This timeline was initially based extensively on Alex Carranza's original KISS ARMY FAQ chronology, many other sources have been referenced with additional and later facts including Dale Sherman's book, Black Diamond, and many other archival news sites, magazines, interviews, etc.
January 1974
2 - Variety magazine prints a positive review of the KISS performance at the Academy of Music.
8 - KISS headline the last ever concert at Filmore East, reopened especially for the occasion, in a special dress rehersal reported by Rolling Stone Magazine. The gig is attended by press, critics, friends, and label executives. The band had been using the venue for rehearsals since the previous month...
26 - The band return to the Academy Of Music, this time in support of Redbone and Argent.
February
5 - KISS begin a tour Canada for several days.
8 - "KISS" released, spends 23 weeks in the charts and eventually reaches #87 in the US album charts.
19 - West Coast release party for the album. The band plays this night at Century Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, for Casablanca's official inveiling. The party is attended by many notable personalities, including Alice Cooper who makes the famous quote: "What they need is a gimmick!"
21 - KISS record live segements for Dick Clark's "In Concert".
March
25 - Performing two sets at the Bayou in Washington DC, KISS play "Love Theme From KISS" and "Much Too Young", the only known time that these were both performed.
27 - The band film a performance piece for the Barry Richards show on WDCA-TV in Washington DC.
28 - "Nothin' To Lose" single released. That same day KISS again play The Academy Of Music, this time opening for Argent, Larry Coryell's Eleventh House, and Renaissance.
29 - KISS' TV appearance televised with them playing Nothin' To Lose, Firehouse, and Black Diamond on ABC's "Dick Clark". Gene is also interviewed, much to the discomfort of other guests.
April
?? - "Kissin Time" recorded in 3 hours for a kissing promotion by WSHE in Ft. Lauderdale in Florida, much against the band and producers wishes. The song is reworked rapidly in the studio.. Kerner and Wise again produce this Bogart manipulated piece...
7 - KISS play for the first time at the Michigan Palace in the Rock City of Detroit...
26 - First proper tour begins in Toronto, Canada, opening for Manfred Mann & Savoy Brown when Michael Quatro drops out of the tour.
29 - Mike Douglas show TV filming in Philadelphia, PA.
May
10 - "Kissin' Time" single released.
13 - Eric Singer attends his first concert at the Allen Theatre in Cleveland. He sees Foghat with the Marshall Tucker Band...
21 - KISS performance of "Firehouse" broadcast on the Mike Douglas Show.
24 - At a show in Portland, OR, KISS play "Kissin' Time" for the one of the few confirmed times.
31 - KISS concert at Long Beach Arena, CA, with James Gang opening, broadcast on the radio... Paul also gets his tattoo this day, at Lyle Tuttle's parlour in Los Angeles, CA.
June
?? - "Kissin' Time" only reaches a dismal #83 in the singles chart and fails to ignite sales of the album, much to Bogart's chargain.
3- Last date of the tour in Ancorage, Alaska.
14 - Eric Singer sees KISS play at the Allen Theatre in Cleveland, OH...
19 - Paul "collapses" onstage at the Electic Ballroom, Atlanta, Georgia, and the band is forced to take a break.
July
?? - The first album is reissued to include "Kissin' Time". Initial copies are still released on the Warner Brothers distributed NB-9001 record.
5 - Second Tour with Blue Oyster Cult starts in Baton Rouge, LA.
August
?? - Band record Hotter Than Hell at Village Recorder Studios in Los Angeles, with producers Kenny Kerner and Richie Wise who had moved to California from New York. Bogart wanted the band working with the same people as on the first album. The album has the working title "The Harder They Come", while the recording sessions in LA are not the happiest time for the band used to the New York atmosphere with Gene being unable to drive and Paul's guitar being stolen. Like the first album HTH is essentially live recording with somewhat more embelishments than the first...
?? - Photo session with Norman Seef, for Hotter Than Hell, where everyone is wrecked, except Gene. Paul is so drunk the band eventually lock him in a car so he could pass out safely.
September
?? - Recording of "Hotter Than Hell" completed, but the band are quickly back on the road...
?? - Split between Warner Brothers and Casablanca, caused partially by Warner's dislike of the band and Bogart's wish to be truly independent. Casablanca soon re-releases (3rd Issue) the first KISS album, the first release of an independent Casablanca.
