We are now to a set of shows that were all done within a month of each other. These three disc were included in the John Humphrey Collection I bought last year at an auction where I got my hands on 38 Bootleg CDs from his personal collection. Oh, if you don’t know who John Humphrey is, you need to know he is a massive Kiss collector. And he is the drummer of the band Seether. John decided to sell off his entire collection…sort of…he kept all the vinyl (like 4,000 of them). He did it through an auction at Backstage Auctions and I had to have a piece of it…which I did.
We are going in chronological order for these three shows, so first up is ‘Unnecessary Evil: Anaheim Stadium August 20, 1976’. The release was on Deep Records and was released in 1992 and is obviously another Bootleg. This is actually the 50th Kiss Bootleg Post I’ve done which is crazy to think about. And I still have several more to do. The show we have here is from the Destroyer Tour and saw the band come to Anaheim, California with an impressive line-up for this show. It had Montrose, Ted Nugent as well as Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band all on the bill. There were around 43,000 people at the show and it gross was $437,653 which in today’s dollars would be equivalent to around $2.5 million today. That is crazy to think.
This particular show I read is a soundboard recording, but maybe it is the age, but doesn’t sound that clear for a soundboard. But it doesn’t sound that bad either for an audience recording. You can hear the crowd really well, but the band is a little soft and distant sounding. Although, I can hear everything fairly clear. The show was pretty much an all day festival and reports show the band sold $36,000 in merchandise on that day. There were two massive video screens, one on each side of the stage as well as Eddie Kramer was brought in to record the show. I don’t believe that show has been released yet officially. Maybe that would be a great release for the 50th Anniversary of the album.
The show starts out with a warning from the announcer for everyone to back up as the crowd was pushing the stage. Safety is important. The fans start chanting “We Want Kiss” and with a fade out and fade in, the band was introduced by each name and there was no “You Wanted the Best” intro. As the are coming down the stage, it is known that Gene falls down, but he gets right back up. Since this is a CD, you don’t actually see that happen, just know it does. They open with “Detroit Rock City”. It is heavy, fast paced and over before you know, but not before the car crashes and they go right into “King of the Night Time World”. A song they should’ve played more in the later years. Theses songs follow each other on ‘Destroyer’ and so they should live as well. It is a messy transition with the crowd noise and such, but once it gets going, it rocks.
Paul screams at the crowd in he is fine form. What a great frontman. “Let Me Go Rock And Roll” sees Gene take over vocals and he roars his way through it. Ace blows away the crowd with his solo and the band is on fire. There is an awkward pause before Paul tells the ladies this next one is for those that liked to get dressed up and then they go into “Strutter”. A paint by numbers track for the boys as they’ve been playing this one since the beginning. No surprises, nothing new, simply solid rock & roll. Afterwards, Paul tells the crowd they are going to get this place “Hotter Than Hell”...and they do that and then some. Paul belts out the lyrics with so much confidence and swagger. The consummate professional.
Things start to heat up even more with “Nothin’ To Lose” as Gene attacks the song. The demon in all his glory. His growls and grit make this song a standout every time they play it. I love how Peter takes over the choruses and his little ad libs make it even better. When the whole band is involved, it is always better. By this time, you are getting thirsty and it is time to drink up a little “Cold Gin”. Of course, Paul does his great Paul stuff and gets the crowd all ramped up and screaming “Cold Gin”. Normally, you get that instantly noticeable guitar riff by Frehley and you know it is go time, but instead Gene starts singing. The guitar riff isn’t that heavy in the mix, but if you listen you can hear it. The song’s solo gives you the riff you’ve been waiting to hear and it doesn’t disappoint.
At the end, Ace does his solo and it is crazy, nuts with fast fingers, spacey effects and explosive goodness. The sloppiness is what we love and what made Ace the first guitar God for so many. He had style, charm and his carefree attitude made him stand out in a crowd. After Ace’s solo, it is rock anthem time again with “Shout It Out Loud”. Funny thing is the sound gets a little louder from this point on. I love seeing Gene & Paul sing together, they should’ve done more of this. Next is another classic with “Do You Love Me”…of course, at this time it was a new song. It is one of those cocky Paul Stanley tracks that really fit the style of the Star Child, always a favorite for me.
Then it is time for The Demon’s so called Bass Solo…I say so called because it is never much of a solo, simply a tool to where he will spit out the blood. After that, with blood all over his face, it his signature song with “God of Thunder”. It is dark, ominous and always interrupted by a Peter Criss drum solo…and that is a great thing. Peter could play, he was really a badass and people often forget how good he really was. “God of Thunder” is finished up afterwards. The main show comes to end with “Rock And Roll All Nite”. But there is an odd edit that cut something out before the song kicks in. Now, what is there that hasn’t already been said about this song. The song is one of the most well-known rock anthems in existence…even my kids know this one.
Then it is encore time. First up is “Deuce”…now the back cover has the correct spelling, but the CD says “Duele”…oops. The song is a pure rock song. Loud, heavy and bombastically electric. Gene is a bad ass as he spits out the lyrics. The band is going full force. Then they go into “Firehouse” and like always, there light up the stage. The siren comes in at the end and with a great big explosion they scream “Good Night” and it is all over. Wait…no it isn’t. One more encore and this time they end it all with another favorite, “Black Diamond”. Another song with shared vocals and this time it is Paul And Peter. The slow quite style opening which leads to the band completely rocking out. Peter’s vocals have a grit that makes the song purr. A great way to end any show!!
