4/5/97 Columbus, GA - The Ultimate Edition / Eddie Kannon on the drums!!

Ok...so I did a show from the 70's and the 80's.  Now here is a 90's show.  I decided to watch the 4/5/97 Columbus, GA show where Eddie Kannon replaced Peter Criss for the night.  I had never watched past the first 2 songs.  Here is my question about this night.  The official story is he missed the show because of "sore muscles", but how long in advance did they know they were going to replace him?  They had to get Eddie Kannon into makeup.  Anyway. Here are my thoughts on the whole show.

Deuce - The opening sounded horrible Right off the bat

Just by the sound of the drums..someone is hitting them VERY hard!

Decent version of the song..but not setting it on fire

King Of The Night Time World - Decent version of the song...not a lot going on...just seem to be going through the motions.

Ed's at least having a good time.

Ed's on cue with the ending of the song

Let Me Go Rock N Roll - After Paul gives Ed a great into...he screws up the beginning of the song..and it's almost a train wreck.

The slow motion crap on house feed...really...what’s the point.

Paul and that damn finger licking stuff!!!

The whole damn song is in this slow mo crap!

Really good version of the song after the first mishap

Here's a view I never want to see again...

To me it’s kind of funny...when they get to the middle of the song Ace is on the left of the drum riser, Paul in the middle and Gene on the right just looking at Ed.  Almost like saying...doing a good job...just hang in there

During Paul's people over there let me hear you rap...check out the girl sitting in the front row.  Looks very upset about Peter not being there

Do You Love Me - Really good version of the song...everybody seems to be on it!! 

Always loved the ending of this song on the reunion tour.  Great way to end the song!!

Firehouse - Yeah!! More slow mo crap!!

The guys are really getting in synch...sounds really good!

It needs more cowbell!!

Watchin You - Song was really going along good...was sitting here digging it when Gene screws up the line "I'm sitting here..not quite aware."  I'm not sure what he said...it just kind of kills it when he screws up.

Ed gets kind of lost during the middle of the song...but just keeps going and recovers!!

Shock Me - Ace seemed to have way more energy on the reunion tour. 

Good version of the song...sounds really good!

Just liked this pic...

The effects of the screen split into 4's is cool. Plus having on a bootleg is awesome

Solo - This is ALWAYS one of my fav. parts of the show!! 

Pretty good one so far!

The call to the post riff is always cool!

Great...more slow mo crap...really does anyone enjoy it??

Really liked this shot during the solo

The classical part that he plays towards the shooting is always been a fav part of mine.

Ok..FINALLY a part I liked with the slow mo!!

Dr. Love - Why is this song so popular?  It’s a good song...but not a high point of the show to me.  

Ok version of the song...but then again...hard for me to say it's rockin or anything like that

Shout It Out Loud - Wow the other song that I hate live.  Just always thought this was a weak song.  

The only part I enjoy is the way Paul and Gene switch of vocals

Again...decent version of the song.

Cold Gin - More slow mo!! For the whole song...yea!!

Really good version of the song. 

Always thought it was cool that Ace sang the second verse on the tour!

Anybody ever drank cold gin?  I have had gin...but never cold....anybody??

Love Gun - Surprised that Ed did a really good job on the start of the song

Gene sounds like crap sinning the backup vocals

Ok version of the song..nothing to write home about

Long video drop out during the song...the entire solo

Get really bad picture when Paul flies back to the stage

Cmon And Love Me - This is great live song and this is a pretty good version of it

Nothing special going on during the song....everyone staying in the same spot on the stage. 

Great song, but boring to watch during this show!

I Was Made For Loving You - Always heard Gene hates playing this song live...anybody know why??

This is a song sometimes is really good live or it just lays there....this is a decent version.  

This song seems to made to be played live...it just fits.

Again...everybody just standing in the same spots on sage. 

It looks like Ace is concentrating really hard on what he is playing

The camera man thinks they are getting a great "disco" shot of lights moving in and out of focus...WRONG!!

Gene's Solo - Gene seams really into.  He let a little dribble out of his before he spits it....very cool.

OH!!  Right before Gene spits the blood they take away the green light shining on him and put a clear light....talk about letting the air out of the balloon.  It just lost all its coolness.  So did the me saying the air out of the balloon line.