October
22 - Hotter Than Hell released. It only reaches #100 in the US album charts. The single "Let Me Go, Rock And Roll" fails to chart at all, but remains a mainstay in the KISS live setlist.
November
?? - The band's tour is something of a "lost" tour with few audience recordings surfacing. The band tries out several obscure songs from the album live...
December
31 - KISS close out the year playing the Collesium in Evansville, IN, with the Raspberries.
January 1975
?? - KISS, who are receiving numerous big offers from other record labels, have a meeting at Kenny Kerner's apartment with Kenny, Richie, Bill, Joyce, and the band where they discuss leaving Casablanca following the end of their contract... Immediately after this meeting its' contents are leaked to Bogart who promptly fires Kerner and Wise, and decides to produce their third album himself.
31 - KISS's show at the Winterland in San Francisco is professionally filmed by promoter Bill Graham.
February
?? - Due to the lack of success with Hotter Than Hell, KISS reenter studios, this time Electric Lady Studios in New York, to record their third album with Neil Bogart, who is using his role in an attempt to usurp Bill Aucoin's position with the band. However, Bill soon buys out co-manager Joyce Biawitz (who was Neil's girlfriend) share in Rock Steady, finally forcing his and Neil's cooperation...
March
19 - Dressed To Kill released. It eventually reaches #32 in the US album charts.
21 - KISS play the first of two sold out gigs at the Beacon Theatre in New York organized by Bill Aucoin.
24 - The KISS show at Cleveland, OH, recorded for use on possible live album.
27 - KISS film segements at the Michigan Palace for use in videos.
April
1 - KISS film live segments for the Midnight Special at NBC Studios in Burbank, CA...
2 - "Rock And Roll All Nite" the first single off the album is released and eventally makes it to #68 in the singles charts.
May
16 - KISS play Detroit's Cobo Hall, the show is recorded for Alive!
June
21 - A second show in Cleveland, OH, is recorded for use on the Alive! record.
July
10 - Second single from Dressed To Kill released. "C'mon and love me" doesn't trouble the charts.
23 - A third show in Wildwood, NJ, is recorded for use on the Alive! record.
August
?? - KISS in the studios to do some clean-up recording work for Alive with Eddie Kramer brought in to capture the glory of the KISS performance!
September
10 - Alive! released. It hits #9 in the US album charts and eventually sells over 9 million copies.
October
6 - Start of "KISS Week" in Cadillac, MI.
8 - KISS call in to WATT AM Radio in Cadillac to do a radio interview...
9 - KISS in their famous visit to Cadillac, Michigan... Double Yellow Line opens for the band at their show at the high school that night.
10 - KISS awarded the key to the city of Cadillac and then appear in the town's homecoming parade.
14 - A live version of "Rock And Roll All Nite" released which storms up the charts to #12 to be the band's first hit.
November
21 - First official gathering of the KISS army in Terra Haute, IN.
December
4 - Alive! certified Gold by the RIAA, the first KISS album to attain any sales award.
15 - KISS do an instore signing at Peaches, a record store, in Atlanta, GA, where they also place their hand-prints in cement outside the store...
31 - KISS close out the year with a concert in Nassau, NY, with Blue Oyster Cult and Leslie West opening. This night, KISS receive their gold awards for "Alive!" backstage prior to the show.
Unknown
?? - Gene Simmons discovers Angel, and gets them signed to Casablanca.
Winter
?? - KISS re-sign with Casablanca for a further two albums...
January 1976
24 - The live version of "Rock And Roll All Nite" reaches its' peak position in the charts.
February
20 - KISS add their footprints to the sidewalk outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, CA.
March
1 - "Shout It Out Loud" released. It reaches #31 in the charts helping the "Destroyer" album sell its first 892,000 copies...
15 - "Destoyer" released and reaches #11 in the album charts.
26 - Protestors march against KISS' concert in Harrisburg, PA.
April
30 - "Flaming Youth" released as a single. While it only reaches #74 in the singles charts, it is the first KISS single to feature a picture sleeve, a feature Casablanca was experimenting with at the time.
May
?? - "Alive" certified Gold in Australia for sales of $150,000...
10 - Ace Frehley married to longtime girlfriend Jenette!
