KISStory of KISS Guitar Picks

Administrated by Tom Shannon

It is truly an honor to have been asked to contribute to the KISSpickworld.com KISStory of guitar picks. Contributing is a very accurate description of what I am doing. Sure, I will be doing the photo editing and writing the text, but to do that I will be drawing on more than fifteen years of documenting KISS memorabilia, and more than thirty five years of KISS collecting. What all of that experience really means is that I have spent a lot of time talking to trusted friends, researching, and keeping an open mind, yet at the same time remaining skeptical. I guess the best way to describe how this web site has come to exist is collaboration. This page would not exist if it were not for the free flow of information and education I received from many friends such as Tim McGuire, Gary Conn, and Jeff Stouder. Most of the really rare picks you will see are from Jeff’s collection.

In the spirit of continuing collaboration I hope that others around the world will want to contribute to the site, and the continuing education of everyone who visits. Who knows, maybe this will be the starting point for a larger repository of KISS memorabilia collecting. The bottom line is that no one person can know everything about KISS guitar picks, but maybe with many people contributing we can all learn a little more. Especially helpful would be stage photos from 1976 and earlier, as well as the Creatures tour that show in detail the guitar picks on mic stands. There is still quite a bit of debate to this day as to when specific picks came into use. Photos will be credited to the donator.       

Because of the need to organize the picks on this site, while at the same time leaving flexibility to insert newly discovered older picks (we can only hope), a distinct naming protocal will be used. Details on that protocal will be posted soon. I am sure that as this project moves forward the pages will morph as well.

KISS On Tour 1976
Alive! / Destroyer Tours

Customized KISS guitar picks first showed up on stage during the Alive tour late in 1975 for sure, but may have appeared even earlier. The first picks had the three guitarists names stamped on one side, but had no KISS logo. While the logo side of Gene’s pick was blank, the logo side of Paul and Ace’s pick for at least a short time had the name PASTORE, which was a music shop in New York. The Gene picks are somewhat easy to find, but the PASTORE picks are very difficult to locate.

"It is generally accepted that there were no customized guitar picks on the Destroyer tour, but that they returned on the Rock and Roll Over leg. I would love for someone to prove that wrong by sending documented Destroyer pictures that shows picks on the mic stands."

 UPDATE!
Thanks to David Cotterill for sending in this photo of Paul on the Destroyer tour with Pastore picks on his stand.

Paul Stanley - 001.01 Paul White Black 01.01 

Gene Simmons - 001.02 Gene White Black 01.01  

 
Ace Frehley - 001.03 Ace White Black 01.01
(I hate to start the site with a “recreation”, but that is what you are looking at. If you have a high quality scan or photo of this pick, please send it in to be added to the site.)

  
KISS On Tour
Rock And Roll Over Tour

It is generally accepted that there were no customized guitar picks on the Destroyer tour, but that they returned on the Rock and Roll Over leg. I would love for someone to prove that wrong by sending documented Destroyer pictures that shows picks on the mic stands.

Paul Stanley - 002.01 Paul White Black 01.01

Gene Simmons - 002.02 Gene White Black 01.01

Ace Frehley - 002.03 Ace White Black 01.01

World Tour ’77 & ‘78
Love Gun / Alive II tours

This tour marked the arrival of the first “signature” picks. There were still printed name picks in use on this tour at least until January 18, 1978. I attended the show that night and came away with Ace and Paul printed name picks.

Paul Stanley - 003.01 Paul White Black 01.02

Gene Simmons - 003.02 Gene White Black 01.02

Ace Frehley - 003.03 Ace White Black 01.02

 The Return of KISS
Dynasty tour

The new tour ushered in with it a new set of signatures on the guitar picks.

Paul Stanley - 004.01 Paul White Black 01.03

Gene Simmons - 004.02 Gene White Black 01.03

Ace Frehley - 004.03 Ace White Black 01.03

World Tour 1980-1981
Unmasked tour

The same signatures as the “Return of KISS” picks, but in bright silver

Paul Stanley - 005.01 Paul White Silver 01.03

Gene Simmons - 005.02 Gene White Silver 01.03

Ace Frehley - 005.03 Ace White Silver 01.03

10th Anniversary Tour
Creatures of the Night tour

There seems to be a large amount of confusion and disagreement over which picks were on this tour. I have been told the Ace pick was from this tour…and I have been told it was not. I have been told the tall silver logo’s are from this tour and the tall black logos were from the Lick It Up tour…and I have been told the Black logo’s were from this tour and the tall silver logo’s don’t exist. This is another example of where high quality photos of the mic stands would be great to post if available. Until then we are going to stick with the following listings for the Creature of the Night and the Lick It Up tours.

