Street Punk
Who were they? This feature aims to deal with some of the bands KISS played with, both opening for and with the bands as
openers, during their early career. In some cases there won't be much to say about the bands, many of which never made it,
but on others there is plenty to be said...
001. BLOONTZ (1 show, 5/73)
KISS played a library benefit show with Bloontz, and a couple of other acts, in May
1973. In some ways Bloontz were ahead in the music game as they would release their self-titled debut album during the
year (Evolution/Stereo Dimension 3020). However the connections between Bloontz and KISS go further than simply sharing a
stage one night. Bloontz was comprised of Tony Braunagel (drums), Andy Chapman (vocals), David Kealey (guitars), Michael
Montgomery (keyboards), and Terry Wilson (bass, guitar) and had originally been brought from Houston, Texas to New York
City by producer Ron Johnsen. The lead singer of the band was also a good friend of Robbie Leff who would write parts of
the music to the Patti Dahlstrom song "Weddin'" which was recorded on the Lyn Christopher album with Gene Simmons and Paul
Stanley on backing vocals. Like KISS, it is likely that Bloontz's involvement in the library benefit was a result of Ron
Johnsen who lived next door to the benefit's organizer. Three of the members of Bloontz, Michael Montgomery, Tony
Braunagel, and Terry Wilson were session players on the Lyn Christopher. Since the three are credited as appearing
courtesy of Evolution Records on the album's rear credits it is likely that their album came out prior to Lyn's or was
at least being recorded during the same time period.
Backing vocalists on the "Bloontz" album would include Margaret Dorn, Linda Lawley, Sharon Redd, and Zenobia. The first
three of these vocalists would also sing backing vocals with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley on the Lyn Christopher album.
Naturally, Ron Johnsen is the other connection having produced Wicked Lester's album and managed KISS during part of their
early career. Both the Bloontz and Lyn Christopher albums were recorded at Electric Lady Studios. Bloontz didn't make it
as an act and three of the members (Terry, Michael, and Tony) teamed up with ex-Free guitarist Paul Kossoff in Back Street
Crawler who competed with the other ex-Free member's band Bad Company. Back Street Crawler had also included John "Rabbit"
Bundrick who had been in a band, Blackwell, with Terry Wilson, and who replaced Montgomery on keyboards following the
release of the band's first album. They had released a self-titled album in 1970. The band released two albums, "The Band
Plays On" and "Second Street" prior to Kossoff's death.
002. THE BRATS (3 shows, 1973)
During the earliest stage of KISS' live career playing venues such as the Daisy and
Coventry there were no other acts on the bill. KISS had organized their shows on their own, and there weren't many patrons
either as the band had very little exposure and the sorts of venues they were playing couldn't compete with the scene
provided by CBGB's or Max's Kansas City. In order to gain a fan base KISS needed to play shows with other bands so in
May 1973 they played their first gig with other bands opening for The Brats and Queen Elizabeth (which featured
Wayne/Jayne County) at the Bleecker Street Loft. While the two bands would only appear on three bills together the
final of these, on July 13th 1973 was the first "Rock And Roll Ball" showcase KISS had put together.
The Brats were formed in 1972 by guitarist Rick Rivets who had co-founded the New York Dolls with Arthur Kane. After
leaving the Dolls in February 1972, being replaced by Sylvain Sylvain, Rick started looking to put a new band together.
The Brats would contain similar elements to the Dolls and in general to the glam scene of the early 1970's with their
platform shoes. The first lineup of Rick's new band was short-lived and didn't make it past an audition with a prospective
vocalist, Keith Ambrose (Keith has used several names: as a record store owner he was known as Dominique. He later used
Keith Ambrose, then Keith Ambrose-West, and finally Keith West). Keith was owned a record shop, the Music Box on Union
Turnpike in Queens, and dressed in the sort of style Rick was looking for in his band. While initially unsure whether
Keith would work out as a vocalist by the time Rick had hooked up with bassist David Leeds, it was felt that Keith would
work. Drummer Sparky Donovan remained from the band's initial lineup. The band started rehearsing at a loft on Broadway
& Houston, but later moved their rehearsals to David's loft at Bleecker Street. It would be here that The Brats and KISS
would play in May 1973.