13 - KISS play their first ever European concet at Manchester's Free Trade Hall, in England. Shortly afterwards the Destroyer album makes #22 in the UK album charts, the first KISS album to chart in the UK. Alive! charts soon afterwards making it to #49.
June
15 - A Special Summer KISS Tour album released in the States to promote the Destroyer Tour. At the same time, probably somewhat earlier to coincide with the visit to the UK, a 7" version is issued there with no picture cover, but the same songs...
July
3 - "Spirit Of '76" Tour begins in Norfolk, VA.
21 - The Originals released. The triple repackaging of the first three albums sell's 250,000 copies, technically earning it Gold ceftification from the RIAA.
28 - "Detroit Rock City" single released, it fails to chart, while B-side "Beth" gets more airplay in certain rock markets.
August
?? - "Beth" is re-released as the A-side and later (9/25) reaches #7 in the charts, it eventually sells a million copies and becomes KISS' first Gold single and major hit.
?? - "The Originals" reaches its high chart position in the US at #36...
September
12 - The "Destroyer" Tour concludes in Springfield, MA.
?? - (?) Gene records some demos of song ideas he's working on. Tracks cut include "Burning Up With Fever", "High And Low" (which would become Dr. Love lyrically), "Jelly Roll", "Daily Planet" (an instrumental which would become "100%" in 1985), and "Rotten To The Core"...
20 - KISS return to the studio, the Nanuet Theatre Go Round, to record "Rock And Roll Over" with Eddie Kramer...
October
11 - The scheduled end of the recording sessions in Nanuet, NY...
19-21 - KISS film their appearance for Paul Lynde's Halloween special at ABC Studios in Hollywood...
31 - KISS' appearance on Paul Lynde's Halloween Special broadcast with the band performing 3 songs: Beth, Detroit Rock City, and King Of The Night Time World. Gene and Paul attend a show at Gazzarri's in Los Angeles and get and invitation to a showcase at the Starwood the following week to check out new bands.
November
1 - Rock And Roll Over is released and is the first album to ship RIAA certified Gold.
5/6 - Gene discovers "Van Halen" at the Starwood and soon produces their first demo for them. This demo includes: "On Fire", "Woman In Love", "House In Pain", "Runnin' With the Devil", "She's the Woman", "Let's Get Rockin'", "Big Trouble", "Somebody Get Me a Doctor", "Babe, Don't Leave Me Alone" and "Put Out the Lights". Unfortunately, Bill Aucoin and Neil Bogart pass on the opportunity...
7-13 - Scheduled band rehearsals at SIR Studio B in New York...
11 - Rock And Roll Over receives its' Gold certification while Destoyer is also certified Platinum.
12-21 - Full production rehersals at Redding Armory, Redding, MA, for the new tour KISS experiment with an electric version of "Beth." KISS would arrive November 14...
December
1 - "Hard Luck Woman" is released as a single and reaches #15 on the US charts in a vain attempt to repeat the success of the novelty "Beth".
11 - At the first concert of the Rock And Roll Over Tour at Lakeland, FL, Ace electrocutes himself on stage, though he is able to continue the show after a short recovery. Later in the show Gene sets his hair on fire... "Beth" is integrated into the live show.
29 - Steve Gerber submits his plot synopsis for the KISS Marvel Comic book to KISS' management...
Late
?? - KISS and Casablanca negotiate their largest contract, for five albums between 1/1/77 and 6/30/79. The contract defines solo albums as equaling 1/2 of an album with minimum number of songs to equal an album being 5, thus confirming that the solos were not just something done to keep the band together in 1978.
January 1977
?? - The Originals released in Japan in preparation for the Japanese Sneak attack tour...
5 - Rock And Roll Over becomes KISS' second album to be certified Platinum.
15 - Ace, Chris Lendt, and Eddie Balandas spend a day-off at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. The following day they rejoin the tour in Denver...
February
10 - KISS win a People's Choice Award for "Beth." The band's award is accepted for the band by Lydia Criss.
21 - Blood extracted from the members following a concert at Nassau Colliseum for the Marval Comic Special!
28 - Dressed To Kill becomes the first pre-Alive! album to be certified Gold by the RIAA.
March
?? - Peter's former Chelsea/Lips bandmate and bassist Michael Benvenga dies aged 28...
3 - "Calling Dr Love" issued as a single. It reaches #16 the following month.