Paul Stanley - 006.01 Paul White Silver 01.03

Gene Simmons - 006.02 Gene White Silver 01.03

Ace Frehley - 006.03 Ace White Silver 01.03

Vinnie Vincent - 006.04 Vinnie White Silver 01.01

Paul Stanley - 006.01 Paul White Silver 02.02

Gene Simmons - 006.02 Gene White Silver 02.02

Vinnie Vincent - 006.04 Vinnie White Silver 02.02

Paul Stanley - 006.01 Paul White Black 03.02

Gene Simmons - 006.02 Gene White Black 03.02

Vinnie Vincent - 006.04 Vinnie White Black 01.02

 
World Tour 1983-1984
Lick It Up tour

The first of the makeup free tours.This tour saw the continued use of the white picks with black print featuring the tall logo, as well as the first nonwhite picks. Earlier picks, be they translucent, opaque, or bone, were some variation of white

 
Paul Stanley - 007.01 Paul Yellow Black 01.02

Gene Simmons - 007.02 Gene Yellow Black 01.02

Vinnie Vincent - 007.04 Vinnie Yellow Black 01.02

Paul Stanley - 007.01 Paul White Black 01.02

Gene Simmons - 007.02 Gene White Black 01.02

Vinnie Vincent - 007.04 Vinnie White Black 01.02

 

Animalize
World Tour 1984-85
With the staffing of the position in flux throughout the tour, the band decided to leave the signature side of the lead guitarists pick blank.
 

008.01 Paul White Black 01.02

008.02 Gene White Black 01.04

008.02 Gene White Black 02.02

008.05 Blank White Black 01.00

008.01 Paul White Gold 02.01
 

008.02 Gene White Gold 03.04

008.05 Blank White Gold 02.00

 

Asylum Tour

As the band jumped head first into the color spectrum, some of the most desired KISS come from this tour. The rarest seem to be the brown picks, which nearly are black in appearance. The white picks seem to not have the same supply and demand issues as the other colors, and are therefore generally less costly to buy at auction. We are in need of scans or photos of the brown picks.

009.01 Paul Blue Gold 01.02

009.02 Gene Blue Gold 01.04

009.03 Bruce Blue Gold 01.01

009.01 Paul Pink Gold 01.02

009.02 Gene Pink Gold 01.04

009.03 Bruce Pink Gold 01.01

009.01 Paul Red Gold 01.02

009.02 Gene Red Gold 01.04

009.03 Bruce Red Gold 01.01

009.01 Paul White Gold 01.02

009.02 Gene White Gold 01.04

009.03 Bruce White Gold 01.01

009.01 Paul Yellow Gold 01.02

009.02 Gene Yellow Gold 01.04

009.03 Bruce Yellow Gold 01.01

 

 

Crazy Nights

World Tour 1987-88

 

 
010.01 Paul White Gold 01.02

010.02 Gene White Gold 01.04

010.06 Bruce  White Gold 01.01

010.01 Paul White Silver 01.02

010.02 Gene White Silver 01.04

010.06 Bruce  White Silver 01.01

 

Hot In The Shade

World Tour 1990-91

 

There may be some production lot differences in the Gold print Crazy Night picks and the Hot In The Shade tour picks, but these picks are the same for both tours.

 

 
012.01 Paul White Gold 01.02

012.02 Gene White Gold 01.04

012.06 Bruce  White Gold 01.01

 

Revenge Club Tour

Fairly nondescript picks. There are two distinctly different Bruce Kulick signatures on his picks.

 
013.01 Paul White Black 01.02

013.02 Gene White Black 01.04

013.06 Bruce White Black 01.01

013.06 Bruce White Black 02.02

 

Revenge Arena Tour

Different picks sets than for the Revenge Club tour, with new signatures for Paul and Gene. Each member has a white pick with gold lettering, and a duller white. The differences are a little difficult to see online.