The band was given their name after being given several suggestions by Alice Cooper, with whom the band were acquainted.
This connection would have ramifications for KISS' later interaction with a major influence. By the time KISS played with
the Brats neither band was established on the New York Scene. However, because of their connections with the Dolls and
Alice Cooper, The Brats had something of a better start to their career. Keith also claimed a connection with the Ramones:
"He claimed that his band was better than the Ramones and that the Ramones' song 'Beat on the Brat' was about him" (NPR).
The Brats played their debut gig at the Diplomat, opening for the New York Dolls, on March 16, 1973 - around that time
KISS would be recording their demo. For a short time in early 1973 the band's lineup included Ron Blanchard on guitar,
though he soon left to form the band Rags (this band would also play with KISS, Ron would rejoin The Brats to replace
Rick Rivets when he left the band in 1977). The band added Anton Timps on lead guitar during the summer of 1973 but
his initial tenure in the band would last just over a year.
The core of the Brats would be Rivets and Ambrose "forged a song writing team which penned such classic Brats material as,
'Take What I Can', 'Bad Bad Boy', 'Hog Riding Fools', 'I'm So Cruel' (written for Alice Cooper) along with others in the
glam/glitter rock vein" (RickRivets.com). The band would also include covers in their sets including "'Stroll On'
(Yardbirds), 'Carol' (Chuck Berry), 'Love's Made A Fool Of You' (Bobby Fuller Four), and an obscure song, which became
a set favorite, the Streak's 'Bang Bang Bullet'" (RickRivets.com).
In the fall of 1973 the band would record a 4 song demo at Magnagraphics Studios which included 'Quaalude Queen', 'Be A
Man', 'Criminal Guitar' and 'Seventeen', a 1950's cover. None of this material would be released at the time and the band
wouldn't get back into the studio until March 1975 when they recorded "Keep Doin' (What You're Doin')" and "If You Can't
Rock (You Can Roll)". The band would finally see material released with these songs being issued on Whiplash Records.
Unfortunately, by that time Anton, and his replacement Benny Mitchell, and David Leeds had left the band (late-1974),
being replaced by former Haystacks Balboa and Mercury members Mark Mayo on lead guitar and Mark Polott on bass. This
lineup would last until early 1976 when Mayo and Polott were replaced by Scott Sheets (Guitar) and Joe Guido (Bass).
The band's next release would be "First Rock Star On The Moon", recorded at Electric Lady in early 1977, which was
included on the Max's Kansas City 1977 (Volume II). Soon afterwards Rick left the band. After one final studio session
in 1978 resulting in a demo including "Teen Tears", "Perfect Stranger", "Rock Candy", "Take It Or Leave It", "Right On
The Money", "Tonight", and Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman" Sheets left the band to join Pat Benetar and The Brats re-named
themselves The Secrets. The Secrets comprised of Keith West, Sparky Donovan, Joe Guido, Anton Timps, and John Muller. The
band would continue trying to make it finally calling it quits in late-1982.
A lineup of The Brats would re-form in August 2001 which included Keith West (vocals), Rick Rivets (guitar), Bobby McAdams
(guitar), and Sparky Donovan (drums). It should be noted that Sparkey Donovan was the drummer of Rick's first post-Dolls
band, which also included Bill Spence and Cat, along with an unnamed singer, who had quit following the first audition of
Keith West in 1972.
004. PLANETS (1 show, 7/13/73)
KISS only ever played one show with the Planets, for whom they opened at their first show at the Hotel Diplomat's Crystal Ballroom on July 13, 1973. The Planets opened with KISS in the middle spot and the Brats headlining. .
005. LUGER (1 show, 8/10/73)
KISS only ever played one show with Luger, who opened for them at their showcase at the Hotel Diplomat's Crystal Ballroom on August 10, 1973. Luger included Ivan Kral (guitarist) and Shayne Harris (drums) and hailed from Pittsburgh. The band only performed a very short set at this event which was set up to benefit KISS the most. Following the showcase Luger gigged with Teenage Lust and Bitch at the Coventry. At one point Iggy Pop was slated to produce their debut album. Ivan played with the Magic Tramps and eventually joined Iggys band and went on to work with and early version of the band that became Blondie and Patti Smith.
