KISS Plays Portland - 1977 | KATU In The Archives

In August 1977, KISS played at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. KATU interviewed the band backstage.
Captured from original 3/4" master tape.
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[@leokimvideo]

The PRIME time to see Kiss, the best lineup, the best stage, the best song lists. This is Kiss at their absolute peak

[@3hooks781]

Absolutely

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

Nahhh. That would have been the ALIVE tour

[@surfsup5757]

The golden years. The real KISS years.

[@hevemetal1173]

Yes indeed👍

[@AlmostReady504]

Yep. When Kiss was KISS . And the petty bitching has already started. As they start walking Paul says he's covered up as in HE can't be seen by Peter's head of hair. The animosity had begun

[@javtimestwo]

74-77 were the best Kiss years. Once '78 arrived, 4 solo albums, Peter drunk/high and not appearing on the albums, etc..

[@chrisoakley5830]

​@@javtimestwoYes,it's really sad to think that out of 50 years of existence, there were only 3 or 4 years that were really good.

[@theversmiss4414]

@@AlmostReady504 it began with the addictions of the two plumbers

[@alinvain1964]

The thing that struck me first is the pristine condition of this video tape from 45 years ago! Wow!

[@ShiftaelV2]

They probably only used it the one time it was aired, then probably kept it somewhere safe and dark for decades.

[@JohnLesniewski-np7jg]

This clip has been around for many years actually, on the old VHS trading circuit.

[@anti7928]

This is the KISS i grew up with and loved...

[@hevemetal1173]

You are absolutely correct

[@bryanfreese5155]

When I was a kid in the late 70's my babysitter would put on KISS albums. She would do her homework, and I would stare at the album covers. I couldn't believe to what I was listening to.

[@metalrager66]

Now that's some good baby sitting.

[@ArenaRockPhotos]

I was at this show, my first concert at 13. Cheap Trick opened. I still have my ticket stub, price was $7.50!

[@curtg7396]

Same here,1977 Memorial Colosseum,my dad had to take me to the show because I was too young to go alone.The whole place smelled like weed.

[@brucecunningham6637]

was there too.

[@daddylogan]

My first time seeing KISS and I still have my stubs also - but did you notice the footage they show is NOT from the August 13th show in Portland becasue KISS had their Destroyer stage that night...and was just days away from revealing the Love Gun stage. Do you remember that? However the backstage footage or interview was from that day/night.

[@bartonpercival3216]

Yup me too. Was lucky to see them in San Francisco on August 16th 1977 at the Cow Palace. Paul Stanley told all 14,500 fans that Elvis had passed away. Cheap Trick opened the show. Great concert. Tickets were only $6.50 in advance $7.50 day of the show!!!!!!!! 👍😱

[@shadcovert1160]

Was it the year before this or after this that the Portland show got cancelled due to the mayor not wanting pyro or something?!

[@LetsGoThere]

That was their best stage setup

[@DJMustang722]

I saw this exact segment on tv. I was 12 and already a rabid KISS nut, but I was too young to go see them at this show. It was my last chance to see the original make-up days line up because, I got tickets to see them 2 years later for the Dynasty tour but the f'n fire marshall said they could play but they couldnt use any fire effects. As a result, KISS canceled that show. They broke up shortly after that. Fast forward 13 years, and I was 2nd row at the Revenge show. It was great, but I still felt ripped off, not being able to see the original make-up line up. Miracles DO happen! The impossible happened, and they reunited in 1996! I saw that show (from nosebleed seats), and it was great. I finally got to (barely) see the original guys play. Fast forward to 2001. The "Farewell Tour". FINALLY! 4th row in front of Paul. My dreams of seeing KISS up close and personal was happening! Amazing show! I could die happy after that! 25 years after I got my first KISS record (ALIVE!), I finally got to see my rock and roll heroes play all my favorites so close i could almost reach out and touch them. I've seen them a couple of times since then, but nothing will ever top the 2001 show for me. Everyone gives them crap for continuing on after the "Farewell Tour", but (at least for me) it was truly a farewell to the original line up as i wasnt able to see the Psycho Circus tour. Great band and great memories! YOU WANTED THE BEST, YOU GOT THE BEST! THE HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD....KISS!!!

