Hello everyone & welcome to the 1st Video Spotlight of 1999. I've been very busy with many things lately so I apologize for being a little behind with my article. On a good note I want to take this time to publicly thank Chris from KISS ASYLUM & YOU the KISS ARMY. Why you ask? Well about a month ago I had an idea no actually a vision and Jim Morrison and an Indian came to visit me äoh wait that¼s Wayne¼s World sorry.
So like I was saying I had an idea to try to get KISS to go into the vaults and release some of the concerts I believe they have. Here's where the thank you¼s come in. I wrote Chris asking him if he could help and like always he was very kind and put my little message up on Asylum.
Well it's been about 2 weeks now and I have 400+ letters printed out and ready to go to Gene, Doc McGhee & PolyGram in hopes of being heard. I will keep everyone on the mailing list apprised as soon as I hear anything. Now let's go to the show!
This review is for the 1977 Tokyo show!
5 Facts about Tokyo 77
1.. This is Kiss's 1st trip to the land of the rising sun.
2.. Paul stated in an interview in 1988 with a Japanese puppet that it was cherry blossom season when they came.
3.. They sold out multiple night breaking the record set by their heroes The Beatles.
4.. This is the first time on video we see the Love Gun stage but with the Destroyer/Rock & Roll Over/Psycho Circus outfits.
5.. This video was recorded, archived and later and edited version was shown on HBO called the Young Music Special & some of the audio was used for Alive 2.
January Poll Results:
Favorite Song Live (from any video performance)
Rank
Song
Votes
1.
I Love It Loud-Rio 83
14
2.
Detroit Rock City-Australia 80
11
3.
God of Thunder-Anaheim 76
10
4.
I Was Made For Lovin You-Largo 79
9
5.
Parasite-San Francisco 74, Parasite-Chile 95, Deuce-Loft Tape 76
7
8.
Let Me Go, Rock & Roll-Detroit 76, War Machine-Tokyo 88
6
10.
King of the Nighttie World-Foundations Forum 94
1
Favorite Member
Rank
Member
Votes
1.
Paul
30
2.
Ace
19
3.
Gene
14
4.
Peter
9
5.
Eric Carr
4
6.
Bruce
3
Songs You'd Like To Hear Live
Rank
Song
Votes
1.
Flaming Youth, Sure Know Something
13
3.
Rip It Out
12
4.
Take It Off
10
5.
Strange Ways
8
6.
Turn On the Night
7
7.
Love Her All I Can
6
8.
Mr. Speed
5
9.
Tomorrow
4
The Show
The dates for these shows were April 1,2,3 at the now legendary Budokan. One can wonder if KISS or Cheap Trick's At Budokan made this venue famous. This date for this video I'm about to review is April 2,1977. Kiss was visiting Japan for their first time and brought along the classic KISS show but not the stage used in America for the Rock & Roll Over tour instead they really gave the fans a treat. They had finished designing and building the future stage the for Love Gun tour to follow later in the year. So this made the shows very special. They also were still recording some shows for the future release of Alive 2.
As stated above one track from this show to my knowledge made it to the Alive 2 platter. Read on to find out which song made the cut.
DETROIT ROCK CITY- This opener starts with the "normal" amount of pyro and smoke one has come to expect from a KISS show. The band comes down the stairs instead of the platforms lowering them down like on the Love Gun tour later on in the year. The band seems very up & tight for this performance. This is given on of the coolest performances next to Australia 1980. One thing differs, Paul changes the line I gotta laugh cause I know I¼m gonna die Why to I gotta laugh cause I gonna die & I don¼t care.
TAKE ME- The band gives this classic a whirl and does it justice. Peter's geared up on this number and is playing a bit above tempo. Paul¼s fashion statement here is kind of ironic here. He¼s wearing one armband. Pre Michael Jackson. Take that bubble boy! This version also says one other thing Take Me on YWTB is definitely not from 77 you besides the vocals sounding more 90's Paul the music is a dead giveaway due to the high pacing here.
LET ME GO ROCK & ROLL- One of my personal all time faves. Gene's really in character prey upon the poor little Japanese people like Godzilla. At one point he comes real close to becoming a member of the audience when they do the choreography toward the end. (He almost falls in the audience) Peter's playing is really good here but the only thing I don¼t like is the cut version of this song. They cut out the bass solo part like the Alive 1 version. I know they needed to adjust some things so why did this have to suffer.
