Kiss - Strutter (Demo 1973)

Music: Kiss - Strutter (Paul Stanley / Gene Simmons, 1972). This second of the pre-Kiss later core songs was written before Peter Criss came into the picture.

Like many other "collaborations", Paul borrowed the chord pattern of Gene's earlier "Stanley The Parrot" song and developed a new piece. According to Paul, "Once we picked up the tempo of it and started playing a lot suspended chords, the song developed a real Stones-y kind of feel" (Box Set liners).

Paul saw the lyrics as describing, the glam movement of early 1970s New York, along with the strutting style of the song's music. Lyrically, the song is mostly Paul's creation, though Gene added the song's riff to the older original chord structure.

Ace Frehley also latter had input on the song, "I wrote those inverted chords, and I think they were a great addition to the song. It's funny, but Paul and I never wrote a song together" (Guitar World, 1992).

Recorded as a 4:57 demo, the song included musical features, notably the second guitar solo section, that were later removed as the song was further refined.

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Music

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• Kiss
• Strutter
• demo
• 1973
• Paul
• Stanley
• the Bandit
• make-up
• heavy metal music
• early
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• hard metal music
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• grotesque forms

[TNO73]

Is this part of the Eddie Kramer demo that got them signed to Casablanca? I must admit that I do like more "raw" sound on this than what was released on the debut album.

[grotesqueforms]

@TNO73 Yes. This track comes from the original KISS demo produced by Eddie Kramer. This demo was recorded in Studio B at Electric Lady Studios, and completed by March 13, 1973.

[RubySoho138]

what was the date of the pictures from the out door gig at 4:08?

[grotesqueforms]

@RubySoho138 On march 31, 1974, Kiss was only nine days into its first tour, and yet the band was playing to one of the largest American audiences of its career, estimated by various sources to be somewhere between 40,000 and 100,000 people. It was part of an event called the "4th Annual KSHE Kite Fest" that was organized the local rock radio station in St Louis, Missouri. Photos by Bill Parsons.

[QMDiver]

@grotesqueforms Woah, DUDE! How did you get the info Ruby asked about? LOL You damn near HAD to be there, yes? We used to play this tune about every other night for parties and in the clubs.. Strutter was one, that you could almost guarantee people would get off their asses and dance. Was fun to perform while jamming too, as it was easy to play. Seems all the tracks I've heard, have merit. But it is kinda strange to hear only one 'strutter' in chorus.. Thanks for posting this tune, Gro

[grotesqueforms]

@QMDiver I got this info in the book "KISS Alive Forever : The Complete Touring History" by Curt Gooch and Jeff Suhs. But I don't know the set list for that show. Cheers and thanks for your comment.

[virrepirreboy]

I think this is better original-Strutter! :-))

[bellpurdue12]

This demo is amazing. The slinky sound is WAY better than the studio. I feel like Ace is next to me in a random garage in the 70's. It's sad that Gene sold out so. Ace just wanted to chill. His solo in this song just makes me want to start banging around my head like I did when I was 13.

[snootbeagle]

I agree! Best version of strutter, period. Kerner/Wise stole the energy from this track on the first record, if it was indeed them who wanted it slower. This version just soars, backing vocals kick ass, tempo is perfect, solo is amazing.

[TheNightseagull]

Hot !!

[MrMavilla1]

Best Strutter version ever

[debgibsonfan]

@charliebe28

Exactly.

[WrestleCrap97]

glad Paul Stanley got rid of this old makeup, his starchild makeup suits him WAY better

[14sieghart]

toca muito

[charliebe28]

This version has more of a "Ziggy Stardust" type sound to it; as if that were an influence.