Hotter than Hell Tour

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The Hotter than Hell Tour was the second tour of the American rock band Kiss. The tour featured songs from their first album and their newly released second album, Hotter than Hell, which was the album that the tour was in support of. During this tour, the band used fire and the destruction of guitars as part of their show. The January 31, 1975, show in San Francisco was filmed and later made available for public viewing.

Hotter than Hell Tour
Promotional tour by Kiss
Associated albumHotter than Hell
Start dateOctober 17, 1974 (1974-10-17)
End dateFebruary 22, 1975 (1975-02-22)
No. of shows51
Kiss concert chronology

In the tour program for the band's final tour, Stanley reflected on the tour:

Touring in the early days was both grueling and great. I think we were getting paid sixty dollars a week but we felt we were living the dream. We were a rock band in a rented station wagon but it was really exciting. We felt we were on a mission and were on the road to glory. We were a gang of people on a crusade who believed in something and were willing to do anything to promote it. There was a tremendous camaraderie in the band in spite of our differences and the people around us shared that passion.[1]

Reception

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Two local reporters from MSU State News and State Journal who attended the October 21 and 22, 1974, performances had given the sold out performances positive reviews, noting that their overall show was good, the music tight, and their musicianship excellent. Although mixed on the costume designs, the reviewers cited the high energy from the audience attending the performances and the band's rising popularity in Detroit.[2][3]

Following the London, Ontario, Canada, performance, a reporter from London Free Press had given the performance a mixed review, stating: "Kiss is a tight well rehearsed band with some excellent musical ideas. Unfortunately, the ability to hear any of this is lost in the incredible amount of distortion which is created by Kiss' pain-inducing volume level. Kiss has something to offer musically but the glitter and whiteface is on its way out and if the group is to remain alive, it must change and face the future that one of its members is supposed to represent."[4]

Setlist

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  1. "Deuce"
  2. "Strutter"
  3. "Got to Choose"
  4. "Hotter than Hell"
  5. "Firehouse"
  6. "She" (with guitar solo)
  7. "Watchin' You"
  8. "Nothin' to Lose"
  9. "Strange Ways"
  10. "Parasite"
  11. "100,000 Years" (with bass solo and drum solo)
  12. "Black Diamond"

Encore

  1. "Cold Gin"
  2. "Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll"

Tour dates

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Date[5] City Country Venue Support Act(s)
October 17, 1974 Comstock Park United States Thunder Chicken
October 18, 1974 Hammond Parthenon Theater
October 19, 1974 Toledo Valentine Theatre The Rockets
October 21, 1974 Lansing Brewery
October 22, 1974
October 25, 1974 Passaic Capitol Theatre Golden Earring
John Hammond
October 27, 1974 Youngstown Tomorrow Club Cannonball
October 30, 1974 Columbus Agora Ballroom If
October 31, 1974 Peru Peru Circus Arena Thompson's Machine Gun
November 2, 1974 Des Plaines Maine West High School Smokehouse
November 3, 1974 Duluth Duluth Arena Dr. John
Easy Steam
November 7, 1974 St. Louis Kiel Auditorium Heartsfield
T-Rex
Neil Merryweather and the Space Rangers
November 8, 1974 Chicago Aragon Ballroom UFO
T-Rex
November 10, 1974 University Center Pioneer Gymnasium Skyhook
November 12, 1974 Minot Minot Municipal Auditorium Clowns
November 16, 1974 Asbury Park Sunshine Inn Mercury
Fantasy
November 21, 1974 Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids Memorial Coliseum Foghat
November 23, 1974 Atlanta Alexander Memorial Coliseum Black Oak Arkansas
James Montgomery
November 27, 1974 Greenville Greenville Memorial Auditorium
November 28, 1974 Charlotte Charlotte Coliseum
November 29, 1974 Charleston Gaillard Municipal Auditorium
November 30, 1974 Fayetteville Cumberland County Memorial Arena
December 6, 1974 Bowling Green Van Meter Auditorium
December 8, 1974 Evansville Roberts Municipal Stadium ZZ Top
Point Blank
December 10, 1974 Davenport Palmer Auditorium
December 12, 1974 Flint IMA Auditorium ZZ Top
December 13, 1974 La Crosse Mary E. Sawyer Auditorium Eddie Boy
December 18, 1974 La Porte La Porte Armory Scream
December 20, 1974 Detroit Michigan Palace Rush
Fancy
December 21, 1974
December 22, 1974 London Canada London Gardens Joe
DJ Ronny Legge
December 23, 1974 Wilkes-Barre United States Paramount Theater Kenny Kramer
December 27, 1974 Fort Wayne Allen County War Memorial Coliseum REO Speedwagon
Quicksilver Messenger Service
December 28, 1974 Indianapolis Indiana Convention Center REO Speedwagon
Quicksilver Messenger Service
Hydra
December 29, 1974 South Bend Morris Civic Auditorium Quicksilver Messenger Service
Hydra
December 30, 1974 Springfield Illinois State Armory Mike Quatro
December 31, 1974 Evansville Evansville Coliseum Raspberries
January 7, 1975 Lethbridge Canada Lethbridge Pavilion
January 9, 1975 Vancouver Commodore Ballroom Sam Hurrie
January 10, 1975 Portland United States Paramount Theater Ballin' Jack
January 11, 1975 Medford Medford Armory Arosa
January 12, 1975 Seattle Paramount Theatre Ballin' Jack
January 17, 1975 Long Beach Long Beach Arena Wishbone Ash
Camel
January 18, 1975 San Bernardino Swing Auditorium ZZ Top
January 19, 1975 San Diego San Diego Civic Theater Wishbone Ash
Camel
January 26, 1975 Fresno Selland Arena ZZ Top
Wishbone Ash
January 31, 1975 San Francisco Winterland Ballroom Eli
Third Rail
February 1, 1975 Santa Monica Santa Monica Civic Auditorium Jo Jo Gunne
Yesterday & Today
February 20, 1975 St. Louis Kiel Auditorium Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
The Road Crew
February 21, 1975 Chicago Aragon Ballroom James Gang
Man
February 22, 1975 Schererville Omni 41 James Gang
Pez

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ (2019). End of the Road World Tour Program, pg. 6.
  2. ^ MSU State News, October 23, 1974
  3. ^ State Journal, October 26, 1974
  4. ^ London Free Press, December 23, 1974
  5. ^ Gooch, Curt; Suhs, Jeff (2002). Kiss Alive Forever: The Complete Touring History. New York: Billboard Books. ISBN 0-8230-8322-5.

Bibliography

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  • Gooch, Curt; Suhs, Jeff (2002). Kiss Alive Forever: The Complete Touring History. New York: Billboard Books. ISBN 0-8230-8322-5.