[@thomwatson4263]

I was at that ‘96 show too!

[@EB1878]

Me too. I was extremely fortunate to see Kiss in 96' ( a long time dream come true as it had been rumored they'd never put the makeup back on and the original members would never reunite). Then I was lucky enough to see them a second time for their Farewell tour on Gene's birthday, Aug. 25th, 2000. Both concerts were excellent. I absolutely loved donning the Kiss makeup and costume, which took me five months to design. I also enjoyed meeting fellow Kiss Army members (both first and second generations). Had a blast at both concerts. I got to see my rock heroes at long last. I never seen them after Peter and Ace left. A part of me felt it wasn't the same magic nor the nostalgia of the original four. This video is a real treasure. Thank you so much for sharing this news segment of Kiss in their heyday. I loved seeing this. 😊

[@ronsilvia8127]

This was when the fans actually cared about kiss and kiss actually cared about the fans.The most magical of times.🤘🤘🤘

[@alexkx8599]

What do you mean?!

[@ronsilvia8127]

@@alexkx8599 If you have to ask that question. It's obvious you would not understand the answer.

[@alexkx8599]

@@ronsilvia8127 Aw, thankfully they grew into a franchise to be reckoned with! 😃

[@Sal-gh1se]

@@ronsilvia8127 “I’m just talking out of my ass” Yeah… we know.

[@comatoo]

I grew up in Portland and we didn't get to see them again until decades later because they pretty much were banned for burning the ceiling of the Coliseum on that show

[@stephenbrady7310]

Had tickets to the 1979 cancelled show, still bitter about it!

[@davehenry7262]

When I was a kid in the mid-late 70's, I started to get into music. I didn't have an older sibling to throw me a Zeppelin or Sabbath album, so I pretty much started exploring on my own. All I had for a frame of reference was American Bandstand every Saturday afternoon. I started buying 45's at the local department store. I had Bee Gees, Bay City Rollers, Elton John and on and on. Then, my friend Mark handed me this album he had just bought. I was stunned at what I was looking at. Then he put it on his turntable and I was in another world that until right then, I didn't even know existed. The album was KISS Alive! As soon as I had enough allowance money saved up, I bought Alive! and I was off to the races. You had to be a kid in small town in the mid-late 70's for this to really make perfect sense, but hopefully someone reading this will understand.

[@jefflanham1080]

I know EXACTLY how you feel!!

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

I saved my allowance money and bought ALIVE! 2 weeks after I got my first rock n roll record which was ALIVE 2. Spring of 78

[@KISStributeNYC97]

Wow! This was awesome. You think you’ve seen it all, and then you see this! Thank you!!!

[@KISStributeNYC97]

Any b-roll to see?

[@chasing_dragons]

August 13, 1977 Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon. This is God wonderful precious video footage. Thank you so much and God bless you a million times for posting this. Concert video is a historical document that must be protected and provided for people for so many reasons.

[@jameshughes6049]

Paul's voice was so different. Deeper & still had his NYC accent.

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

He wasn't the trained speaker yet that he later became.

[@azzamzamzam1822]

"The golden age of the true and great KISS"

[@rolandoflores7626]

Awesome footage!! Thanks so much, but we want more of this era🤘🏻🎸🔥

[@wjmg2]

I glad i saw them back when they did the reunion tour in 1996. They where good that night i saw them.

[@mungofinalfi4480]

*were

[@wjmg2]

Philly@@mungofinalfi4480

[@souettequinn4663]

And the burning question in 2022 continues to be "How long can they keep up this crazy pace?!"

