People can say what they want about ACE and PETER but after watching this again , shows how much they were needed to make KISS the band they were . Great drumming and singing from Peter , and what can I say about ACE . He is THE man .
Whatever the comments......singing, guitar or singing is great..this is it. And let me say, I adore Frehley but I learned over the years, Gene is a special guy and lemme tell you he rocks on Bass and his vocals are great. Kiss..all of them, legendary band!
@laslalal8451 No doubt! I stopped listening to them after Love Gun. CAn't even stomach anything after that with all due respect. Just not the same darkness and vibe they had in the early days. But I never was a bubble gum radio rock guy and still ain't 🤮
@@emach07 I was recently turned on to Turn on the Night, and I can't deny that I like it. I'm glad I can appreciate the different dimensions of this band.
This is the Kiss we all know. A band that wasn't very good but was able to sell shows based on their theatrics, makeup and breathing fire. One hit wonders !!
Primitive and basic rock and Roll. Many bands before them with the same approach and many after. I am not a fan but so what. A lot of people were . No hate
@@josephperreault997 why would you even take the time out of your day to come leave that comment. I'd love to see whatever stupid poser crap you listen too so I can rip into how horrible it is. Rock and roll and heavy metal till the day I die baby...... cheers buddy
Me too. I would go to Godfather's Pizza. I would order a large Canadian bacon and mushroom pizza. I would get $5 worth of quarters to put into the juke box and Firepower pinball machine. I would order a cold draft beer, play pinball and listen to the juke box while waiting for the best pizza that ever existed
I've always said, Gene is the face, Paul is, well, was the voice, Peter, I guess the attitude, but Ace, he is the heart, soul, and mind of KISS. To me, he's the most talented of the four. Without him, it's not KISS. Grant it, the original KISS is Paul, Gene, Peter, and Ace. But KISS without Ace, nah, I don't know who they are. He had the best solo album in 1978, when all four had solo albums, not only that but the solo albums he released ensuing were remarkable. Which shows how underrated he is as a guitarist and musician but unfortunately, he's considered overrated because he is always associated with Gene and Paul's band. That used to be KISS. But then again, since day one, KISS has always been Gene and Paul's band.
Ace Frehley was the first guitar hero of my childhood. Totally agree with Adam; Ace IS KISS. I made my own Ace costume for Halloween when I was in the sixth grade. I thought I was the coolest! Saw the 1996 Reunion Tour show in ATL. Ace WAS the show that night! I come back to KISS music every now and then. It’s always like catching up with an old friend. This video is a reminder of how good they were and how hard they rocked. Good times!
@@user-dy3cq9cu9jcame to say THIS. No doubt, this is a badass performance (and I'm indifferent on KISS) but James Brown at the TAMI Show set the bar for mind blowing stage shows. And it set the bar incredibly high.
They definitely had the best stage show. I remember seeing them in the later 70"s(still original line up) and there was no one else on the planet that put it on like them.
I was never a huge Kiss fan but the Midnight Special brought out the best or the worst in bands by featuring live performances. Kiss definitely rose to the occasion. This is smokin'!
Interesting that Ace was doing neck tapping way before Eddie Van Halen (05:52). From 1973 through about 1976-77 KISS was absolutely one of the greatest bands in rock music. Great video!
@@rogerstoned2592 There's a video on YT, taken from an Italian TV show, with Vittorio Camardese demonstrating his finger-tapping technique on an acoustic guitar, in 1965.
I remember around that era it was technically considered “cheating” by my guitar-loving friends- that was high school days. Even when Van Halen came to town a couple years later there were rumblings of “cheating” - the paradigm shifted rapidly after that. I was actually shocked by 1979 to hear guitar friends raving about EVH
If you'll notice when Ace is playing his solo he's doing hammer on's long before Vanhalen ever came on the scene. He might not be the best guitarist in the world, but he is definitely an original in many ways, and a guitar hero to many including me!
Long before? This was shot in 1975 and Van Halen's debut album came out only three years later. Anyway, Eddie Van Halen never claimed to have invented tapping... in fact here's a clip of guitarist Vittorio Camardese tapping in 1965. czcams.com/video/fgIgdiOQCl4/video.html
@@stephenhawkingsfootballboo7885 Yup. No one ever said EVH invented tapping. And nothing against Ace, his abilities perfectly suited KISS. But, it's pointless to compare his primitive tapping skills to the guy who turned it into an artform that influenced every guitar god who followed.
You really have to appreciate the context of the times when watching early Kiss. Most bands would just walk out in jeans and plug in their guitars. Kiss redefined the definition of stage show.
@@chevyboomer62 They invented their own look, their own sound, their own lyrics. Inspired by others and branched out to form their own vision. Clown. 🤡
Yes... early Kiss, hungry for success and all of them at their prime!!! Ace and Peter rock as hell. Gene with no tongue all the time and Paul with fantastic vocals. What a quality... awesome !..!
