54 Bleecker Street

The Story

This eighth-floor loft hosted Kiss for two shows during the band's first few months, on May 4 and June 1, 1973, playing alongside Queen Elizabeth, a band led by Wayne County, a proto-punk icon from Andy Warhol's circle who would later become Jayne County, and the band The Brats. It was one of the band's first shows in Manhattan, still far from the makeup and production that would define Kiss shortly after. Drummer Peter Criss's wife, Lydia Criss, photographed the band backstage at these shows, and today these photos are part of collectors' collections of the band. The building is one of the rare original Kiss concert venues from 1973 that is still standing.

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