-17 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
12-19 Glen Falls, New York
12-20 Worcester, Massachusetts
12-21 New Haven, Connecticut
12-22 Providence, Rhode Island
12-27 Columbia, Maryland
12-28 Charlotte, North Carolina
12-29 Greensboro, North Carolina
12-30 Augusta, Georgia
12-31 Atlanta, Georgia
1986
1-12 San Juan, Puerto Rico
1-17 Chicago, Illinois UIC Pavillion
1-20 Milwaukee, WI
1-21 St. Paul, MN
1-24 Omaha, NB
2-11 Los Angeles, California The Forum
2-14 Seattle, WA
2-28 Fort Worth, Texas
3-? Nashville, Tennessee
3-14 Des Moines, Iowa
3-16 Des Moines, Iowa
3-21 Cincitatti, OH
3-28 Toledo, OH
4-1 Allentown, Pennsylvania
4-2 Utica, New York (played King Of The Mountain)
4-6 Springfield, Massachusetts
4-10 Baltimore, MD
4-11 New Jersey, NJ Meadowlands
1987
8-8 Los Angeles, California Olympic Auditorium
11-13 Pensacola, Florida
11-21 Lubbock, Texas
11-22 Wichita, Kansas
12-1 St. Paul, MN
12-10 Toronto, Canada
12-12 Providence, Rhode Island
12-18 Philadelphia, PA The Spectrum
12-19 New Haven, Connecticut
12-29 Louisville, Kentucky Freedom Hall
12-31 Dayton, Ohio
1988
1-? Toledo, Ohio Sports Arena
1-8 Largo, Maryland
1-20 Norfolk, Virginia The Scope
1-27 Worcester, Massachusetts (filmed Turn On The Night video)
2-12 Hollywood, Florida
2-? Jackson, Mississippi
2-18 Hollywood, Florida
3-3 Peoria, Illinois Civic Centre
3-5 Winnipeg, Canada
3-11 Vancouver, Canada
3-17 Seattle, Washington
3-21 Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Palace - Acord Arena
Toronto, Ontario Maple Leaf Gardens
4-2 Las Vegas, Nevada Thomas and Mack Centre
4-16 Tokyo, Japan Budokan Hall
4-22 Tokyo, Japan Budokan Hall
7-4 Swanzey,New Hampshire Fairground
7-8 Halifax, Canada Forum
8-12 New York, New York The Ritz
8-13 New York, New York The Ritz
8-16 London, England The Marquee Club
8-20 Donnington, England (Monsters Of Rock)
8-27 Schweinfurt, Germany
9-13 Paris, France
9-16 Gothenberg, Sweden Scandinavium
9-17 Stockholm, Sweden Isstadion
9-20 Germany (Monsters Of Rock)
9-25 Wembley, England
9-28 Bradford, England
10-3 Northern Ireland
11 Budapest, Hungary
1989 Paul Stanley solo
2-15 Delaware
2-16 Boston, Massachusetts
2-17 Brooklyn, New York L' Amours
2-18 Brooklyn, New York L' Amours
2-19 Commacks, New York
2-21 Baltimore, Maryland Hammerjacks
2-22 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Trocadero
2-23 West Hartford, Connecticut
2-24 Asbury Park, New Jersey
2-25 Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk Boathouse
2-27 Poughkeepsie, New York
Columbus, Ohio
3-2 Cleveland, Ohio
3-4 Detroit, Michigan
3-6 Toronto, Canada
3-8 Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
3-9 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
3-10 Trenton, New Jersey
3-11 New York, New York The Ritz
3-12 New Haven, Connecticut
3-30 Anaheim, California Perkins Palace
3-31 San Francisco, California
4-1 Hollywood, California The Palace
4-2 Oakland, California
4-4 Hollywood, California The Palace
1990
3-11 Galveston, Texas (played on the beach, HITS warm up)
4-14 Ashbury Park, New Jersey Stone Pony (Benefit concert)
4-25 Reseda, California The Country Club (HITS warm up)
5-5 Dallas, Texas
5-6 Austin, Texas
5-7 San Antonio, Texas
5-8 Tulsa, Oklahoma
5-9 Wichita, Kansas
5-10 Omaha, Nebraska Civic Auditorium Arena*
5-11 Sioux Falls, South Dakota
5-12 Kansas City, Missouri
5-15 Saginaw, Missouri
5-16 Toledo, Ohio
5-17 Terre Haute, Indiana
5-18 Detroit, Michigan Cobo Hall
5-19 Grand Rapids, Michigan
5-20 Fort Wayne, Indiana
5-22 Cape Girardeau, MO
5-23 Cedar Rapids, IA
5-25 Minneapolis, Minnesota
5-26 Fargo, North Dakota
5-27 Duluth, Minnesota
5-28 Green Bay, WI
5-30 Peoria, Illinois Hammonds Student Center
5-31 Evansville, Indiana Mesker Music Theater
6-1 St. Louis, Missouri Kiel Auditorium
6-2 Des Moines, Iowa Veterans Auditorium
6-3 Chicago, Illinois The World
6-6 Columbus Ohio Ohio center
6-7 Dayton, Ohio Hara Arena
6-8 Indianapolis, Indiana Deer Creek Amphitheater
6-9 Cleveland, Ohio Richfield Coliseum
6-12 Charlevoix, Michigan Castle Farms
6-13 Grand Rapids, Michigan Stadium Arena
6-15 Toronto, Ontario, Canada CNE
6-16 Weesport, New York Cayuga Fairgrounds
6-17 Middletown, New York Orange County Fairgrounds
6-20 Providence, Rhode Island Civic Center
6-21 Rochester, New York War Memorial Arena
6-22 Binghamton, New York Broome Convention Center