LADIES ROOM- Sorely missed by me in the past 2 set lists. Gene sings this one more in the vein of the studio version that the future Alive 2 that was soon to follow. This song is a great romper & stomper sure the get the crowd running to the bathroom. Well the girls who are trying to get Kiiisssed (in southern drawl please)Peter makes me laugh during this one by the motions and faces he makes when he hits the cowbell before the chorus. He was really getting into that cowbell a little too much. Is that cowbell like catnip? He looks really happy and amused with it like a real cat is with catnip.
FIREHOUSE- Paul's 1st Japan-rap in which he tells the crowd too loosen up a little bit. Paul then with the help of Peter doing a hi- hat fill struts his stuff to put on the FIREHAT I miss that too as corny as it may sound. This song is your standard version with all the smoke and sirens you can handle and oh yeah Gene fire breaths. OOH what a friggin surprise.
MAKIN LOVE- Led Zeppelin at it's best. Paul sings this a little off key but hey he was still learning control so I¼ll cut him a break. This song in plain English kicks ass. Great lyrics great riff and a smoking (no pun intended) solo from the Teddy Bear thief. This is played at a faster tempo than usual. This leads to the same conclusion as stated above about Take me. Hell, all those tracks on YWTB were redone.This made a brief appearance on the PC tour but like all the lesser-played material IE (Nothing To Lose, She) it was dropped so after.
I WANT YOU- Another classic sorely missed from the past 2 set lists. Fear not KISS fans there's always video when you want to see certain songs from certain era's. Thank goodness for that treat. This version is faithful to the studio version and has some good feel thru out the song. Peter plays very well and the dual Ace & Paul lead is always a treat to watch. Towards the end of the song things do change as Ace does an extended guitar solo before Paul does the "I Want You"crowd sing-a-long portion.
COLD GIN- The almighty ode to this alcoholic beverage kicks off with the now famous Paul banter about being down in the dumps and needing something to bring you upppppppppp! After the crowd chants to his liking the song goes diving head first, no toggle switch section from Ace like on the Alive CD. A funny part here is when the do the intro riff to Ace¼s solo instead of Peter hitting the cymbal in time with Gene & Paul he hops up in the air to the beat. Paul starts playing his Flying V like a violin and the song stops and takes us into outer space for the Ace¼s solo.
DO YOU LOVE ME ‚ This is one of my favorite versions of this song. If I had my wish and they played it exactly like this but added the new ending they started doing on the Reunion Tour I'd be a satisfied video reviewer. The back-up's are just awesome. Peter & Gene in the end doing the high "Do You Love Me's" are some cool to hear. The KISS logo has a very mesmerizing pattern as well during this song just watching it flash can put you in a trance. I guess like Gene said in the USA Today TV int. on the USA network in 1983 "When the lights go out all you saw was KISS in front of your eyes. We wanted that"Well it worked Gene and I¼m only watching a video on a 27" TV.
NOTHIN TO LOSE- This is my favorite version of this song EVER! Even my old KISS cover band Strange Ways used to do it exactly like this version when we played this. I love Paul & Peter's answer vocals after gene sings the main line in the verse. This I feel gives the song a real 1950¼s feel, like the old doo wop songs. They came close when they did it at Dodger Stadium on Halloween but only Peter sang the answer line Other noticeable points is Peter's cowbell echoing thru out the hall at the opening of the song. Also unlike the Dodger Stadium show the band looks like they're really into playing this song. This vibe is just incredible that they give off.
GOD OF THUNDER- Yeah I know Gene spits blood and they play the song againä Not this time this actually has something to talk about. First off Ace & Paul are swaying side to side in unison and raise their guitars after the main riff of God of Thunder. Gene looks really ominous either he had some bad Japanese food and had a bellyache or he was really in character more than ever. Now we move on to the drum solo.This is a cool solo all in all. Peter's drum riser comes out ala Eric Carr on the Animalize tour. (I know it was done earlier for you die-hards but I figure I'm safe with that analogy since most people would have the Animalize home video) This solo did impress me more that some of the other ones he¼s done in other videos I've reviewed. To end the solo two massive flames shoot up on both sides of the KISS logo on the top part of the stairs where the band stands at the beginning of the show. When Gene comes back after the solo he¼s all cleaned up from the blood. It only remains on his outfit. One can really wonder how bad that stuff must've tasted for him to clean himself up fully before returning to the stage to finish the show.
