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 last time we did ‘Unnecessary Evil: Anaheim Stadium August 20, 1976’. Now, it is time for ‘The Spirit of ’76: Richfield Coliseum, September 3, 1976’. This bootleg was released in 2011 on a label called Strutter Productions and is listed as For Promotional Use Only Not For Sale…yeah…bootleg!! As far as setlist go, Kiss doesn’t deviate at all from the prior show.
The show says it was in Cleveland, Ohio, but it was actually Richfield, a suburb of Cleveland and throughout Paul says Cleveland. The opening act was Artful Dodger and I have no information on Crowd size or box office take like I did for the last one. It is a soundboard recording and is said to be one of the best recordings of the tour with the exception of some mix level adjustments early on and a cut short on ‘Rock And Roll All Nite’, but this mix fixes the cut short although the remainder of the song sounds different. Crowd noise is minimal and all you hear are the boys doing what they do best!!
The show starts off with some noodling around on the instruments, a pause and then we get the classic “You Wanted the Best and You Got ‘Em…”. This was louder then when the band actually starts playing. Lots of explosions can be heard at the start of “Detroit Rock City”. Paul’s vocals are quite loud in the mix compared to the mix of the last album we discussed, so you hear all his flaws (which aren’t many at this time in their career. Suddenly the drums get higher in the mix, then down a little as I am guessing they are still noodling around. Ace’s guitar sounds very distant during the solo and the bass is about the same. Outside of all that, a great performance. Definitely a soundboard recording.
It ends with a car crash as it should be and then it is “King of the Night Time World”. Gene roars in the backing vocals on the Chorus and Paul is still really loud…but I’m getting used to it now. As Paul does his banter, you can hear the crowd roar a little as they aren’t mic’d up. They rock it out with Gene on “Let Me Go, Rock ‘N Roll”. A fun, party anthem and Gene has the energy to match the tone. He’s all into it!! I wish Ace’s guitar was louder as he is ripping the song a new one. Next up is the classic “Strutter”, but not before Paul talks about the girls out in the crowd. The drums sound really cool on this one, not sure why, but I like the effect on them. Paul sounds really great too and he is still really loud. I think they are done adjusting the sound as it all is pretty consistent now.
Paul now has to talk about how hot the night is so he can introduce “Hotter Than Hell”. He over accentuates a few lyrics in this one as I guess he needs to do that to keep it interesting for himself and I like it. The band sounds tight and Peter is really killing it on the drums. So far, Paul and Peter are really standouts on this one, but that could be they are the highest in the mix. With that being said, Ace’s solo ir pretty great on this one too…needs to be louder. Next up is Peter with a lot of cowbell. We always need more cowbell. They go right into “Nothin’ to Lose” and Gene growls his way through it. It is like the Demon is on overdrive. Peter tears it up on the chorus as he screams his way around Gene’s vocal parts. It is awesome.
Who needs a drink? Well, I could go for some “Cold Gin” and the band serves it up nicely. This time I hear that famous guitar riff start things off then Gene comes in attacking the lyrics with all the gusto he can muster. Damn, the guitar needs to be louder as he is shredding away and you can barely hear it. But when the rest of the band stops and it is Ace doing his show Solo, it turns up loud in the mix and will blow your freaking mind away!! It is a little distorted at times, sloppy at others, atmospheric at one point and then full on explosive.
After Ace’s solo, it is time for another rock anthem with “Shout It Out Loud”. I love seeing Gene & Paul sing together, they should’ve done more of this. The crowd is on their feet and Paul is loving it. 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 fits 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. The recording has a weird cut and Gene sounds like he’s singing from a radio broadcast…really strange. Then it is encore time with “Deuce”. The song is a pure rock song. Loud, heavy and bombastically electric. Gene is a bad ass as he sounds so angry and mean. The band is going full force. Paul yells Good Night…but it ain’t over…more encores.
Then they go into “Firehouse” and like always, they burn the house down. The siren comes in at the end and with a great big explosion, they scream “Good Night” yet again and it is all over. Wait…no it isn’t. They fooled us again. 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 2nd of three in a row we will have for you from this tour. The sound is actually great with the exception of the tweaking of the mix in the first couple tracks. Paul and Peter are both really loud, but after while you get used to it and like it. A great setlist for the time, a 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 wasn’t as big in this one, but the band had so much energy you didn’t care. The band was on fire and shows don’t get much hotter than this. My Overall Score is a 4.5 out of 5.0 Stars as I love the rawness of the show and the energy the band is putting off. Definitely a solid soundboard recording and I can see why they say it is one of the best out there. 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)
- Kiss – The Spirit of ’76 (Richfield Coliseum, September 3, 1976) (John Humphrey Collection)