6-23 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Starlake Amphitheater
6-26 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Spectrum
6-27 Allentown, Pennsylvania Fairgrounds
6-28 Uniondale, New York
6-29 Mansfield, Massachusetts Great Woods
6-30 East Rutherford, New Jersey The Meadowlands
7-3 Springfield, Massachusetts Springfield Civic Center
7-5 New Haven, Connecticut New Haven Coliseum
7-6 Portland, Maine
7-7 Uniondale, New York Seashore Performing Arts Center
7-8 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania City Island
7-10 Fairfax, Virginia The Patriot Center
7-11 Roanoke, Virginia Civic Coliseum
7-12 Norfolk, Virginia Scope Arena
7-13 Wheeling, West Virginia Civic Center
7-14 Charleston, South Carolina Civic Coliseum
7-17 Lexington, Kentucky Rupp Arena
7-18 Johnson City, Tennessee Freedom Hall
7-19 Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville Coliseum
7-20 Atlanta, Georgia Lakewood Amphitheater
7-21 Nashville, Tennessee Starwood Amphitheater
7-24 Columbia, South Carolina Carolina Coliseum
7-25 Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte Coliseum
7-26 Greenville, South Carolina Municipal Stadium
7-27 Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro Coliseum
7-28 Fayateville, North Carolina Cumberland County Civic Center
7-31 Savannah, Georgia Civic Center
8-1 Jacksonville, Florida Veteran's Memorial Coliseum
8-2 Orlando, Florida Orlando Arena
8-3 Miami, Florida Miami Arena
8-4 Tampa, Florida Sun Dome
8-7 Birmingham, Alabama Oak Mountain Amphitheater
8-8 Memphis, Tennessee Mid South Coliseum
8-16 Huntsville, Alabama
8-17 Jackson, MI
8-19 Shrevenport, LA
8-21 Houston, Texas
8-22 San Antonio, Texas
8-23 Fort Worth, Texas
8-24 Little Rock, Arkansas
8-25 Oklahoma City, OK
8-30 Denver, Colorado
8-31 Casper, WY
9-1 Salt Lake City, Utah
9-2 Billings, Montana
9-3 Boise, Idaho
9-6 Vancouver, BC
9-7 Seattle, Washington Seattle Center
9-8 Spokane, Washington Spokane, Coliseum
9-9 Portland, Oregon Portland, Memorial
9-12 Sacramento, California California Expo Amphitheater
9-13 Concord, California Pavilion
9-14 Long Beach, California Arena
9-15 San Diego, California Sports Arena
9-16 Phoenix, Arizona Coliseum
9-19 El Paso, Texas Special Events Center
9-20 Odessa, Texas Ector County Coliseum
9-21 Fort Worth, Texas Tarrant County
9-22 Amarillo, Texas Civic Center
9-24 Springfield, Missouri Hammond Center
9-25 Columbia, Missouri Hearns Center
9-26 Lincoln, Nebraska Pershing Auditorium
9-28 Springfield, Illinois The Center
9-29 Troy, Wisconsin Alpine Valley
9-30 Dubuque, Iowa Five Flags
10-2 Bismarck, North Dakota Civic Center
10-4 Marqette, Michigan Lake View Arena
10-5 Rochester, Minnesota Mayo Civic Center
10-6 Sioux Center, Idaho Auditorium
10-7 Topeka, Kansas ExpoCenter
10-11 South Bend, Indiana
10-12 Hamilton, Ontario Copps Coliseum
10-13 London, Ontario London Gardens
10-14 Detroit, Michigan Auburn Hills
10-15 Kalamazoo, Michigan Wings Stadium
10-16 Eerie, Pennsylvania Civic Center
10-18 Ottawa, Ontario Civic Centre
10-19 Montreal, Quebec Forum
10-21 Sydney, Nova Scotia Centre 200
10-22 Halifax, Nova Scotia Metro Centre
10-23 Moncton, New Brunswick Coliseum
10-25 Portland, Maine Portland County Civic Center
10-26 Worcester, Massachusetts Centrum
10-27 New Haven, Connecticut Coliseum
10-28 Baltimore, Maryland Arena
10-30 Wheeling, West Virginia Civic Center
10-31 Lexington, Kentucky Rupp Arena
11-1 Charleston, Virginia Civic Center
11-2 Augusta, Georgia Civic Center
11-3 Chatanooga, Tennessee UTC Arena
11-6 Columbus, Georgia Municipal Auditorium
11-7 Asheville, North Carolina Civic Center
11-8 Hershey Park, Pennsylvania Hershey Park Arena
11-9 New York, New York Madison Square Garden (EC's last)
1992
4-23 San Francisco, California The Stone (ES's first)
4-25 Los Angeles, California The Troubadour
4-26 Los Angeles, California The Troubadour
4-27 Tempe, Arizona After The Gold Rush
4-29 Houston, Texas Backstage
4-30 Dallas, Texas Dallas City Limits
5-2 Atlanta, Georgia Center Stage
5-4 Baltimore, Maryland Hammerjacks
5-5 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Trocadero
5-6 The Phoenix Theatre Toronto, Canada
5-8 Boston, Massachusetts The Avalon
5-9 New York, New York The Ritz
5-10 Brooklyn, New York The Warehouse
5-16 Glasgow, Scotland S.E. & C.C.
