“Hotter Than Hell”
KISS: “Hotter Than Hell” 1974
“BUZZ” Newspaper Article March 2012 (12- L)
By: MrZero; R.L.Schwinden
How ya doin’ St. Cloud !!!
As some of you may not know I was a member of the staff that wrote the book “KISS: Alive Forever”. Put out on Billboard Books in 2002 with the ISBN # 0-8230-8322-5. I had 27 entries and conducted some 8 hours of interviews. I was recently asked then why is it, I have not yet done an article on one of my favorite bands? My response: “There is too much to cover in a 3 page article. So in an attempt to satisfy the fans, I narrowed the focus down to my favorite period of KISS 1974- 75. When I was in Grade School in Jackson, MS. my buddy Greg A. gave me “Hotter Than Hell” for my birthday and I was never the same again, I had found what I had been looking for all my life, And away we go….
“The Birth”
KISS was born from the ashes of the ‘Epic Label’ band “Wicked Lester” in Dec 1972. Gene $immon$ (Chaim Weitz: 25Aug1949; Haifa, Israel, then Eugene Klein NYC) on Bass & Vocals, Paul Stanley (Stanley Bert Eisen: 20Jan1952; Queens NYC) on Vocals & Guitar, Peter Criss (George Peter John Criscuola: 20Dec1946; Brooklyn, NYC) on Drums & Vocals & Ace Frehley (Paul Daniel Frehley: 27Apr1951; Bronx, NYC) on Lead Guitar & Vocals. The band recorded a 5 song demo tape on 13 Mar 1973 the tape contained: Deuce, Cold Gin, Strutter, Watchin You & Black Diamond. I was able to interview Gene in Jun 1990, in Des Moines, IA. I was told “Black Diamond” was started by Gene inspired by a brand name of guitar strings & or a brand of bowling ball, but finished up by Paul for someone he knew in NYC, Paul confirmed to me, in an interview I conducted with him in Oct 1990, in Sioux City, Iowa. KISS recorded their 1st LP “KISS” from Oct- Nov 1973 at Bell Sound Studios in NYC. It was released on Casablanca/ WB Records NB-9001 on 18 Feb 1973. The 1st version contained only 9 songs “Kissin Time” was recorded later on in April 1973 for a 45 Single then later added to new pressings of the LP.
“Bring on the Heat”
KISS relocated to LA in Aug- Sep 1974 to work with, for the 2nd time, producers Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise. The band being from NYC did not like the surroundings of west coast California. The band lived out of hotel rooms with Gene & Peter starting off as roommates because Gene said “Peter and I were a lot alike, in the fact we were both like giant little kids, we both loved treats like Twinkies, Hostess Cupcakes etc. we used throw all our treats in a pile on the bed and then divvy them up equally” until one day Paul was frustrated & went to Gene and asked Gene to please switch Ace for Peter as a roommate. On this same trip to LA Paul’s Custom Schecter ’72 “Flying V” with the lower fin being longer than the top fin (like Albert Lee’s) was stolen on the 2nd day of recording. This same guitar (I own the leather strap that came with it) was later traded to a friend of mine Kenny of the band “Patriot” sometime later in 1975 in Mynott, ND. for the ’74 black Gibson reversed Firebird Paul uses on the cover of “Alive”. It originally had a tobacco finish before Paul had his father’s company paint it black. Also on this visit Paul received his now famous “Rose” tattoo from legendary tattoo artist Lyle Tuttle. (this tattoo is rumored to have a copyright)
“Rock N Roll Ball”
Staying on the west coast was not going well for the band. Ace was in a car accident on 23 Aug 1974 which caused a problem when it came to photograph the front cover. Ace received a cut just over his right eye, preventing him from applying his entire face makeup. To compensate, the right side of his face was superimposed and airbrushed in. The costumes on the front cover were worn from roughly May 1974 to Jun 1975. In an interview I did with Ace in Apr 1990 in Phoenix, Ace told me “I still have my first two ‘Leathers’ (1974-75 Costumes) and the Marshall amps I used on that tour” On the back cover the photos of Gene, Peter & Ace are shown with them wearing costumes that as far as I know were only worn on that one occasion, specifically for the Norman Seeff photo shoot party. Interestingly Peter’s wife Lydia Criss was in attendance but Ace’s girlfriend Janette was not. The party got so wild and Paul got so drunk someone decided it was a good idea to lock Paul into his own rental car; the rumor is it took him half an hour to get himself out.
“Hotter Than Hell” NBLP-7006 (LP, 8Track, Cassette &CD)
Was released 22 Oct 1974 for me this is the most band cohesive album they ever did as the songs were written or co-written by 3 of the 4 members. As well as the last album where all 4 members played their own instruments on every track (the only other LP after this to have all 4 play on every track was “Rock N Roll Over” in 1976). The original title of the LP was “The Harder They Come” recorded at the ‘Village Recorder’ in LA. I interviewed Peter in Dec 1993 in Chicago; he informed me “Hotter Than Hell” was his favorite KISS LP and that in fact his correct birth year was 1945.
