​The Club Tour - 1973
- "Our first show ever was at Coventry. Coventry was a study in contrasts. The first time we played, there was nobody there. The last time we played there, you could barely get in the door." -
- Paul Stanley
Start Date:January 30, 1973
End Date:December 22, 1973
Shows: 40
Countries: United States
Headlining Acts: The Brats, Isis, Queen Elizabeth featuring Wayne Country, Wild Honey
Opening Acts: Bloontz, City Slicker, The Detroit Dogs, Flaming Youth, Jackdaw, Luger, Planets, Rags, Rebillot Quartet, Street Punk
Line Up: Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss
Even though the band only played 24 shows, they played two sets at almost every show, KISS went through a full metamorphose in this tour from almost no makeup and costumes to full costumes and makeup!
The band still performed some songs from their Wicked Lester days in their set-list like 'Simple Mind'and 'Keep Me Waiting'and their never recorded song 'Live In The Woods'.
Eventually the tour was cut short due to the band being signed by Casablanca Records. During this time, KISS also hired Bill Aucoin as their manager. The band recorded their first studio album, "KISS", during this tour from November to December 1973.
Stage Props:
Fake Marshall Amps Among Real Amps
Fire Engine Lights
Fire Engine Siren
Chain Link Drum Riser
Flash Powder Filled Drumsticks
Typical Setlist:
01. 'Deuce'
02. 'Cold Gin'
03. 'Nothin' to Lose'
04. 'Strutter'
05. 'Watchin' You'
06. 'Love Her All I Can'
07. 'She'
08. 'Firehouse'
09. 'Simple Type' (Wicked Lester)
10. Baby, Let Me Go' ('Let Me Go Rock 'N Roll')
11. 'Sunday Driver' ('Let Me Know')
12. '100,000 Years'
13. 'Black Diamond'
Special Shows / Happenings:
- The Coventry, Queens, NY, January 30, 1973 -
The first official KISS show, nobody wore makeup beside Simmons who wore some white makeup and some black paint around his eyes, the band also performed mostly in street clothing but Gene in a sailor top. The band played two sets that included Wicked Lester songs where some eventually were transformed into KISS songs ('She', 'Simple Type', 'Love Her All I Can'). Also a early version of 'Let Me Go Rock 'N Roll' was performed under its old name 'Baby, Let Me Go'.
- Bleecker Street Loft, New York, NY, May 4, 1973 -
Paul Stanley's LeBeau guitar got stolen, someone simply walked away with the guitar during their soundcheck.
- 10 East 23rd Street Loft, NYC Rehearsal, May 1973 -
An excellent recording of KISS rehearsing in their loft over at the 10 East 23rd Street surfaced in 2014 where the band were rehearsing for their upcoming shows at the Daisy.
A crystal clear digital audiotape released into the bootleg scene in 2014 gave us a insight on one of the earliest KISS shows. The show had two sets, as was normal during the Club tour. Next to early Kiss songs, a Wicked Lester song, 'Simple Type' and a never released early KISS song 'Live In The Woods' (with Paul inviting audience members to join him on the stage) was played. Peter introduced 'Firehouse' and what stands out is the band being more raw than ever heard before, for example: Gene stating that the crowd's hands also can be used not just for jerking off, but also for signing their mailing list in the back so they can get a signed card and the band can "come over and give head".
- Hotel Diplomat, New York, NY, August 10, 1973 -
Bill Aucoin attended the show on Gene's invitation and was so impressed by what he saw he managed to get them a record deal with Casablanca Records.
- The Daisy, Amityville, NY, August 24, 1973 -
On their many returns to The Daisy, at this show, it became clear that the band's local popularity started to grow as the place was packed to the rafters, as why the reason The Daisy booked them for multiple gigs in August, 1973.
Coventry, Queens, NY, December 22, 1973
The entire show was filmed from the back and is until now the earliest released video recording of KISS. One of the opening acts, Flaming Youth, eventually inspired the band for their song 'Flaming Youth' on their 1976 album "Destroyer".
KISS on stage