5-17 Whitley Bay, England Ice Rink
5-18 Sheffield, England Sheffield Arena
5-20 Cardiff, England Ice Rink
5-21 Wembley, England Wembley Arena
5-22 Wembley, England Wembley Arena
5-24 Plymouth, England Plymouth Pavilions
5-25 Birmingham, England Birmingham N.E.C.
5-26 Birmingham, England Birmingham N.E.C.
6-? Buenos Aires, Argentina
10-1 Allentown, Pennsylvania Stabler Arena
10-2 Binghamton, New York
10-3 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Maple Leaf Gardens
10-5 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
10-6 Portland, Maine
10-8 Worcester, Massachusetts
10-9 The Meadowlands, New Jersey
10-11 Long Island, New York Nassau County Coliseum
10-13 Hershey, Pennsylvania
10-14 Charleston, West Virginia
10-16 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
10-17 Roanoke, Virginia
10-18 Largo, Maryland Capital Centre
10-20 Lexington, Kentucky
10-21 Bristol, Tennessee
10-23 Charlotte, North Carolina
10-24 Fayateville, North Carolina
10-25 Columbia, South Carolina
10-27 Asheville, South Carolina
10-29 Daytona Beach, Florida
10-30 Tampa, Florida
10-31 Miami, Florida
11-3 Greenville, South Carolina
11-5 Atlanta, Georgia
11-6 Nashville, Tennessee
11-7 Knoxville, Tennessee
11-8 Huntsville, Tennessee
11-10 Jackson, Mississippi
11-12 Memphis, Tennessee
11-13 St. Louis, Missouri
11-14 Ames, Iowa
11-15 Cedar Rapids, Iowa
11-17 Kalamazoo, Michigan
11-18 Fort Wayne, Indiana
11-20 Evansville, Indiana
11-21 Chicago, Illinois
11-22 Toledo, Ohio Savage Arena
11-24 Springfield, Illinois
11-25 Dayton, Ohio
11-27 Auburn Hills, Michigan Palace
11-28 Indianapolis, Indiana Market Square Arena
11-29 Cleveland, Ohio Richfield Coliseum
12-1 Milwaukie, Wisconsin Bradley Center
12-2 Green Bay, Wisconsin
12-3 St. Paul, Minnesota
12-4 Sioux Falls, South Dakota
12-5 Fargo, South Dakota
12-7 Casper, Wyoming
12-8 Salt Lake City, Utah
12-9 Boise, Idaho
12-10 Portland, Oregon
12-11 Vancouver, British Columbia
12-13 Spokane, Washington
12-14 Seattle, Washington
12-16 Sacramento, California Cal Expo
12-18 San Francisco, California
12-19 San Bernandino, California Orange Pavillion
12-20 Phoenix, Arizona
1993
5-20 Hollywood, California Arsenio Hall TV show
6-18 Dallas, Texas (Party)
6-21 Atlanta, Georgia (Party)
6-24 Baltimore, Maryland (Party) Hammerjacks
6-28 New York, New York (Party)
7-1 Boston, Massachusetts (Party)
7-7 Detroit, Michigan (Party)
7-9 Chicago, Illinois (Party)
7-13 San Francisco, California (Party)
7-15 Los Angeles, California (Party)
9-11 Burbank, California Concrete Foundations Forum
10-? Los Angeles, California Roof of ABC Studios
12-12 Orlando, Florida Pleasure Island
1994
4-2 Villa Park, Illinois Blazefest
4-19 San Antonio, Texas La Semana
7-26 New York City, New York Late Show TV
7-30 Nashville, TN Riverfront Park
8-27 Sao Paulo, Brazil (tentative date)
8-31 Porto Alegre, Brazil " "
9-3 Buenos Aires, Argentina " "
9-5 Santiago, Chile " "
9-6 Santiago, Chile " "
@Q37: PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS DOCUMENT:
The following people contributed, in one form of another, to the
the five files that make up this document:
Mark Kennedy
Hunter Goatley
Andreas Hjarpne
Eskil Nordhaug
Adam Zucker
Jani Mettovaara
Laura A Dudek
Vartan Narinian
Anne-Lise Larsen
Craig Artley
David Howard
Gyota Yasoda
Stephen Gorny
Lisa Hester
Gary Lee Schmidt
Brian Dascher
Ian A Sedgwick
Tim McKeough
Luc Jalbert
Herb C. Numrich
David Clayton Tyson
P K A Dwyer
Dave Holdsworth
Michael P. Weisend
Frederic Bourbeau
Rick Lengel
Simran R. Kumar
--------------------------------end of part I----------------------------------
KISSARMY FAQ FILE (PART 2 OF 5)
CS.UWP.EDU ARCHIVE DATE 09-AUGUST-1994
VERSION 2.0
**** ****** ***** ***** *****
* * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * **** * **** KISSARMY MAILING LIST FAQ FILE
Version 2.0 - Part 2
* * * * ***** * ***** * ==============================
* * * * * * * * * By Alex Carranza
* * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * *
**** ***** ***** ****** ******
This file is based loosely on the article "KISStory", by Elianne
Halbersberg, which appeared in Creem's Collectors Series KISS, Dec.
of 1987. Other information was culled from hundreds of articles
published in various magazines from 1977 to 1993. Some dates
were also taken from the Swedish "Still On Fire" book, 1984,
the Hot In The Shade tourbook, 1990 and the May/June 1993 issue
of The New England Kiss Collectors' Network newsletter.
Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy
of the information contained in this document, there could
be errors here and there. The reader is strongly encouraged
to send corrections and/or additions to this file to Alex
Carranza or Hunter Goatley
. These corrections and additions
will be incorporated into the document in future versions.
Many thanks to Hunter Goatley, Andreas Hjarpne and Eskil
Nordhaug for their immense help in writing version 1 and to
Hunter, Stephen Gorny and Mark Kennedy for contributions and
for proof-reading version 2.
**** ****** ***** ****** ****** ******** ******** ****** *** ***
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * **** * **** *** *** * ** * * ** *
* * *
* * * * ***** * ***** * * * * ** * * ** * *
*
* * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * *
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**** ***** ***** ***** ***** **** ******** *** *** ***
Begins....
1966: Peter Criss plays in Brooklyn band The Barracudas. Band releases
single months later.
1970: Gene Simmons walks into Advantage Recording Studio in NY to record
some of his songs. Gary Klein who was producing Steely Dan's first
album, invites him to sit in on the recording sessions.
Gene and Paul cross paths for the first time. Gene plays one show
with Paul's band UNCLE JOE.
1971: Gene and his keyboard player (Stephen Coronel) form RAINBOW. Paul
Stanley calls about audition, but is turned down. He later turns up
for rehearsal and is hired. Gene realises he's same guy he rejected on
the phone.
Peter joins CHELSEA. The band (Chris Aroidas: Guitar; Michael
Benvenga: Bass/Vocals; Mike Brand: Guitar; Peter Shepley: Vocals and
Peter Criss: Drums) releases self-titled LP on Decca Records.
Ocober 21: Gene and Paul begin writing songs together.
1972: CHELSEA disbands. Peter Criss and Stan Penridge form LIPS.
RAINBOW develops into WICKED LESTER. A recording deal with Epic
Records follows.
WICKED LESTER (Simmons: Bass/Vocals; Stanley: Rhythm Guitar/Vocals;
Ron Leejack: Lead Guitar; Brooke Ostrander: Keyboards; Tony Zarella:
Drums) enters Electric Lady Studios to record debut album
with Ron Johnsen producing. After completed, Epic drops the band
and record is never released; although the cover surfaces from the
CBS art file (on the Laughing Dogs album) in 1979.
Lynn Christopher's debut album released on Paramount Records. It
features Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley on backup vocals.
April 11: LIPS folds. Peter Criss advertises in Rolling Stone:
"Drummer with 11 years' experience will do anything to make it." Gene
Simmons, who is putting together second generation of WICKED LESTER,
calls him and sets up a meeting at Electric Lady. Peter shows up
wearing very fashionable clothes and is hired on the spot, without
ever auditioning.
WICKED LESTER, now a trio, changes name to KISS. Band rehearses in
freezing loft on Manhattan's West 23rd street.
1973: January 3: Paul dubs the band KISS. Band places ad in Village Voice
for guitarist "with flash" (ad did not say "flash and balls" as
mentioned everywhere).
January 17: Ace Frehley is 61st person to audition. He wanders into
loft wearing one red and one orange sneaker. He is invited to audition
a second time (22 Jan) and is subsequently hired.
January: KISS puts together first promo kit. Pictures feature band
*without* makeup.
January 30: KISS' first show at the Popcorn club in NY for $30 a
night, three nights (band only makes $70 total because not all tickets
were sold). On first night, club changes name to Coventry. The only
people in the audience are Gene's girlfriend, her brother and club's
bartender. This is the night Ace comes up with KISS logo and band
starts wearing makeup.
April: KISS sells out Daisy's on Long Island. Band is building a
following as one of the tightest groups around---and one of the
weirdest looking.
June 17: KISS enters Electric Lady Studios with producer Eddie Kramer.
Spends two weeks recording demo of "Strutter" (which started out as
"Stanley The Parrot"), "Deuce", "Watching You", "Black Diamond" and
"Cold Gin". Contrary to rumours, "Firehouse" was not recorded during
these sessions.
July 13: KISS performs self-produced show at the Hotel Diplomat, with
headlining act Brats. Variety's Fred Kirby gives first positive review.
August 10: KISS puts on third show at the Diplomat. Music business
invitees include former FLIPSIDE (TV music show) producer Bill Aucoin,
who is not coincidentally sitting next to Peter Criss's sister, who
spends entire show screaming. Very impressed, Aucoin approaches band
at the end of show and offers to become their manager "if they want
to be stars". Bands skeptically accepts offer on condition of getting
record contract within two weeks, otherwise deal is off.
August 24: Aucoin comes through with record contract from Neil Bogart's
new Casablanca Records. Band signs as label's first act and KISStory
is made.
August 31: Two more shows at the Coventry with opening act Wild Honey.
October 10: Band enters Bell Sound Studios near 57th street in
Manhattan to record first album with Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise
producing. By the end of smooth month they have created first LP
"KISS".
