Crazy Nights World Tour - 1987 -'88
Start Date: November 13, 1987
End Date:October 3, 1988
Shows: 130
Legs: 3
Countries: Canada, Denmark, England, France, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, United States, West Germany
Headlining Acts: David Lee Roth, Iron Maiden
Opening Acts: Anthrax, Balaam & the Angel, Chastain, David Lee Roth, Dirty Looks, Edda, Forigjarnir, Great White, Guns N' Roses, Helix, Helloween, Kings Of The Sun, Mantis, Megadeth, Royal Air Force, Ted Nugent, Testament, Treat, White Lion
Average Attendance: 5,691
Line Up: Paul Stanley, Bruce Kulick, Gene Simmons, Eric Carr
For 'Crazy Nights' KISS went into a different direction and a more popular one as well, introducing the sound of the 80's, the keyboard... Allot of artists used it at this point in the 80's and it eventually was a good choice, seeing 'Crazy Crazy Nights' became KISS's biggest charting song in the UK ever.
On-stage during 'Reason To Live' Bruce played on keyboard but in the back there was another keyboard player actually playing the live keyboard! Gary Corbett was backstage 'enhancing' the keyboard sound. Gary Corbett, was a keyboardist with Cinderella who also co-wrote the Cyndi Lauper hit "She Bop". Corbett became a hidden but unofficial fifth member.
The band opened the shows with 'Love Gun', a song not used as a opener before, audience numbers had dropped by 500 people compared to the Asylum Tour, some concert goers called it the 'worst KISS tour ever'. The band also included allot of Crazy Nights material that did not transfer well live with the audience, eventually they added vintage songs like 'Deuce' and 'Strutter'. Seeing the response of the audience this let to more old songs being added to the set list for the next tour. The Japanese KISS Army club fan members even could send in requests through mail.
Costumes were the similar to theLick It Up Tour, Gene wore allot of black leather again and still a wig, Bruce had a white and black suit with radioactive symbols all over it. Paul preferred white spandex pants, running shoes, gloves and a red tank top. Eric had multiple colored camouflaged cargo pants and band shirts, his favorite to wear was a Led Zeppelin version. What stood out the most for Eric was his giant new silver drum kit that had the Chikara symbol, from the 'Hotter Than Hell' album, all over it.
The Crazy Nights Tour also had KISS not headlining a show for the first time since 1975 as by now Iron Maiden had became a top billed band and KISS opened up for them at the five Monsters of Rock festivals in Europe.
The stage was almost the same as the Asylum Tour stage, only with some differences:
KISS Logo - The giant KISS logo had horizontal neon light bars installed between the lamps for extra effects. When KISS left for Japan they did not bring along the big stage, they only used allot of amps and lights. For the German shows they had to use their alternate logo as well, it even showed up in the German version for the music video of 'Reason To Live'.
Pyrotechnics - They also used allot more pyrotechnics compared to the US leg of the tour, who barely had any at all. When KISS toured Europe they also barely even used pyrotechnics, for the second European leg and Japan there were no pyrotechnic effects used at all! They did made up for this with fireworks at the end of the show.
Costumes - Costumes were the similar to theLick It Up Tour, Gene wore allot of black leather again and still a wig, Bruce had a white and black suit with radioactive symbols all over it. Paul preferred white spandex pants, running shoes, gloves and a red tank top. Eric had multiple colored camouflaged cargo pants and band shirts, his favorite to wear was a Led Zeppelin version.
Eric's Drum Kit - What stood out the most for Eric was his giant new silver drum kit that had the Chikara symbol, from the 'Hotter Than Hell' album, all over it. His kit was also surrounded by a giant tilted metallic semi circle.
Gary Corbett - KISS's Hidden Keyboard Player
Gary Corbett playing backstage during the Schweinfurt August 27, 1988 Monsters Of Rock festival show out of sight from most of the fans. Sometimes camera crews were not made aware they were not allowed to film Corbett, so to the displeasure of Gene and Paul, Gary was in the spotlight. Corbett also joined Paul's solo tour band in 1989 and stood in during the 'Hot In The Shade' tour as the voice of "Leon The Sphinx" during 'God Of Thunder'. Sadly Gary lost his battle with lung cancer and passed away on July 14, 2021.
