On This Day-Jan. 30, 1973

On this day, Jan. 30, in  1973, legendary rockers KISS perform their first concert at the Popcorn Pub, later to be renamed the Coventry Club, in Queens.

Less than 10 people stood witness to history in the making. According to bass player Gene Simmons, the band was only paid $50 for two sets. Prior to this, Gene Simmons and fellow guitarist Paul Stanley left their previous group, Wicked Lester, to form a new group. They recruited Peter Criss for drums and Paul "Ace" Frehley for lead guitar. This first show was to be history in the making, considering that some of the songs they played, "Black Diamond" "Deuce" "Watchin' You" and others would become concert mainstays and be played at almost every concert of theirs from then on.