November-December: Rest of the year is spent mixing album and revamping
stage show.
December 31: KISS' industry live debut at NYC Academy Of Music,
opening for Blue Oyster Cult, Iggy (Pop) And The Stooges, Teenage Lust
as well as German oom-pah band from Luchow's Restaurant next door, whom
the Cult haul onstage. Gene ignites hair during fire-breathing at end
of "Firehouse". Todd Rundgren and Rick Derringer commiserate with him
backstage, caution him against playing with fire.
1974: January: Photo sessions with ex-Doors' photographer Joel Brodsky yield
album's cover. Paul Stanley has changed black and silver makeup to a
simple star over right eye.
February 18: First single, Nothing To Lose/Love Theme From Kiss,
and first album "KISS" released. Neil Bogart throws extravagant "Rick's
Cafe" party at Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. Alice Cooper,
amongst those in attendance, later comments to reporters "They're a
good band. All these guys need is a gimmick". In NY, KISS hires
shuttered Filmore East for press show/party.
February 19: WNEW in NY becomes first radio station to play KISS.
DJ Alison Steele announces song by new band out of NY and plays
Nothing To Lose.
February 19: KISS shoots segments for Dick Clark's "In Concert".
February 24: KISS appear on Don Kirshner's "Rock Concert" and
later in the month on the Mike Douglas show.
February-April: Band, with $100,000 in equipment, hits the road opening
for Manfred Mann and Savoy Brown. Crowds react well to bizarrely
costumed support act. Record enters Billboard's Top 100.
April 7: KISS plays Detroit, Michigan for the first time.
April: "Kissin' Time" released. WSHE-radio, FT Lauderdale, starts
kissing contest after single is released. Contests held nationally;
winners kiss for 96 hours!. Kissin' Time reaches #83 on national
charts.
May: KISS passes through Hollywood, CA. where Paul gets rose tattoo
at Lyle Tuttle's on Sunset. Next stop: Alaska!!
June-July: Touring, more touring. --Average 15 shows per month.
August: Band enters LA's Village Recorder Studios with Kerner and Wise
to lay down new LP.
October 22: Hotter Than Hell, with bilingual cover hits the stores.
Record features 2.45 minute version of Let Me Go, Rock N Roll, which
band had been performing during first tour. (Live version of song had
always been six or seven minutes long). Let Me Go is later released a
single but fails to chart.
November-December: Touring. Other bands begin to balk at having too
outrageous opening act. Mott the Hoople emphatically refuses to let
KISS tour with them.
1975: February: Band enters Electric Lady to record third album with Neil
Bogart. On last day of sessions, band (in makeup and street clothes)
brings in photographer to take pictures of them while recording. The
last shots, taken outside the studio, become cover of new album.
March 19: Dressed To Kill released.
April 2: Rock And Roll All Nite released. Single reaches #68 on
Billboard's Top 100, 17 May, 1975. Band shoots Rock And Roll All
Nite and C'mon And Love Me videos at the Michigan Palace in Detroit.
May 25: First major arena sell-out: Cobo Hall, Detroit. Michigan,
and Ohio shows recorded for live album.
July 10: Second single from Dressed To Kill released. C'mon And Love
Me becomes minor hit in selected towns.
August: More touring.
September 10: Greatest record album in history of planet is released.
Its title: KISS Alive!. Earth would never be the same.
October 9: KISS visits Cadillac, Michigan. Cadillac High School
football team has winning season through "KISS Defence" tactics.
Assistant coach writes to KISS; group suggests homecoming visit
for 2000 students, plus concert in gym.
October 10: Mayor of Cadillac and city officials present KISS with
key to the city. Officials all wear makeup. KISS parade held on
Main Street/KISS Boulevard.
October 14: Ultimate single from ultimate album released. Live version
of Rock And Roll All Nite proves a bona fide AM smash. Single reaches
#12 19 November 1975.
November 21: KISS fly to Terre Haute, Indiana for first official
gathering of KISS Army on KISS Day.
December 4: Alive certified Gold; a first for KISS. Band continues
touring non-stop, selling out bigger and bigger halls.
December 31: Blue Oyster Cult plays second bill to KISS at Long Island,
NYC's Nassau Coliseum. Sweet Revenge!.
1976: January 25, 26, 27: KISS play three sold out nights at Cobo Hall in
Detroit.
Feb 20: Four sets of Kiss footprints are placed on the sidewalk
outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood,CA.
March 1: New LP complete. First, Casablanca releases single Shout It
Out Loud. It fails to match the success of Rock And Roll All Nite.
March 15: Destroyer released. Album features plenty of of strings and
boy's choirs, and even slow ballad Beth. Rockers Detroit Rock City,
God Of Thunder and Shout It Out Loud make album an instant classic.
Ace Frehley unhappy that Bob Ezrin has removed much of his work and
overdubbed session guitarist Dick Wagner. Solo on Sweet Pain is
entirely Wagner's.
April 22: Despite long-winded hedging, Destroyer becomes KISS' second
Gold LP. Band gets back on the road with news costumes and set designed
by Jules Fisher Associates. Tour starts in Canada.
April 30: As Shout It Out Loud fizzles on charts, Casablanca releases
Flaming Youth.---In both cases searching for an anthem follow-up to
Rock And Roll All Nite.
May 13: KISS' first European concert takes place at the Free Trade
Hall, Manchester, England.
