KISS

Lead Vocals: Derek Driver (2)Brian Russell oc (3)Terry Seeley

Guitar: Dave Smith-Howell (2)Guy Ludbrook oc (Holiday cover in Mar 69)

Vocals, Bass: Brian Wilson (2)David Knowles (3)Phil Dimitri Holmes dep (4)Alan Fish

Fl: Bryan Bees Turner

Sax: Keith Huffy Hart

Vocals, Sax: John Tuttle

Keys: Jack Chaplin Sept70-?? (2)Clive Button

Drums: John Jewell

Minor line-up changes turned the established Alex Wilson Set into Kiss in April 1968. “The band were in big demand and supported many of the established artists visiting the region,” recalls the band’s manager Tony Baker. “It was these commitments that accounted for the band’s constant line-up changes.” Soon after the change, they acquired a horn section in the guise of Tuttle and Hart when The Toby Jug Band folded.

Lead vocalist Driver had first announced his intention to retire earlier in the year (1968), and Russell, who was at the time fronting local paint sceners The Influence, was asked to join; although after only a handful of guest appearances, Driver decided to stay on. Around late 1968, Wilson left the group, and Knowles joined from the convalescing Music Hath Charm. Knowles brought a songwriting element to the band, and they started recording his original compositions.

Driver’s departure finally came on 16 August 1969, when the group supported Eyes Of Blond at The Cromer Links Pavilion. The audience would not let him leave the stage, and ‘The Blond’ graciously let the band finish the night. Driver’s replacement was ex-Georgia Wood frontman Terry Seeley, who had been at college with Driver and came recommended.

In March 1970, Kiss had come to the attention of Moody Blues’ drummer Graham Edge, who had shown an interest in signing them to the band’s own Threshold label, but Seeley points out, “The label was run by the band, and they all had to agree on a signing. It wasn’t that the group didn’t want us on the label; they just pointed out to Graham how much we sounded like The Moody Blues, which would have been a conflict of interest.” The connection, though, helped the band and pushed them to get work abroad. “You used to get a lot of promoters and managers hanging around at the big auditions,” says Seeley. “We were at an audition to play a Summer Season in Jersey, and there was a French promoter Jean Besnard there, and he liked us. We didn’t get the Jersey gig, but we got dates in Europe through Besnard.”

In December 1970, and Tuttle believes this contact may have come through the Moody Blues, the group were booked to play The Casino in Montreux, Switzerland. Situated just off Lake Geneva, the area was famous for its annual Jazz Festival and was later immortalised by Deep Purple in its track Smoke on the Water. “We were booked to play the week between Christmas and New Year and had set up in the venue, but when we turned up to rehearse on Boxing Day, there had been a break-in, and some amps had been stolen, but we managed to get sorted,” said Seeley. “The show itself had been picked up by the Suisse TV Network, and they filmed an hour of our show along with some footage of Ashton, Dyke & Gardener who were playing at the club the week after us.”

The group’s activity in Europe led to negotiations with French avant-garde label Context, who issued the band’s track Peace of Mind as a single. Line-up changes before the release saw the cover feature new members Fish and Button. The band called it a day in 1971, with remaining and future engagements fulfilled by pick-up versions of the band. First under the title Barabbas and then later Barkiss, an almost complete resurrection of the group.

The Casino, Montreux, Switzerland 24th December 1970-31st December 1970

24/12/70 Arrived at The Casino, Montreux - set up (Hotel De-Londres)

25/12/70 Unknown activity

26/12/70 The Casino, Montreux - Kiss (Hotel De-Londres)

Two Amps stolen in overnight break-in!?

27/12/70 The Casino, Montreux - Kiss (Hotel De-Londres)

28/12/70 The Casino, Montreux - Kiss (Hotel De-Londres)

29/12/70 The Casino, Montreux - Kiss (Hotel De-Londres)

30/12/70 The Casino, Montreux - Kiss (Hotel De-Londres)

31/12/70 Mt Vevey Ski Resort, Switzerland - Kiss

Gig organised by Claude Nobs to help reimburse the band for lost gear.

Summer Seasons

SS 1969 Constitution Holiday Camp, Hopton

Discography:

7Act Along Comes Mary b/w Here To-Day undated

7Act Piece of Mind b/w If I Dout Thy Word undated (untraced)

RtR ~ Piece of Mind / Mr Man / Standing Alone / Why / One Day You Will Be / If I Dout Thy Word undated (untraced)

7” Peace of Mind b/w Do You Remember - Context Records, France CTX107 1971

7" Peace of Mind b/w Do You Remember - Alvorada Records, Portugal N7851 1972

Selected advertised supports:

25/05/68 Royal Links, Crmr - Edwin Starr & The State Express

26/06/68 Royal Links, Crmr - Noel & The Fireballs

27/07/68 Great Ryburgh Hall - Alan Bowen Set (Bown)

23/11/68 Royal Links, Crmr - Jo Jo Gunn

24/12/68 Royal Links, Crmr - The Pyramids / The Sweet

31/12/68 Royal Links, Crmr - The Flares

16/01/69 SU Assembly Hall, Nch - The Nice / Idle Race

Possibly when on Wilberforce Road - needs confirmation. 

18/01/69 The Dorothy BR, Camb - Jimmy James & The Shondells / The Hopscotch

08/02/69 DMkt Town Hall - Uncle Stan

15/03/69 Royal Links Pav, Crmr - Marmalade

05/04/69 Royal links, Crmr - Root ‘n’ Jenny Jackson & The Nightimers

07/06/69 Royal Links, Crmr - Jason Crest

19/07/69 Royal Links, Crmr - The Chris McClure Section

29/11/69 Royal Links, Crmr - The Equals

21/02/70 Royal Links, Crmr – Badfinger

Undated supports: Amen Corner / The Hollies / Chris Farlowe / The Moody Blues / Tony & The Genisis

The JB Roadshow / /The Procession / Ferris Wheel

Mediography:

We’ve found our demo, say Kiss H&N EEN17/03/69

Kiss on threshold H&N EEN 23/03/70

TV: The Casino, Montreux - Suisse Television Network 1970

Tracks: Piece of Mind, ??,

The Toby Jug Band / The Alex Wilson Sect (Set) (Chaplin - Skinn) <> Barabbas

Releases
Cover	Title	Studio	Label	YoR
	PEACE OF MIND		CONTEXT RECORDS	1971
	HERE TO DAY b/w ALONG COMES MARY			UNDATED