On Wednesday May 20th, 1992, something happened in Wales that may never be
repeated again. Wales has had its moments in British history, from the
stern resistance but ultimate defeat to the Romans in AD 60, to the conquest
of Wales by England in 1282, to the Owain Glyndwr rebellion against English
control in 1400, to the Acts of Union in 1536 when Wales became part of the
English Empire. But what happened in 1992 gave Wales its own unique moment in British
KISStory - a concert at the National Ice Rink in our fair capital of
Cardiff. This is what happened in pictures and words...
KISS had been in the studio some time throughout the Autumn of 1991
recording what would eventually become 'Revenge'. Eric Carr had died
suddenly that November, and most wondered if KISS would carry on or not. Of
course they would. Bizarrely, the dark mood that had fallen over KISS fans
during the Autumn/Winter of '91/'92 was unexpectedely lifted when EastWest
released (in various formats!) a single from the 'Bill & Ted Bogus Journey
Soundtrack' album. That single was 'God Gave Rock 'n' Roll To You II'. I'd
heard this track sometime before during 1991 and didn't think much of it.
The single saw the light of day because the 'Bill & Ted' movie was showing
all over the country, and these singles are a great way to promote a movie.
Unbelievably, KISS had a hit on their hands. Radio was playing the track
almost constantly, and coupled with the interest in the 'B&T' movie (and not
a few KISS fans also!), the song crashed into the UK Top 10 at a UK
chart-equalling KISS performance at a staggering Number 4!!
4 years after the last time KISS were 'hip' in the UK ('Crazy, Crazy Nights'
had also got to Number 4 in October 1987), KISS were back in the newspapers
and gossip columns, particularly memorable was the tabloid 'The Sun's
headline "Ten Lip-Smacking Facts A-pout KISS". Before a KISS tour was even
beginning to be rumoured a mate of mine declared that KISS were due to play
the Cardiff National Ice Rink that following May. 'KISS in Wales? Piss off
mate!", I told him as I had him by the lapels "Don't even joke about it!".
He told me he'd heard an advert on local radio. I listened out for it the
next day, and it wasn't too long before 'God Gave..' came on the radio with a
voice-over saying 'America's most outrageous band are here, and are
playing at the Cardiff Ice Rink this May. KISS are bringing their full-set;
(cue Paul) "This is a show we feel that we owe". Tickets on sale now."
This was bloody incredible. KISS usually tour every 4 years in the UK which
usually means a long coach trip to England, usually Birmingham or London.
Cardiff was virtually my home town!
On 'phoning the Ice-Rink later that day, hearts sank as it was declared that
nothing had been confirmed as yet. Will they come? A few short days later
it was confirmed and I was lucky enough to get a ticket as the Ice-Rink show
would be smallest of the tour - about 3,500 capacity. I think it sold out
that day. Just as KISS in Wales was beginning to sink in, yet more shocks
were instore - literally 'instore'. KISS were to attend a record-signing
session at Cardiff's branch of HMV the day of the gig. This was dreamworld.
May 20th just couldn't come around quickly enough! As it was, it was a
glorious day with temperatures well in the 20s and we had much fun in
spotting all the hundreds of KISS fans in lurid KISS t-shirts lurking on
every corner in Cardiff.
The band themselves were very cool. Paul in particular made a lot of effort
to sign everything and anything people had brought in with them (we were
supposed to be restricted to one item), and even left his station to go down the
line of fans who would not get to see the band because of the sheer amount
of people waiting in front of them. It was over too quickly, and after
being interviewed outside the store by BBC Wales News on why we liked the
band so much (no KISS clips ever aired on BBC Wales), we decided to look
after the stuff we'd had signed and headed home before coming back in that
evening for the gig.
The show itself was jsut about the greatest gig I've seen (KISS or
otherwise), and Eric Singer is on the record as saying that the Cardiff show
was the most enjoybale and intense of the tour. It was quite funny to see
the size of Leon, he was barely visible most of the time as the place was so
small with such a low ceiling. As it turned out, the low ceiling would cost
the band dear. Despite selling a few suitcases worth of KISS knickers and
t-shirts, any profit made went up in smoke the moment Paul warbled his usual
intro to 'Heaven's On Fire'. The resulting pyro (pictured below!!) caused
£30,000 worth of damage to the ceiling, and it even made the papers the next
day!
The Revenge tour was excellent, far better than when KISS came over in 1988
to support 'Crazy Nights' and promote 'Smashes'. KISS had gone for the full
monty, and we were impressed! I particularly remember one Spinal Tap moment
when Leon the Sphinx was supposed to speak during 'God of Thunder' (pictured
below). If he was saying 'I am the lord of the wastelands' it wasn't in
English!
My parents were with me (well, at the back, watching from afar!) and it was
with some pride that I saw KISS reel off their hits, knowing all too well
that my folks at the back would know each and every one of them! If these
photos aren't enough to whet your appetite of Cardiff May 20th, there is a
bootleg video doing the rounds - the guy waving his t-shirt over his head
during 'Rock And Roll All Nite' is me having fun. Enjoy the rest of my
Welsh KISS photos
This page is under construction -
more photos still to be posted