With the release of “Destroyer” in 1976, fresh off the massive success of KISS Alive! the band embarked on a world tour. To keep the momentum, the band chose to go with a massive stage. That stage was epic when the band toured in support of the album, and it remains the gold standard for the best stage show ever. So what made that stage so iconic, and why has no band been able to better it? Let’s take a look.
Through the years, KISS has had some legendary stages, be it the “Dynasty” stage with a massive 12,000-pound hexagonal lighting rig holding a 400,000-watt grid, to “Creatures of the Night” with the massive tank-tread drum riser that fit the heavy, aggressive sound of the album.
The “Destroyer” stage was massive. Over-80-foot-wide theatrical stage that first featured the bands iconic huge illuminated logo. The set-up included ruined city theatrical flats, a lunar mountain platform for Ace Frehley, and a gothic castle platform with a bloody stake for Gene Simmons.
It also featured paper-mâché cat statues flanking a levitating drum riser for Peter Criss. The stage was far ahead of its time.
The band’s popularity would begin to skyrocket with the “Destroyer” tour. As for the bands that were around at the time and those that came afterwards, none have been able to create a better stage design.