[@tt55899]

As long as the money and lip sync technology keeps going

[@kirklothert3435]

I was born in 1975 & still wish I could've been born sooner so I could've seen the original lineup of KISS during their hay days

[@GaryGoRound-to7ld]

I was born in 1971 ..I always say I wish I were born 20 yrs earlier

[@kirklothert3435]

@@GaryGoRound-to7ld... I know right?

[@Burnedtoastify]

The first reunion tour (1996) was pretty damn close...

[@ACDZ123]

​@GaryGoRound-to7ld lucky your born in 71 otherwise you'd be 71 literally

[@puterio034]

At their prime, long live the originals...

[@BNatoAk]

Never seen this before, great job 👏

[@CamperKev]

it's 1977 and he asks how long can they keep up this pace ? It's now 2023 and Kiss is still rocking. 😁

[@Mork2001]

Sponsored by Geritol no doubt 😂😂

[@8177Lr]

Yeeeeeeeah i guess lol it hasn't been the same since the 87 ish tho.

[@vw64manyrd]

Thank you for this nugget of history. 👍

[@kevinkaatz883]

What a great time to b a rockstar

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

"The question is, how long can they keep up this crazy pace?" Not long at all!

[@NoBody-yy8rk]

His makeup at the end ROCKED!

[@dennisperin2989]

That is outstanding…must of been at the Memorial Coliseum .

[@randallfloyd4476]

that's what the description says.

[@daddylogan]

The concert footage is not at Memorial...but the interviews and backstage footage are.

[@manueldealmeida9892]

So basically some reporters and media could see their real faces but with enough respect not to show their real faces to general public. Dude...definitely those were different times. Definitely those moments when social media didnt exist and people focus on the real things. Mad respect to that era.

[@lethrbear32]

I remember this!! I was too young to go, but I have friends that were there.

[@OneMan-wl1wj]

Though I get the comments this being their peak (stage/songs/costumes), etc, I'm going to go with 75 by far. The midnight special KISS was KISS.

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

ALIVE! was their peak for me

[@ricardodsavant2965]

Back when Portland was a great place.

[@BNatoAk]

Agreed!

[@ricardodsavant2965]

@@BNatoAk = 🤘

[@chrisoakley5830]

Back when America was a great place.

[@prvzmalek]

Wow this is the earliest ive ever heard the reference to Metal. 1977!

[@jakejp74]

Thank you for the rare footage

[@Living4JC]

KISS in their heyglory days!

[@dexterjankaren]

The difference between KISS's first album and Love Gun is huge and they say it's only four years. That trips me out.

[@Strive1324L]

This was the top of the rollercoaster for the group. Before the rough times.

[@davidmatela9868]

THE REAL KISS PETER PAUL GENE ACE 🔥

[@BASSVIOLATOR]

The Real KISS is still incredible .

[@jasonking6510]

Kiss has turned into a business. They lost their roots. 70s was magical.

[@benjaminbaird9303]

This was THE TOUR

[@mikerivera7509]

Excellent video

[@erikmanzano8144]

How long can they keep this pace…oh about 50 years!🤟🏼

[@Peter-uy7gd]

Monster hardcore metal rock 'n' roll

[@thefonzkiss]

They absolutely weren’t number one touring band in Australia in 1977, they didn’t go there until 1980!

[@giulianobreda8111]

In 1977 KISS was number one in the world

[@miketulino6941]

Hey Fonz how's that kid you ended up adopting? He's gotta be like 70 years old now

[@thefonzkiss]

@@giulianobreda8111 not even close. Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, the list goes on.

[@bloodymary3008]

Jimi Hendrix will always be the greatest & 60's Creem with Eric Clapton is way better than KISS 💋 so is 60's Psychedelic Rock

[@giulianobreda8111]

@@thefonzkiss yes, but kiss was a fenomenum

[@elevensbest]

I was there! Memorial Coliseum. I think The Geils Band opened (not sure why they made the infinitesimal swich in their name). Covered in confetti by show’s end, I scraped it all off when I got home and kept it in a shot glass in my bedroom for years.