 
014.01 Paul White Gold 01.04

014.01 Paul White Gold 02.04

014.02 Gene White Gold 01.05

014.02 Gene White Gold 02.05

014.06 Bruce White Gold 01.01

014.06 Bruce Yellow Black 01.01

 

1^st Worldwide Convention

1995-96

Bruce used new picks designs for the conventions, while Paul (Revenge) and Gene (Crazy Nights and Hot In The Shade) simply used previous pick designs.

 
015.01 Paul  White Gold 01.04
Revenge pick

015.02 Gene White Gold 01.04
Crazy Nights pick

015.06 Bruce White Black 01.02

015.06 Bruce White Black 02.03

015.06 Bruce Yellow Black 01.02

015.06 Bruce Yellow Black 02.02

015.06 Bruce Yellow Black 03.02

 

 

Alive / Worldwide 96-97

The Reunion Tour

 

Welcome to the modern makeup era! This tour saw the reunion of the original four members take place. In many ways this tour was different than any that preceded it. Instead of touring in support of an album, the album You Wanted The Best You, You Got The Best was released to support the tour. This tour also ushered in the area of complex guitar pick variants. Never before had such minute variations in materials or coloration caused such a value difference in KISS guitar picks.   

 

 

016.01 Paul Black Block 01.04

 

016.01 Paul Black Fractured 02.04

 

016.01 Paul Black Increased Fracture 03.04

Rare hologram variant with an increased number of fractures.

 

 

016.01 Paul Glow Purple 01.05

 

016.01 Paul White Black 01.04

 

 

016.02 Gene White Black 01.05

 

016.02 Gene Off-White Black 02.05

 

016.02 Gene White Fractured 03.05

 

016.02 Gene White Increased Fracture Deeper Stamped Signature 04.05

 

016.03 Ace Rehearsal 01.04

 

 

Here is one of my pick stories. Hopefully there is some useful information for others in the tale.

 

One of the rarest KISS tour picks never actually made it out on tour. The story goes that in 1996 as a gesture to welcome Ace Frehley back into the band, white picks with a fractured hologram KISS logo and Ace’s signature were waiting for him at the first rehearsals. I distinctly remember hearing of these picks at the time, and doing my best to track one down for my collection, to no avail. My picks from this tour were coming from sources closely connected to the band. I knew several people that had them, but no one had any extra to sell or trade, not even the source who sold me and a buddy a couple of Ace’s orange picks for $15 each (and then tried to buy them back about a month later for $100 each). Bottom line is that there were very few of these picks made.

 

I continued my search over the next four years, and then gave up in 2000 when what appeared to be identical picks were issued for the Farewell tour. The colors are identical, as are the thickness (.03”), width (.05”) and height of the pick (.22”). The logos are identical sizes as well (.68” wide x .32” tall). The only positive news I heard from the beginning was that despite both being fractured styles the hologram patterns were different.

 

Flash forward to October 2008 when the world financial markets crashed. While looking through Ebay I found my pick. I did a ton of research on the pick and the seller, talked to trusted friends, and pulled the trigger on the auction. One of the things that convinced me this was a legitimate seller was that he had a full set of tall silver logo Creatures picks for sale as well. This was literally within weeks of the meltdown at a time even the rich had no money. Because of other potential buyer’s apprehension of the authenticity of the pick and their financial instability I was able to win the auction for less than $250. In today’s market this is at least a $400 pick, just because that seems to be about all the market will bear for a KISS pick. I would never let it go at twice that price.  

 

 

016.03 Ace Rehearsal vs Farewell

Left side: Rehearsal Pick. Right Side: Farewell Tour pick. Once the hologram cuts are highlighted in color the differences become pronounced. Note the increased number of fractures in the Farewell pick. Even with these differences, to this day I do not allow my Rehearsal and Farewell picks to be out of their cases at the same time for fear they will get mixed up.

 

 

016.03 Ace Black Block 01.04

 

016.03 Ace Black Fractured 02.04

 

016.03 Ace Blue Block 01.04

 

016.03 Ace Blue Fractured 02.04

 

016.03 Ace Blue Herringbone 03.04

This Pick is a Counterfeit! These herringbone design holograms did not appear until the tour was over.

 

016.03 Ace Glow Black 01.04

 

016.03 Ace Glow Blue 02.04

 

016.03 Ace Green Herringbone 01.04

This Pick is a Counterfeit! These herringbone design holograms did not appear until the tour was over.

