By Jordan West
Photos by Ron Lyon
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the sold-out show featuring KISS at Anaheim Stadium, the home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hosted a KISS-themed evening featuring an appearance and ceremonial first pitch by the band’s founding members — Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. The Angels played against the Kansas City Royals, and won the game for the hometown crowd, 1-0. Aside from the game, it was a night of all things KISS, including KISS-themed in-stadium entertainment, such as KISS music played throughout the evening, giveaways, a live band performing KISS songs, and a post-game KISS-themed fireworks show.
The highlight, of course, was the appearance of Simmons and Stanley, who both threw out ceremonial first balls and were there to promote the release of their upcoming live album box set, KISS Destroys Anaheim ’76 — recorded here in 1976. After a few warmup pitches, Simmons and Stanley each took a spot at the pitcher’s mound and threw to an Angels player, to a loud ovation from the still-arriving crowd.
I spoke briefly to both Simmons and Stanley, and they remarked that the 1976 show was very humbling for them. They added that their popularity among fans at that time gave them a feeling of finally “making it big” in the entertainment business. Stanley said the release of the 1976 album Destroyer elevated the band to a “superstar status,” which they’ve maintained to this day. The Anaheim Stadium concert was held August 20, 1976, before 42,000 fans. Other acts on the bill included Ted Nugent, Montrose and Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band. KISS ruled the day as headliners, as KISS Destroys Anaheim ’76 reveals.
Fans of both KISS and the Angels enjoyed themselves, as they, to paraphrase the famous KISS song, “rock and rolled all nite (sic)…” Many stuck around for the post-game fireworks display that let fans “shout it out loud” on a perfect summer evening in Anaheim.