18 - KISS visits Japan for the first time on its' Sneak Attack Tour.
April
2 - The KISS show at Tokyo's Budokan Hall is filmed and later shown on HBO in 1978.
4 - Final show in Japan. Filmed and recorded for possible future use. The material recorded is produced and fully mixed by Eddie Kramer for planned use as a live album, but this is abandoned when it is decided to use new material on the next tour for this concept. However, "Beth" from these sessions does later turn up on Alive II along with material from the LA Forum shows...
?? - Following the shows in Japan, Peter and Lydia Criss vacation in Hong Kong and South East Asia...
May
?? - KISS return to the studio with Eddie Kramer to record Love Gun.
26 - The blood KISS had "donated" is mixed with the ink at Borden Ink Plant, Depew, NY, for the first KISS Marvel Comic.
June
?? - "Christine Sixteen" released as a single and reaches #25 in the charts.
30 - "Love Gun" is released and ships Platinum. It features Ace's first lead vocal on "Shock Me" recorded while he lies on his back in a darkened studio. Love Gun is RIAA certified both Gold and Platinum. The first Marvel Comic, allegedly containing some of the members blood in the ink, is released.
July
?? - "Love Gun" released as a single and only manages to reach #61 in the charts.
9 - Love Gun Lp enters the charts. It will eventually hit #4 and be KISS' highest charting album until 1998.
August
4 - After touring Canada the previous month, the American leg of the Love Gun Tour kicks off in Salt Lake City.
25 - KISS appear on LA Radio Station 10-Q, with host Don Steele, in the famous event where the band are wearing helmets and masks to obscure their faces...
26 - The first of three shows taped at the LA Forum, Los Angeles, CA.
September
?? - KISS enter Electric Lady Studios, NY, to record studio songs for the forthcoming Alive II album. Ace Frehley only participates in the recording sessions of his own song, "Rocket Ride", so KISS draft in Bob Kulick, who had auditioned for KISS in January 1973, to fill in on the other tracks while Ace spaces out nextdoor to the studio watching TV. Contrarty to popular belief Rick Deringer has nothing to do with these sessions.
October
?? - A live version of "Shout It Out Loud" released. It reaches #54 in the charts in January.
14 - Alive II released and ships Platinum. The album reaches #7 on the US charts while only reaching #60 in the UK where it charts for just 1 week...
November
1-9 - KISS rehearsals in Newburgh, NY for the tour.
15 - The "Alive II" Tour starts in Oklahoma City.
December
14 - KISS begin a three night soldout stand at Madison Square Garden.
17 - On a day-off between dates Aucoin Management throw a private party for the road crew at JP's in New York.
January 1978
7 - 1978, KISS "Alive II" hits its high position of #7 on the US Billboard Top 200 album charts...
7 - Carl Glickman hosts a party in Cleveland inviting sponsers of KISS show there.
8 - The band are invited to WMMS in Cleveland, on the day of their show there, to be guest disc jockies in the afternoon.
10 - NBC's "Land of Hype and Glory" airs exploring hype in media and popular culture, using KISS as a primary example.
16 - KISS appear on the American Music Awards via satellite from Largo, MD
21 - Peter, Paul, and Ace playfully attack Gene on stage at the end of their performance in Detroit...
21 - "KISS Alive II" sheet music, published by Almo, becomes their biggest seller at one point reaching 30,000 units per week.
21 - KISS donate $4,000, from its Ampex Gold Reel awards for 4 gold records, to cancer and diabetes research.
21 - "Shout It Out Loud" (Live) debuts on the US Billboard singles charts at #85.
February
3 - Final date of the "Alive II" tour in Providence, RI.
11 - The "Shout It Out Loud" single reaches its high position of #54 on the US Billboard singles charts. It charts for two weeks at this position and then drops off the charts completely.
22 - Recording sessions at Electric Lady Studios for Paul Stanley's solo album.
25 - Recording sessions at Electric Lady Studios for Paul Stanley's solo album.
25 - "Rocket Ride" debuts on the US Billboard singles charts at #89.
27 - Former Paul Stanley girlfriend Victoria Medlin dies. Paul dedicates his solo album in her memory.
?? - KISS enter Electric Lady Studios in New York to re-record "Strutter" for inclusion on their forthcoming compilation Double Platinum.
