Black Diamond
by Kiss

Album: Kiss (1974)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Kiss closed their eponymous first album with this track. The band would often play "Black Diamond" as the closing number of their early concerts.
  • Paul Stanley told Classic Rock magazine: "'Black Diamond' was a song that I wrote about New York. New York was very dear to us, and life there was all we could write about. Seeing hookers on the street, whether we lived it, we saw it and it kind of gave us something to fantasize about."

Comments: 4

  • Dan from UsaWrong--the release date for "KISS" was Feb 18, 1974. The release date for "Hotter Than Hell" was Oct 22, 1974. It was not at all uncommon in that era for bands to crank out product rapidly like that, in order to maintain a constant presence in the charts.
  • Ghostryder from KyThe first album was released on February 18, 1974.
  • Debby from UsaThe album was released in 1973, not 1974. 1974 saw the release of Hotter Than Hell.
    The Kiss self titled LP contains Black Diamond, Nothin' To Lose and Firehouse.
  • Debby from UsaBlack Diamond is about a black female prostitute.
    The song is sung by both Paul Stanley and Peter Criss together.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Facebook, Bromance and Email - The First Songs To Use New Words

Facebook, Bromance and Email - The First Songs To Use New WordsSong Writing

Where words like "email," "thirsty," "Twitter" and "gangsta" first showed up in songs, and which songs popularized them.

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.