Description

A massive and beautiful box set featuring 4 picture discs in individual sleeves, promo hangar, bus poster, 8 postcards, 3 replica ticketes, button and a 76 page booklet

On the 18th of February 1977 Kiss reached their dream when they were headlining the prestigious Madison Square Garden in New York City for the first time. The massive hometown gig, billed as the “Triumphant Return Of The Conquering Heroes” took place during the Love Gun Tour and the gig was a complete sell out. I think Peter said it best “In those early days the Garden was my dream. I remember passing the old Garden when I was 10 years old. I was with my Mom, and I said “Ma. I’m gonna play that place someday for you”. And I did. It was the biggest moment of my life.” This however woulnt be the last time the band played MSG. On the following tour dubbed Alive II Tour the band were back for three more nights namely on the 14th to 16th of December. These shows are celebrated in this beautiful box set. Alive II has been considered to be the pinnacle of the classic era. However, even though the new live album, Alive II, contained 5 new studio recordings, none were added to the set and the show was more an extension of the Love Gun Tour (with Take Me and Hooligan being replaced in the set with other classics). The original national press review for the December shows read: Maybe the glitter-rock band Kiss should change its name to Smack. Kiss, they of the painted faces and outrageous costumes, smacked a full house at Madison Square Garden recently with something close to 180 decibels and outrageous visual effects which were eaten up by the teen-age Kiss Army fans. (Those over the age of 21 seemed to have a what-am-I-doing- here look on their faces). Kiss opened with I Stole Your Love, a driving foot-stomping number that may have sounded better than it was because the band kept the opening night audience waiting more than an hour past the billed starting time. Ensuing numbers included Doctor Love, Christine Sixteen and Love Gun, but only the names indicated any individuality in the songs. Bassist Gene Simmons, the tongue-thrusting vampire figure, breathed smoke throughout Firehouse and drooled blood in a guitar solo. Space Ace Frehley’s lead guitar smoked and exploded in a shower of sparks at the conclusion of Shock Me. Paul Stanley, the rhythm guitarist and lead singer, broke his instrument over his knee and tossed it to the crowd after Rock And Roll All Night. Peter Criss, the feline-faced drummer, played a long solo to the accompaniment of fireworks in God of Thunder. The music was pretty good, the guitar playing talented, the drumming fair, and the singing ranged from below average (Frehley) to above average (Stanley and Simmons). Kiss appeal lies in two areas. First, any member of the audience who ever picked up a guitar or beat a drum gets the feeling watching them that all he needs is a smidgen of talent and a load of gimmicks for him too to be a superstar. Secondly, and most importantly, the group truly appreciates its fans and strives to show them a good show

Track list:
1. I Stole Your Love
2. King Of The Night Time World
3. Ladies Room
4. Firehouse
5. Love Gun
6. Let Me Go, Rock And Roll
7. Makin Love
8. Christine Sixteen
9. Shock Me
10. Guitar Solo
11. I Want You
12. Calling Dr. Love
13. Shout It Out Loud
14. Bass Solo
15. God Of Thunder
16. Drum Solo
17. Rock And Roll All Nite
18. Detroit Rock City
19. Beth
20. Black Diamond