March
25 - "The Originals II" released in Japan
28 - Japanese tour commences at the Budokan Hall in Tokyo for a 5 day sold-out stand, beating the previous Beatles record of 4 days.
?? - A promotional only sampler, Taste Of Platinum, is issued to radio stations.
April
2 - The Japanese tour ends.
8 - Ace Frehley completes mixes of the instrumental backing tracks of "All for Nothing" and "I'm in Need of Love" at Soundmixers.
11 - Former tour truck driver JB Fields dies in a crash on tour with BOC. Paul dedicates his solo album in his memory.
22 - The "Rocket Ride" single reaches its high position of #39 on the US Billboard singles charts. It only charts for one additional week.
25 - The first of many compilations is released. Double Platinum reaches #22 in the charts, while the single culled from the album, Strutter '78, fails to chart.
May
16 - "Double Platinum" certified Gold & Platinum by the RIAA in the USA.
18 - KISS perform a free concert at Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA parts are filmed for use in the "KISS Meet the Phantom of the Park" TV Movie.
19 - "Double Platinum" debuts on the US Billboard Top 200 album charts at #75
26 - Final day of filming for the KISS movie.
27 - Fritz Postlewaite and Peter Criss involved in a car accident following the wrapping of filming the KISS movie.
June
1 - "Double Platinum" certified Gold in Canada by the CRIA.
17 - Final initial charting date of "Alive II" on the US Billboard Top 200 album charts at #160.
21 - Casablanca's executive VP Larry Harris' son born.
25 - Cancelled recording session for Ace at The Estate.
27 - Start of six days of recording by Ace at Plaza Sound Studios in New York City.
29 - Song-writing agreement between Peter Criss and Sean Delaney for the Delaney written tracks used on Peter's solo album, plus the unused "Spotlights (And Lonely Nights)" which would have been shared 50/50.
30 - "Double Platinum" hits its high position of #22 on the US Billboard Top 200 album charts...
July
?? - Bally Corporation announces the KISS pinball machine model.
August
14 - "Ace Frehley" 8-track sequence finalized.
17 - Test pressings of "Ace Frehley" ordered from Columbia Record Productions by PolyGram for Eddie Kramer.
19 - "Alive II" returns to the US Billboard Top 200 album charts at #175.
22 - At a "Face The Music" panel in Chicago, Clive Davis (Arista) and Joe Davis (Elektra) advise Neil Bogart to cut back the shipments of the KISS solo albums to 750,000 per album. Bogart insists that with the low (6%) return rate of KISS product that he expects to ship 8 million copies by Christmas. The others felt that major band individual members sold poorly and that over-shipments created an illusion of the artist's success (Billboard, 9/2/78).
26 - "Alive II" on the US Billboard Top 200 album charts at #175.
28 - The second Marvel "KISS" comic goes on sale.
September
3 - Final "Alive II" charting on the US Billboard Top 200 album charts at #180.
5 - "Assembled Especially for Radio" promotional 12" distributed to select reviews and account managers.
18 - The "KISS" solo albums are released in the United States backed with a $2.5 million marketing support. 500,000 special plastic bags are printed and sent to retailers for purchasers of the four albums. 5.3 million copies of the albums are shipped.
30 - PolyGram distribution changes the return policy on Casablanca product preventing returns until 180 days after release in an effort to keep product in stores longer and prevent over-ordering.
?? - Four singles are released off the solo albums. Paul's "Hold Me, Touch Me" reaches #46 in the charts. Gene's "Radioactive" makes #47. Peter's "Don't You Let Me Down" fails to chart, while Ace's "New York Groove" moves steadily up the charts becoming the biggest "hit" on any of the solo albums.
October
2 - Each of the four solo albums certified Gold & Platinum by the RIAA in the USA.
14 - Ace Frehley's "New York Groove" debuts on the US Billboard singles charts at #87.
14 - "Paul Stanley" debuts on the US Billboard Top 200 album charts at #89
14 - "Gene Simmons" debuts on the US Billboard Top 200 album charts at #88
14 - "Ace Frehley" debuts on the US Billboard Top 200 album charts at #87
14 - "Peter Criss" debuts on the US Billboard Top 200 album charts at #85
21 - Final "Double Platinum" charting on the US Billboard Top 200 album charts at #177.
