When KISS Was Cool: 1974

KISS 1974

Having been a KISS fan since the mid-seventies (not so much these days, I can assure you) - there was a time when indeed, these guys were the hottest band in the world. Having said that, I have a ton of (really) rare images from the band’s hey day that I’d like to share with all. (Especially all who emailed me re the Hotter Than Hell Norman Seeff shoot that was posted several days ago.) So periodically, I’ll post some classic KISS photography from the early days. Here’s a bunch of rare ones from 1974 when the band was indeed a lean, mean fighting machine and not the bloated, glorified tribute-act farce they are now(!)

KISS 1974

KISS 1974

KISS 1974

KISS 1974

KISS 1974

Photos below are from June 6 1974 at Alex Cooley’s Electric Ballroom, Atlanta Georgia

KISS 1974

KISS 1974

KISS 1974

KISS 1974

KISS 1974

KISS 1974

KISS 1974

KISS 1974

KISS 1974

19 Responses to “When KISS Was Cool: 1974”


  1. 1 Moby5

    Dude

    Fantastic photos. Where did you get them?

    These photos display the essence of what made KISS the most original, loved and feared band of their time. KISS does NOT get the credit they deserve for what they did in the early 70’s. It’s mostly KISS’s own fault as they’ve transformed themselves in to a punch line but what they did in the early 70’s was truly rock and roll magic.

    These photos remind me of why all the huge bands from 1974 did not want KISS to open for them for fear of having to follow what can truly be called a bombastic industry changing performance every night!

    I would love a poster of picture twelve as it’s the essence of what made KISS so unique. God why couldn’t they have just stopped after KISS Alive II and called it a career! Damn!

  2. 2 Moby5

    Imagine one of these photos scanned in super high res printed in a couple pieces from a large format printer and then applied to an entire wall in your basement! God damn that would look cool!

  3. 3 JR

    Dude, if I told you where these came from - well, you know the rest!

    Trust me though, this is only the icing on the cake. I’ll be posting some jaw-droppingly rare stuff over the course of the past few weeks with stuff that has never been published.

  4. 4 Moby5

    Can’t wait man!

    Any chance a person could convince another person to give money to said other person to procure a fairly high-res print of a certain photo?

    Will these ever make it in to a large format coffee-table book of some kind?

  5. 5 Jimmy

    This is top notch nostalgia!
    More, more, more please!!

  6. 6 Morph

    Great pics of one of the greatest bands ever, looking forward to more. As a kiss fan since I was in the womb, even I skipped their recent trip out here on the back of the grand prix…

  7. 7 Ren5150

    JR, would this be THE JR S.? Either way, thanks for the great pics!

  8. 8 JR

    Ren… hardly.

  9. 9 ADAM

    Just looked through all the KISS photos here and I have to say they are AWESOME!!! Out of all of them I’ve only ever seen 2 before! You really need to put these into a book ‘cos stuff this rare is just SO COOL!!! Looking forward to your future posts, dude. THANKS for posting these!!!! :)

  10. 10 Brian Pratt

    This seems like a great toime for kiss. The music came first then everything else fell into place.

  11. 11 marc

    it’s magic, it’s big, it’s a dream and a nighmare…

    it’s kiss…

    i like it

  12. 12 tommyboy

    Wow! these are great pics! thanks for sharing these.I have a full set of awesome pics from 75 i will put up here as well.cant wait to see the rest.

    tboy

  13. 13 JR

    Tboy, if you wanna send through those ‘75 pics, I’d be happy to post them on here.

    Email me at dogmatic@gmail.com

  14. 14 Emanuele Lo Porto

    Hi there,
    The great Kiss photo in the site are available for sale?
    please, let me know..thanks

  15. 15 Flavio Augusto Colognesi

    Man, please write a book about this and put all the pictures (one page each) for us Die Hard Kiss Collectors… Please :-) All the best, Flavio

  16. 16 Ton Rommers

    THESE PICTURES ARE FANTASTIC,KISS 4 LIFE!!!!!!!!!!

  17. 17 James

    You freakin ROCK!! Thank You!!

  18. 18 JAMES

    YOU ROCK!! THANK YOU!!

  19. 19 Travis Bickle

    yes, that s it, a book would make it. but it could be difficult to get all these rights from the photographers…but on the other hand, if it would be a very small edition….??

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