[@shannonjones3714]

I was in grade school and wanted to see this so bad. It sold out quickly and then the next time they came back we had tickets but the fire marshal wouldn’t let them play. Heartbreaking to say the least!

[@RobertIvanko]

Great, Thanx KATU

[@jonromanovich2371]

Love Gene's costume/non stud variation of the LG/Alive II suit

[@rumginray]

I was there!

[@kapuda9364]

@1:02 Gene telling Ace out the damn beer down lol....

[@tambor76]

Ace is like "fuck you curly".

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

Gene wanted to keep it clean

[@jimilove7773]

Opening of band going onstage magic!

[@jsngallery]

they're at the top of their game here...good time to make a tv movie

[@therick77]

1:35, Peter caught on camera without makeup.

[@MondoMiami]

Wow. Good eye!!!!

[@rocknjbindad3707]

I was at that gig, August 13th, 1977

[@sandytinky]

Gene's dragon heads looked like hell! They couldn't afford to replace them?

[@97warlock]

the apitome of todays monster hardcore Metal rock n roll.

[@jimbo0411]

Wow def on Pro Shot film. I wish there was something like this of Ozzy and Randy Rhoads in 81,82 other than all the stuff that's been out recently in the Ozzy box sets.

[@robsingletary2383]

Awesome

[@daddylogan]

Just as a side note - the *concert* footage is NOT from the actual concert which was on August 13, 1977 at the Memorial Coliseum and Cheap Trick opened the show. How do I know? I was there and still have my ticket stubs. When KISS played that night they were just mere days from revealing the new stage show. That night in Portland they still had the "Destroyer" tour stage and the footage you show was the "Love Gun" tour stage. I believe they revealed the new stage on August 20th, 1977 at the Cow Palace (SF).

[@bartonpercival3216]

Nope, it was August 16th 1977 at the Cow Palace. It was the night Paul Stanley told all 14,500 fans that Elvis had passed away. Cheap Trick was the opening act and tickets were $6.50 in advance & $7.50 day of the show. I was there with my brother. Great show

[@daddylogan]

@@bartonpercival3216 I believe there was TWO Cow Palace dates. One on the 16th in Daly City and one on the 20th in SF. I never knew there was 2 Cow Palaces, but that is what their tour schedule says? Regardless - like I said - the Portland show still had the Destroyer stage so those clips are NOT from the Portland show. Only the backstage footage or interview.

[@bartonpercival3216]

@@daddylogan There's only 1 Cow Palace in San Francisco and after the Cow Palace show on the 16th, they either played in Fresno, CA or went down to Southern CA to play 2 shows at the Forum in Inglewood. There's a video on KZbin that shows all their western swing tour dates and there's only 1 show in San Francisco/Daly City at the Cow Palace

[@lovegun1414]

What drugs were you on?!?! The Lovegun Stage was completed in June 1977. The basic stage was used in Japan April 77 with destroyer costumes. Later the back elevators were added. You are saying that there were 18 shows before the Portland date (2 of which I attended in July.) that were Lovegun stage, and then for ONE night they shipped the Destroyer stage for Aug 13 and wore the Lovegun costumes??? LMFAO No tour notes, no online fan minutia, no record of it whatsoever except for you? Look up any CanAm '77 tour photo, including Portland Aug 13 and it is the Lovegun stage. Mid August is "mere days before revealing the new stage" "introduced at the CowPalace"..LOL What a load of BS

[@daddylogan]

@@lovegun1414 No drugs here. I was at the freaking show...were you? It was NOT the Love Gun stage at Memorial Coliseum that evening...for whatever reason. Like I said, still have my ticket stubs to prove I was there and Cheap Trick opened the show. Maybe there was a scheduling situation in which they sent the new set ahead to a venue and used the old set in Portland that night? Even the program book I bought that night (which I still have) was the Destroyer Program. If I could post the pictures here, I would.

