KISSin Time: ’75 KISS Tribute
Dr. Rox Remember When?
Article #135 May 2022
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0
So in late April 2013, a guy named Greg C. from the KISS Tributes: Vintage KISS & UNMASKED (a former band mate of my former bandmate Eric DeW.) saw an article on my RecordStore “Mr. Zer0’s” in the MPLS “City Pages” and stopped in to sell off his KISS collection including his “Gene Simmons 1977 Love Gun” costume, I joked with him “You’re not doing KISS anymore?” G.C. responded “I can’t find a Paul Stanley” I started to chuckle and he asked “Why, do you know one?” I answered “Um, yea, I am one” he shot back “Must have been a long time ago”. A few days later he called me and asked “Say, I was thinking about putting together a new KISS Tribute but dedicated only to the early days, you know like post “Wicked Lester” and the 1st Album Tour of 1973 -74, up to say “Hotter Than Hell” for all those fans who never got to see KISS start off in those early days” I answered “Oddly enough my last KISS Tribute Band (Black Diamond: DSM) was that very time period 1974, I am in” So Summer 2013 G.C. and I started working out the setlist at some house in MPLS. Just Like Gene & Paul did in ’73.
G.C. “I know these 2 guys I have been jamming with that might be interested; Drummer Madman Meyers & Guitarist Mick Rotella. Well these 2 didn’t pan out but Mick R. did bring us MN. Pete Campbell (of: ACK & PENTAGRAM), so Fall 2013 this really quiet guy shows up at TRAX Studios with his drum set stuffed into a PT Cruiser. The room was all brick, huge, cold and damp. The 3 of us proceeded to crank out Deuce, Strutter, Parasite, Love Her All I Can & Black Diamond. The only thing I remember MN. Pete even saying was (pointing at me) “This guy doesn’t need a P.A. listen to him belt those songs out” When I told my good friend Tommy Sommers (of the internationally famous podcast “3 Sides Of The Coin”) about our new project, he responded “Well, this is good and all, but you’re going to need to do songs like “Keep Me Waiting” “Simple Types” and “Life In the Woods”. I came back with “I’ve never even heard “Life In The Woods” Tommy offered “I can get you a copy”. After about 3 months of this trio working on our set, one day in Jan 2014, this tall quiet guy walks in and sets up his amp where Mick R. used to set up. He proceeded to jam with us and blow me away, turns out this was Paul Helms formerly of “KISS Army” who I had seen on New Year’s Eve 2000 in Fridley. So I asked him if he was willing to join us, he was apprehensive, but reluctantly agreed. At this time Greg insisted on going under the name “ROCK AND ROLL ALL NITE” which was just silly as we Did NOT Play this song live, so I called our band “KISSin Time” (from the 1st Album, which IS what we were doing) Our 1st gig was Feb. 2014 at Lee’s.
The Set List Was:
Deuce
Strutter
Parasite
Strange Ways
Love Her All I Can
Watchin You- Jam #49
Firehouse
She (into)
Nothin To Lose
Got To Choose
Cold Gin
Black Diamond
Let Me Go Rock N Roll
Let Me Know
(For a Complete History Of: KISSin Time’s Shows and Setlists Go To fb – Photos Albums)
So as time went on, Helms left to do his “FOO FIGHTERS Tribute”, Greg left to do His “Hard Rock ELVIS Tribute” MN. Pete left to tour the world with “PENTAGRAM” in late 2014 we picked up Tony Wright to be SpaceAce, he brought with him Joe Marvelous. Joe left to focus on his band “RIVER HIGH” eventually Tony left too. We brought in Hevy Kevy from “A HARD DAYS NIGHT” as Catman, and Xen McGuire from “NEW PRESCRIPTIONS ” to be the Demon, and we got Jason Young from “BETTY AND THE NOISE” to be our SpaceAce. Well, then Kevy left for awhile and Robin Krystal became our Catman off and on. Xenia left to be in “THEE MOD GARAGE” so we brought in Gonzo form “HOLLYWOOD BLVD.” to be our Current Demon. Jason left to do his “70s AM RADIO Project” and we secured Topp Jimmy The Shredder to be our current SpaceAce, and of course Kevy came back for yet another time! We have had many Subs and crew over the past 9 years; I hope I mentioned them all, here.
And so here is our Bio:
Founded in Fall 2013 by Rikka Serr0 who portrays “StarChild” with several fellow KISS fans (MN. Pete of PENTAGRAM, G. Connor: Vintage KISS & P. Helms: KISS Army). Our idea was to recreate the long lost time period of KISS the late 1974 to early 1975, years of KISS, covering most their first 3 albums: “KISS” (Feb 1974), “Hotter Than Hell” (Oct 1974) & “Dressed To Kill” (Mar 1975) which were used to the 6 time Platinum album “KISS: Alive!” (Sep 1975). Because nearly, every real KISS Fan has the “Alive!” album, and we perform all but 1 song off of “Alive!”. As of 2020 KISSin Time has expanded our Setlist to include: “Destroyer” (Mar 1976) “Rock And Roll Over” (Nov 1976) “Love Gun” (Jun 1977) “Alive II” (Nov 1977) to bring us to a 37 song canon, currently.
