Black Diamond

A 1974 Kiss track about street prostitution featuring an acoustic intro by Paul Stanley, lead vocals by Peter Criss, and a tape-slowing outro.

"Black Diamond" is a song by American hard rock band Kiss, written by rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley. The lyrics focus on street prostitution. It serves as the closing track on the band's eponymous first album, Kiss, released in 1974. The composition begins with an acoustic opening sung by Stanley before a furious riff enters, accompanied by Peter Criss on lead vocals. The song concludes with Ace Frehley's solo, followed by one chord repeated during a gradual slowing of the tape. Live versions are usually sped up in tempo and combined with stage pyrotechnics and a rising drum platform.

Quick Facts

Artist: Kiss
Released: February 18, 1974
Recorded: November 1973
Genre: Hard rock; heavy metal
Length: 5:12
Label: Casablanca
Writer: Paul Stanley
Producer: Kenny Kerner, Richie Wise

Lore & Background

The creation of "Black Diamond" highlights the collaborative arrangement process within the band. Paul Stanley wrote the song almost exactly as it appears, noting that the iconic riff was not originally part of his composition; Gene Simmons brought that specific part in. Stanley emphasized that while the band members add something to every track through embellishment and arrangement, this does not mean they wrote the song itself. The lyrical content diverges from typical rock themes by focusing directly on street prostitution. In terms of personnel, Peter Criss handles lead vocals and drums, Paul Stanley contributes rhythm guitar, backing vocals, and the intro lead vocals, Ace Frehley plays lead guitar and backing vocals, and Gene Simmons provides bass and backing vocals.

Reader's Guide

Fans can trace "Black Diamond" through numerous releases beyond the original 1974 album Kiss. The song appears in its studio form on Double Platinum (remixed & edited), The Box Set, Gold, The Originals, and Sonic Boom. Live iterations are available on Alive! and Kiss Symphony: Alive IV, with a specific compilation of the Alive! version plus a new live recording found on Kiss Alive! 1975–2000. Cover versions include a 1984 rendition by The Replacements on Let It Be, a live recording from 1986 featured on their 2017 album For Sale: Live at Maxwell's 1986, and an orchestral arrangement by Yoshiki of X Japan for the 1994 tribute album Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved. Additionally, Black Diamond Brigade formed in 2003 as a one-off project specifically to cover this song.