Black Diamond (Kiss song)

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"Black Diamond" is a song by American hard rock band Kiss, written by rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley. "'Black Diamond' was written almost exactly as it is," he said, "except that the riff wasn't there; Gene [Simmons] brought that part in … It's all about arrangement and embellishment. That's what you're supposed to do in a band: come in and add something. But that doesn't mean you wrote the song."^[1]

The song is the closing track on the band's eponymous first album, Kiss, released in 1974. It begins with an acoustic opening sung by Stanley before a furious riff enters, accompanied by Peter Criss on lead vocals. It ends with Ace Frehley's solo, then one chord repeated during a gradual slowing of the tape. The live version is usually sped up in tempo, combined with stage pyrotechnics and a rising drum platform.

"Black Diamond" has appeared on the following Kiss albums:

• Kiss - studio version
• Alive! - live version
• The Originals - studio version
• Double Platinum - remixed & edited studio version
• The Box Set - studio version
• Kiss Symphony: Alive IV - live version
• Gold - studio version
• Kiss Alive! 1975–2000 - Alive! version + new live version
• Sonic Boom - new studio version

• The Replacements did a version on their 1984 album Let It Be. A live recording from 1986 was featured on the 2017 album For Sale: Live at Maxwell's 1986.
• Yoshiki from the Japanese rock band X Japan created an arrangement of "Black Diamond" for a 72-piece orchestra on 1994's Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved tribute album.
• Black Diamond Brigade, a Norwegian American super group featuring Billy Gould of Faith No More and members of Satyricon, Euroboys, Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band, and Amulet formed as a one-off project just to cover this song in 2003.

• Peter Criss – lead vocals, drums
• Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, intro lead vocals
• Ace Frehley – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Gene Simmons – bass, backing vocals

1. ^ Pearl Jam, retrieved (Feb. 16, 2008). Pearl Jam Set List, 8-2-2007 "Pearljam.com".