Description

A massive box with 2 full shows on 4 lps on black vinyls with 2 posters, promo photo, backstage pass stickers, 5 postcards in envelope, a button set and a massive 76 page book.

Kiss was a rejuvenated band for the Lick It Up tour, they had taken off the make up and generated interest in the band by doing so on MTV. This did not necessarily equate to packed houses and the tour was the least attended headlining tour the band would do. There was still turmoil in the lead guitar position, while Vinnie Vincent was a phenomenal guitarist and song writer his personality did not gel with Paul and Gene and was fired mid tour, eventually rehired when the band could not find a replacement quick enough but the tour would be his last with the band (although he would write music with the band for the Revenge album). The opening salvo of Creatures into Detroit Rock City is aggressive as hell, one only has to listen to Vinnie rip into the formers solo to know that while the band did not gel personally, onstage they were a force to be recorded with, tight and professional. The set list is a nice mix of old and new with Vinnie putting his stamp on the older material and for me he is probably my favourite guitarist other than Ace. He didn’t stick to the mould but went outside and breathes new life into warhorses like Cold Gin and Firehouse. He really shows his chops during his solo, he plays not just a flurry of notes but manages to find a way to make it interesting using techniques that were popular during the 80’s and makes it sound effortless and it all evolves into a heavy metal meets Hendrix style ending. Eric Carr’s drum roll style introduction and fills during War Machine are spot on as Gene gets a little spotlight time during the song and his solo that follows that is a prelude for a great I Love It Loud, better than the studio version. I Still Love You, the Paul ballad is high drama at its very best and this version in excellent sound quality is very heavy sounding with Vinnie playing some nice metal blues licks. I love a good Eric Carr solo, it is his playing that gave the band a new backbone so to speak and helped carry them through out the 80’s and the audience agrees, they are cheering him on for the solos six minute duration. The new songs off Lick It Up work well live, Young and Wasted is fast and aggressive and the All Hells Breakin’ Loose with its big and bold chorus is hard rock perfection, oh yes a killer Love Gun is sandwiched in between. The main set is finished with Black Diamond. Encores would be Lick It Up which is a bit faster in tempo when it was performed live. Then it ends with the obligatory Rock And Roll All Nite.

Track list:
LP 1 And 2: The University Of Denver Arena January 25, 1984
1. Creatures Of The Night
2. Detroit Rock City
3. Cold Gin
4. Fits Like A Glove
5. Firehouse
6. Guitar Solo – Paul Stanley
7. Gimme More
8. Guitar Solo – Vinnie Vincent
9. War Machine
10. Bass Solo -Gene Simmons
11. I Love It Loud
12. I Still Love You
13. Drum Solo -Eric Carr
14. Young And Wasted
15. Love Gun
17. All Hells Breakin Loose
18. Black Diamond
19. Lick It Up
20. Rock And Roll All Nite

LP 3 And 4: The Thomas And Mack Center Las Vegas January 28, 1984
1. Creatures Of The Night
2. Detroit Rock City
3. Cold Gin
4. Fits Like A Glove
5. Firehouse
6. Guitar Solo – Paul Stanley
7. Gimme More
8. Guitar Solo – Vinnie Vincent
9. War Machine
10. Bass Solo -Gene Simmons
11. I Love It Loud
12. I Still Love You
13. Drum Solo -Eric Carr
14. Young And Wasted
15. Love Gun
16. All Hells Breakin Loose
17. Black Diamond
18. Lick It Up
19. Rock And Roll All Nite