Why couldn't all concerts sound this good - - this is awesome ! I was about 7 or 8 when this came out. I'm 56 and KISS is still my favorite band. Thanks for the memories Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter !!!! 🤟
Yea I’m 54. Had every album by 10. Then i discovered Van Halen, sabbath, zepplin, kiss was on the back shelf. But I was so young and just killed em for the whole persona, i never saw em live or anything, but after seeing this they were bad ass and deserve a place at the top. The songs are actually really good too. I feel like i missed out on kn owing, understanding and being a real kiss fan. I was a kid fan and didn’t know shit. That was a great performance
I was 9 in Oct that year and stayed up late just to watch this at the time in 1975. The Peak of their power, creativity and hungry to make it one heck of a Great time.. awesome show. The Best years '74-'77 I can't not lie after Peter and Ace left they really Sucked Out Loud.
@@wilE6764 Same. Parents bought a big pool table back in the day and I'd invite 1-3 friends over and we'd have tournaments or winner keeps playing (usually me) and I played the Alive 1 & 2 album all during. I knew Ace's jams by heart and timed his solos and simulated guitar with the pool stick. My "finger-sync" was top notch! Then I discovered Van Halen 1 and Nugent's Weekend Warriors album (an underrated gem with great jams) and they also made the rotation. Great fun back then before CCATI (Cable, Computers and the internet).
It definitely had an early 70's stoner rock groove thing going. They just drifted away from that style as most bands did through the decade. But to me early Kiss was the best era.
Omg I can't believe I'm watching this Like I'm in a time machine.. ❤❤❤ I know every single riff of this song. Kiss, a live one changed my life and I had no walls showing in my bedroom because it was all kiss, posters, and newspaper clippings and magazines. Lol. Thank you for posting this It's giving great joy. ❤
Excellent performance. Ace was two-handed tapping near the end. If this was filmed in 1975, that's 3 years before Van Halen's debut album. I wonder if Eddie saw Ace do this in concert?
This is THE KISS I was introduced to way back when they were doing their Kiss Ablive tour. I saw them at the Forum in Montreal, Quebec Canada on April 26, 1976 and I will never forget the pure raw energy and excitement and power that that concert left impression on me.
Back then, Kiss did show the talent without all the lightning and stage affects. Didn't know Ace did the finger tapping back then, and he didn't try claiming he did it when Eddie got all the credit for it. Good job Ace!
Back in the day. When KISS was KISS. I remember watching this episode of Midnight Special and the next day, ALL of us high school "wanna be" rockstars were talking about them. NOBODY ever saw anything like them before. Early KISS will always be the real KISS !
Kiss was Kiss here. Hungry, raw, tight and creative. There was no stage show before then that even came close and the music is still to this day exemplary. All four original members were on point and incredible! Thank you for sharing!@
Wow great harmonies on this one. This is the Kiss I want to remember. Imagine the impact they had in the 70s on the music audiences, they were truly like no other band when music and bands had mystique and mystery. Never knew who they were behind the make up.
Just think, they were faking performances then just like they are now. Hell, more of today's "live" shows is more legitimate than anything off of kiss alive or alive II.
Man alive, I remember being in Kids Inc. track & soccer in 75-76 and being introduced to KISS by my 5-6yrs. best friends older brother. He was 10-12yrs. and had the coolest bedroom with a wall of KISS posters that seemed to come Alive like this whenever he'd put a KISS record on.... What a time to be a kid a the 1970's was
Wow! This is excellent! I remember the Midnight Special as a kid. Peter Criss made such an impression on me that I been playing drums ever since. I have a few KISS songs on my channel. Long, live, live music and rock n roll.
I love Peter's laid back drum style. I don't get why Paul and Gene talks so much shit about him. Ace's solos are outstanding. Not because they're advanced it's because it's all about melody. I know all his solos by heart. I can sing them and play them. KISS 4 Ever 🤘🖤
Let me say this about KISS: they were the first real rock band I saw in concert at the age of 14 (1975). What they did for rock'n'roll at that time was immeasurably important. And like others have commented here, they were tight, energetic and their musicianship was top form. We have all seen - e.g. Peter Frampton, how some musicians have gotten lost in the idol game, but make no mistake about it, their catalogue is both important and enviable. Were it that today's music was half as good.
It NEVER got better than this.. I want all of you watching this to know what Stagecraft is. This is Stagecraft, Honed to a razors edge by guys so hungry that they drip with ROCK and their knowing that what they are doing PRESENTLY matters so much. This is how true Legends are born.
Technical? No. Intricate? No, again. In your face from the street rock and roll? Absolutely!!! It was melodic, raw music and that's what made them popular; in my opinion.
There's a reason that KISS ruled the world in the 70s. They were completely in sync and looked like they were having a blast (as opposed to now when Paul's voice is shot and Gene looks like he'd rather be anywhere else).
