Wicked Lester- Black Diamond

kiss
wicked lester
peter criss
paul stanley
gene simmons
add annotations
• Wicked Lester- Black D...
any inoprpriate ones will result in removal of this link
ace frehley

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

Paul's decision to give his "Black Diamond" to Peter🎤was brilliant.

[@BNatoAk]

This is wicked Lester apparently 😮

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

​​@@BNatoAk Obviously Paul wrote this song before KISS existed. Even "Deuce". When Ace auditioned on "Deuce" it means, Gene wrote it before KISS. Paul said, he wrote the 🎸intro. Ace had the sound. But Paul and Gene had the vision and the music already in their former band.

[@jacktragic6917]

Ace joining kiss created that loud, electrifying, dark, blistering sound. Without Ace Kiss would not exist as we know them. Even down to e minor tuning. With Ace in there they were taken seriously.Go ACE!!!!!!!

[@12floz67]

E minor tuning? Are you serious?

[@PaulieWalnuts1776]

@@12floz67 I think he meant Eb tuning, a “minor 2” half step down

[@12floz67]

@@PaulieWalnuts1776 I’ve never heard tuning down a half step referred to a minor 2 tuning.

[@eddiemuniz761]

Bob kulick (Bruce’s brother) might have made some musical contributions to songs from the first 2 albums, he auditioned for the band but ace just seemed to click, he played the 2 solos on larger than life on the fourth side of studio tracks on Alive 2.He also played the guitar solo on Move on from Paul’s first solo album!!!!!

[@michelelaraia7358]

Different tonality and not so clean vocality. But I guess it's due to recording. And on purpose, who knows?

[@raynardedwards2433]

That's Peter Criss singing. This is KISS. Probably an early demo

[@besthazegamer]

Agreed

[@ChrisDicksonOhio]

I think Peter joined when they were still called Wicked Lester. Played as a 3 piece. But I think hear Ace

[@bjmombo]

Totally lol

[@maga-hat709]

@@ChrisDicksonOhio Ace is definitely NOT on here.

[@karl-unoisaksson4000]

Definitely Pete!!! Not WL... Love from Sweden 💖

[@romeokid69]

Ok, to clear up anyone's confusion. This is KISS. They HAD INDEED changed their name by this time. No insinuation of Wicked Lester by this time at all.

[@DaveInOCNJ]

God, I love Pete's vocals on this one. I used to love hearing this song live. Just had to post again & say that. :-D

[@watermelon139]

One of the best tunes in this universe, period!!!

[@statman99]

This definitely NOT Wicked Lesater. Their songs were: "Love Her All I Can" (2:28) Stanley "Sweet Ophelia" (2:56) Barry Mann/Gerry Goffin "Keep Me Waiting" (3:04) Stanley "Simple Type" (2:33) Simmons "She" (2:54) Coronel/Simmons "Too Many Mondays" (3:27) Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil "What Happens In the Darkness" (2:59) Tamy Lester Smith "When The Bell Rings" (3:11) Austin Roberts/Christopher Welch "Molly" (aka "Some Other Guy") (2:23) Stanley "We Want To Shout It Out Loud" (2:04) The Hollies The band also recorded a song called "Long, Long Road" that might have made it onto the album. "Black Diamond" came AFTER Ace joined the three previous Wicked Lester members as KISS. Wicked Lester broke up December, 1972. "Black Diamond" was written 11 months LATER in November of 1973, so there is NO WAY Wicked Lester had ANYTHING to do with the song.

[@Aeonblade10]

Black Diamond is probably my favourite Kiss song, but this might be better than the studio version. They sound absolutely angry and on fire here.

[@TheOfficerMahoney]

Great vocals from Peter

[@Nato61]

Very intersting stuff. I was a Kiss fan since 74-75 and only recently learned of the real history of the band. Good stuff. Thanks from RI

[@MelinaBilotti]

This is KISS completely RAW

[@RodBebenek2024]

this is When Peter Joined the Group so No this is Not a Wicked Lester Recording

[@1968spikey]

They were Wicked Lester still, but transitioning when Peter joined. They became Kiss as Ace joined.