ROCK & ROLL ALL NIGHT- This version is very fast than usual. I wonder if even back then they were as bored with song as I am reviewing it on every article. Really how many new things can I say about this dam song? Only two things worth mentioning here. Peter's drumming is very sloppy. I think it¼s due to the faster tempo of this song. This part is actually very funny. After Paul breaks the guitar and all the confetti is shot out, Paul grabs the microphone to say goodnight. He says "Alright" (pauses, forgetting where he is) (IT'S TOKYO PAUL) "We love you Good night." Talk about a brain fart, he was talking to them all night and right at the most important part he forgets. I liken it to you¼re up at the alter ready to get married and forget the words are I Do.
SHOUT IT OUT LOUD- Watch Peter in the very beginning of this song he¼s hysterical. I just noticed this for the first time as I was taking notes for this article. First off he imitates punching someone while holding them in a headlock. Then after Paul tells the crowd "Shout it out loud" He then like always turns to Peter to count off the song and Peter stars swinging his arms wildly like a conductor as Paul counts to 4. Another funny thing to me is when Paul sings the line "Call everybody in the neighborhood Hello" he says hello like Squiggy from Laverne & Shirley. He's another favorite Peter part for me, I pretty much just love his singing voice his back-up are always so soulful especially on the "Shout It's" in the chorus & the end of the song.
BETH- Ok here¼s the part I've been teasing you with through out the review. Listen very closely to this then put on Alive 2. This is the exact version as on Alive 2. This is probably the only video footage we have that has a song that was used for an Alive album. Now one could argue what about Detroit 92. I disagree because I feel it was done mostly at soundcheck. It's not fact just my opinion.But if you need proof, watch the Detroit video and see if you can find an exact version of on of the songs on Alive 3, I highly doubt it. The other cool thing is also in traders circles is a cassette/CD called"Alive 2 The Lost Recordings" it's very cool. It has been stated on many pages that this was to have been recorded for Alive 2,the tape is fully mixed like Alive 2 and is a must have for your audio collection. Back to Beth for all of you who have Alive 2 you all know that Peter is way off key & KISS could've found a better version to put on Alive 2. The only thing different is they faded out his Thank You at the end of the song when they put this on Alive 2.
BLACK DIAMOND- All 4 members come down the stairs with massive 1 KISS balloon each and they throw it out to the crowd. This balloon can be seen in the picture I provided from the '77/'78 World Tour Book in the group shot with the band & road crew. Paul starts the intro riff for this song and after the "HIT IT" we¼re off into the song. Peter has some kind of trouble here cause he starts playing on his hi-hat then switches to his ride cymbal. When he does this he stops singing for a second to say something to his drum tech. I would assume here that the microphone for his hi-hat came off or wasn¼t turned up in his monitor. Now here's a cool effect used in this show. Peter starts levitating his kit in the air and the only spotlight is the one on his kit as the whole stage is dark. Finally when he's done rising the stage is fully lit up to show the massive 2 cat banner used for the Love Gun tour. Speaking of this banner, how many people think the one KISS used on the Reunion tour was cheap & shabby looking and not as cool as this one.4 huge pyro blasts and Paul yells "Good Night" to the Crowd and one last "Woo" and the show is ancient history.
Rating of Tokyo 77
Over all this is one of the cleanest tapes with a great performance all around from each band member. I'd really have to give this tape a 10, as this is hands down one of my favorites to watch.Thanks for being so patient for this article I¼m sorry for taking so long, It must've been a bitch when I was gone. Next article will be up Mid-May as I wanted to wait for the NJ KISS Expo to see if there are going to be any new tapes released to give me something new to talk about. So now you now understand the method of my timing & why it took so damn long for this one to be written.'Til Next time Thanks for reading this little 'ol article of mine & Stay PSYCHO
BLACK DIAMOND- All 4 members come down the stairs with massive 1 KISS balloon each and they throw it out to the crowd. This balloon can be seen in the picture I provided from the '77/'78 World Tour Book in the group shot with the band & road crew. Paul starts the intro riff for this song and after the "HIT IT" we¼re off into the song. Peter has some kind of trouble here cause he starts playing on his hi-hat then switches to his ride cymbal. When he does this he stops singing for a second to say something to his drum tech. I would assume here that the microphone for his hi-hat came off or wasn¼t turned up in his monitor. Now here's a cool effect used in this show. Peter starts levitating his kit in the air and the only spotlight is the one on his kit as the whole stage is dark. Finally when he's done rising the stage is fully lit up to show the massive 2 cat banner used for the Love Gun tour. Speaking of this banner, how many people think the one KISS used on the Reunion tour was cheap & shabby looking and not as cool as this one.4 huge pyro blasts and Paul yells "Good Night" to the Crowd and one last "Woo" and the show is ancient history. 
KISS Museum