Today would have been former KISS guitarist Mark St. John's 68th Birthday. Please take a moment to remember Mark and his great guitar playing!
Here's Mark with KISS in the "Heaven's On Fire" video.
On this day in KISSTORY - Feb. 6, 1984 - We released "All Hell's Breakin' Loose" as the 2nd single off the Lick It Up album.
KISS IS EVERYWHERE!
Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons rock the cover of the latest issue of BURRN Magazine Japan!
Thanks to Naoki for sharing the photo with us!
KISS IS EVERYWHERE!
Eric Singer rocks the new issue of Modern Drummer.
On this day in KISSTORY - February 3, 1995 - We held our first Official Worldwide KISS Convention in Perth, Australia. The unique and revolutionary KISS Convention tour featured a traveling KISS Museum displaying vintage KISS stage outfits, instruments, and memorabilia. Performances by KISS tribute bands, KISS collectors/dealers buying, selling and trading KISS merchandise, precluded our question and answer session, autograph signing, and a two-hour unplugged set comprised mostly of spontaneous fan requests.
Photos by Rhonda Fox
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On this day in KISSTORY - January 31, 1999 - We opened Super Bowl XXXIII with a bombastic version of "Rock And Roll All Nite!"
On this day in KISSTORY - January 30, 1973 - We performed our very first concert at Popcorn (The Coventry) in Queens, NY. We did two sets at the club that night for a crowd of around 10 people.
Gene recalls how that show came about:
1973 was the beginning.
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, who managed JF MURPHY AND FREE FLOWING SALT and DIANA MARCOVITZ (or something like that)...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 managerless.
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. We never had.
I made a phone call cold to a place called Popcorn in Queens, NY 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 -- Wed, Thurs and Fri for the sum total of $150.
That was the beginning.
