Julian Gill has put together a massive book that has all of the KISS Tour Dates from 1972 to 2020.
This book is filled with a ton of info and I have always been a geek with this kind of stuff. Tour dates/attendance and how much money was made.
Unlike RUSH who authorized their awesome book on this format a few years ago (“Wandering The Face of the Earth”) dealing with KISS, on the other hand, you won’t get any official stuff like this from them but what you will get are some hardcore fans putting these books together and releasing them.
Gill over the course of 700 plus pages in this book has listed as much info as possible on every possible KISS show from the beginning which was November 1972 when Gene, Paul, and Peter auditioned as a three-piece for Epic Records.
Did you know that? I sure didn’t. It’s stuff like that which is very interesting to me.
Each tour is documented by a writeup which leads to all the dates for that year. Example ‘Rock N Roll Over Tour’ and the amount of touring they did behind it.
What is fascinating is not so much the KISS glory years on the road (1975-79) but those tours starting from the aborted American Tours for both 1980’s “Unmasked” and 1981″The Elder” releases as in the United States those albums that were deemed flops.
KISS did a tour in 1980 as they went to Australia where it was mass hysteria as both the Unmasked album and single Shandi were riding high on the charts.
Where this book comes in as a great read is that the KISS shows made 3 million dollars on that Australian tour which is a ton of money but the promoter still lost $250,000 grand on the tour as KISS showed up with an entourage of 45 people and lived it up.
The live it up motto would haunt KISS into the 80’s even more but that’s a story for another time. ( come back in a few days as I will explain it in my next book review)
What I decided to do was ask KISS Superfan the one only John T Snow as he has seen KISS five times in the ’80s. So you can get a good look at how this book is set up.
Here are John’s dates followed by what was printed in KISS On Tour 2020 for each show that the Snowman saw in Atlanta. You can click on each review to make it bigger as it will be easier on your eyes.
Dec 26, 1983;
Jan 9, 1985;
Dec 31, 1985
Feb 10, 1988
July 20, 1990
Thanks for sharing those dates Snowman! As you can tell by those five pics you can get a feel for how this book is laid out.
Even better is the fact that Gill mentions the aborted Canadian Tour that KISS had planned for Canada on the “Hot In The Shade Tour” back in October 1990!
Damn it if Thunder Bay wasn’t going to be one of those stops! See for yourself posted above!
I knew about this date back then as there is a story tied to it but that’s for another time. Ask me next time I’m on the Lebrain Train!
“KISS 2020 Tour Edition” is a massive read and was actually priced really decent at Amazon ($40 Canadian) and is a great addition to any KISS Fan out there.
That is a lot of data. I’m not sure I am ready for this because I struggled immensely to get through Odyssey by him. That review should be coming sometime soon. But cool at least the dates for my shows were there so I now know I didn’t dream the whole thing!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good thing you weren’t dreaming man cuz you would have missed those Stanley raps! lol
I love geeking out on this stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Holy smokes, what a project! 700 pages, that takes dedication and time, my goodness. Great idea including John’s gigs, this whole post: two thumbs up!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks. I love kicking back and opening a 700 page book and starting anywhere! lol
LikeLike
Man, that much information in one place, it really is a gift that keeps on giving for the KISS afficiando!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is almost as nerdy as baseball stats.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this kind of shit. The RUSH one is the best one though as it was RUSH hiring super nerds to put it together. Smart move..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rush nerds are super nerds!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Big time…lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
And a live LP released for almost every page!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Half Live per page and the other half are Greatest Hits compilations!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool book! Thanks for the post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for dropping by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course. I have less free time so not here quite as often, but always enjoy your posts when I check in 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I appreciate that Brother.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice one deke. I can see geeking on this stuff too. I love stats and figures.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right up your alley Andrew. Did you get the RUSH one?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did not
LikeLiked by 1 person
Better get on that my friend! You will not be disappointed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yessir
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol
LikeLike
Did I know that about the 3 piece? No! I know that they WERE a 3 piece for a short time, but I didn’t know they actually performed in front of anyone in that configuration. Interesting!
Julian Gill is the man, I have his book on the solo albums, and the detail is so intensive. Like interviewing the teacher of the kid’s choir, stuff like that. Just awesome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very detailed indeed. He knows his stuff. Wait til you see Thursdays post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well shit the bed, I wonder if it’s more Gill?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Maybe, maybe not! lol
LikeLike
Oh and Mike DeLano thanks you for mentioning his show the LeBrain Train.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Routing problems in Canada? What happened there?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Who know’s for sure. It probably came down to promoters and how much cash KISS could get.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting! Actually I should ask John about that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can reach John at Gene Simmons house! lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
HAHA!!!!
LikeLike
Cool. You truly are super, Deke.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Thanks…
LikeLike
I used to enjoy reading this kind of stuff. Don’t know if that’s still the case. I still remember the Iron Maiden packaging for Live After Death. Brilliant
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a geek for under attendant tours and KISS had a few of those in the 80s! Lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
Which one was their worst?
Because even if the US market stiffed, other markets picked up the slack.
Play Australia and South America and Japan and your sweet. Because we love Shandi. Ohhhh. Lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Check back tomorrow Pete! All will revealed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol
Your a salesman.
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol. Cheap Hype!
LikeLiked by 1 person