Other than the proofed out hair....this looks really 70's to me

God Of Thunder - IN SLOW MO!  Cut it out! 

Nice version of the song so far.

They start to take Gene off the platform before he is done singing...kind of funny.

Now there is a shot of the moon on the screen...WTF??

It is nice to hear the whole song played live without a drum solo in it!!

New York Groove - Out comes the flashing guitar.  Does it get any cooler?

Seems like a weird song to follow God of Thunder with.  From one of their heaviest songs to this one?

Decent version..think it’s hard to screw this one up.

100,000 Years - Gene now has no blood on him.  Always better to me when he left it on.

Really good version of the song going on.

Ok...I think Ed is lost during the break down.  His beat is just kind of all over the place....weird!

Other than the middle...it's a good version of the song.

Black Diamond - Always liked Paul's guitar intro before they play the song.  Don't know why...just thought it really added something to the song.

Crap...more slow mo...they are killing me with this. Once they start it they keep it for the whole song.

Ok..his intro is running a little long here...just played what sounded like part of the solo from Animalize Uncensored.

Paul is singing the song...sounds NICE!!

Never even dawned on me when the song started that Peter was not playing with them!!

Wonder what Ed was thinking when the drum riser started going up??

DRC - Really good version of the song going here. 

Again kind of boring to watch..nobody really moving around.

Why did Gene ever start licking Ace's neck during this song live???  Anybody??

I know this sounds stupid, but part of the magic is gone for me when they come back to play the encore and Ace has a watch one now.  If he had it on the whole show I did notice it or it was covered up by his arm guards.

I got a dollar says RNRAN will be in slow mo!!

RNRAN - It's in slow mo!!!

If I was Ed I would really be going for it on this song....this would be your last chance to play with KISS....go out in style!!

Too cheap to pay for a real shirt at the show

Better yet..can anybody tell me what this shirt is?

Really good version of the song going on.  I hate the studio version of this song.

Nothing like coming to show in matching Calvin and Hobbs shirts.
What is wrote on her forehead?

Holy crap are they all together??

All in all it was a good show.  I really liked the fact I did not have to hear Beth again.  There is something so boring about that song when Peter sings with a backup tape.

Eddie Kannon did a really good job for just filing in!!  If you have not seen it...go get it!!  It's KISSTORY!!!

Not a review...but funny!

Somebody has WAY to much free time on there hands!

KISS Animalize Live Uncensored

With all the talk of Animalize Live Uncensored being on the new KISSology, I thought I would take a look at this show again as I have not watched it for years.  Now I owned this when I was kid of 10.  I remember going riding my bike to the baseball store and spent all my money on packs of cards.  Stopped by a new video rental place and on the shelf was Animalize Live Uncensored.  I was so upset I went home and cried in my room for hours because i wasted my money on cards when I could have KISS!!  My mom not understanding was I was so upset, when and got it the same day. Mostly so I would just shut up!!
So this is the first time I ever got to see KISS "live".  Only had the LP's or the cassettes back then.  This made me really want to go see them live.  But anyway....on to the sort of review.  Here we go....
PS - you will get some thoughts now and some I thought back then (yes I still remember them!!)


Intro -  Bruce Kulick...who the hell is that?  had no idea at the time.  It's not the guy on the album.  Always thought coming from behind the stage was cool


DRC - God they had so much energy dancing around the stage!!  The "faster" version of DRC...but it rocks!!  At the 2:33 mark..the move Paul does backwards is just stupid looking!!  At the 2:57 mark Paul throws his necklace off the stage...always thought we was throwing it to a fan...not the crew (had no idea back then!!).  The size of the stage always looked huge to me!!  Great way to open a show!!


At the 4:45 mark the kid in the crowd sort of clapping his hands and throwing the one finger in the air, yelling "wooo" always made me laugh!!
Could never believe all the stuff being thrown up on the stage.


Cold Gin -  At the 6:04 mark the fist pump Bruce makes is weird.  Never understood why the up tempo the songs...used to bum me out as a kid.  Even back then never thought Gene's hair looked right.  Don't remember the shot over Eric's drum set at the 7:46 mark??  Great version of this song!!  Paul grabbing his butt...always hated it!  The guy in the crowd at the 9:05 mark is hold is sign the wrong way!  

During Paul's stage rap I was shocked as kid because I had never heard Paul say "fuck" before!


