In a recent interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, Buck Dharma of Blue Öyster Cult shared his memories about KISS.
“They opened for us [at the New York Academy of Music, on December 31, 1973]. They came in with a with a semi truck and a big crew,” Dharma said. “You know, we had a little box truck and just a backline of stuff.”
“They were [also] big guys and BOC were little guys,” he continued. “They had those platform boots and these outrageous costumes. They were just astonishing to behold, I knew Gene [Simmons] and Paul [Stanley] the best.”
“I knew Ace [Frehley] a little bit, didn’t know Peter [Criss] very well, but you know, we were New Yorkers, [so] we had a lot in common,” Dharma added.
The New Year’s Eve performance marked a significant milestone for both bands. It set the stage for an interesting dynamic between the two New York-based groups.
LA Times documented that the New Year’s Eve show brought KISS their first significant press attention. This exposure led to their first national tour as Blue Öyster Cult’s opening act across the Midwest.
The tour took an unexpected turn. KISS FAQ revealed that KISS was removed from the tour after defying instructions by playing an unauthorized encore.
The relationship between the bands evolved over time. Louder Sound reported Paul Stanley’s later observations about Blue Öyster Cult’s stage show. Stanley noted that after their hiatus, BOC’s performances incorporated elements similar to KISS’s style, including pyrotechnics and strobe lights.
These early interactions between the bands shaped their future relationships. Their shared history left an indelible mark on the rock scene.