[@stevenimeson902]

Wow amazing quality footage! I’d love to see more ! Too bad more news stations didn’t get their cameras in and film more awesome concerts

[@lovegun2112]

Most news crews film a lot, maybe like 20 min worth or more of concert footage but the news piece is only 2 and a half min so unfortunately most of the cool live shots get trashed.

[@vielmaleo1970]

August 13, 1977.

[@Whoknowslows]

Epitome of todays Monster hardcore metal rock and roll

[@zee3499]

Gene in his "soft" Love Gun outfit. Very interesting.

[@robertnobody]

At 0:03 Peter Criss takes offense to something Paul Stanley said as they walk down the hall....lol.

[@fredgarvin7613]

Ah, the glory days. Third night in a row. Spokane, Seattle, and Portland.

[@Chrisdrumz]

I have NO idea what Peter said in that interview 🤣

[@billjannusch]

Aw man. Killer!!!!!

[@whataboutrob442]

They never toured Australia until 1980, yet they say they did in this clip. Management

[@unyum]

Kickass!!!!\,,/

[@markdwighttadina7655]

KISS was and always be Gene, Paul, Ace, and Peter. Their 2000 Farewell Tour was the real End of the World Tour

[@johnnyringo9759]

Ace was drinking beer in the hallway!!

[@luxdico]

and then came ... the elder

[@Monarchist94]

A great record

[@bloodymary3008]

Ohh my 😯 how the mighty have fallen !!

[@johnharvey5381]

I'm surprised they don't have a cereal.

[@UncleChud]

I was in the kiss army then

[@a.robertdyk9691]

KATU Reporters were way outta their league at the time

[@Kissfan96dr]

I wonder what they're reaction would have been had someone told them they'd still be touring in 2023.

[@guitarzan2626]

I love bubble gum music

[@Kuromi949]

Paul and gene are getting close on the camera 0:56

[@cruzwayne9883]

do you have full show

[@martinpatrick9915]

Portland the home of the present guitarist Tommy Thayer.

[@MondoMiami]

How does his head fit into one city?

[@DrSleep-ep6cw]

I stole your weed, I stole your weed, I stole your weeed!! 😆

[@QuinStifler]

"The epitomy of today's monster hardcore Metal rock 'n' roll." didn't age too well, now did it? 🎸🎶🎵💥⚡🤘🏿🤘🏽🤘👹🤘🤘🏽🤘🏿⚡💥🎵🎶🎸

[@ACEDIAMOND666]

I'm sure Tommy Thayer was in the nosebleeds.

[@MShep-mh5xo]

Hardcore metal haha

[@ryanmiller1569]

for those that appreciate marketing more than music, there’s KI$$!!

[@97warlock]

the haters are still out there in 2024 .......Just today a guy told me "Kiss were nothing more than a 3 chord noise makers trhat ripped off Alice Coopers makeup & appeals to kids" ...I just told him You sound as if you listened to them for 30 seconds & thats what you base your opinion off of,. you cant reason with them. Its like a democrat tryin to explain something to a republican, niether one sees the other sides concerns, because both sides watch completely different news.

[@PlayStation1Purist]

Chiam & Sync Stanley 😂😅cheat fans

[@Crazyjimbo1906]

Lol his make up looks so bad at the end

[@Tyln93]

🤮🤮🤮

[@wadeadams4263]

KISS IS NOT METAL

[@carmichael3594]

Kiss ripped off the new York dolls

[@MENFUSSMIKE]

And who did The Dolls rip off?

[@BNatoAk]

Hahaha ya they look and sound just like them 🙄

[@ajjy1110]

nothing like them

[@Monarchist94]

The real KISS!

[@mrski749]

45 years later still look the same still sound the same....yawn ...

[@chrisoakley5830]

Great comment, Kiss should have ended 20 years ago.

[@jeffkunkle1558]

I was there!

[@billshank6266]

1:35 check this out, Peter got into frame without makeup