Creatures Of The Night - Great song...but the up tempo stuff just does not work with this one.  Paul hitting the high note singing "Night"...just does not work.  Just does not sound right this fast....yes I can't get over it now.  At the 13:09 mark you see a guy sitting on a road case beside Eric's drums...always wonder who that was, what he does, and how can i sit there! Awesome solo from Bruce.  Why Paul drops to his knees...never go it.  Again Paul’s high note does work!  

Paul's rap - When I was younger thought these were cool..now they are kind of cheesy.  Always like the "longest fucking tongue" line.  Who knew they sort bring they back as a gag on the Leno show years later!


Fits Like A Glove - During the intro the finger licking???  Good rocking version.  Always liked this song...thought it was under rated.  Always thought Eric singing backups sound like Peter Criss.  Love the double bass dive on the first break down.  Never liked Gene trying to get the crowds response by not singing the "hot knife in butter" line.  Horrible face by Bruce at the 19:44 mark!  Killer lady mullet at the 20:08 mark!!  

Heavens On Fire - Always thought the flames as the start of the song where cool!!  Being this is a "new" song the crowd was really into it!  Great song, just never really liked it live.  Just the chorus part.  Like the rest.  Again with the finger licking and in slow mo?? At the 23:42 Paul holds up a pair of panties...when I was a kid could not even imagine that happening!!!


Ever wonder if the girl in the crowd they show before the play Thrills In The Night regrets being at the show or is still a "metal head"?

Thrills In The Night - Again the up tempo version...just does not seem right, but I do accept it for this era of the band.  Always wonder what brand the "R" on Paul's head stock of the leppard guitar was.  The shot of Paul 26:18 mark was always so cool to me!!  Don't know why the called him "Bruce The Spruce", he moves around ok!  I watch this now and would kill to have some of the picks on the stands!!  

Paul’s Solo - Now the glove he did throw to a fan!  Always thought his solo was kind of lazy.  Then i thought it looked cool..little did I know how easy some of that is!!  At the 31.10 mark you get of shot of Paul through the bottom of the stage..very cool!!  When I was kid..i thought the dividing the crowd up and cheering thing would have been so much fun!!  

Under The Gun - One of my favs even when I was kid!!  Great rockin song!!  At the 34.35 Paul dances away from his mic...but you still hear him plain as day.  Hmm...should have known something was up with live shows back then!!  Love the double bass from Eric Carr!!  


War Machine - Always loved the drums at the start of this song.  Hate the Paul slow mo crap in this show!  This is a good version, but just not as heavy as it need to be!  Bruce just looks so plain compared to Gene and Paul.  Love to watch Eric Carr play the drums...the big hair just bouncing back and forth!  Gene breathing fire is the ONLY thing that works in slow mo on in this show.  To see the burst of flame go up in the air is AWESOME!!  Loved it then...love it now!  Now on the video they never show what happens to the sword after the song...when I was a kid I had no idea!! 


Eric Carr's Drum Solo - Always thought it was cool Eric got to move out towards the front of the stage.  God he rocked a drum set!  He is my fav KISS drummer!!  When I was younger I always wondered if he knew what he was playing or just hitting drums and making sound cool.  The flash pots at the end were always very cool!!


Young And Wasted - Never understood then or now why the let Eric sing this.  I mean he’s great, but I can't imagine Gene just giving it up. Again at 47.35 Paul does the stupid moon walk thing he does.  They guy beside the drums set is back!    Good version of the song.  The added guitar solo is pretty good.  Always liked how they stop playing and break back into the song.


Gene's Bass Solo - The Axe Bass comes out!  I had no idea of how his solos used to be with the spitting blood...so kind of thought it was cool.  If for no other reason for Gene to show off a bit.  Then Eric comes in and plays with him....always thought it was a cool jam!!  Looks funny now to see the Axe bass with a pointed head stock.  Always thought the crowds on Gene's call and response during "Oh Yeah?"  was unbelievable.  Now i know they probly added crowd noise in!


I Love It Loud - Again more Paul slow mo...enough!!!  At the 54:45 Mark you see a guy headbaging with a white KISS shirt on..always thought "now that’s how it's done!!!"  Also if you pause it you see a buy in the crowd with a really nice camera taking some pictures..anybody got them??   