Ace should be up there with the best. But I'm afraid he will never get that recognition. Critics need to listen not look. Take away all the makeup and theatrics and you have four very talented musicians.
You have to give it to them on this one, especially Ace...taping pre-Van Halen! Very tight band...I know they are not Led Zeppelin but there is great talent there and a decent song.
I used to watch MIDNIGHT SPECIAL all the time throughout the 1970's late Friday nights. It was the greatest time in music with the very familiar sounds of radio legend "Wolfman Jack" that made U feel like this was the best place to be at on a Friday night! Watching this from almost 50yrs ago proves that it wasn't just over glamorized memories that made me think KISS was so great back then...but that they REALLY were!! This also proves U don't need $1,000,000's in multi big rig loads of props & equipment with massive floating stages, lasers, explosions, mega giant screens. NON of that can create the millions of volts of pure raw explosive energy that comes from within that comes thru their REAL non-lip synched performance seen right here when this was the "REAL" KISS of Gene, Paul, Ace & Peter on a tiny little stage without all the mega massive production. This is the KISS I remembered & loved long before the now long distant watered down "Bud Light" version of "half" KISS that finally went out with a whimper MINUS Ace & Peter a couple months ago on the never ending give us all ur $$ "End of the Road" tour which incredibly was 24yrs AFTER I saw them on the supposed "Farewell Tour"!lol If anyone starts doubting themselves when hearing Paul Stanley's biased account trashing Ace & Peter's playing...all U need to do is watch them in action right here on MIDNIGHT SPECIAL when they all played for REAL & sang for REAL to hear & feel the unbelievable explosive energy that once upon a time really did make KISS the greatest band in the world!!
She is one of my if not my favorite Kiss song. I'm old school Kiss fan everything pre first live album is my favorite memories and up to Dynasty is all I listen to I love those days ❤❤❤
I mean there's a reason there one of the most popular bands in the world to this day. The vocals, the choreography, the showmanship. These guys put on a show!
I’m so glad I saw them on their 96 Reunion Tour. It was a party! They put on quite a live show and knew their roles like well oiled machine. And it was great to see my hero Ace up front playing live in front of me finally and to see Peter play. They were wearing the Destroyer Costumes! My favorite Tour and album!
@@elvinposey5251ugh. Gene is the one member that SHOULD have been replaced. He single-handedly sold this band and his 2 “friends” out and turned Kiss into a band for little kiddies. He’s a dirtbag. He hit on me before I was even a teenager at a radio station.
Pretty basic compared to Ed’s use of it. Plus, he’s tapping with his pick edge, not his finger, which is not as nuanced as what Ed did with it. I mean, it’s ok but kinda sloppy.
this is still so F(ing) amazing. its so over the top. incredibly courageous and creative for a band to look and sound like they did in the 70's and the seismic impact and impression this would leave on millions of musicians everywhere. ive never stopped listening to them since I bought "Dressed to Kill" with my brother at a military grocery store in Virginia when I was like 8 or 9. I have so much KISS stuff its crazy. my only wish as a long time 40 year fan is that they stop ripping on each other in books, interviews, magazine articles , etc. its painful to hear how they are hating on each other. we dont want to hear it. its really put a damper on their legacy.you all four are still alive. one more tour with original members and figure out how to get along and share that magic with us and yourselves one more go round and end it together not in a court room.
Kiss has managed to stay in the limelight since the early 70s and still going strong today. Thats impressive when you think of all the bands that have came and gone after Kiss got started.
People can say what they want about ACE and PETER but after watching this again , shows how much they were needed to make KISS the band they were . Great drumming and singing from Peter , and what can I say about ACE . He is THE man .
Drugs killed Ace and Peter as performers - their later work is nothing compared to this
Gene is singing this time not criss
@@richardlawson6787 if you watched the video, you an clearly see Paul, Gene, _and_ Peter doing doing the vocals.
@@EdwardAlexander-ABF if you watch the video you see gene singing it and the others doing backing vocals
@@richardlawson6787 LOL! You are blind
Back then, Ace was easily the best musician on the stage in Kiss.
THIS is KISS...the original lineup is untouchable.
Cocaine said hold my beer
So heavy in early 70s....great vid
No DOUBT!!!!
Whatever the comments......singing, guitar or singing is great..this is it. And let me say, I adore Frehley but I learned over the years, Gene is a special guy and lemme tell you he rocks on Bass and his vocals are great. Kiss..all of them, legendary band!
Parasite, She, Firehouse: I groove the deepest, while listening to these epic cuts!
Let’s be honest, 70s KISS is the best KISS
well yes they were young...with more energy...its life!
Totally
😂😂😂😢
@laslalal8451 No doubt! I stopped listening to them after Love Gun. CAn't even stomach anything after that with all due respect. Just not the same darkness and vibe they had in the early days. But I never was a bubble gum radio rock guy and still ain't 🤮
@@emach07 I was recently turned on to Turn on the Night, and I can't deny that I like it. I'm glad I can appreciate the different dimensions of this band.
