From: Darryl Boyd
I have been a KISS fan since 1975. When I first got KISS Alive! When I was about 11 years old, I was hooked. I credit KISS with influencing me to become a guitar player at a young age, and they were a huge influence on the bands I played in, and I have always remained a loyal fan.
I was the first person in line at my local Ticket Master when tickets went on sale for the Dodger Stadium show. I wound up with seats in Section B5 row 15 which was about 21 rows from the stage, so I was very happy with the tickets I got for $55 and had been anxiously awaiting for this show. I was also at the press conference at the Chinese Theatre and got to hear and see the album and video premier. I was very impressed and I was even more excited about this show after that. What I have to say now may piss some fans off, but I'm tellin' it as I saw and heard it.
I wanted the best and I didn't get it. What I heard and saw this past Saturday night at Dodger Stadium was a huge disappointment to me. I wish my heroes would have put a little more time and rehearsal into their musical performance, and less time hyping this show and tour, and all of the 3D effects.
The fact is KISS really sounded like shit that night. Peter played the weakest drum solo I have heard in my life. Ace was either drunk off his ass, or has just lost it completely. His guitar solo was a joke. He was totally lost through out it. His fingers were just stumbling all over the place. I felt like a cheer leader standing there saying "C'mon Ace, you can do it!" His smoking guitar didn't work, and he had to get another one. He commented "This one's too young to smoke."
The band was out of tune for probably about the last 4 or 5 songs of the show. I couldn't believe they didn't get tuned up or get different guitars after they were out of tune for even 1 song. Black Diamond with no pyro and a real shitty ending. Only 3 songs from Psycho Circus. I really think they have a great new album and should have done a few more songs from it. The set list was not much different than the reunion tour. And how about those wigs glued tightly to their scalps? Even Hurricane Mitch couldn't blow those things off. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing.
I have been to KISS shows in the 70's, 80's, early 90's. The Weenie Roast and Irvine Nov. 1st, 1996 reunion shows were much better than this from a musical stand point. I paid $250 per ticket for 1st and 3rd row seats on those reunion shows and it was well worth it. Thank God I kept my money in my pocket this time and only paid $55.
Not a bad show from a visual stand point, but I hope that the guy's get it together musically for the rest of the tour, and include some additional songs from the new album. I will still see them again on this tour probably when they play in Las Vegas. Hopefully I get the best next time I see them.