Today’s Blimp Time-Hop: Drummer Rocks the CCCC With KISS One Last Time

28 years ago today, KISS brought their Hot in the Shade tour to the Cumberland County Civic Center. This was the 5th time they rocked Portland, Maine and the last appearance here by drummer, Eric Carr.

Sadly, Eric passed away in November of the following year. His memory remains beloved by true fans to this day, so needless to say it turned out to be a very special night for the Maine soldiers in the Kiss Army.

This was also the no kabuki make-up period that stared in 1983 and lasted until the reunion of the original line-up (Gene, Paul, Peter & Ace) in 1997. We remember playing the tracks Hide your Heart, Forever (a Top 10 song Paul Stanley wrote with Michael Bolton BTW), and Rise to It from Hot in the Shade on the Blimp. Opening the show that night were hot 'new' hair-metal outfits Slaughter and Winger.

The only Kiss song that was a bigger hit single was Beth. Here it is just before the Portland show live in Detroit.

Watch the official video for Forever that we used to see on MTV. It's wicked nice to see a smiley Gene Simmons...right?