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’. Then it was ‘The Spirit of ’76: Richfield Coliseum, September 3, 1976’. We are now to the final of the 3 shows from the Destroyer Tour. This one is called ‘Flaming Years’ and it was recorded on September 6, 1976 in Toronto Canada at Varsity Stadium. This bootleg was released in 1994 by Backstage and it was released in Italy. The CD was purchased on March 27, 1995 as the receipt was still in the CD and John paid $29.25 for it which I imagine that was a lot back in the day.
Like the Cleveland show, this is another soundboard recording, but the sound is little more clear as it seems to breathe a little better. Paul is still as loud, but the crowd is very faint. There are some interesting moments here as “Rock and Roll All Nite” does cutout midway through and goes right into “Deuce” which is already in-progress. And during the intro to “Black Diamond,” Ace Frehley is apparently calling someone an “asshole.” I wonder what that was about.
The show stsarts with the annoucer screamning “Alright Toronto, You Wanted the Best and You Got the Best…KISS”. This was louder then when the band actually starts playing “Detroit Rock City”. Paul’s vocals are quite loud in the mix so you hear all his flaws (which aren’t many at this time in their career. Everything else isn’t quite as loud as Paul, but it is clear. Peter is keeping great time, Ace’s is playing is outstanding and the bass is laying the groove. A great performance. It is 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 and Ace is still killing it, so is Peter.
As Paul does his banter, you can barely 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 and gives off a little Rock ‘N Roll howl. I wish Ace’s guitar was louder as he is shredding with the best of them. It is way too quiet. 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, I like the effect on them.
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. He did that with the last show as well. There is a weird moment with the only thing you hear is bass, it is like an awkward pause before the guitar comes in. With that being said, Ace’s solo ir pretty great on this one too…needs to be louder as the bass is too overpowering in the mix. The transition to the next song sounds interesting. I swear it sounds like they messed it up a little. And 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 wants to get high? Paul wants everyone to get high apparently. Then he talks a lot about alcohol because up next is “Cold Gin” and the band serves it up nicely. This time I hear that famous guitar riff start things off but too far back in the mix. It needs to be punched up. 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 is pretty wild! It is a little distorted at times, sloppy at others, full on weird even and then all out 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 problem with this one was that Gene was no where near as loud as Paul so he sounded like he was simply a backing singer. Everyone in the mix was at a different volume and it bothered me here. There is a long, silent pause before they go into 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. The bass solo isn’t listed on the track listing. 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 which isn’t listed either as it has been on the other shows…and Peter’s solo 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 cuts out mid-song and picks up with Gene singing in the middle of “Deuce” which is an encore song. Despite that error, “Deuce” is a solid 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.
Paul comes out and screams out Toronto and tells them how great they are and how hot the place is going to get then will need to call the “Firehouse” and I don’t remember him talking like this on any of the other 3 shows unless they cut out that part. The band blasts in and they rock it out, but it sounds flat. 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 seems extra long this time around and even has Paul hushing the crowd. Paul sings a little and then out of the blue, you hear Ace scream ASSHOLE!!! It is awesome. This all leads to the band completely rocking out. Peter’s vocals have a grit that makes the song purr. This song is always a great way to end any show!!
And there it is. Another great show from the tour supporting their new album at the time, ‘Destroyer’. The final of the three in a row we will have for you from this tour. The sound is actually really good despite Ace not being loud in the mix at all. Paul and Peter are both really loud, but Gene isn’t as loud either. After awhile, this time it bothered me. It is still a great setlist for the time, a band that is still hungry and probably in their prime at this point. Vocals are great from Paul, Gene and Peter and Ace’s playing are all highlights of the show like any show during this ear. The crowd wasn’t as big in this one, but the band had so much energy you didn’t mind it too much. The band was on fire but they made some mistakes. Everyone seemed a little on edge. I actually like the sound and intensity of the last show we discussed more. This might be my least favorite of the bunch mainly because I’ve heard this show multiple times now as all three are pretty much identical. This one doesn’t have the same energy to me and probably because the crowd is hardly heard throughout. It also has some errors in the recording that are hard to overlook. My Overall Score is a 3.5 out of 5.0 Stars as I think it is still a great show, all the guys are at different levels in the mix and that part is what sucks. Definitely a solid soundboard recording overall though. I still 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)
- Kiss – Flaming Years (Toronto Canada, September 6, 1976) (John Humphrey Collection)