- R.I.P Gary Corbett -
Stage Props:
Pre-Show "hum"
Drum Riser
Fireworks
Pyrotechnics
Bombs
Dry Ice Smoke
Gene Breathing Fire
Gene Shooting Rockets
Giant New KISS Logo
Paul Smashing Guitars
Bruce and his radioactive Crazy Nights gear!
Typical Setlist:
01.'Love Gun'
02. 'Cold Gin'
03. 'Bang Bang You'
04. 'Fits Like A Glove'
05. 'No, No, No'
06. 'Crazy Crazy Nights'
07. 'Reason To Live'
08. 'Heaven's On Fire'09. 'War Machine'
10. 'I Love It Loud'
11. 'Lick It Up'
12. 'Rock And Roll All Nite'
Encore:
13. 'Detroit Rock City'
Tour Book:
The Crazy Nights tour book
Special Shows / Happenings:
- Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA, August 8, 1987 -
The music video for 'Crazy Crazy Nights' was shot in this venue with fans.
- Civic Center, Providence, RI, December 12, 1987 -
Prior to 'Detroit Rock City' the band and the crowd sang Happy Birthday to Bruce who turned 34!
- Civic Center, Charleston, WV, January 18, 1988 -
This concert officially should have taken place at Huntington, West Virginia, but town officials banned KISS from playing in their town
and the show was moved to Charleston.
- The Centrum, Worcester, MA, January 27, 1988 -
The 'Turn On The Night' video was filmed prior and during this show, they did not sing live but the band lip synced to the song being played over the P.A.
-Municipal Auditorium, Columbus, GA, February 15, 1988 -
Gene got arrested after the show for indecent exposure. during the show Gene flashed the audience quickly while being on a partially obscured area of the stage. The cops awaited him after the show. The arrest was filmed by Vari-Lite operator Warren Flynn. The tape was very likely destroyed.
- Holiday Star Theater, Merrillville, IN, March 2, 1988 -
Gene jumped into the audience during his bass solo to confront a fan who constantly bothered him.
- Nagoya Public Hall, Nagoya, Japan, April 16, 1988 -
KISS returned to Japan after a 10 year absence!
- Limelight, New York City, NY, June 26, 1988 -
Gene and Paul visited a show of old band member Ace Frehley while he was touring with his band for his 'Second Sighting' tour. Gene and Paul were watching the show from above the stage in plain sight, prior to the first encore, Ace invited them over to do a impromptu rendition of 'Deuce'! When they walked out on the stage the place went nuts. This event might have planted a seed in Gene and Paul's head that a reunion could be possible in the upcoming years.
- Reidhollen, Reykjavik, Iceland, August 30, 1988 -
KISS performs in Iceland for the first time.
- Kissstadion, Budapest, Hungary, September 2, 1988 -
Halfway through the show the venue was hit by a downpour, just when Bruce started his guitar solo, he got completely drenched, the crowd, who go the most of the rain, ended up improvising raincoats with the use of trash bags.
- King's Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland, October 3, 1988 -
According to Gary Corbett, he was told that if the crowd approves of you here, they spit at you, at the end of the show Paul was drenched in spit. Paul eventually got so sick of a guy who kept hitting him, Paul motioned to the crowd to disperse around the guy and Paul spat him right in the face. Bruce recalled that this was his most disgusted show he has ever played on, his guitar's fingerboard were covered and it was dripping from his hair. Gary was very happy he had to perform off stage that night! Paul made a comment near the end of the show regarding the spitting:
"Everybody here likes to spit, right? C'mon, I know you like it. Right? Now if you really wanna spit, when I count to three, why don't you spit up in the air and see if you can catch it on your nose."
The stage during the recording of the music video for 'Crazy Crazy Nights'