This is a top shelf performance. They sound super tight. This was Kiss in their true form. What a band!
Before the drugs and alcohol took effect on two of them 😔
This is early Kiss when they were hungry and at their best. Went downhill after Alive I.
Yup I agree I'm an 80s honky and I'm going down hill to but still love my music
@@NathanSmith-xf7rkand the love of money and ego on the other two
@@briweeks71yep
That’s the Kiss I knew and the Kiss that grabbed me forever! The golden years 74-77. Raw, unpolished, a bit savage and pretty damn good live band.
I agree 💙💜❤💚
Same here, only I would extend it up through 81 or whenever Unmasked came out. I saw them in 77 and 79 - nothing on earth like it.
at that time they were motivated and passionate about music not money and fame
This is the Kiss we all know. A band that wasn't very good but was able to sell shows based on their theatrics, makeup and breathing fire. One hit wonders !!
My favorite KISS era.
Many thanks to whomever is responsible for finally releasing these high quality videos from the Midnight Special.
Indeed!
Primitive and basic rock and Roll. Many bands before them with the same approach and many after. I am not a fan but so what. A lot of people were . No hate
Would have loved to see Kiss, Rush and AC/DC when they toured together for a short period of time
@@josephperreault997 why would you even take the time out of your day to come leave that comment. I'd love to see whatever stupid poser crap you listen too so I can rip into how horrible it is. Rock and roll and heavy metal till the day I die baby...... cheers buddy
Qui non erano ridicoli ma musicisti
The Midnight Special was awesome! No lip syncing bs!
☮️❤️
The boys were on top of their game here.
This is the real deal KISS. I'm 68 and still rockin to it.
It's shite mate
@@TheJoshAyour life is shite mate if you have to hate what someone loves ,
@@TheJoshAAussie goof
So you are admitting retardation? I was done wirh Kiss after "Love Gun"
@@TheJoshA You're a m0r0n mate....
Absolutely one of their best and heaviest songs!
And it originated as a sort of Jethro Tull knock off complete with flute solos.
@@thrashmetaljay666 Thank you the Doors for the solo
I've never had heard this one until now but I really like it.
@@thrashmetaljay666 Glad they tweaked it lol.
The 70's was a different time that's for sure.🌼 I know I was there..
If I had a time machine I'd go back and visit.
✌️😎
Me too. I would go to Godfather's Pizza. I would order a large Canadian bacon and mushroom pizza. I would get $5 worth of quarters to put into the juke box and Firepower pinball machine. I would order a cold draft beer, play pinball and listen to the juke box while waiting for the best pizza that ever existed
I’d go back to stay!
Man, there was so MUCH pubic hair!!!!!
But on the plus side, we didn't need condoms.
The original lineup was a great band 74-78. Melodic hard rock with an incredible stage show.
🤘💯⚡⚡👍
My Kiss: 74-78
I saw them in Omaha in 1980 Original lineup...PURE CELEBRATIONS Of Rock N Roll!
They were struggling with the money. By 78, they became extremely commercial. And messed with their sound.
YARITE. So melodic they had hundreds of hits. LMAO
Ace's LesPaul sound just AWESOME!!!!
Unapologetically raw rock n roll. Music that inspired generations and we get to view it in 2023!!!
If you don't like this, turn in your Rock N Roll card. This era of KISS will never die.
There is just no denying Ace Frehley. Period. 👏
Yep 👍
Notice Ace Tapping on fret board at end solo….he told me he tapped before Ed. Wow 🤟🏼⚡️
I've always said, Gene is the face, Paul is, well, was the voice, Peter, I guess the attitude, but Ace, he is the heart, soul, and mind of KISS. To me, he's the most talented of the four. Without him, it's not KISS. Grant it, the original KISS is Paul, Gene, Peter, and Ace. But KISS without Ace, nah, I don't know who they are. He had the best solo album in 1978, when all four had solo albums, not only that but the solo albums he released ensuing were remarkable. Which shows how underrated he is as a guitarist and musician but unfortunately, he's considered overrated because he is always associated with Gene and Paul's band. That used to be KISS. But then again, since day one, KISS has always been Gene and Paul's band.
@@SteveBrownROCKS Yeah wow I never saw/noticed Ace doing the two-handed tapping thing like this before....pretty cool!
Ace Frehley was the first guitar hero of my childhood. Totally agree with Adam; Ace IS KISS. I made my own Ace costume for Halloween when I was in the sixth grade. I thought I was the coolest! Saw the 1996 Reunion Tour show in ATL. Ace WAS the show that night! I come back to KISS music every now and then. It’s always like catching up with an old friend. This video is a reminder of how good they were and how hard they rocked. Good times!