28 - "KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park" broadcast on NBC.
?? - "Double Platinum" certified Gold by the ARIA.
November
4 - "Hold Me, Touch Me" debuts on the US Billboard singles charts at #85.
15 - Eddie Kramer pays Greg Raffa at Plaza Sound $4,575 for engineering Ace's album sessions there.
18 - Gene makes an in-store appearance at Tape City in New Orleans.
25 - "Peter Criss" hits its high position of #43 on the US Billboard Top 200 album charts.
?? - Tour manager Fritz Postlewaite gets married in New York. Band members attend.
December
1 - "Gene Simmons," "Ace Frehley," and "Paul Stanley" certified Gold in Canada by the CRIA.
1 - "New York Groove" (CAN-135) released as a single in the UK backed with "Snow Blind." Special colored-vinyl versions include a paper mask.
2 - An edit of "Radioactive," removing the Ron Frangiapane/Janis Ian intro section, debuts on the US Billboard singles charts at #84.
2 - Ace's single "New York Groove" hits it's highest chart position at #13, the best of any of the singles issued in promotion of the solo albums.
12 - Gene Simmons hosts a KISSmas party at Fiorucci's in Beverly Hills, CA where Disney's Pinnochio is aired along with his recording of "When You Wish Upon A Star".
16 - "Paul Stanley" hits its high position of #40 on the US Billboard Top 200 album charts.
21 - Ken Anderson memos KISS about plans for KISS' 1979 world tour: "Most spetacular show ever to go on the road."
23 - "Hold Me, Touch me" reaches its high position of #46 on the US Billboard singles charts.
January 1979
3 - Lydia Criss served with divorce papers...
6 - "Gene Simmons" hits its high position of #22 on the US Billboard Top 200 album charts.
13 - "Ace Frehley" hits its high position of #26 on the US Billboard Top 200 album charts.
13 - "Radioactive" reaches its high position of #47 on the US Billboard singles charts. It only charts for one additional week.
23 - Completion of Peter's demo sessions at Music Farm Studios in New York City with Vini Poncia. The four songs recorded with Stan Penridge would be presented for use on KISS' "Dynasty."
?? - A second single from Peter's solo album is issued, but "You Matter To Me" also fails to chart.
February
3 - "New York Groove" reaches its high position of #13 on the US Billboard singles charts. It charts at that position for two weeks.
10 - Final US charting week of "Paul Stanley" at #162.
24 - Final US charting week of "Peter Criss" at #195.
?? - KISS return to New York studios to record Dynasty with Vini Poncia, the producer of Peter's solo album at the controls. Peter Criss is unavailable at some of the sessions, partially due to problems with his hands cause from a recent car accident and partially due tohis increasing personal problems, and is replaced by Anton Fig and Richie Fontana on five of the albums 9 tracks.
March
11 - Final US charting week of "Gene Simmons" at #179.
18 - Final US charting week of "Ace Frehley" at #176.
April
25 - A solo album box set is released in Japan containing the four albums.
May
3 - Gene and Ace appear on the Robert Klein Hour. Robert isn't about to allow the show to lack humor: "Gene Simmons just stuck out his tongue and poked a lady's eye out in the first row... It's really amazing..." It is during this broadcast that Klein famously asked Gene, "Can you reach the bridge of your nose with your tongue?" Gene responded, "I can reach the bridge on 59th Street."
23 - "Dynasty" released. It becomes a big hit and reaches #9 in the album charts while the change in musical style with "I Was Made For Lovin' You" starts to alienate some in the KISS Army.
June
15 - The massive "Return Of Kiss" Tour kicks off at Lakeland, Florida.
16 - "I Was Made For Lovin' You" hits #11 in the singles chart, eventually becoming KISS' second Gold single. That same day, the New England song "Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya", produced by Paul Stanley with him also on backing vocals, hits #40. The "I Was Made For Lovin' You" single is also released in the UK and reaches #50, being the first single to chart in that country!
July
6 - A show at Largo, MD, is filmed for TV broadcast.
10 - Dynasty certified Platinum.
?? - HBO air the concert recorded at Largo, MD.
August
16 - "I Was Made For Lovin' You" awarded Gold certification, the band's second gold single.
September
?? - "Sure Know Something" released as a second single off Dynasty. It fails to make any impact and stalls at #47.