 

016.03 Ace Orange Fractured 01.04

A true Holy Grail among KISS pick collectors. Used only during the July 24-281996 Madison Square Garden concert stand.

 

016.03 Ace Pink Block 01.04

 

016.03 Ace Pink Dot 03.04

 

016.03 Ace Pink Fractured 02.04

 

016.03 Ace Red Fractured 01.04

 

016.03 Ace Red Herringbone 01.04

This Pick is a Counterfeit! These herringbone design holograms did not appear until the tour was over.

 

016.03 Ace White Black 01.04

 

016.03 Ace White Block 02.04

 

016.03 Ace White Fractured 03.04

 

016.07 Peter Green white 01.01

 

016.07 Peter Green white 02.01

This pick variant is a lighter shade of green

 

 

 

World Tour 1998-1999

Psycho Circus 

Welcome to the show! This tour had more prototype guitar picks surface than any before or since. We will start with the tour used picks.

 

 

019.01Paul White Black 01.05

 

019.01Paul White Dot 03.05

Here is a rare pick variant that does not seem to get the publicity it deserves.

 

019.01Paul White Glitter 02.05

 

019.01Paul White Linked 04.05

 

019.02 Gene White Black 01.04

 

019.03 Ace Blue Camo 01.04

 

019.03 Ace Blue Dot 02.04

 

019.03 Ace Blue Linked 03.04

 

019.03 Ace White Dot 02.04

 

019.03 Ace White Glitter 01.04

 

019.03 Ace White Linked 03.04

 

019.07 Peter Green White 01.01

  

Psycho-Circus 

 1998-2000

World Wide

 

These guitar picks were designed for an extended Psycho Circus tour of the world. 

 

020.01 Paul Black Camo 03.05

 

020.01 Paul Black Green Blue 01.05

 

020.01 Paul Black Wine 02.05

 

020.01 Paul Blue Camo 01.05

 

020.01 Paul Magenta Black 03.05

 

020.01 Paul Magenta Glitter 01.05

 

020.01 Paul Magenta Green Blue 02.05

 

020.01 Paul Red Blue 01.05

 

020.01 Paul Red Glitter 02.05

 

020.01 Paul White Black 04.05

 

020.01 Paul White Burgandy 01.05

 

020.01 Paul White Camo 03.05

 

020.01 Paul White Glitter 02.05

 

020.01 Paul White Maroon 05.05

 

020.01 Paul Yellow Green 01.05

 

020.02 Gene Black Glitter 01.04

 

020.02 Gene Black Green Blue 02.04

 

020.02 Gene Blue Red Green 01.04

 

020.02 Gene Magenta  Glitter 02.04

 

020.02 Gene Magenta  Green Blue 01.04

 

020.02 Gene Red Black 01.04

 

020.02 Gene White Blue 03.04

 

020.02 Gene White Camo 01.04

 

020.02 Gene White Green 02.04

 

020.02 Gene Yellow Black 02.04

 

020.02 Gene Yellow Camo 02.04

 

020.02 Gene Yellow Glitter 01.04

 

020.02 Gene Yellow Green 03.04

 

020.03 Ace Black Camo 02.04

 

020.03 Ace Black Green Blue 03.04

 

020.03 Ace Black Red and  Yellow 01.04

 

020.03 Ace Blue Glitter 01.04

 

020.03 Ace Magenta Glitter 01.04

 

020.03 Ace Red Glitter 01.04

 

020.03 Ace Red Green Blue 02.04

 

020.03 Ace Red Gold 03.04

 

020.03 Ace White Burgandy 01.04

 

020.03 Ace White Glitter 03.04

 

020.03 Ace White Green Blue 02.04
 

 

Farewell Tour

2000-2001

Ultra successful final tour (to date) with Peter Criss and Ace Frehley

 

021.01 Paul White Black 01.04

021.01 Paul White Black 02.06

021.01 Paul White Black 03.06

021.01 Paul White Black 04.06

021.01 Paul White Black 05.05

021.01 Paul White Black 06.05

021.02 Gene White Black 01.06

021.02 Gene White Black 02.06

021.03 Ace Blue Fractured 01.04

021.03 Ace Blue Glitter 02.04

021.03 Ace Blue Linked 03.04

021.03 Ace Purple White 01.05

021.03 Ace White Black 01.05

021.03 Ace White Black 02.04

021.03 Ace White Black 03.04

021.03 Ace White Fractured 04.04
Left side: Rehearsal Pick. Right Side: Farewell Tour pick. Once the hologram cuts are highlighted in color the differences become pronounced. Note the increased number of fractures in the Farewell pick.
021.03 Ace Rehersal vs Farewell

