Video of KISS performing at The Coventry on December 22nd, 1973:
Today, marks the 50th anniversary of the very first public performance by KISS -- January 30th, 1973 at the Popcorn club in Queens, New York.
Looking back on that period, Gene Simmons says, "Wicked Lester had just finished its album for Epic Records. There were five members in the band, including Paul and myself. Though we had a real recording contract with a major label, and though we had finished an entire album, we were depressed. It just wasn't what we had envisioned.
"So, we started again. We tried firing the other three guys in Wicked Lester, but some wouldn't leave. So, we quit.
"We started again with a vision. 'Let's put together the band we never saw on stage.'
"We got a manager named Lou Linet...and when he heard the newborn baby -- KISS -- he thought it was the worst crap he had ever heard. Needless to say, he was gone immediately. So, we were manager-less.
"I put together a bio kit while I worked at the Puerto Rican Interagency Council, as assistant to the Director. Peter's friend owned a printing press and printed up our invites.
"But, where to play? We didn't have a manager. We didn't have an agent... I made a phone call cold to a place called Popcorn in Queens and on the phone convinced the guy to hire a band, who would soon be changing their name from Wicked Lester to KISS.
"We got the gig -- three nights -- Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for the sum total of $150.
"That was the beginning."
Popcorn was later renamed The Coventry, and they did two sets for less than 10 people.
In other KISS news, they will release the fifth installment in their Off the Soundboard official live bootleg series on April 7th.
Off the Soundboard: Poughkeepsie [pr: puh-KIP-see], New York, 1984 was recorded at the Mid-Hudson Arena on November 28th, 1984 during the Animalize world tour.
Available on CD, on vinyl and digitally, it's the only known soundboard recording with guitarist Mark St. John, who died in 2007.
KISS – Off the Soundboard: Poughkeepsie, NY track list:
- Detroit Rock City
- Cold Gin
- Creatures of the Night
- Fits Like a Glove
- Heaven’s on Fire
- Guitar Solo
- Under the Gun
- War Machine
- Drum Solo
- Young and Wasted (incomplete)
- Bass Solo
- I Love It Loud
- I Still Love You
- Love Gun
- Black Diamond
- Oh! Susanna
- Lick It Up
- Rock and Roll All Nite (incomplete)