KISSin Time: uses in their show; a 7 foot, lighted sign, fire truck beacons, a siren, fog machines, 6 Marshall cabinets. Spaceman has a smoking guitar that lights up. The Demon Spits Blood and Breathes Fire. StarChild breaks a guitar nightly at the end of the show, the band throws out swag & confetti during the show. Performing hits such as: Deuce, Firehouse, Cold Gin, Strutter, Let Me Go Rock & Roll, & Rock And Roll All Nite, Detroit Rock City, Shout It Out Loud, Calling Dr. Love, Love Gun Rocket Ride and on a special occasion Beth. As well as plenty of deep cuts for thee Hard Core KISS Fans.
Beginnings: Sep 2013
Demon: Greg Conner
StarChild: Rik Schwinden
Then there were 3: Nov 2013
Demon: Greg Conner
StarChild: Rik Schwinden
Catman: MN. Pete Campbell
1st Lineup: Jan 2014
Demon: Greg Conner
StarChild: Rik Schwinden (Rikka Serr0)
Catman: MN. Pete Campbell
SpaceAce: Paul Helms
2nd Lineup: 2015
Catman: Mn. Pete Campbell
SpaceAce: Tony Wright
Demon: Joe Marvelous
3rd Lineup: 2017
Catman: Hevy Kevy
Demon: Christian McGuire
SpaceAce: Jason Young
4th Lineup: 2018
Demon: Gonzo $immon$
Catman: Ryan Dodge
SpaceAce: Jason Young
Current Lineup: 2020
Rikka Serr0: StarChild
Hevy Kevy: Catman
Gonzo $immon$: Demon
Topp Jimmy W. SpaceAce
Subs and Fill-Ins:
Catman; Robyn Krystal: 5 Times: 2014 – 2019
Catman; Nate McNeill: twice 2018
Catman; Paul Lundstrom: 2014
SpaceAce; David Mumbleu: 2014
Catman; Tom Cook: 2014
Catman; Matt Batchlor: 2017
Catman; Jerry Babcock: 2018
StarChild; Pete W. 2018
Crew: 2014 to 2022
Joe Dandy
Zebulon G.
Kyle J.
Perry L
Michael B.
Aaron McF.
Jerry J.
Gage J.
Love Gun Women: 2015 to 2022
Kelly E.
Ali M.
Asha Moonglow
DJ Nikola
KISSin Time Is: Rikka Serr0: StarChild (2013), Hevy Kevy: Catman (2017), Gonzo $immon$: Demon (2019) & Topp Jimmy: SpaceAce (2020). This Lineup has been together since 2020.
KissinTimeMpls@Gmail.com Find US On: fb
The Songs in Our Current Canon:
“1st Album” Feb 1974
Deuce
Strutter
Cold Gin
Nothin To Lose
100,000 Years
Black Diamond
Firehouse
Kissin Time
Jam #49
“Hotter Than Hell” Oct 1974
Got To Choose (Alive)
Parasite
Let Me Go Rock & Roll
Comin Home
Strange Ways
Watchin You/ Jam #49
“Dressed To Kill” Mar 1975
Rock & Roll All Nite
She
Love Her All I Can
Rock Bottom
Getaway
Cmon And Love Me
Two Timer
“Alive” Sep 1975
15 out of 16 Songs
“Destroyer” Mar 1976
Detroit Rock City
God Of Thunder
Shout It Out Loud
Do You Love Me
Flaming Youth
“Rock And Roll Over” Nov 1976
Calling Dr. Love
Love Em And Leave Em
Makin Love
“Love Gun” Jun 1977
Almost Human
Love Gun
Shock Me
“Alive II: Side 4” Nov 1977
All American Man
Rocket Ride
Solo Records: Sep 1978
Rip It Out: Ace Frehley
“Lick It Up” Sep 1983
“Lick It Up”
Songs we have done, upon occasion over the past 9 Years:
Life In The Woods: June 1973
Let Me Know: 1974
Room Service: 1975
Sweet Pain: 1976
Beth: 1976
I Want You: 1976
Take Me: 1976
I Stole Your Love: 1977
Larger Than Life: 1977
Nobody’s Perfect: 1978
New York Groove: 1978
Love In Chains: 1978
2000 Man: 1979
Easy As It Seems: 1980
Torpedo Girl: 1980
I (believe in me): 1981
I Love It Loud: 1982
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbmZT5a_–s
2022 Tour Dates:
March: Northbranch
May: Fridley & St.Paul
3 July: Hinckley
27 August: Duluth
5 September: Madrid, IA.
28 October: Shakope
November: TBA
3 Dec: Des Moines, IA.
I have written many Articles on KISS from my Book in progress: “Send In The Klowns” you can find them at RosevillePatch.Com and TwinCitiesBUZZ.Com and www.MrZeroS.Com -BLOG. I am also a Staff Member on the Book “KISS Alive Forever” 2002 Billboard Books.
I have Broadcast many shows on KISS on Radio WDGY 740AM, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1 (7:30am Sundays), you can listen to those FREE at www.MrZeroS.Com -PODCAST. And On WFNU & WMCN, you can find those on www.MixCloud.Com “MrZeros Evolation Show”
And there you have Fans, I Am MrZerr0 the StarChild Of KISSIn Time since 2013, and Still Am. Thank You Goodnight!
Mr. Zer0’s
*Est. 2009
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
www.MrZeroS.Com
“Nerd Is The Word”
Classic Music
Retro Toys
Vintage Video Games
Movies too ….
And THAT’s IT!
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