This is an outstanding performance and why I love Rock and Roll. I’m not really huge a Kiss fan, but credit to where it’s due.
They invented the stage show . Best concert I've ever been to all four original members.
As much as I love this, folks like James Brown, Little Richard, the Temptations were known long before for amazing stage shows:)…
@@user-dy3cq9cu9jcame to say THIS. No doubt, this is a badass performance (and I'm indifferent on KISS) but James Brown at the TAMI Show set the bar for mind blowing stage shows. And it set the bar incredibly high.
They definitely had the best stage show. I remember seeing them in the later 70"s(still original line up) and there was no one else on the planet that put it on like them.
I was never a huge Kiss fan but the Midnight Special brought out the best or the worst in bands by featuring live performances. Kiss definitely rose to the occasion. This is smokin'!
Spot-on, Bill!
This is not even close to tapping
Gene brought his manora
@@CheaplaffsJohnson LOL. Don't ever let Liberace hear you call it that.
@MEDIA PYRITE Some bands I didn't care for, for-sure. But, I can't really recall any bad performances. Burt Sugarman wouldn't allow it.
Interesting that Ace was doing neck tapping way before Eddie Van Halen (05:52). From 1973 through about 1976-77 KISS was absolutely one of the greatest bands in rock music. Great video!
EXACTLY!!!!! Ace is Surely on camera in that segment Finger Tapping for sure!!!!!!! Awesomeness Ace!!!!
Rory Gallagher actually
I may be wrong..however I dont think Eddie ever claimed to inventing tapping technique...it was more he was the one who made it popular.
@@rogerstoned2592
There's a video on YT, taken from an Italian TV show, with Vittorio Camardese demonstrating his finger-tapping technique on an acoustic guitar, in 1965.
I remember around that era it was technically considered “cheating” by my guitar-loving friends- that was high school days. Even when Van Halen came to town a couple years later there were rumblings of “cheating” - the paradigm shifted rapidly after that. I was actually shocked by 1979 to hear guitar friends raving about EVH
If you'll notice when Ace is playing his solo he's doing hammer on's long before Vanhalen ever came on the scene. He might not be the best guitarist in the world, but he is definitely an original in many ways, and a guitar hero to many including me!
Long before? This was shot in 1975 and Van Halen's debut album came out only three years later. Anyway, Eddie Van Halen never claimed to have invented tapping... in fact here's a clip of guitarist Vittorio Camardese tapping in 1965.
czcams.com/video/fgIgdiOQCl4/video.html
Rory Gallagher as well
@@stephenhawkingsfootballboo7885 Yup. No one ever said EVH invented tapping. And nothing against Ace, his abilities perfectly suited KISS. But, it's pointless to compare his primitive tapping skills to the guy who turned it into an artform that influenced every guitar god who followed.
@@stephenhawkingsfootballboo7885yes, but he did copyright it!
Yes Sir
Outstanding performance!
Killer riffing and groove in this song.
You really have to appreciate the context of the times when watching early Kiss. Most bands would just walk out in jeans and plug in their guitars. Kiss redefined the definition of stage show.
AND NOBODY PLAYED THE TYPE OF MUSIC KISS INVENTED! NOBODY!
@@elvinposey5251 they didn’t invent anything lmao
@@chevyboomer62 They invented their own look, their own sound, their own lyrics. Inspired by others and branched out to form their own vision. Clown. 🤡
Yes... early Kiss, hungry for success and all of them at their prime!!! Ace and Peter rock as hell. Gene with no tongue all the time and Paul with fantastic vocals. What a quality... awesome !..!
Why couldn't all concerts sound this good - - this is awesome ! I was about 7 or 8 when this came out. I'm 56 and KISS is still my favorite band. Thanks for the memories Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter !!!! 🤟
Ikr I'm 59 and we played the fk out of kiss alive 2..actually bought the album twice😂
Yea I’m 54. Had every album by 10. Then i discovered Van Halen, sabbath, zepplin, kiss was on the back shelf. But I was so young and just killed em for the whole persona, i never saw em live or anything, but after seeing this they were bad ass and deserve a place at the top. The songs are actually really good too. I feel like i missed out on kn owing, understanding and being a real kiss fan. I was a kid fan and didn’t know shit. That was a great performance
Ace & Peter my Heroes!
I was 9 in Oct that year and stayed up late just to watch this at the time in 1975. The Peak of their power, creativity and hungry to make it one heck of a Great time.. awesome show. The Best years '74-'77 I can't not lie after Peter and Ace left they really Sucked Out Loud.
@@wilE6764 Same. Parents bought a big pool table back in the day and I'd invite 1-3 friends over and we'd have tournaments or winner keeps playing (usually me) and I played the Alive 1 & 2 album all during. I knew Ace's jams by heart and timed his solos and simulated guitar with the pool stick. My "finger-sync" was top notch! Then I discovered Van Halen 1 and Nugent's Weekend Warriors album (an underrated gem with great jams) and they also made the rotation. Great fun back then before CCATI (Cable, Computers and the internet).
