rock-and-roll-hell

[rock-and-roll-hell]

January 26, 1976

Alive! Tour Cobo Hall - Detroit, Michigan

Complete pro-shot video, versus night 1, though “Parasite” replaces “Ladies In Waiting.” Tape issues affect parts of the show as do some audio effects, which may be the result of the band’s instruments tuning. This show was officially released on the “KISSology Vol. 1” DVD. 13 minutes of silent 8mm footage was shot with the band receiving their RIAA awards.

Steve Glantz productions had booked a limo service, Cole’s Coach Service, for the band while they were in Detroit. However, “disagreements ensured, and Glantz’s fired Cole’s twice in two hectic days. An attorney for Cole’s says the company is considering court action. Meanwhile, KISS managers have filed an extortion complaint with police against company president Thomas Cole, claiming he demanded $825 for the return of three luggage pieces that a KISS manager had left in a limousine” (Detroit Free Press, 1/27/76). According to Lydia Criss in “Sealed With A KISS,” items left in the limo that were held hostage were the video tapes of the performances filmed by Kirby/Kelly Productions.

[rock-and-roll-hell]

January 25, 1983

Creatures Of The Night Tour

The Scope - Norfolk, Virginia

From a local review: “In a way, it’s a shame to have to print anything about the rock group KIϟϟ. Even the worst publicity can fuel the hype that’s put these noisemakers where they are today. In fact, negative publicity probably promotes this musical garbage and contributes to what KIϟϟ already does so well – exploits an audience… Frankly, KIϟϟ music isn’t worth all the controversy. It’s hardly worth mentioning what KIϟϟ played at Scope except for a new song that sums up what the group is all about. ’I Love It Loud.’ And loud it was, including some freeform guitar solos that pierced the ears with deafening feedback. Throughout the performance, not one imaginative or memorable lick was played. It was an evening of some of the worst music from one of the trashiest of all rock categories – heavy metal. Mostly the performance was a dazzling display of staging techniques” (Newport Daily Press, 1/27/83).

[rock-and-roll-hell]

January 25, 1976

Alive! Tour Cobo Hall - Detroit, Michigan

This show was officially released as the third bonus DVD as part of the “KIϟϟology Vol. 1” DVD package offered by Best Buy. Video from the pro-shot show is missing the presumed encores, but remains notable for the inclusion of “Ladies In Waiting,” and Paul knocking his mic over during “Strutter.”

[rock-and-roll-hell]

January 25, 1974

KIϟϟ Photo Session - New York City

📸 Raeanne Rubenstein

Paul wore both the Star & Bandit make-up during this session.

[rock-and-roll-hell]

January 24, 1976

Alive! Tour

Detroit Airport/Airport Hilton

Rather than deal with a bunch of interviews, on January 24, the band did a press conference at the Airport Hilton for key members of the Detroit Media. No other interviews were granted during the bands 3 day stay.

[rock-and-roll-hell]

November 27, 1976

Rock And Roll Over Tour

North Carolina Fairgrounds - Raleigh, North Carolina

📸 Richard Aaron

[rock-and-roll-hell]

November 23, 1982

Creatures European Promo Tour

Hilton Hotel

London, England

[rock-and-roll-hell]

November 21, 1980

Unmasked Tour

Sydney Showground - Australia

📸 Bob King

“The KIϟϟ phenomenon is all it’s hyped up to be. Its sheer size and daunting professionalism almost puts it beyond critical analysis… With KIϟϟ the predominant smell is cordite. However apt the surface metaphor is, KIϟϟ, certainly don’t perform without a new. They are chilling in their calculation. But for all that, bloody good fun… In some sophisticated circles it is considered chic to not like KIϟϟ. But how can you hate a musician who fires rockets at you from his instrument” (Sydney Morning Herald, 11/22/80).

The band arrived back in Sydney on November 19, the same day an ad ran in local press notifying the public of ticket availability. At that time there were around 4–8,000 unsold tickets for the second show. Media overhype was blamed for that lack of sales, but oversaturation was being seen in other areas including merchandising. “Mr. Tony Higgins, the marketing director of Plough Australia, which distributes a range of cosmetics, described his company’s KIϟϟ effort as a failure. ‘We made up 200,000 KISS bags containing make-up and have sold a little over half of them…’ While KIϟϟ have sold more than 1 million albums in Australia, their latest album, Unmasked, which was released mid-year, is not doing as well as expected” (The Sydney Morning Herald, 11/20/80).

[rock-and-roll-hell]

November 18, 1978

Solo Promo Tour

Tape City - New Orleans, Louisiana

[rock-and-roll-hell]

November 17, 1975

Alive! Tour

I.M.A. Sports Arena - Flint, Michigan

📸 Terry Bert

[rock-and-roll-hell]

Released November 15, 1988 Recorded 1973–1988 Genre Hard rock, glam metal Length 51:54

Smashes, Thrashes & Hits is the fourth 'greatest hits' compilation album released by KIϟϟ. Of the 15 songs on the album, two were new compositions, and three were released after the band's unmasking in 1983. The remaining 10 were all released during the band's years in make-up.

The two new songs on the album were "Let's Put the X in Sex" and "(You Make Me) Rock Hard," which featured a similar production style as 1987's Crazy Nights. They were both produced and co-written by guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley and were accompanied by videos that received moderate airplay on MTV - Paul never plays the guitar in either video for the new songs.

Smashes, Thrashes & Hits was certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA on February 26, 1996.

[rock-and-roll-hell]

November 9, 1977 (Most likely. Date not confirmed)

Alive II Tour Dress Rehearsal

Land Of Hype and Glory Taping

Stewart Air Force Base Hanger E - Newburgh, New York

📸 Lynn Goldsmith & Fred Hermansky/NBC Universal

[rock-and-roll-hell]

November 8, 1978

WGCL Radio - Cleveland, Ohio

📸 Janet Macoska

“All three of the other guys solos went into the shitter and Ace’s was the only one that sold because we had a great single with New York Groove, which we found. My ex-brother in-law, who’s an engineer assistant, and I were going through tapes and we found this song one day and gave it to Ace. We worked up the arrangement on it and man, that thing became a hit.” - Eddie Kramer

[rock-and-roll-hell]

October 2, 1980

Unmasked Tour

Neidersachsenhalle - Hannover, West Germany

📸 Wolfgang Heilemann

[rock-and-roll-hell]

September 28, 1980

Unmasked Tour

Sporthalle St. Jakob - Bale, Switzerland

📸 Hannes Schmid

[rock-and-roll-hell]

September 27, 1980

Unmasked Tour

Le Hippodrome de Pantin - Paris, France

One review suggests that it was literally raining from the sweaty roof of the tent (Rock & Folk Magazine)! The venue was essentially a permanent circus-styled tent which had been the home of the Jean Richard Circus. The city’s large concert facility, the Pavillon de Paris, had closed in mid-1980 leaving this as the primary concert venue until the Le Zenith de Paris was completed in 1983

[rock-and-roll-hell]

September 25, 1981

Elder Promo Tour

Mexico City, Mexico

📸 Unknown