Hotter Than Hell (song)
Encyclopedia
"Hotter Than Hell" is a song by the American
hard rock
band Kiss
, released on their second album of the same name
in 1974. It was written by the band's rhythm guitarist
Paul Stanley
, and it shows a heavy influence of the band Free
on him. Despite being rarely performed during the years, "Hotter Than Hell" has appeared on many of the band's albums. It has also appeared as a B-side to the album's lone single Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll.
song "All Right Now
", mostly because Stanley was a big fan of Free and the song meant a lot to him.
Stanley described the story of the song: "[It] was written about an encounter with somebody in a bar, and then at the end of the song I didn't know quite how to end it so I came up with this riff that was kind of like a Black Sabbath
kind of riff and we tacked that on."
set-list and didn't return until the Revenge Tour
in 1992. The song was returned again to the set-list for the Kiss
/Aerosmith
co-headlined Rocksimus Maximus Tour/World Domination Tour
. It was again dropped from the Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour
and hasn't been performed later.
Other appearances:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, released on their second album of the same name
Hotter Than Hell
Hotter Than Hell is the second studio album from hard rock band Kiss. It was released on October 22, 1974 and was certified Gold on June 23, 1977, having shipped 500,000 copies. The album was re-released in 1997 in a remastered version...
in 1974. It was written by the band's rhythm guitarist
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
Paul Stanley
Paul Stanley
Stanley Harvey Eisen , better known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American hard rock guitarist, singer, musician, painter and songwriter best known for being the rhythm guitarist and primary lead vocalist of the rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's...
, and it shows a heavy influence of the band Free
Free (band)
Free were an English rock band, formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song "All Right Now". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums; lead guitarist Paul Kossoff died from a...
on him. Despite being rarely performed during the years, "Hotter Than Hell" has appeared on many of the band's albums. It has also appeared as a B-side to the album's lone single Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll.
Background
"Hotter Than Hell", as Stanley said, was basically a re-writing of a FreeFree (band)
Free were an English rock band, formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song "All Right Now". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums; lead guitarist Paul Kossoff died from a...
song "All Right Now
All Right Now
"All Right Now" is a rock single by the English rock band Free. The song, released in mid-1970, hit #2 on the UK singles chart and #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. "All Right Now" originally appeared on the album Fire And Water, which Free recorded on the Island Records label, formed...
", mostly because Stanley was a big fan of Free and the song meant a lot to him.
Stanley described the story of the song: "[It] was written about an encounter with somebody in a bar, and then at the end of the song I didn't know quite how to end it so I came up with this riff that was kind of like a Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
kind of riff and we tacked that on."
Live performances
"Hotter Than Hell" has been performed during the following tours, but was dropped from the Destroyer TourDestroyer Tour
The Destroyer Tour also known as The Spirit of '76 Tour was a concert tour by Kiss, in support of their latest album. The August 20 Anaheim, California show was the most famous show of the tour, the band played to over 42,000 people, the biggest US crowd the band has played to...
set-list and didn't return until the Revenge Tour
Revenge Tour
The Revenge Tour was a concert tour by Kiss. It was the first tour with drummer Eric Singer, replacing Eric Carr who died of cancer on November 24, 1991. The Detroit, Indianapolis and Cleveland shows were recorded for Kiss' first live album in 14 years, Alive III.-Stage setup:The stage featured a...
in 1992. The song was returned again to the set-list for the Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
/Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
co-headlined Rocksimus Maximus Tour/World Domination Tour
Rocksimus Maximus Tour
The Rocksimus Maximus Tour/World Domination Tour was a North American concert tour co-headlined by Aerosmith and Kiss. The tour was referred to as the "World Domination Tour" by Kiss and was called the Rocksimus Maximus Tour by Aerosmith. It is sometimes referred to informally as the "AeroKiss...
. It was again dropped from the Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour
Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour
The Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour was a concert tour by American rock band Kiss in support of their 19th studio album Sonic Boom, which was released in October 2009....
and hasn't been performed later.
Appearances
"Hotter Than Hell" has appeared on following Kiss albums:- Hotter Than HellHotter Than HellHotter Than Hell is the second studio album from hard rock band Kiss. It was released on October 22, 1974 and was certified Gold on June 23, 1977, having shipped 500,000 copies. The album was re-released in 1997 in a remastered version...
- studio version - Alive! - live version
- The OriginalsThe Originals (album)This pack was a re-release of the first three Kiss albums: Kiss, Hotter Than Hell and Dressed to Kill. It was packaged with a 16-page history booklet, a color Kiss Army sticker and a sheet of six trading cards....
- studio version - Double PlatinumDouble Platinum (album)Double Platinum is the first greatest hits album by the American hard rock band Kiss.Many of the songs on Double Platinum were remixed and significantly differ from their original versions...
- studio version - The Box Set - studio version
- The Very Best of KissThe Very Best of KISS, -Personnel:*Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar , lead vocals , guitar solo , first guitar solo on , bass guitar .*Gene Simmons – bass guitar , lead vocals...
- studio version - The Best of Kiss: The Millennium CollectionThe Best of KISS: The Millennium Collection-Personnel:*Paul Stanley - lead vocals, lead & rhythm guitar, backing vocals*Gene Simmons - bass guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals*Ace Frehley - lead & rhythm guitar*Peter Criss - drums, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Beth" and "Hard Luck Woman"...
- studio version - GoldGold (KISS album)Gold is a 2005 greatest hits collection from hard rock band Kiss. This two-disc set covers the band's recordings from 1974 to 1982. All tracks are previously available.-Track listing:Disc 1:#"Strutter"...
- studio version - Kiss Chronicles: 3 Classic AlbumsKiss Chronicles: 3 Classic AlbumsThis repackaging of the first three Kiss albums is essentially identical to The Originals , except in CD format and with different packaging.-Track listing:Disc 01 - Kiss...
- studio version - Kiss Alive! 1975–2000 - Alive! version
- Kiss Alive 35Kiss Alive 35Kiss Alive 35 is a series of 2 CD live albums, each containing a recording of the complete set from a European show on the KISS Alive/35 World Tour from 2008. A second set of recordings are also planned to be available from the North American leg of this tour in Fall/Winter 2009.- Details :The...
- live version - Jigoku-RetsudenJigoku-Retsuden-DVD :Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan, April 2, 1977#"Detroit Rock City"#"Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll"#"Ladies Room"#"Firehouse"#"I Want You"#"Cold Gin"#"Nothin' to Lose"#"God of Thunder"#"Rock and Roll All Nite"#"Shout It Out Loud"#"Black Diamond"...
- re-recorded studio version - IkonsIkonsIkons is a 4 CD box set compilation album by Universal Music Group, featuring material recorded by American hard rock band Kiss. Each CD in the set is named after one of the original band members, collecting songs that represent his contribution to the band. In 1996 the 'KISS-Ikons' concept was...
- studio version
Other appearances:
- B-side for the Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll single
Personnel
- Paul StanleyPaul StanleyStanley Harvey Eisen , better known by his stage name Paul Stanley, is an American hard rock guitarist, singer, musician, painter and songwriter best known for being the rhythm guitarist and primary lead vocalist of the rock band Kiss. He is the writer or co-writer of many of the band's...
- rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, lead vocals - Gene SimmonsGene SimmonsGene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Peter CrissPeter CrissGeorge Peter John Criscuola , better known as Peter Criss, is an American drummer and singer, best known as the original drummer for the rock band Kiss...
- drums, backing vocals - Ace FrehleyAce FrehleyPaul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss. He took on the persona of the "Spaceman" or "Space Ace" when the band adopted costumes and theatrics...
- lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...