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 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.

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."

“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.

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.

Some of Your Favorite Classic Rock Bands Have a Pinball Game

Pinball came out in the 1930s and right from the beginning it was labeled as trouble. Pinball was at one time, from the 1940s till 1976,s banned as illegal gambling. Arcades were all the rage in the 70s. Around here they were in every roller rink like Motor City Roller rink, to arcades like Walkers Pinball Palace and the Van Dyke Butterfly Sports center. 

My love for pinball started very young as my neighbor across the street had a game in his garage. The bells and lights drew me to the game and I was hooked. In 1976 Pinball got a big boost from the band, "The Who." Not only that but a hit song to go with it. Pinball Wizard, gave way to a pinball game based on the movie with Roger Daltrey and Elton John. The pinball game was Captain Fantastic by an American pinball company, Bally Manufacturing.

In later years, Pinball games have had their ups and downs, but like rock and roll, have never died! Many bands and artists have been immortalized forever with their own pinball game machines. Rock guitar god, "Slash," even helped to design a new Guns and Roses pinball game. The list is getting long on rock and roll-themed pins.

More Rock and roll-themed pinballs are being planned. Cheap Trick would be one of the pinball games I would like to see in the future.

Some of Your Favorite Classic Rock Bands Have a Pinball Game. Here is a list of my personal favorites.

Great fun game with an awesome playlist of AC/DC songs to keep you rocking for hours

17,000 KISS pinball games were made of the original game. Later in 2015, Stern made an updated version. If you have one of the original games hold on to it as it's going up in price now that the band is allegedly on their final tour.

With an MSRP when new: $8,999.00  Aerosmith keeps fans entertained with drum sounds, toys in the attic multi-ball, and a soundtrack of classic Aerosmith.  

Remember first playing this at the Van Dyke Sports Center in Warren, MI. Loved the old-style bells and it is a bit slow by today's standards. The artwork is so interesting with secret drawings hidden throughout the game.

This Nugent pinball I own myself. Location now is in my office at WCSX. I couldn't afford the KISS pinball and came across this game which only 2,437 were made. Thought it might be a good investment. Plus you can't beat the Motorcity Madman.

KISS Appearance On ABC TV In Concert In 1974 The first Kiss TV appearance was broadcast, as they appeared on the musical variety show In Concert in 1974.