May 16: KISS makes debut appearance at Hammersmith Odeon, London.
European "KISS Around The World" tour continues through July.
June 15: The KISS Tour Album released to promote summer tour.
July 10: U.S. tour begins at Roosevelt Stadium in New Jersey.
July 21: Casablanca releases three record set, The Originals; includes
first three albums plus KISS memorabilia. In quick time it sells over
250,000 copies.
August: KISS sells kisses, $.93 each in Atlanta, GA. record shop.
Proceeds to Muscular Dystrophy.
Destroyer tour hits the south with 45 tons of equipment, 40-member
crew and seven tractor-trailers. Set is largest mobile in US, involves
video projection, rockets, lasers, visual effects and the God Of
Thunder machine.
Beth re-released. Originally b-side to Detroit Rock City in July, it
is now issued as A-side. Becomes million-seller smash, 5 June 1977.
September: KISS hires out Star Theatre in Naunet, NY. Begin recording
live-in-the-studio LP with Eddie Kramer in effort to get back to pre-
Destroyer roots.
September 25: Beth at #7 becomes KISS' highest charting single ever.
October 31: KISS appears on Paul Lynde's Halloween Special; performs
Beth, Detroit Rock City and King Of The Nighttime World.
November 1: Rock And Roll Over released; ships Gold, first KISS LP
to do so. A solo spot with Peter up front singing Beth over taped
accompaniment, is added to road show.
November 11: Rock And Roll Over receives Gold and Destroyer Platinum
certifications. Another first for KISS.
December 1: An effort to follow-up Beth this time, Casablanca pulls
Rod Stewart-clone/Peter Criss ballad Hard Luck Woman. Song reaches
#15, but fails to match up.
December 11: Ace Frehley electrocutes himself onstage at Lakeland, Fl.
During same concert, Gene Simmons sets hair on fire during Firehouse.
Disastrous show.
1977: January 5: Rock And Roll Over certified Platinum; number two for KISS.
More roadwork.
February 18: KISS plays first homecoming concert to packed rafters
at Madison Square Garden. Finally admit to selves they have arrived
as superstars. Peter tells reporter from NY Times night before: "I
used to tell my folks I'd end up there one day, and they'd always
laugh. So tomorrow night we're playing the Garden, and when I think
about that I get cold". Enough said.
February: Blood drawn for first Marvel Comics special.
February 28: Dressed To Kill certified Gold; first of three pre-Alive!
albums to do so.
March 3: Second single off Rock And Roll Over, Calling Dr. Love,
released. Reaches #16, 9 April 1977.
March 18: Band takes off for Japan on first "Sneak Attack" tour.
Plays concerts in four cities, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Tokyo,
including one four-night stand that tops Beatles attendance records.
The band wears their Destroyer/RnRO costumes but plays on the Love
Gun stage (without the rising platforms).
April 4: Japan theirs, KISS returns home.
May: After brief holiday, KISS in studio again with Eddie Kramer at
New York's Record Plant.
June 30: Love Gun becomes first KISS LP to ship Platinum. One million
copies sold before they'd even finish recording. Certified both Gold
and Platinum on this day.
Marvel Comics special goes on sale -- 400,000 copies purchased.
July 1: KISS sets out on first extensive Canadian tour with new stage
set. Cheap Trick supports.
August: KISS returns to States for debut of new staging in concerts
there.
August 26,27,28: Alive II cut at Los Angeles Forum. Gene sets hair on
fire for third time. [Author's note: While many bootlegs state
that these concerts took place on 25, 26 & 27 August, the original
tour schedule shows the concerts actually happened Aug 26-28]
September: KISS number one on Gallup Youth Survey of 1,069 US
teenager's favourite groups.
Band stage outfits installed in Hollywood Wax Museum.
October: Alive II ships Platinum. Album features one side of brand new
songs recorded at Capital Theatre and Electric Lady studios. Of those,
only Rocket Ride features Ace; others feature Bob Kulick and Rick
Derringer on guitar.
November 15: Alive II tour begins at Myriad Convention Centre, Oklahoma
City, OK.
December 14, 15, 16: KISS performs three sold out shows at New York's
Madison Square Garden. Total attendance: 60,000.
December: KISS number two Billboard artist of the year for Hot 100
top LPs combined. KISS is only cat to have three platinum albums in
1977.
1978: January: Via satellite from Largo, MD, KISS appears on American Music
Awards; perform Rock And Roll All Nite. Later this month, Edwin Newman
interviews band on his TV special, "The Land Of Hype And Glory".
February 2: Alive II tour ends with two sold-out shows in Providence,
RI.
February: Rocket Ride, first KISS single to feature Ace Frehley on
lead vocals, released.
March: KISS play a record five sold-out shows in Tokyo, eclipsing the
four-night record set by Beatles and themselves.
April: Double Platinum, greatest hits compilation, released.
May-June: Five weeks spent filming "KISS Meets The Phantom Of The
Park". Shooting takes place at Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA. On
19 May, KISS performs free show to be used in the movie.
August 28: Marvel Comics ships second KISS special comic book. Another
best-seller.
September 18: Four solo albums released simultaneously. 1.25 million
copies of each (5 million total) shipped. Ace Frehley's New York Groove
becomes huge radio hit; reaches #13 on 2 December 1978.