I love that synchronized neck slide that Gene & Paul do. It makes it sound even more badass
I know eh..its wicked and if you listen to Alive! its all through that show...every song has it!
@@Randy-ul5hy the first Alive album, not II?
@@kloozman Correct...first Alive album released in September 1975.
@@Randy-ul5hy i haven't listened to it forever, I'll have to check it out again
@@kloozman trop génial 🤘🔥
KISS never jammed like this ever again. None of their later songs had this kind of groove.
It definitely had an early 70's stoner rock groove thing going. They just drifted away from that style as most bands
did through the decade. But to me early Kiss was the best era.
And earlier versions of She were done live well before the DTK album was recorded.
Parasite and She are two of my favorites. Early, raw rock and roll with no apologies.
Omg I can't believe I'm watching this
Like I'm in a time machine..
❤❤❤
I know every single riff of this song. Kiss, a live one changed my life and I had no walls showing in my bedroom because it was all kiss, posters, and newspaper clippings and magazines. Lol. Thank you for posting this
It's giving great joy. ❤
I'm 56,me too 😊
Same ❤
Ditto! I was in the Kiss Army and had their huge posters cover my walls.
Kiss was my favorite band in Middle School. Then when I heard Rush in High School it changed my life forever.
HELL YES
Geek squad!
I liked them in middle school too. Outgrew them later
Rush opened for them on a tour, right?
This is off the hook amazing.
Phenomenal performance.
Excellent performance. Ace was two-handed tapping near the end. If this was filmed in 1975, that's 3 years before Van Halen's debut album. I wonder if Eddie saw Ace do this in concert?
I think Eddie got it from Steve Hackett in Genesis.
@@seed_drill7135 probably Ace too
He said it was Jimmy Page in Heartbreaker but that seams like a cop-out to me lol
Steve hackett was doing tapping with genesis back in 71, and he wasn't even the first one
This is THE KISS I was introduced to way back when they were doing their Kiss Ablive tour. I saw them at the Forum in Montreal, Quebec Canada on April 26, 1976 and I will never forget the pure raw energy and excitement and power that that concert left impression on me.
Videos like this remind me why I loved KISS so much in the 70's.
Those 3 first albums and the original alive were the real deal!.
FANTASTIC STUFF
I always thought their live performances where better then studio versions.
The live shows really brought out their best.
I always thought Destroyer, Rock N Roll Over & Love Gun were even better.
Destroyer is my favorite one
I remember this, I was 13yrs old. I fell in love with Ace’s Gibson Les Paul. Now I have one just like it.
Young. Hungry. Inspiring. They were so tight in this performance. They looked awesome!!
I’m glad to see that every video people are defending Ace and Peter. You just can’t replace the originals no matter how hard you try.
Ace and Peter
@@robheflin5639 Thanks. 🐀
Exactly
Ace and Peter were the only thing that made that gean semon demon so his pothetic nonsense
Back then, Kiss did show the talent without all the lightning and stage affects. Didn't know Ace did the finger tapping back then, and he didn't try claiming he did it when Eddie got all the credit for it. Good job Ace!
Back in the day. When KISS was KISS. I remember watching this episode of Midnight Special and the next day, ALL of us high school "wanna be" rockstars were talking about them. NOBODY ever saw anything like them before. Early KISS will always be the real KISS !
Totally awesome..and Ace firing a rocket in the solo at the end.... Blew my mind totally.... Kiss in the true Hardrock pioneer style 👍🔥🤟
First 7 albums were pure gold
Love gun sucks.
Kiss was Kiss here. Hungry, raw, tight and creative. There was no stage show before then that even came close and the music is still to this day exemplary. All four original members were on point and incredible! Thank you for sharing!@
They changed the music landscape in terms of the show. The visual part of the show can be incredibly important.
Wow great harmonies on this one. This is the Kiss I want to remember. Imagine the impact they had in the 70s on the music audiences, they were truly like no other band when music and bands had mystique and mystery. Never knew who they were behind the make up.
Yup..I saw them in 1976 on the Destroyer Tour...I was 15 and this is the KISS I knew and loved.
Just think, they were faking performances then just like they are now. Hell, more of today's "live" shows is more legitimate than anything off of kiss alive or alive II.
@@NewKillerStar_34 that's completely overblown. Nothing fake about this performance. Alive! is an iconic live album.
The harmonies are awful
@@michaelsuder486 disagree, they fit the song perfectly
That drum sound can't be beat with bass line, ace, and Paul orginal kiss was best.
