Black Diamond

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Lore & Background

The creation of "Black Diamond" highlights the collaborative arrangement process within the band. Paul Stanley wrote the song almost exactly as it appears, noting that the iconic riff was not originally part of his composition; Gene Simmons brought that specific part in. Stanley emphasized that while the band members add something to every track through embellishment and arrangement, this does not mean they wrote the song itself. The lyrical content diverges from typical rock themes by focusing directly on street prostitution. In terms of personnel, Peter Criss handles lead vocals and drums, Paul Stanley contributes rhythm guitar, backing vocals, and the intro lead vocals, Ace Frehley plays lead guitar and backing vocals, and Gene Simmons provides bass and backing vocals.

In Their Own Story

The song's evolution from a demo to a studio masterpiece relied on specific contributions. Stanley recalled that "Black Diamond" was written almost exactly as it is, except for the absence of the riff until Gene Simmons introduced it. This distinction underscores the band's philosophy: members are expected to come in and add something through arrangement, but that does not equate to songwriting credit. The recording on the 1974 album Kiss captures this dynamic, featuring Stanley's acoustic introduction transitioning into Criss's powerful lead vocals over Simmons's riff. The track ends with a unique production choice where Ace Frehley's solo is followed by one chord repeated while the tape gradually slows down. A new studio version later appeared on Sonic Boom, while earlier live recordings can be found on Alive! and Kiss Symphony: Alive IV.

Reader's Guide

Fans can trace "Black Diamond" through numerous releases beyond the original 1974 album Kiss. The song appears in its studio form on Double Platinum (remixed & edited), The Box Set, Gold, The Originals, and Sonic Boom. Live iterations are available on Alive! and Kiss Symphony: Alive IV, with a specific compilation of the Alive! version plus a new live recording found on Kiss Alive! 1975–2000. Cover versions include a 1984 rendition by The Replacements on Let It Be, a live recording from 1986 featured on their 2017 album For Sale: Live at Maxwell's 1986, and an orchestral arrangement by Yoshiki of X Japan for the 1994 tribute album Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved. Additionally, Black Diamond Brigade formed in 2003 as a one-off project specifically to cover this song.

Did You Know?

• The lyrics focus on street prostitution.
• Gene Simmons brought the famous riff to the song, though Paul Stanley wrote it almost exactly as is.
• The original album version ends with one chord repeated during a gradual slowing of the tape.
• Yoshiki from X Japan created an arrangement for a 72-piece orchestra in 1994.
• Black Diamond Brigade formed in 2003 solely to cover this specific song.