Today is Paul Stanley’s birthday, so I went down a small little rabbit hole of YouTube videos and found one of the first times I ever saw any live video of the band. 3–2–1 Contact was a show on PBS akin to The Electric Company and Sesame Street, but set up for an older audience and the fourth episode featured KISS from the 1979 Dynasty tour.

I’m not sure I’ve seen this clip since I saw it the first time. It really took me back to being 12 years old and seeing and hearing the band live with my eyes wide open. I know I was blown away at the time. The bit with the voice modulator stood out in my memory as well as the light up guitar Ace Frehley was using.

The other TV appearance that made a huge impression was the segment on Kids Are People Too when the band formally introduced Eric Carr. Paul’s New York accent was so strong to my Midwestern ears.

KISS has been a part of my life for a long, long time. It’s fun looking back and seeing moments of KISSTORY that impacted my young fandom.