Love Gun Tour

Lore & Background

The road to this tour began with an accident before the first note was played. While the band was rehearsing at an airport hangar, a van carrying equipment overturned, but no band members were injured in that incident. Peter Criss had been injured separately in a car accident earlier in 1977. Despite this setback, the tour proceeded as a showcase of precision and spectacle. John Kafentzis, reporting from The Spokesman-Review after attending the Seattle performance, noted that the choreography was precise and the stunts well-planned, though he observed this left no time to practice music. He criticized the sonic uniformity, stating each song sounded like the last, comparing it to "the Saturday night rumble of dozens of mufflers on Riverside." However, he concluded that the band put on a genuine show and the well-behaved audience "got their $7 worth."

In Their Own Story

The tour's legacy was cemented in Los Angeles, where three specific shows were recorded for the release of Alive II. These recordings captured the raw energy of a setlist that included the debut of "Hooligan," a song never performed on any other tour. The dynamic within the band shifted slightly as Ace Frehley took the mic for "Shock Me," marking his first time singing lead vocals in a live setting during this era. Reflecting on the scale of their success years later, Paul Stanley noted that when they played in Japan in the late '70s, nothing could prepare them for the mass hysteria. He observed that until faced with such rabid crowds, it doesn't sink in how big you are, especially for fans who had never seen the band in their country before.

Reader's Guide

For fans attending the Love Gun Tour, the experience was defined by specific musical additions and a rigorous opening act lineup. Cheap Trick and Styx served as the opening acts throughout the entire tour, ensuring a consistent support structure. The setlist featured "Calling Dr. Love" for the first time in the band's touring history, alongside the unique inclusion of "Hooligan." While the production was tight on choreography and stunts, critics noted that the music itself lacked variety in tone, sounding repetitive to some observers. The tour also highlighted the physical toll on the members, starting with Peter Criss's van accident during pre-tour rehearsals at an airport hangar. Despite the injury and the intense schedule, the band delivered a show that justified the ticket price for the audience, as noted by reviewers of the Seattle date.

Did You Know?

• This tour featured the song "Hooligan" in the set list, but it was not performed on the subsequent Alive II tour (1977-78).
• The three Los Angeles shows were among the recordings used for Alive II, but the album also includes recordings from other cities and overdubs.

Commercial Breakthrough and Chart Dominance

Released on June 17, 1977, by Casablanca Records, Love Gun marked a significant commercial milestone for the American hard rock quartet. The label aggressively shipped one million copies immediately upon release, a move that paid off as the record was quickly certified platinum. This success propelled the album to become Kiss's first entry in the top five of the Billboard 200 chart, solidifying their status at the time. The momentum continued shortly after release when the group recorded three consecutive nights at the LA Forum in late August 1977 to capture material for their second live album, Alive II. This period represented a peak in their mainstream popularity, driven by strong sales figures and widespread public recognition that set them apart from other major rock acts of the era.

Musical Composition and Thematic Origins

The songwriting on Love Gun drew inspiration from diverse sources, ranging from personal accidents to literary themes. Ace Frehley's lead vocal track, 'Shock Me,' was born from a frightening incident during the Rock and Roll Over tour in Lakeland, Florida, where he suffered an electric shock while touching an ungrounded railing, losing feeling in his hand for the remainder of that show. Stanley also aimed to recapture the energy of their classic anthem with 'Tomorrow and Tonight.'

Studio Dynamics and Recording Techniques

The recording process at the Record Plant in May 1977 was characterized by unique production choices and collaborative efforts. In a historic moment for the group's vocal distribution, Frehley recorded his first-ever lead vocal lying on the studio floor after being encouraged by his bandmates to finally step up.

Legacy, Reissues, and Critical Reception

Decades after its initial launch, Love Gun has seen multiple reissues that reflect its enduring place in rock history. The album was remastered for CD in 1997 as part of the Kiss Remasters series and received another deluxe treatment on October 28, 2014. Despite the extensive bonus material, some critics felt the remastering was too clean and noted that certain tracks had not aged well. These reissues serve as a testament to the album's status as a pivotal work containing essential signature songs.

First Lead Vocal and Setlist Additions

A defining characteristic of the Love Gun Tour was the introduction of new vocal duties and songs to the live repertoire. This marked the first time Ace Frehley sang lead vocals on "Shock Me." Additionally, the setlist featured "Calling Dr. Love" for the first time ever. Uniquely, this is the only tour in the band's history to feature "Hooligan," making it a rare piece of live history exclusive to these dates.

Opening Acts and Critical Reception

The tour maintained a consistent support structure with Cheap Trick and Styx serving as the opening acts throughout. Critical reception varied; John Kafentzis of The Spokesman-Review praised the precise choreography and well-planned stunts but criticized the musical monotony, comparing the sound to "the Saturday night rumble of dozens of mufflers on Riverside." He ultimately concluded that the band delivered a show where the audience received their money's worth.

Accidents and Live Recordings

Pre-tour preparations were marred by an incident where Peter Criss was injured when the van carrying equipment and the other members overturned at an airport hangar while preparing to travel to Canada for the first show. Despite this, the tour proceeded to generate significant archival material. The three Los Angeles shows were recorded specifically for the album Alive II, capturing the performance of "Hooligan" and Frehley's lead vocal debut.

Paul Stanley on Hysteria

In the tour program for the band's final tour, Paul Stanley reflected on the intensity of the Love Gun Tour era. He stated that when they played in Japan in the late '70s, nothing could prepare them for the mass hysteria. He noted that being told you are big means little until faced with such a crowd, especially for fans who had never seen the band in their country, making them "that much more rabid" to see them perform.