Black Diamond - Kiss vs. Pearl Jam

Waved Rumor takes it to the mat today with a death match for the greatest version of Black Diamond, the great Kiss song, between Kiss and Pearl Jam, who have covered the song in their recent concerts.

Here is the original version from Kiss in a great quality clip. Kiss, still hungry for fame and stardom, blasts this live version to the sky on the 1970s late night music program Midnight Special. It comes complete with the extended coda ending and Peter Criss smashing up his drums at the end. Classic Kiss.

Kiss - Black Diamond, Midnight Special


And here's a live version played by Pearl Jam last month at Madison Square Garden in NYC, aided by the presence and blistering lead guitar of Ace Frehley, the Kiss original lead guitarist. All good on all fronts as well.



Your mission today, should you choose to accept it, is to decide who wins this Black Diamond death match, and let your voice be raised in the comments of your chosen victor. May God be with you.

[NOTE: If anyone can find a video of The Replacements playing this song, please add the link in the comments!]

Of extra goodness for KISS fans is the entire 'Lost concert' from Jersey City, July 1976. See it all right here.

KISS in Munich, May 11

The global theatrical rock extravaganza called KISS exploded onstage in Munich, Germany earlier this week for its Kiss Alive 35 tour, in which the band is playing the complete "KIss Alive" set from start to finish. The band kicked off the show with 'Deuce' like they used to do back in 1975...amazing.

Here's a short clip of the set opener, good to see if you haven't been to a KISS show in eons (like me):



"You know you're man is working hard....he's worth a Deuce!"



SET LIST IN ORDER:

Deuce
Strutter
Got To Choose
Hotter Than Hell
Firehouse
Nothin' To Lose (Eric lead vocals)
C'Mon And Love Me
Parasite
She
Watchin' You
Rock Bottom
100,000 Years
Cold Gin
Let Me Go Rock 'N' Roll
Black Diamond (Eric lead vocals)
Rock And Roll All Nite

Encore:

Shout It Out Loud
Lick It Up
I Love It Loud (Gene split blood and flew to rafters)
I Was Made For Lovin' You
Love Gun (Paul flew to back of arena)
Detroit Rock City

Rock Clip of the Week - KISS: Let Me Go Rock & Roll

Today's Waved Rumor 'Rock Clip of the Week' is arena-rock personified, KISS 1977 at Madison Square Garden. This clip rocks on so many levels - Paul's crazy cliche introduction, Peter's awesome drumming, Ace's blistering solo and shit, even Gene's vocals are pretty exuberant and on key for a change.

If I ever get a live rock thing going again, I'd kill to do an entire show spouting between-song rock banter that's as hoary and cliched as Paul Stanley's in this clip. Dig it!

"Whooo! ALRIGGHT! How ya doin' NEW YORK?? Does everybody feel, does everybody feel ALRIGGGGHHT?? Whoo! I tell ya, ya know, it's been a long time since we've been home, but by god, if there's anything we want to share with you tonight, is a little bit of Rock n Roll - ROCK & ROOOOLLLLLLL!" HA!

"You know your man is working hard...

...he's worth a deuce!"



Smokin' Ace Frehley!