021.03 Ace White Glitter 05.04

021.03 Ace White Linked 06.04

021.04 Peter Green White 01.02

021.04 Peter Green White 02.01

021.04 Peter Green White 03.03

021.04 Peter Green White 04.03 A little darker variant 

 
021.04 Peter Green White 05.01
This pick and the next four show a gradual color change from Green to light Blue

021.04 Peter Green White 06.01

021.04 Peter Green White 07.02

021.04 Peter Green White 08.02

021.04 Peter Green White 09.02

021.05 Eric Black Silver 01.01

021.05 Eric Black Silver 02.01

021.05 Eric Black Silver 03.01

021.05 Eric White Black Green 01.01

021.05 Eric White Black Green 02.01

021.05 Eric White Black Green 03.01

021.05 Eric White Black Green 04.01

021.05 Eric White Black 01.01

World Domination Tour

2003

First tour with Tommy Thayer on lead guitar

023.01 Paul White Black 01.05

023.01 Paul White Black 02.05

023.01 Paul White Black 03.05

023.01 Paul White Silver 01.05

023.02 Gene Gray 01.00

023.02 Gene White Black 01.06

023.06 Peter Green White 01.02

023.06 Peter Green White 02.02

023.08 Tommy White Black 01.01

023.08 Tommy White Black 02.01 

Rock The NationTour

2004

024.01 Paul Black Silver 01.05

024.01 Paul White Red 01.05

024.01 Paul White Silver 02.05

024.02 Gene Gray 01.00

024.07 Eric Black Silver 01.01

024.08 Tommy Black White 01.01

024.08 Tommy Black White 02.01
Note the thicker print

024.08 Tommy White Black 01.01

Rockin The Corps

2005

025.01 Paul White Camo 01.05

Hondafest

2005

 

026.01 Paul White Silver 01.05

 

026.02 Gene Gray 01.00

026.02 Gene White Black 01.06

026.08 Tommy White Black 01.01

 

 

Rising Sun Tour

2006

 

027.01 Paul White Purple 01.05

027.02 Gene Gray 01.00

027.02 Gene White Black 01.07

027.07 Eric Purple White 01.01

027.08 Tommy White Black 02.01

 

 

Hit N Run Tour

2007

 

029.01 Paul White Red 01.05

 

029.01 Paul White Silver 02.05
This IS silver. It scans as Black

 

029.02 Gene Gray 01.00

 

029.08 Tommy Black Yellow 01.01

 

Alive 35

2008-2009

 
 030.01 Paul Orange Black 01.05

030.01 Paul Pearl Red 01.05

030.01 Paul White Black 01.06

030.01 Paul White Black 02.06

030.01 Paul White Black 03.06

030.01 Paul White Black 04.06

030.01 Paul White Black 05.05

030.01 Paul White Red 01.06

030.01 Paul White Silver 01.05

030.02 Gene Gray 01.00

030.02 Gene Gray 02.06

030.02 Gene Gray 03.06

030.07 Eric Gray White 01.01

030.07 Eric Yellow Purple 01.01

030.08 Tommy Black Yellow 01.01

030.08 Tommy Blue Silver 01.01

030.08 Tommy Orange Black 01.01

030.08 Tommy Pearl Blue 01.01

030.08 Tommy White Black 01.01

030.08 Tommy White Black 02.01

030.08 Tommy White Black 03.01

030.08 Tommy White Black 04.01

030.08 Tommy White Red 01.01

 

Sonic Boom Tour

2010

 031.01 Paul White Black 01.06

031.02 Gene Gray 01.06

031.02 Gene Gray 02.06

031.02 Gene White Black 01.06

031.07 Eric Purple Silver 01.1

031.07 Eric White Black 01.01

031.07 Eric White Red 01.01

031.08 Tommy White Black 01.01

 

Hottest Show On Earth Tour

2010

032.01 Paul White Black 01.06

032.02 Gene Gray 01.06

032.02 Gene Gray 02.06

032.02 Gene White Black 01.06

032.07 Eric White Black 01.01

032.08 Tommy White Black 01.01

 

 

 

  

MORE TO COME SOON!