October
?? - The band appear on the Tom Synder show with a drunk Ace who steals the show, much to the dismay of Gene. Of course, the interview went straight downhill after the "trout" incident!
December
16 - The Dynasty Tour ends in Toledo, OH. This concert marks the last original era KISS performance with Peter Criss.
23 - Peter Criss marries Debra Svensk in Los Angeles, CA.
25 - The United States Patent and Trademark Office registers Ace Frehley's makeup design (No. 1128427).
?? - Phantom Of The Park/Attack Of The Phantoms is released Worldwide.
January 1980
1 - The United States Patent and Trademark Office registers Paul Stanley's makeup design (No. 1128762) and Peter Criss' makeup design (No. 1128763).
?? - KISS enter the Record Plant Studios in New York to record Unmasked. Peter is not present, working on his own project, and is replaced by Anton Fig. Peter doesn't play a note on Unmasked, and only appears on the "Shandi" video for contractual obligations.
February
5 - The United States Patent and Trademark Office registers Gene Simmons' makeup design (No. 1130566).
March
16 - Peter leaves the band and starts work recording his first non-KISS solo album at RCA Recording Studios in New York City.
May
17 - Peter officially leaves the band which starts the search for a new drummer.
20 - "Unmasked" is released and is generally ignored by the fans. While it reaches #35 on the US album charts it only manages #48 in the UK...
June
?? - "Shandi" with accompanying promotional concept video issued as a single and reaches #47 in the charts.
17 - The deadline date for submission of prospective drummer's info-kits to Aucion.
18 - Paul Caravello (Eric) finally submits his resume to Aucoin. On the day following the deadline, but dressed in a day-glo orange neon folder!
19 - Paul attends an interview with Bill Aucoin at his Madison Avenue office. Later that day, on the suggestion of Bill Aucoin, Paul shaves his mustache off...
20 - Paul recieves the call from Aucoin Management telling him that he is to audition with KISS, and what songs to learn...
23 - Paul auditions with Gene, Paul and Ace, at Star Rehersal Studios, NY, bashing out 5 tunes, including Black Diamond, Firehouse, Strutter, Is That You, and Detroit Rock City, which are video recorded by the band. He manages to get the band's autographs before leaving, just in case!
July
1 - Paul is informed of his acceptance as the new drummer for KISS after Bill Aucion phones and leaves a message with his sister Loretta...
?? - Paul changes his name to Eric Carr, aparently with him and his then girlfriend Pantera picking names out of a hat, and because the name "spoke well" like the other member's names did, and designs his "Fox" makeup after rejecting chicken man (The Hawk) costume designed for him while at rehersals at the Palladium!
(Late) - Eric Carr officially announced as the new drummer for KISS...
25 - Eric Carr makes his live debut at New York's Palladium, the only US show in support of "Unmasked" and the only show done with the first version of the Fox makeup which is streamlined shortly afterwards. While the band could have sold-out another show only one gig is played at this venue to around 3,000 fans...
August
26 - KISS depart JFK on Pam Am flight 110 at 7pm for Rome...
27 - KISS arrive in Italy for their tour.
29 - KISS open their European Tour at Castle St. Angelo in Rome with Iron Maiden in support.
September
7 - KISS fly Lufthansa from Germany to Sweden...
9 - Casablanca releases Peter's first non-KISS solo album, "Out Of Control," which quickly disappears from sight...
October
13 - The European leg of the "Unmasked Tour" ends in Norway...
?? - Peter's first single, appropriately "By Myself" is issued, but fails to chart.
November
1 - KISS arrive in Australia...
9 - After a week of ever increasing hype, KISS perform their first show in Australia, at the Entertainment Centre in Perth.
29 - KISS fly from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand via Qantas #51 arriving 2:50PM.
29 - KISS fly from Auckland to Wellington, via ANZ #427 arriving 5:05PM.
30 - KISS perform at Athletic Park Stadium in Wellington.
?? - "Tomorrow" issued as a single but fails to chart.
December
1 - KISS fly to Auckland from Wellington, via ANZ #434 arriving 7:45PM.
3 - KISS perform at Western Springs Arena, Auckland, which ends up being their last full concert appearance with Ace Frehley until 1996.
4 - KISS depart New Zealand for Los Angeles via ANZ #6. The end of the "Unmasked" era.
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