October 28: World premiere made-for-NBC-TV-film "KISS Meets The Phantom
Of The Park". Filmed at Magic Mountain Amusement Park in Valencia,
California, the film rates as NBC's second most-watched programme of
the year, behind only miniseries "Shogun".
November: Gene Simmons' outfit borrowed by United States Smithsonian
for a world tour called "American Art", which also features outfits by
Cher and Elvis Presley.
1979: February: KISS returns to the studio, this time under direction of
Peter Criss' solo producer, Vini Poncia.
May: New LP, Dynasty, released; first collaborative KISS album in a
year. Climbs to #9 on Billboard's LP charts. Certified Triple-Platinum
on 10 July 1979.
June 14: Dynasty tour begins in Lakeland, FL with brand new staging and
costumes. Features songs from the four solo albums.
June 16: I Was Made For Lovin' You becomes certified radio hit. Spends
11 weeks on singles chart, peaking at #11 on this day.
July: HBO KISS concert special premieres.
August 16: Gold certification awarded for sales of over one million
copies of single "I Was Made for Lovin' You".
September: Second single off Dynasty, Sure Know Something, released.
October: Gene and Ace on radio's "Budwiser Presents The Robert Klein
Hour". Klein asks if Simmons' tongue can reach bridge of his nose.
Response: "It can reach the 59th Street Bridge." Later this month,
band appears on classic "Tomorrow" show with Tom Snyder.
November: Pictures of band members without makeup begin to appear. A
chubbier-than-usual Paul Stanley is photographed coming out of Studio
54 disco.
November 29: Closing date of Dynasty tour. It would also be Peter
Criss' last concert with KISS (last time all four original members
perform together).
December: Avco Embassy releases "KISS In Attack Of The Phantoms"
theatrically worldwide (except US).
1980: January: KISS (minus Peter Criss), enters NY's Record Plant to lay
down follow-up to Dynasty. Ex-Ace Frehley session-man, Anton Fig
provides drumming.
May: Unmasked released; first album in 5 years that fails to reach
Platinum status. Video for "Shandi" features Peter Criss; his last
TV appearance as a member of KISS.
May 17: Although no longer a member of the band, Peter Criss
is actively involved as the group checks out 2000 applicants
for the position of new drummer. Eric Carr passes the audition
with "Detroit Rock City", "Black Diamond (Vocals)","Strutter",
"Firehouse" and "Is That You?". A hawk character is designed
but quickly scrapped. Carr then sketches a fox and transformation is
complete.
July: Peter "officially" leaves the group.
July 25: Eric Carr's live debut at the Palladium in New York.
August 8: KISS appear on the cover of People magazine. Feature on
band includes lengthy articles on all four members, including Carr,
and pictures of Simmons' girlfriends, Diana Ross and Cher.
August: KISS leaves for three-month European tour (29 dates).
First date at Castle St. Angelo, Rome, Italy on 29 August.
November 8: Five-week Australian stadium tour -- KISS performs 11
sold-out 40,000-70,000 shows. Becomes band's most profitable tour
to date.
December 3: Last Unmasked show (Aukland NZ). Band returns to States
to start writing material for upcoming LP.
1981: January 12: The R.I.A.A. donates some 800 rock Lps to the Library Of
Congress. Included is KISS' "Alive"..
January: "Best Of Solo Albums" LP released (except in North America).
March 1: KISS enters Ace Frehley's Ace In The Hole studios in
Connecticut to lay down tracks for new LP "Rockin' With The Boys".
Band records classic "Deadly Weapons" but fails to release it.
May: Band enters IRS studios in New York to record demos of
songs for new album. By now band has decided to make concept album
and Bob Ezrin is brought in to handle production. Band moves to
New York's Record Plant and then to Ezrin Farms in Toronto, Canada.
Tracks for "Rockin' With The Boys" are never released.
July 1: Formal sessions for The Elder begin at Record Plant in NY.
Recording continues through August and September. Album takes longest
of any KISS lp to record.
July: KISS awarded "Best Group" honours by Rehnbahn Express Magazine.
Gene and Eric fly to Vienna to receive award before 14,000 fans.
November 16: Release of first and last concept album "Music From
The Elder". Record is well received by critics, but fails to
win over record-buying public.
November 22: "A World Without Heroes" released. Band performs "I"
on the Solid Gold TV show. "Heroes" would eventually peak at #56 on
Billboard charts.
November 28: The Elder recommended in Billboard's Top Album Picks.
December: Band appears on ABC's "Fridays" show. Performs "The Oath",
"A World Without Heroes" and "I". Only live appearance done in support
of The Elder.
December: Live satellite broadcast to San Remo Music Festival in
Italy. Performance of "I" without Ace Frehley.
December: KISS goes on promotional tour of Mexico, doing interviews
about The Elder on Mexican TV.
1982: April: Band begins recording new EP (tentatively titled "Severe
Cuts") at Los Angeles' Record Plant studios. Songs "Nowhere To Run",
"Partners In Crime", "Down On Your Knees" and "I'm A Legend Tonight"
--all featuring Bob Kulick on lead guitar-- wind up on overseas
compilation album instead.
May: Killers, a 'Best-Of' LP, released everywhere except North
America. KISS flies to The Netherlands for European launch of new
album, which includes interview on Dutch TV and premiere of "I'm
Legend Tonight" video. Next day, KISS performs surprise theatre
in downtown Amsterdam; only time songs off Killers and The Elder
are known to have been performed live in concert. (Recordings of this
show probably do not exist.)