[@MikeJones-eo8qz]

@@1968spikey When they were still Wicked Lester, right before the name change and trying to emulate the New York Dolls, they did indeed look like they were transitioning 😂

[@carylawson-le7og]

I don't know what you're talking about.Einstein and I don't think you do either look on the bottom of the album.Cover left hand corner . So get on here and tell everybody what it says

[@jendel42750]

Yeah, this is KISS. By the time they recorded this, they had changed their name to KISS. There's also a decidedly hard edge to this version of "Black Diamond" absent from Wicked Lester's production quality.

[@wclaurence]

One of my favorite KISS songs, featuring both Peter's raspy voice and Ace's smoking guitar.

[@erock.steady]

great version of a great song... and that reprise!

[@РольфКаспарек-п8г]

Excellent!!!

[@rmartin7558]

I like this better than the one that made it on the first record. Ace's solo @ 1:56 is really cool, and Peter's vocal has the power of a live performance.

[@carylawson-le7og]

Exactly.I just now got done texting my son and telling him that I Think this wicked Lester version is the best version of this song out of all of them live studio pre.Kiss, be careful all the different guitar.Players that they've had and drummers , this is the Is coolest version

[@jeremybennett3104]

Um, Ace is on this demo, and this IS KISS

[@angelcrusher420]

Jeremy Bennett Uhm, Peter is also.

[@giiiiooooo]

Jeremy Bennett Wicked Lester was the first name they had before Peter’s idea of KISS.

[@1968spikey]

@@giiiiooooo Paul thought of the name Kiss for the band, after hearing Peter was in a previous band called Lips. They were Wicked Lester still, but transitioning when Peter joined. They became Kiss as Ace joined.

[@mikehatch1967]

Not a big Peter fan at all but he sung his ass off there!

[@jacktragic6917]

Ace solo means it was KISS. Ace created the KISS sound by making it heavy, loud, sonic, and E min. Tuning. Without Ace, no KISS.

[@barryklinedinst6233]

NOBODY Rocks like KISS

[@01artist]

This is way KOOLER than the official release of Black Diamond

[@connerjd]

Good classic Kiss song.

[@tcconnection]

The header says Wicked Lester. Lester was Gene and Paul with other guys that were not Peter and Ace. Glad Paul gave this to Peter to sing, this is one of Peter's better vocals (although hard on the voice box). Hope Peter is doing okay as he recently canceled some stuff.

[@slaghuis]

That’s not Wicked Lester. That’s a KISS demo. Ace and Peter joined after Paul and Gene left/ended Wicked Lester.

[@LesPendens1]

Damn! Peter had a set of pipes on him When they turned him loose I liked his voice as much as Paul's. Especially on the Alive version of Nothing To Lose

[@johnnyrotundo6483]

Peter is my favorite voice in kiss. A smoky, soulful, raspy, motown vibe. Just love it. Gene is my second favorite, then Paul, and Ace God bless his soul can't sing, but he can play a guitar, just like ringing a bell.....

[@DaveInOCNJ]

Thanks for answering my request for this...even if it is 10 months later. Hey, you got me new music quicker than Kiss did! Waiting 10 months is better than waiting 11 years! ;-)

[@TheESCvideos]

This Is a Great Song...

[@JamesSilcox-n5e]

Who cares which band it is it sounds wicked.

[@TheSexydevil94]

i like this song it is the best one that peter criss has ever sung and i rly owe it to him he has got the voice of and rocker and i luv ace frehely's solo on this song as well good band and great members.

[@shanefsr6609]

so far, these Wicked Lester versions are smokin' the Kiss versions, GENE, PAUL, c'mon you money whores, release this,

[@bol.8749]

Peter Criss black diamond best vocals ever from KISS.

[@donaldellis8952]

I have the complete Wicked Lester recordings on a bootlegged import CD from about 25 years ago.

[@raynardedwards2433]

I do like this better than the one on the album

[@listillolordoc7604]

This is off the first KISS demo. That is Peter Criss on vocals and Ace on guitar. Those two guys weren't in Wicked Lester.