I am going to review the 8-Track release of the LP as it is very rare and is not in the same running order as the LP release. The 8-Track catalog number is # CABF-87006 & the track listing runs in this order:
- 1. “Hotter Than Hell” Paul’s tip of the hat to ‘FREE’s’ “Alight Now” apparently 1 of Paul’s favorite songs and one of the few covers songs he would play with any regularity.
- “Let Me Go Rock N Roll” Originally titled “Baby Let Me Go” Paul wrote the chord structure first and Gene wrote the melody & Lyrics later on.
3.”Comin Home” Paul told me in Dec 82 “Even though it’s credited to both of us (Paul and Ace), I wrote the whole song. When I brought it into the studio, Ace wrote a few chords for the bridge & ending”
4.”Parasite” Written by Ace and sung by Gene. When I asked Paul about this one he said “It’s a great song, but by ’76 we had so many other great songs, something had to go from the set.” When they played this live they added an extra chorus to the end of the song.
5.”All The Way” Originally titled “Talkin Louder”. Another Gene song written before he was in KISS, perhaps from his days with the “Long Island Sounds” or “Bullfrog Beer”
- “Goin Blind” Originally titled “Little Lady” written with Steven Coronel before Gene, Paul & Steven were in “Wicked Lester” Gene & Coronel also wrote “She” about the same time.
- “Watchin You” Gene used parts from 2 songs he liked by ‘Jeff Beck’ & ‘Mountain’ as inspiration for this song which was also written well before KISS.
- “Strange Ways” Written when Ace was in ‘Milemo’ in the early 70′s so the rumor goes. Sung by Peter the original version contained a several minute drum solo from Peter, cut out before the LP was released. Ace once said “I regret not singing lead on that one. The effect in the solo is the harmonic on the string from my thumb holding the pick” from my Apr90 interview.
9.”Got To Choose” Paul reworked an R&B song “99 & 1/2 (Won’t Do)” by Wilson Pickett. This is hands down my favorite KISS song.
- “Mainline” Rumored to have been played live in concert 28Nov 1974 in Charlotte, NC. There’s a rumor about this song, being written by Paul about Peter’s dabbling with heroin.
One 45 Single was released for this LP “Let Me Go Rock N Roll” b/w “Hotter Than Hell” the song failed to chart.
“Back on the Road”
The tour for this LP started in Oct 1974 to Feb 1975, the band played 53 concerts on this tour with other bands such as: Black Oak Arkansas (personal friends of mine), RUSH, Wishbone Ash, Jo Jo Gunne, Foghat, REO Speedwagon & James Gang (with Tommy Bolin), Trapeze, T.Rex & UFO. A TV commercial was created to promote the LP & Tour using song snippets from the LP. When I interviewed Paul in Dec 1982, I asked him about this time period. He said “I have the ’74 Gibson ‘Midnight Special’ in storage in our warehouse in NY, it’s actually white with sparkles in the finish, there were only about 25 made, as prototypes”. There are only 3 known recordings from this tour. One concert from 31 Jan 1975 was filmed in B/W in San Francisco, CA. at the Winterland Ballroom another concert was captured on Cassette from 18 Oct 1974 Hammond, IN. Here are the set lists as follows. Note: “She” would not yet be released until Mar 1975.
18 Oct 1974 w/ RUSH
Parthenon Theatre
Hammond, IN. (Audio recording)
Deuce
Strutter
Got To Choose
Firehouse
She (not yet released on LP)
Ace’s Solo
Nothin To Lose
Parasite
100,000 Years- Peter’s Solo
Black Diamond
Let Me Go Rock N Roll
Cold Gin
31 Jan 1975 (B/W Video)
Winterland Ballroom
San Francisco, CA.
Deuce
Strutter
Got To Choose
Hotter Than Hell
Firehouse
Watchin You- Ace’s Solo
Nothin To Lose
Parasite- Gene’s solo into;
100,000 Years- Peter’s solo
Black Diamond
Cold Gin
Let Me Go Rock N Roll
“In Conclusion”
To me and Peter Criss this is the definitive KISS album as it was a true group and band effort. So if you haven’t heard this one or seen the concert video do yourself a favor and check it out.
This article is dedicated to my Junior High School friends growing up on the Westside of Sioux City, Iowa, Spencer & Chris C. & Eric W. oh, yea, and “John S. Pyro” too……
Just in case you were unaware, I am in a KISS Tribute Band (with MN Pete, Tony & Christian) “KISSin Time” (find US on “fb”) which recreates this early time period of KISS on Tour late ’75 & early ’75. Contact KISSinTimeMPLS@Gmail.Com
Thank You Good Night, Twin Cities!
By: R.L.Schwinden aka MrZero and Special Guest Editor Jason “Bakko” Bakken: of: ‘Jesus Chrysler’
Mr. Zero’s *Est. 2009
www.MrZeros.Com
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
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