Again..a bit up tempo...but good version none the less.  Why do they always leave out a verse?    Allot of crowd shots during this one..why does everyone leave on their jackets??  Ok the song ends..they stay on the crowd shot of a bit.  If you look in the back the white spot light is on the crowd and there is a guy if you watch who folds his arms like he is board...really???  And if you watch the guys in front of him (one in white shirt, one in black, one in yellow), the guy in the black shirt is like slapping away the hands of the guys next to him...what the hell is going on there??


I Still Love You - AWESOME song!!   When did Paul put on another necklace?  Would sound better at the proper speed...but hey nice to hear a sort of ballad.   Always loved the way Paul shows of his voice during this song!  That’s the first mistake that I have caught this show.  Paul sings "Go on and tell me" instead of "People always tell me" Ok..i could be VERY wrong on this one...but look at the picks on Paul's stand (photo below) There is one of them that looks different than the rest and not like the ones pictured on the KISS Pick World History section..am I wrong?    The paint Bruce's guitar during this song looks like the paint on a Bass Fishing Boat.  Turns out to be a god version of the song!!

Paul’s rap - This has got to the worse rap ever!  How hard do you think he worked on these?  Paul doing the fake make out session...really?  Nice plug for 501 Levis.  But we all know what the correct response is for "I said to her honey that ain't no pistol, that's my....."


Love Gun - Too up tempo for my taste.  Not my fav song in the word...but slow it down for fuck's sake.  Paul hitting the high note in the middle of the song...no.  Was always disappointed that Bruce did not play the solo more towards the original.  Wow...feel like i did not even have time to watch that one!


Lick It Up - Ok..at the 1:10:51 mark there is a guy in the crowd with an Iron Maiden shirt on with a drumstick in the air and looking straight down at the floor...what the hell is he looking at??  Of course..up tempo, always liked the into to this song.  Pretty decent version of the song.  On the break down in the middle always thought it was cool Paul was doing the picking on Bruce's guitar while Bruce played it.   Always thought the 3 of them rocking back and forth together at the front of the stage was cool.

Black Diamond - Even when I was younger, I thought the song started way to fast after Lick It Up ended.  I know you know...but up tempo again.  But we get to Eric Carr again...worth it!  Still sort of sounds like Peter Criss to me.   God the guy sitting next to Eric drum set looks board as hell.  Always liked the shot of the band running up the ramp...you can see the crowd and the stage.  Never got the dropping from the top of the stage..seems so boring.  But now seems weird not to see the strapped into some sort of harness.  


Lots of crowd shots after KISS goes off stage...anybody reading this in the crowd?  


Rock N Roll All Nite - Like Paul's 80's dance at the start of the song. Very strange Paul gives a "five" to the guy who walks across the stage.  Of course is looks like Gene is motioning for security!  One more Paul slow mo!!  One last time...up tempo!  Just does not sound right at this speed.  But it's a good version for this era.  Don't like how they worked the "Do you believe in RNR" into RNRAN.  This break down / sing along is way too long.  Seems wrong with no confetti.   I was wrong...more slow mo of Paul swinging back on the stage!   Paul smashing the guitar is just a signature part of the show.  Love it.  The guys fighting over the guitar in the crowd always me be jealous when I watched it.  The pyro seems a bit understated now.


The directed by KEEF line always got me..who the hell is that.  Google it and here is the first response " Either the crystals off dank marijuana buds or the yellow pollen from the male plants. The keef blizzy knocked me on my ass last night!


That is proby the first time I have watched this whole show in at least 15 years.  It's a really good shot of the band in that era.  Still holds up and will always make me feel like the little kid who cried to get this show!!

Kabuki Beasts - 3/26/77 Kyoto, Japan

3/26/77 Kayoto, Japan
Kabuki Beasts
This is the 1st sort of review i decided to do.  In case you don't know and from what I understand this show was recorded by the promoter of the Japan tour Mr. Peach.
Here we go....
What happened to regular announcer guy?  Not sure who this is...but does an OK job of it.
For aud recording band is good Paul is kind of distant
For 1977 really good aud. recording....of course if the promoter is taping the show..then I am sure he is not just using some cheap portable tape deck.  Kind of hissy.
Paul says this is their first Show ever in Japan - Not true according to Alive Forever.  Two other shows are listed in the book, Osaka March 24th and 25th..