[@rocknrolla12992]

@vjshecko9 no they werent, paul and gene were, when the band didnt land a deal paul and gene quit. they found peter through an add he placed in rolling stone and then ace came along later when he auditioned for the band

[@MonicaWarden]

You can change the name of the video, you do not need subtitles paste

[@mrpoltergeist8985]

This Is Only The Black Diamond DEMO FROM 1973 (KISS NOT WICKED LESTER)

[@n2112bytor2112p]

@salamonetalton Peter was in wicked lester, then ace joined for a little bit then they changed the band to kiss

[@I-Libertine]

😂 Wrong.

[@tonymich291]

Yeah that’s Ace is the early days.. and Peter signing..so no Wicked Lester

[@eltoro969]

Wicked Lester continued as a trio w Peter on drums. But this recording is a KISS demo included on a WL bootleg.

[@290Wolf]

I LOVE ACE FREHLEY!!!I AM POLISH!!! ^^

[@jacktragic6917]

Jin kuya

[@BNatoAk]

This is Peter singing so how da hell is this wicked lester?? Dum Dum

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

Gene and Paul worked with Peter already before they found Ace. KISS didn't exist yet. Ace said, he never played in Wicked Lester. Peter obviously did.

[@vincentrobinson9325]

🤘🏻🙂

[@MrGordonLiddy]

It doesn't have the other guys from Wicked Lester on it, hence the lack of unnecessary instruments. lol

[@markfoster1520]

"Hey! I studied clarinet, & I'm playing clarinet!"

[@TheMrdavidlangley]

Really bad mistake. This is not Wicked Lester. It's KISS. Holy moly, it's all good.

[@deuce1231]

To those who say it's not Wicked Lester becasue Peter Criss is on it, that's not correct. When Peter joined Paul and Gene, they still called themselves Wicked Lester, but they never did more than rehearse while using that name. This isn't Wicked Lester simply because it just isn't Wicked Lester, it's KISS. This is from the oringnal KISS demo. Ace had obviously already joined by this time.

[@FilGee100]

@wolfpack9601 Yep this is the Demo version of Black Diamond by KISS. Wicked Lester had long since desolved when they recorded this. And the comment about "Who Messed With This" your right i agree the mastering on the final release is crap compaired to the sound on this one. They should have messed with it less. This sounds more Live than the album release.

[@ericksuarezb.5994]

well, this demo belongs already to "kiss", not "wicked lester", because there are peter criss and ace frehley already on it

[@violentshemp7776]

peter was in w/l? really? i'm doubting this

[@aceenterprise]

I don't believe this is Wicked Lester, I think this is an early recording of KISS. Peter and Ace were not a part of Wicked Lester, as far as I know.

[@Kalivath]

Would someone please tell the venue that wicked Lester played alot. I can't remember for the life of me....yes I know I'm ashamed that I have forgotten but I know it was mentioned on Xtreme close up but in order to watch it I'd have to buy a vhs player.....to hell with that I know there is kiss army member out here that can help me find relief from this brain fart....

[@geraldjuvejr.6171]

My favorite version is the Double Platinum version.

[@I-Libertine]

This isn't Wicked Lester. This is a Kiss demo from Electric Ladyland. Peter, singing vocals here, wasn't in Wicked Lester.

[@grandeline]

classic kiss! all original!

[@HSR107]

This isn't Wicked Lester. It's a KISS demo. Peter and Ace never played in Wicked Lester; just Paul and Gene using their real names. And this is Peter singing and Ace playing guitar. The only Wicked Lester song used for KISS was "She" which is available on KZbin.

[@aceenterprise]

Love her all I can was also recorded by Wicked Lester, I believe. Not sure if there were others. And the title "Shout it out loud" was used by Wicked Lester as well, I think, but it was a completely different song.

