Hotter than Hell Tour

For the Dua Lipa tour of the same name, see Dua Lipa § Tours.

The Hotter than Hell Tour was the second tour of the American rock band Kiss. The tour featured songs from their first album and their newly released second album, Hotter than Hell, which was the album that the tour was in support of. During this tour, the band used fire and the destruction of guitars as part of their show. The January 31, 1975, show in San Francisco was filmed and later made available for public viewing.

Hotter than Hell Tour

Promotional tour by Kiss
Associated album	Hotter than Hell
Start date	October 17, 1974 (1974-10-17)
End date	February 22, 1975 (1975-02-22)
No. of shows	51
Kiss concert chronology

In the tour program for the band's final tour, Stanley reflected on the tour:

Touring in the early days was both grueling and great. I think we were getting paid sixty dollars a week but we felt we were living the dream. We were a rock band in a rented station wagon but it was really exciting. We felt we were on a mission and were on the road to glory. We were a gang of people on a crusade who believed in something and were willing to do anything to promote it. There was a tremendous camaraderie in the band in spite of our differences and the people around us shared that passion.

Reception

Two local reporters from MSU State News and State Journal who attended the October 21 and 22, 1974, performances had given the sold out performances positive reviews, noting that their overall show was good, the music tight, and their musicianship excellent. Although mixed on the costume designs, the reviewers cited the high energy from the audience attending the performances and the band's rising popularity in Detroit.

Following the London, Ontario, Canada, performance, a reporter from London Free Press had given the performance a mixed review, stating: "Kiss is a tight well rehearsed band with some excellent musical ideas. Unfortunately, the ability to hear any of this is lost in the incredible amount of distortion which is created by Kiss' pain-inducing volume level. Kiss has something to offer musically but the glitter and whiteface is on its way out and if the group is to remain alive, it must change and face the future that one of its members is supposed to represent."

Setlist

1. "Deuce"
2. "Strutter"
3. "Got to Choose"
4. "Hotter than Hell"
5. "Firehouse"
6. "She" (with guitar solo)
7. "Watchin' You"
8. "Nothin' to Lose"
9. "Strange Ways"
10. "Parasite"
11. "100,000 Years" (with bass solo and drum solo)
12. "Black Diamond"

Encore

13. "Cold Gin"
14. "Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll"

Tour dates

Date	City	Country	Venue	Support Act(s)
October 17, 1974	Comstock Park	United States	Thunder Chicken	—
October 18, 1974	Hammond		Parthenon Theater
October 19, 1974	Toledo		Valentine Theatre	The Rockets
October 21, 1974	Lansing		Brewery	—
October 22, 1974
October 25, 1974	Passaic		Capitol Theatre	Golden Earring John Hammond
October 27, 1974	Youngstown		Tomorrow Club	Cannonball
October 30, 1974	Columbus		Agora Ballroom	If
October 31, 1974	Peru		Peru Circus Arena	Thompson's Machine Gun
November 2, 1974	Des Plaines		Maine West High School	Smokehouse
November 3, 1974	Duluth		Duluth Arena	Dr. John Easy Steam
November 7, 1974	St. Louis		Kiel Auditorium	Heartsfield T-Rex Neil Merryweather and the Space Rangers
November 8, 1974	Chicago		Aragon Ballroom	UFO T-Rex
November 10, 1974	University Center		Pioneer Gymnasium	Skyhook
November 12, 1974	Minot		Minot Municipal Auditorium	Clowns
November 16, 1974	Asbury Park		Sunshine Inn	Mercury Fantasy
November 21, 1974	Cedar Rapids		Cedar Rapids Memorial Coliseum	Foghat
November 23, 1974	Atlanta		Alexander Memorial Coliseum	Black Oak Arkansas James Montgomery
November 27, 1974	Greenville		Greenville Memorial Auditorium
November 28, 1974	Charlotte		Charlotte Coliseum
November 29, 1974	Charleston		Gaillard Municipal Auditorium
November 30, 1974	Fayetteville		Cumberland County Memorial Arena
December 6, 1974	Bowling Green		Van Meter Auditorium	—
December 8, 1974	Evansville		Roberts Municipal Stadium	ZZ Top Point Blank
December 10, 1974	Davenport		Palmer Auditorium
December 12, 1974	Flint		IMA Auditorium	ZZ Top
December 13, 1974	La Crosse		Mary E. Sawyer Auditorium	Eddie Boy
December 18, 1974	La Porte		La Porte Armory	Scream
December 20, 1974	Detroit		Michigan Palace	Rush Fancy
December 21, 1974
December 22, 1974	London	Canada	London Gardens	Joe DJ Ronny Legge
December 23, 1974	Wilkes-Barre	United States	Paramount Theater	Kenny Kramer
December 27, 1974	Fort Wayne		Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	REO Speedwagon Quicksilver Messenger Service
December 28, 1974	Indianapolis		Indiana Convention Center	REO Speedwagon Quicksilver Messenger Service Hydra
December 29, 1974	South Bend		Morris Civic Auditorium	Quicksilver Messenger Service Hydra
December 30, 1974	Springfield		Illinois State Armory	Mike Quatro
December 31, 1974	Evansville		Evansville Coliseum	Raspberries
January 7, 1975	Lethbridge	Canada	Lethbridge Pavilion	—
January 9, 1975	Vancouver		Commodore Ballroom	Sam Hurrie
January 10, 1975	Portland	United States	Paramount Theater	Ballin' Jack
January 11, 1975	Medford		Medford Armory	Arosa
January 12, 1975	Seattle		Paramount Theatre	Ballin' Jack
January 17, 1975	Long Beach		Long Beach Arena	Wishbone Ash Camel
January 18, 1975	San Bernardino		Swing Auditorium	ZZ Top
January 19, 1975	San Diego		San Diego Civic Theater	Wishbone Ash Camel
January 26, 1975	Fresno		Selland Arena	ZZ Top Wishbone Ash
January 31, 1975	San Francisco		Winterland Ballroom	Eli Third Rail
February 1, 1975	Santa Monica		Santa Monica Civic Auditorium	Jo Jo Gunne Yesterday & Today
February 20, 1975	St. Louis		Kiel Auditorium	Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel The Road Crew
February 21, 1975	Chicago		Aragon Ballroom	James Gang Man
February 22, 1975	Schererville		Omni 41	James Gang Pez

Personnel

• Paul Stanley – vocals, rhythm guitar
• Gene Simmons – vocals, bass
• Peter Criss – drums, vocals
• Ace Frehley – lead guitar, backing vocals

References

Bibliography

• Gooch, Curt; Suhs, Jeff (2002). Kiss Alive Forever: The Complete Touring History. New York: Billboard Books. ISBN 0-8230-8322-5.