Liza Mitchell
There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who wear the band t-shirt to the concert of said band and those who don’t. KISS fans don’t subscribe to either camp. They don’t just wear the t-shirt. They celebrate the spectacle that is Kiss by becoming part of the circus themselves in face paint, wigs, bat wings and sky-high platform boots. The End of the World Tour staged Friday at the Veterans Memorial Arena did not disappoint. Thousands of fans from all generations turned out in a parade of sublime people watching to bid farewell to the glam, chaos and mayhem that is KISS.
And KISS more than gave the fans what they came for. With only two original members – Paul Stanley as the Starchild and the Demon himself Gene Simmons wagging that famous tongue – the band kicked things off with classic “Detroit Rock City” as they descended on individual platforms in harmony to an explosive chorus of smoke and flames.
“How you doin,’ Jacksonville?” screeched Stanley, hamming it up in his role as master of ceremonies in a thick New York accent that at times sounded like an exaggerated version of the crook on the Safe Touch radio commercials. “It’s Friday night – the ‘End of the Road’ tour. We’ve been coming here since we played the Coliseum in 1975!”
KISS whipped fans into a fist pumping frenzy with an elaborate production that featured hits from all eras – the 70’s classic “Cold Gin” and “Deuce”, 80’s fan favorites “Lick It Up” and 2009’s “Say Yeah,” closing out the show with the anthem “Rock and Roll All Nite.”
There was no shortage of familiar pageantry from the opening pyrotechnics and fog machines with Stanley ziplining over the crowd and Simmons’ fire-breathing on “War Machine” and mouth-dripping blood during the intro for “God of Thunder.” The graphics that accompanied songs like “Psycho Circus,” while a little dated, gave the larger than life stage show a campy throwback feel. “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” is the perfect example of how a confusing detour into disco can be appreciated with nostalgic reverence for its campy appeal even in a stripped-down version.
Clips from the band’s early years played on a big screen behind the band who often mirrored the moves from the screen on the stage. Lead guitarist Tommy Thayer adopted the “Spaceman” persona first created by Ace Frehley was a capable player and showman, shooting flames from the neck of his guitar. Drummer Eric Singer in role Peter Criss originated and later held by Eric Carr as the Catman had his moments with a drum solo that showcased his nimble foot skills and a solo vocal turn during the band’s encore on the classic ballad “Beth.”
After 40 plus years performing in gravity-defying platform heels, there’s bound to be some wear and tear. Seated in the arena’s second tier, the heat of the pyrotechnics was intense and the screens captured some unforgiving close ups of Simmons and Stanley powering through with rivers of sweat cascading through layers of white face paint. Stanley’s vocals strained at times but surface scratches aside, The End of the World Tour was a show for the ages and the end of an era for the Gods of Arena Rock.
This isn’t the band’s first “farewell” tour. It’s been a lucrative ride with over 25 million albums sold and merch ranging from a $50 t-shirt to $225 for a denim jacket with KISS patches that better be lined with gold at that price. But if this truly is the end of the road for KISS as the name of the tour suggests, Simmons and Stanley, who are both pushing 70, are going out with a bang. Fans asked for the best and the members of KISS gave their best and more to a loyal army of dedicated veterans and eager new recruits, proving once and for all how they became the one of the biggest rock bands in the world and why they deserve to be remembered as such.
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