Detroit Rock City - Good version...band seems really pumped up.  After the line I know I am gonna die Paul says "and I don't care!"

Take Me - Still love it when Gene tries and hits the high notes! Again...another good version..the band seems really into it!

Let Me Go Rock N Roll - Gene seems really pumped up...lots of "Yeah Yeah!" Shorten version with no extended solo towards the end

Ladies Room - Very nice version...tight right on cue. Always loved this song live!!  They should bring this back into the setlist

Firehouse - Always liked the faster version of this song.  Killer version.  Band seemed on it.  Siren is a bit over welming...but hey its an aud. recording. Nice scream from the aud when Gene breathes fire

I Want You - Never a big fan of this live just because of the end...Pauls yelling of "I......Want.....You".  Good version none the less.  Nice call and response from aud though.

Makin Love - Nice echo when Paul sings "Makin Love" the first time.  Nice clean version....very rockin

Aud seems really into in the "everybody seem all right" call and response

Cold Gin - Not sure if it's a mistake but sounded like they started to play long live into of the song, but Ace broke into the start of song.  Ace has some nice little riffs during this one. About 2:38 Ace seems to go into the ending riffs of the song instead of the break down.

Ace Solo - ALWAYS one of my fav parts of the show.  Not as good as normal if IMO.  Just did not excite me that much.

Do You Love Me - Pretty Good version. Alwyas liked Gene holding out the word "Me" when he sang the back up parts.  Not as thight as it could have been to me.

Nothing To Lose - Fisrt time we get to hear Peter.  Gene really seemed into this show. Peter repeats Gene line for line in the 2nd verse.  Really good version.  Should have kept this in set for the entire run in the 70's

Bass solo -  very hard not to imagine Gene's moves during this.  Kind of low and hard to hear in spots.  Crowd seems very into it.

God Of thunder - Gene screws up during the second verse, sings:
"I'm the lord of the wastlands
A modern day man of steel
I gather darkness to please me
And I command you to kneel."
 Thats the 3rd verse.   Other than that good version.

Drum Solo - never been a fav of mine.  Again crowd seems into it.  Peter's drum solos just never seemed that exciting to me.  Again, the crowd loves it.

God Of Thunder - ends strong.  Peter bangs the big gong a couple of more times towards the end of the song.

RNRAN - just does not seem right now if not played at the end of the show. Ace or Paul start to screw up on second verse. 1of the 2 start to play the pre chours part. Gene again screws up the lyrics.  Not really sure what he said, but it wrong!  Genes seems to be really into though.  Very rockin version.  You can hear the hiss of the cannons blowing confetti on the crowd (if they did that during the song that early back then).

Compared to what we are used to now the setlist seems a bit weird the way it is set up

Shout It Out Loud - as always (to me) seems a bit speed up.  A pretty good version, never been a big fan of this song.  For some reason seems to get better towards the end as far as the band sounds.

Crowd is going crazy when kiss goes of stage the second time.  Seems to be some sort of chant staring every now and then, but not sure what they say

Beth - crowd loves it.  Very nice version so far.  Never understood why Peter needed a drum solo the single spot for Beth.  Wow, Peter hits the high note really well.  Very nice version.

Again, crowd going crazy.  Think this is where they are taking bows.  Sounds like beating on seats.

Black Diamond -  again always seemed to me a bit speed up.  Peter sounds like he is going crazy on the drum set, beating the hell out of it. A very rockin version.  Peter is just screaming the words.

Over all it was very enjoyable show to listen to. Really good for an aid recording from 77.  There some mistakes, but hey...at least its live and you know it!!

Why another KISS blog?

Good question...I have been collecting bootlegs for years now.  I don't have any thing rare so calm down.  But I hardly ever take the time to enjoy them.  So I thought if started something like this...it would make me sit down and watch / listen to some things I have not watched or have not seen in years.

So what will you get?
You will not get a full blown out review.  I will leave that to the people who can do a way better job than me.  But what you will get it random of life long KISS fan (been a fan since the age of 5!), some random thoughts, and some facts thrown in.

I hope visitors will come by, read what I think or have to say, and leave there thoughts.  I am always open to talking about KISS!!  Maybe this will force a few more people to sit back and listen / watch also!!

Hope to hear from you!!
The Phantom