Man alive, I remember being in Kids Inc. track & soccer in 75-76 and being introduced to KISS by my 5-6yrs. best friends older brother. He was 10-12yrs. and had the coolest bedroom with a wall of KISS posters that seemed to come Alive like this whenever he'd put a KISS record on.... What a time to be a kid a the 1970's was
Wow! This is excellent! I remember the Midnight Special as a kid. Peter Criss made such an impression on me that I been playing drums ever since. I have a few KISS songs on my channel. Long, live, live music and rock n roll.
CHECK OUT MY MUSIC AND YOU'LL HEAR KISS INFLUENCE AS I PLAY ALL MUSIC AND VOCALS.
I love Peter's laid back drum style. I don't get why Paul and Gene talks so much shit about him. Ace's solos are outstanding. Not because they're advanced it's because it's all about melody. I know all his solos by heart. I can sing them and play them. KISS 4 Ever 🤘🖤
Peter became complacent and his playing therefore suffered.
Jealousy...lol
Yes….great performances all around.
Paul's just always been jealous of his voice and how the song beth made them the BIG bucks
It's more Paul who talks smack about Peter. He wanted a Bonham and got a student of Krupa
This might be the most solid performance I've ever seen from them with mad energy to boot!
OH, How I remember those days. And had the privilege of seeing them in concert many times. One of the best concerts ever.
One of my favorite songs from Kiss.
This one and Let me go rock and roll from Alive.
@@100hooker lmgrnr favorite KISS song
by far one of there best tunes, i'm, not there biggest fan, but when they are on..they Rock
Let me say this about KISS: they were the first real rock band I saw in concert at the age of 14 (1975). What they did for rock'n'roll at that time was immeasurably important. And like others have commented here, they were tight, energetic and their musicianship was top form. We have all seen - e.g. Peter Frampton, how some musicians have gotten lost in the idol game, but make no mistake about it, their catalogue is both important and enviable. Were it that today's music was half as good.
It NEVER got better than this.. I want all of you watching this to know what Stagecraft is. This is Stagecraft, Honed to a razors edge by guys so hungry that they drip with ROCK and their knowing that what they are doing PRESENTLY matters so much. This is how true Legends are born.
Before DESTROYER they were a real gritty rock n roll band. I saw them several times around this period and it was always killer.
They absolutely killed this one! The vocals, the music, the stage show, everything…. And Ace…so dang cool!!
Technical? No. Intricate? No, again. In your face from the street rock and roll? Absolutely!!! It was melodic, raw music and that's what made them popular; in my opinion.
Ace is absolute legend. It’s almost laughable here how good he is
There's a reason that KISS ruled the world in the 70s. They were completely in sync and looked like they were having a blast (as opposed to now when Paul's voice is shot and Gene looks like he'd rather be anywhere else).
Seeing the audience start giving them a standing ovation during Ace's solo gives me chills.
he deserved it.... ;)
They gave a standing ovation because they thought the song was ending. Had nothing to do with the solo. Though the solo was badass.
Ace was allright.
@@keviningles5580 OH stop, he was awesome!!
Ace should be up there with the best. But I'm afraid he will never get that recognition. Critics need to listen not look. Take away all the makeup and theatrics and you have four very talented musicians.
I don't know where I was when this was on TV, and I am sure damn glad I'm able to see it now..... you can just feel the energy from this performance.
This is peak KISS
They were at the top of their game
Glad you are enjoying it.
You have to give it to them on this one, especially Ace...taping pre-Van Halen! Very tight band...I know they are not Led Zeppelin but there is great talent there and a decent song.
@@TonysMusic1974 Towards the end.
Eddie didn't invent tapping.
Roy Smeck was guitar tapping in the 1930s.
AND with a phaser on
Yeah I caught that too. Go Ace!
This is a work of Genius, let the haters hate.
I used to watch MIDNIGHT SPECIAL all the time throughout the 1970's late Friday nights. It was the greatest time in music with the very familiar sounds of radio legend "Wolfman Jack" that made U feel like this was the best place to be at on a Friday night! Watching this from almost 50yrs ago proves that it wasn't just over glamorized memories that made me think KISS was so great back then...but that they REALLY were!! This also proves U don't need $1,000,000's in multi big rig loads of props & equipment with massive floating stages, lasers, explosions, mega giant screens. NON of that can create the millions of volts of pure raw explosive energy that comes from within that comes thru their REAL non-lip synched performance seen right here when this was the "REAL" KISS of Gene, Paul, Ace & Peter on a tiny little stage without all the mega massive production. This is the KISS I remembered & loved long before the now long distant watered down "Bud Light" version of "half" KISS that finally went out with a whimper MINUS Ace & Peter a couple months ago on the never ending give us all ur $$ "End of the Road" tour which incredibly was 24yrs AFTER I saw them on the supposed "Farewell Tour"!lol If anyone starts doubting themselves when hearing Paul Stanley's biased account trashing Ace & Peter's playing...all U need to do is watch them in action right here on MIDNIGHT SPECIAL when they all played for REAL & sang for REAL to hear & feel the unbelievable explosive energy that once upon a time really did make KISS the greatest band in the world!!
