KISS Appearance On ABC TV In Concert In 1974
The first Kiss TV appearance was broadcast, and they appeared on the musical variety show In Concert in 1974. The timing was a calculated gamble, as the new self-titled debut album, KISS, was released on February 18th. On February 21st, 1974, KISS performed Nothin’ to Lose, Firehouse, and Black Diamond for their first national television appearance on ABC’s In Concert.
KISS IN THE 70s

KISS Back In The Early Years
KISS traces its roots to Wicked Lester, a New York-based rock and roll band led by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. Unhappy with the band’s direction, Wicked Lester, Simmons, and Stanley parted ways with the other members in 1972.
Simmons spots an ad in Rolling Stone from Peter Criss, a drummer “looking to do anything to make it.” Criss auditions and begins rehearsing with Simmons and Stanley as a trio.
Simmons, Stanley, and Criss audition lead guitarist Ace Frehley. Wicked Lester’s name is dropped, and the band becomes KISS. Stanley is credited with coming up with the name, while Frehley designed the original version of the famous logo.
Where Was The Band’s First Gig?

Outspoken Gene Simmons Talks About How KISS Got Its First Gig. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty ImaJanuary 30, 1973—The first show at a club in Queens, NY, called Popcorn. According to Kissonline.com, Gene recalls how the gig came about.
I made a cold phone call to a place called Popcorn in Queens, NY, and on the phone, convinced the guy to hire a band, who would soon change their name from WICKED LESTER to KISS.
We got the gig—three nights—Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for a total of $150.
That was the beginning.”
The Self-Titles Debut Album Release February 18, 1974 The debut album was released. It had songs by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons from an earlier band, Wicked Lester. The entire recording and mixing process took three weeks. The album sold approximately 75,000 copies after its initial release without a hit single.
The Bands First National Television Appearance
“ABC In Concert” featured the band performing three songs: “Nothin to Lose,” “Firehouse,” and “Black Diamond.” They actually recorded four songs, with “Deuce” being the other. However, the song was never broadcast, and the material was lost. The concert was recorded at the Aquarius Theater in Los Angeles, California, on February 21, 1974.
When Was The First Detroit KISS Show?
According to the KISS concert database, the band’s first appearance in Detroit Rock City was on April 7th at the Michigan Palace. The set list for the band’s first performance can be found HERE. The band played nine songs on the first album, including Duce, Strutter, Firehouse, Cold Gin, and more.
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