Michael from Muckrock writes, “Before rock legends KISS embarked on their 1980 ‘Unmasked’ Tour of Europe, then FBI Director William H. Webster put out a request to field offices for information regarding instances of ‘civil unrest’ associated with the band’s concerts, particularly an incident in Texas which escalated to open attacks on police. The field officers’ response was unanimous – they had no idea what the Director was talking about. That and more details await in the FBI’s files on KISS.”
So where did these unsubstantiated rumors come from, anyway? The San Antonio field office helpfully suggested that the Director might have been thinking of The Who, and their infamous 1979 concert in Cincinnati, where 11 people were trampled to death.
So, what are we left with? KISS is not The Who, Texas is not Ohio, and inciting an angry mob to take arms against authority is not a tragic accident caused by poor planning and festival seating. Domestic intelligence gathering at its finest.
Partners in Crime: FBI files on KISS [JPat Brown/Muckrock]