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

"Goin' Blind" (🎸Steve Coronel ✍️Gene) was a Wicked Lester song too. "Deuce" must also have existed before KISS. Because Ace auditioned on "Deuce". And he played another two songs. But he didn't remember which. Maybe "Firehouse"? It shows how much Paul and Gene were the creators of KISS. Before Peter and Ace brought the sound they had in mind.

[@laurametheny1008]

Wow🤘🏼🖤

[@darrenchester7]

Ace Frehley and Peter Criss were not in Wicked Lester. Period.

[@lester5192]

@sthrnsqrl1 i am now contacting youtube officials, my lawyer and the media.

[@KB_Joys]

😄

[@1968spikey]

I would write a strongly worded letter to your local Mayor too! It's nothing short of scandalous!!

[@sthrnsqrl1]

@lester5192 Dude...>Who do you think KISS is? Gene and Paul formed Wicked Lester, and morphed into KISS Later!

[@robertcubinelli4961]

KISS. Period.

[@murderone187]

Wait... so this isn't Wicked Lester? So the video lied?

[@LostSoulAscension]

nah dawg... its kinda obvious... and if you look at the picture its as if its a combination of the wicked lester and kiss demos or somthing... but yeah, its not wicked lester

[@mrpoltergeist8985]

yes

[@sticksbass]

they didnt think of kiss until sometime after peter joined. i heard peters former band called lips gave paul the idea of kiss.

[@eronacalloway9159]

Kill Switch....Wicked Lester had a different Drummer and 2’nd Guitarist.

[@1968spikey]

@@sticksbass Paul thought of the name Kiss for the band, after hearing Peter was in a previous band called Lips. They were Wicked Lester still, but transitioning when Peter joined. They became Kiss as Ace joined.

[@matlocksd]

This song is sung by Peter, never a member of wicked lester! Get your shit right!

[@Cexiezz1]

are you stup1d? wicked lester was the first name of Kiss

[@FestivalzChannel]

@@jamesmilardo5694 Ace said himself he met gene and paul when they already broke up with wicket lester....

[@matlocksd]

@@Cexiezz1 Wicked Lester was a band that Gene and Paul were members of. Ace and Peter had nothing to do with it!

[@Cexiezz1]

@@matlocksd exactly , ace And Peter joined the group after Wicked lester

[@matlocksd]

@@Cexiezz1 Thanks. I knew I wasn't stupid. Been a KISS fan since 1975.

[@smokesletsgo2374]

Whoever this is, it's much better than the album version

[@4c3fr3h1y]

Lol wicked lester is kiss. Just under the old name before they became kiss

[@jerry.woodard9230]

wicked lester only had one album it was 1972 and only paul and gene was in wicked lest then in 1973 they became kiss their first three albums flopped

[@TimothyWarner-q7s]

Dam right Ace and his guitar playing made kiss

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

Ace had the sound that Paul wanted to hear. He played what Gene and Paul composed. Paul wrote🎸the beginning of "Deuce" and many KISS songs on his 🎸guitar. Paul's 🎸playing was the engine of KISS. Ace perfected the sound.

[@markgrant1302]

Not wicked lester, this is the kiss demo with Eddie Kramer.

[@Whisper-1-y6z]

this is kiss

[@SidV76]

Wicked Lester? I thought that Peter Criss joined the band, after they changed name to Kiss.

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

No, Peter came to Paul and Gene BEFORE they found Ace. And before they were KISS.

[@ernestosamueldominguezgarc5416]

EN WICKED LESTER . NO ESTABA PETER NI ACE . ESTE ES UN DEMO DEL PRIMERO DE KISS

[@Snydco]

sorry this isn't wicked lester - peter criss on vocals here and he wasn't in that band - sounds like a early kiss demo

[@PedroLopezBeanEater]

Not Wicked Lester. This was Kiss.

[@Ghostrider10xx]

Kiss was never part of wicked Lester. Wicked lister was before ace or peter

[@RSLucky204]

Not Wicket Lester, but still very early Kiss.

[@Mssmaimone]

Is this Wicked Lester? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@Auradorock]

Porra isso é muito raro véi. Foda demais

[@GeorgeFrehley]

que version tan cruda, esta de poca madre...