And there it is. A great show from the tour supporting their new album at the time, ‘Destroyer’. The first of three in a row we will have for you. The sound is a little muffled, but it is still great. Crank it up a little and there is plenty there to enjoy. A great setlist for the time, band that is still hungry and probably in their prime at this point…which would last for at least a couple more years. Vocals are great from Paul, Gene and Peter and Ace’s playing are all highlights of the show. The crowd was huge, the band was on fire and shows don’t get much hotter than this. My Overall Score is a 4.0 out of 5.0 Stars as I love the rawness of the show and the energy the band is putting off. I would’ve loved to have seen them back in the day!!
The Kiss Bootleg Series:
- Kiss – ‘Accept No Imitations’ (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ASYLUM TOUR)
- Kiss – Look Wot You Dun to Me (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (CRAZY NIGHTS TOUR)
- Kiss – The Summer of Satan: The Devils Ride Out! (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (DESTROYER TOUR)
- Kiss – Return to Capital Center (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (DYNASTY TOUR)
- Kiss – With Fire & Thunder (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (HOTTER THAN HELL TOUR)
- Kiss – Northhampton PA March 19th, 1975 (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (DRESSED TO KILL TOUR)
- Kiss – The Hottest Show On Earth (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (THE HOTTEST SHOW ON EARTH TOUR 2010)
- Kiss – All the Way to the Ball Room (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (Australian Tour 1995)
- Kiss – Kiss of Thunder (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (The Rising Sun Tour 2006)
- Kiss – Agora Ballroom 1974: The Cleveland Broadcast plus Bonus Cuts (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (THE KISS TOUR)
- Kiss – Hotter Than Hell: Radio Broadcast 1976 (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ROCK & ROLL OVER TOUR)
- Kiss – The Tickler (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (LICK IT UP TOUR 1983)
- Kiss – Barbarize (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ANIMALIZE WORLD TOUR 1984 – North American Tour)
- Kiss – They Only Come Out At Night (Bootleg Series) – Album Review (ANIMALIZE WORLD TOUR 1984 – EUROPEAN TOUR)
- Wicked Lester and the Progeny Demo Sessions (Bootleg)
- Kiss – Black Diamond: Lafayette Music Room, Memphis, TN April 18th, 1974 – FM Broadcast
- Kiss – End of the Road: In Allentown 2020 (PPL Center, Allentown, PA, 4th February 2020) (End of the Road Tour) – Blu-Ray
- Kiss – ‘Monster Tour: Simpsonville 2013’ (Charter Amphitheatre at Heritage Park, Simpsonville, C – 13th August 2013) – Blu-Ray
- Wicked Lester – The Original Wicked Lester Sessions (Bootleg)
- Kiss – The Ritz on Fire (August 12, 1988, The Ritz, New York City. A radio broadcast – Crazy Nights Tour)
- Kiss – Kiss My Axe 1978: Live from the Los Angeles Forum in California, August 25, 1977 (Love Gun Tour)
- Kiss – Gods of Thunder: The Legendary Concert Broadcast – Sao Paulo, August 27, 1994′
- Kiss – Black Diamond: Lafayette Music Room, Memphis, TN April 18th, 1974 – FM Broadcast (Alternate Cover)
- Kiss -Alive! in Amityville: June 1973 – (2021)
- Kiss – Set the World On Fire: Live (10 CD Box Set – Radio Broadcasts 1974-1994)
- Kiss – Diamonds in the Dust (2022)
- Kiss – Wicked Lester (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Unplugged (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Kabuki Beasts: Kyoto 1977 (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Live in Australia 1980 (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Electric Magic: Live East Lansing, MI October 21, 1974 (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Detroit 1984: Cobo Hall, Dec. 12, 1984 (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Snake Attack Budokan: Last Show Japan Tour 1977 (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Live in Maryland 1977 (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Feel Like Heaven (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Madison Square Garden 1977 (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – The Lost Alive II Album (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Live Vol. 1 : Detroit, Michigan April 7, 1974 (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Boxx (Vol. 1): Live in USA 1975/’85 (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Boxx (Vol. 2): Live in Europe 1984 (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Kiss and Ace Demos (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – The Rock ‘N Roots of Kiss (2025)
- Kiss – Choppers ‘N Chicks (Camp Curtis Guild Armory 11/15/1976 RARO Tour Rehearsal)
- Kiss – Watching Us (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Return to Thunder: Winter Tour 1976/1977 (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Houston: The Summit Sept 2, 1977 (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – What Goes On Behind Closed Doors (2012) (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Days of Sorrow And Madness (2014) (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – The Interview Discs (John Humphrey Collection)
- Kiss – Fifteen Years On
- Kiss – The Classic Interviews
- Kiss – Telltales
- Kiss – The Kiss 25th Anniversary Star Profile
- Kiss – The Interviews Volume 2
- Kiss – Gene Simmons? On Howard Stern
- Kiss – Unnecessary Evil: Anaheim Stadium August 20, 1976 (John Humphrey Collection)