July: Ace Frehley involved in car crash as KISS return to studio
to record a new album. Band uses session guitarists Vincent
Cusano (aka. Vinnie Vincent), Robben Ford and Steven Ferris.
October 13: KISS return to their heavy metal roots with "Creatures
Of The Night". Ace Frehley pictured on cover, although his input
has been minimum. Record is dedicated to Casablanca label boss
Neil Bogart, who had died of cancer earlier this year.
October-November: Band embarks on short promotional tour *with*
Ace, then flies to England for a 10-day promotional visit. When
questioned by music reporters about his status, Ace tells them,
"As you can see I'm still in the band".
November: Ace leaves KISS although reportedly, at the time, only
temporarily.
December 28: "Creatures Of The Night Tour" begins in Bismark, ND.
with Vinnie Vincent replacing Ace Frehley on guitar. Tour is band's
first stateside venture in three years.
1983: January: "I Love It Loud", first single from Creatures is
recommended in Billboard's "Top Singles Picks".
March: Gene and Paul appear on CBS show "Nightwatch" to discuss
religious protests and the band's career.
June 18: Three huge sell-out shows at world's biggest stadium,
Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. Attendance: 247,000.
June 25: Last ever show in makeup, Sao Paolo, Brazil.
August: KISS cancels a 3 day tour of Argentina when the extremist
Free Fatherland Nationalist Commando movement threatens to
stop the tour even if it "goes so far as to cost the very lives
of that unfortunate band".
September 18: Now a 70-city touring veteran, Vinnie Vincent makes
his recording debut and finale on Lick It Up. Band appears on
MTV sans makeup for the first time. National evening news
re-broadcast the event.
October 11: Six week European tour opens in Lisbon, Portugal. Vinnie
Vincent is fired upon completion of tour, but 'rejoins' the band
for US leg of tour.
December 26: Now billed as the loudest band in the world, KISS
opens US Lick It Up Tour in Atlanta, Georgia.
KISS donates track "Lick It Up" to the MTV Cancer Benefit Album.
1984: March 17: Lick It Up Tour closes in Evansville, IN. Vincent leaves
KISS for good.
July 1: "Animalize" sessions begin at Right Track Studio in NY. In
Gene Simmons' absence (away in Vancouver filming "Runaway"),
ex-Plasmatics bassist Jean Beauvior lays down much of the album's
bass tracks.
September 19: Mark St John's recording debut released. Album goes
top-20 and is certified both Gold and Platinum in December 1984.
September 30: Animalize Tour opens in Brighton, England. Bruce Kulick
temporarily replaces Mark St. John on guitar.
November 15: Animalize Live In Th US opens in Allentown, PA. 100
will be attacked. Special live treat includes 25-foot-high lightning
truss in which band runs around above audience.
November 27: Mark St John stricken by Reiter's Syndrome. He and Bruce
Kulick perform at this and the following night's shows in Baltimore,
but eventually St.John is forced to leave due to his worsening
condition (and attitude as well, no doubt).
November 30: Ace Frehley and his Frehley's Comet perform their very
first public show at S.I.R. studios in New York.
December 8: Animalize Live Uncensored shot at Cobo Hall, Detroit
Michigan. To commemorate anniversary of "Alive!", KISS puts out an
A.P.B. via radio to locate two youths pictured with banner on album
back cover. Longtime fans Bruce Redoute (left) and Lee Neaves (right
with arm up) are immediately notified. Band and fans are reunited
backstage and over dinner -- banner intact!.
1985: January 9: "Thrills In The Night" recommended by Billboard's "Pop
Singles Review". Animalize Live Uncensored premieres on MTV.
February: Avoca, NY high school student David Lemancke, obviously
`bored of education', paints 40-foot mural of his favourite band
(yes, KISS!) on school wall. School officials demand removal
and 50 students with excellent taste stage a sit-in in the school's
auditorium. Officials order janitors to paint over mural anyway.
March: Ace Frehley records demo and embarks on mini-tour of New York
and neighbouring areas with Frehley's Comet.
March 29: Animalize Tour comes to a climatic end at huge sold-out
Meadowlands Arena (East Rutherford, NJ) show.
April 19: Animalize Live Uncensored released on videocassette. It
has since been certified Platinum.
July 14: Creatures Of The Night restocked with new cover featuring
Bruce Kulick. Title track, "I Still Love You" and "War Machine" are
replaced by newly remixed/remastred versions. Original blue cover LP
becomes prized collector's item.
September 16: Bruce Kulick makes his recording debut (with KISS) on
Asylum. First single/video "Tears Are Falling" premieres on MTV
on 27 September.
November 29: Asylum Tour opens in Little Rock, Arkansas. Show boasts
largest KISS sign ever, 40' x 20'. Band goes through three stages:
album cover--quickly scrapped, temporary set made up of previous sets,
and final stage, all new and state-of-the-art.
December: KISS asked to play Sun City, South Africa. Band refuses.
1986: April 11: Asylum Tour wraps up at Meadowlands Arena, NJ. Beginning of
eventful year for KISS. Plans surface for next album. Rumours abound
of directional changes, solo projects and other assorted fabrications.
Meanwhile, KISS Meets The Phantom Of The Park beco