[@TheHighwinder]

Criss wasn't much of a drummer (like at all, really) but the dude was the most powerful singer in the band's history.

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

Peter's "Black Diamond" is absolutely "his" song! But for "Strutter" and "Detroit Rock City" e.g. he was the wrong vocalist. (Compared to Peter's concert in 1994).

[@benjaminmichaels4347]

Was this only peter,paul and gene and not ace frehley

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

They must have used a studio guitarist 🎸before they found Ace.

[@incubus4678]

Note Peter was not in wicked lester

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

Only Ace said, he never played in Wicked Lester. But Peter worked with Gene and Paul already before Ace came in. Peter was in Paul's and Gene's band.

[@incubus4678]

@HappyMachorino-bd8no both Peter and Ace had nothing to do with wicked lester

[@longliverockroll3418]

isso é um demo

[@DB-kl9bp]

Peter was never in Wicked Lester, this is Kiss so the video title is bull.

[@funhere1]

This is a KISS demo, not Wicked Lester.

[@samuelmauldin9131]

peter was in chelsea at the time this was done

[@mightyminx6653]

I dont think Peter Criss was in wicked Lester.

[@saint7370]

NOT Wicked lester c’mon

[@lastcall170]

It's KISS HERE NOT WICKED LESTER

[@hottentots1]

It is WL....I can tell

[@XDmelissaleeXD]

i love peter

[@Geerladenlad]

This is Kiss not Wicked Lester!!

[@JamesBumbalough-jv8gv]

This wasn't wicked lester. Peter and Ace weren't in wicked lester.

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

Paul and Gene worked with Peter before they found Ace. Ace said, he never played in Wicked Lester. But Peter did.

[@Mr8bitgamer]

Is this realy the Wicked Lester verion?

[@dkyelak]

This is KISS. Go listen to Wicked Lester's version of SHE. That is scary.

[@joussefc.j.overmaat3994]

In Fact It's Their Best 'She' Version I Ever Heard In 40 years!

[@HappyMachorino-bd8no]

The Wicked Lester "She" is absolutely the most beautiful version. The KISS version rocks💥 But Peter's vocals🎤are too aggressive. As if he hates the Lady. Paul should have sung "She" in KISS too. He had more magic🎤.

[@ludasaci]

This is not Wicked Lester.

[@martywhite1084]

Gee didn’t know Wicked Lester did this. No wonder it’s a turd.

[@tommyboyindy1157]

That’s Peter Criss - the best singer Kiss ever had.

[@stavroskourtalischannel3334]

Thats KISS

[@mukvid]

Sounds like Peter Criss though . . .still

[@jessoverton2555]

Muĸiŧ Ari it's Criss

[@T.kazuya]

Peter ?

[@erikarossi9784]

KISS was called Wicked Lester before they changed their name to KISS

[@johncounts3390]

NO Gene and Paul were in wicked Lester. They fired everyone after their album was done, never released it, never toured and went looking for a drummer and guitarist and eventually became KISS

[@rickgoodwin2892]

John Counts Erika is right they formed as Wicked Lester then changed to KISS. Frehley joined around Christmas 1972 just weeks before the band changed the name to KISS. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_Lester

[@rickgoodwin2892]

John Counts I doubt that this was a WL recording from the few weeks that the Kiss lineup still called themselves Wicked Lester.... I'd love to hear some of those first rehearsals prior to the new name.

[@johncounts3390]

Rick Goodwin KZbin it. There are a lot of WL era songs uploaded there.

[@Goryptor]

+Erika Rossi Lol, it´s funny how even nowadays, when people can look up all the necessary information they need, some them spread plain nonsense. To put some light into this matter, this is the first demo of KISS produced by Eddie Kramer recorded prior to their first official LP. This is Paul, Gene, Peter and Ace. If you can´t tell it´s them by their absolutely signature contributions to this very song, then you better never comment on a KISS video with an "enlightening" attitude.

[@lester5192]

@sthrnsqrl1 you wanna get sued?

[@alfonsorodrigueznieto8078]

This is not Wicked lester