Gene was amazing he was always a great bassist & stage present
This video totally encapsulates why people love the original four so much. The early Catman is such a treat to watch and listen to.
Oh yes 👍
The original four will always be the best lineup.
No question that these 4 bad asses were greater than the sum of their parts 🤘🤘
She is one of my if not my favorite Kiss song. I'm old school Kiss fan everything pre first live album is my favorite memories and up to Dynasty is all I listen to I love those days ❤❤❤
Underrated KISS song here, and they never play it live anymore, so I keep coming back to this vid for that neat riff!!
KI⚡️⚡️ how can you not love this!!! My favorite era! Just amazing!
Game changing scene and real hard rock.
Ace and Peter cannot never be replaced
My 1st concert! My Dad took me to see Kiss! I was 10 years old! Changed my life! Kiss and Randy Rhoads are why I play guitar to this day!
Never was a real.Kiss fan but this was good
That bass sound thunderous for the 70s. Hell yeah
ACE doing fret tapping...... pre-EVH. ha !
What an epic performance all around! Ace's guitar tone is sick!
Now this is the Real Deal!!! This is the band that made it Huge!!! 💋❤️
PLEASE, if You guys still have C'mon And Love on your archives, could you share it???
Wow, where has this clip been hiding! Classic KISS 🔥 Fantastic 🔥
The chemistry, the rawness, the hunger, the authenticity… F*CK… THIS. IS. KISS!!
I mean there's a reason there one of the most popular bands in the world to this day. The vocals, the choreography, the showmanship. These guys put on a show!
*they're
@@snakedoktor6020 not for there is
@@johnrowland1919 I agree 100% with that. But that wasn't its use in your sentence.
@@snakedoktor6020 oops. good catch
When kiss ruled the world. Ace doing a little tapping.
And he manages to launch a bottle rocket behind the headstock. Nice!
I’m so glad I saw them on their 96 Reunion Tour. It was a party! They put on quite a live show and knew their roles like well oiled machine.
And it was great to see my hero Ace up front playing live in front of me finally and to see Peter play.
They were wearing the Destroyer Costumes! My favorite Tour and album!
Ahhhh....The real KISS!!! Rough, gritty, hard rock n roll!! Love it!!
Back to the basics, what I love about these guy's the awesome raw sound they make with no multi effects boards on the stage. It's all them folks!
Now that's a show!!! Real rock. Just good stuff...classic!!!
One of the heaviest songs KISS ever recorded 🤘🤘
That bass solo 🔥🔥🔥
NOBODY DID THAT BACK THEN. AND GENE DRESSED LIKE THAT MADE IT SO COOL AND SCARY WHILE YOU WAITED FOR PAUL AND ACE TO KICK IN. CLASSIC
Not technical but She is lot of fun to play on bass.
@@elvinposey5251ugh. Gene is the one member that SHOULD have been replaced. He single-handedly sold this band and his 2 “friends” out and turned Kiss into a band for little kiddies. He’s a dirtbag. He hit on me before I was even a teenager at a radio station.
5:51 Ace killing some two hand tapping in 1975. Eddie must have been watching that night. 😮
probably Ace watched Steve Hackett doing it 4 years before
@@FugaziChile ditto
@@FugaziChile - GREAT user name! (Fugazi Marillion - Steven Rothery RULES)
Pretty basic compared to Ed’s use of it. Plus, he’s tapping with his pick edge, not his finger, which is not as nuanced as what Ed did with it. I mean, it’s ok but kinda sloppy.
@Jammin' Jester Junior well "probably" is a useful word...
this is still so F(ing) amazing. its so over the top. incredibly courageous and creative for a band to look and sound like they did in the 70's and the seismic impact and impression this would leave on millions of musicians everywhere. ive never stopped listening to them since I bought "Dressed to Kill" with my brother at a military grocery store in Virginia when I was like 8 or 9. I have so much KISS stuff its crazy. my only wish as a long time 40 year fan is that they stop ripping on each other in books, interviews, magazine articles , etc. its painful to hear how they are hating on each other. we dont want to hear it. its really put a damper on their legacy.you all four are still alive. one more tour with original members and figure out how to get along and share that magic with us and yourselves one more go round and end it together not in a court room.
Gene and Paul need to loosen up and quit being Dicks!
My first concert-KISS! What a great way to begin my rock n roll life. One of the best live shows that I have ever seen! (And, I’ve seen quite a few)
Sober and hungry. Unstoppable!!!
Riff rock at it's finest. 100 watt plexi's and chest hair! I miss the old day's.
Shedding a tear....knowing this GREATNESS will never be again! 😢
Kiss has managed to stay in the limelight since the early 70s and still going strong today. Thats impressive when you think of all the bands that have came and gone after Kiss got started.
KISS is a real legend and their music will always be beautiful!