From: John Stone
I had waited nearly a month. A months wait to see KISS at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, CA, with what I had built up in my mind to be the worst seats in the house. Section 438, Terrace Level. I was furious as to the fact that I would be seated so far away from the greatest rock and roll band on Earth, in what I had built up in my mind to be the concert event of this, or any other, millenium. The moment they graced the stage, the entire arena was in awe. The lights, the pyrotechnics, and most importantly, the music. This was my first time seeing an honest to god band play live, other than the occasional local show. For weeks I had anticipated this moment, and what actually came to be was more than a few hours of great music. It was a gift from the greatest rock and roll band on Earth that will never be forgotten.

I accompanied my girlfriend Nedda, my two best friends, her mother, my brother and his girlfriend, and my father to the show. We had arrived at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim at around 5:00 p.m. Two hours left until the opening band, Skid Row, would take the stage. Ample time to eat, find our seats, and await the moment that the Gods Of Rock would set the stage on fire. We spent a half an hour wandering around, trying to find a way in. By the time we did, we realized that it was not yet open to the public, and we had started a line that wrapped around the front of the Pond, for about a block and a half.

We waited in line for at least an hour, finally being let in to find our seats. Once we did, we sat. And waited. And waited. And waited. Once we had gotten to the seats, gazing across the sea of literally thousands and thousands of fans, I realized that the view of the stage was actually pretty damn good. Finally, the opening band took the stage. Skid Row. Never in my life have I seen so much washed up garbage, not even on the beach. It was a harrowing thirty minutes that we had to wait for them to finish their set and walk off. But believe me my friends when I tell you it was worth the wait. I have never been so relieved in my entire life.

After a brief intermission, the Motor City Madman took the stage. That's right boils and ghouls, Ted Nugent himself! Ted seemed to be happier and healthier than ever, belting out bone crunching guitar riffs and banshee-esque wails that would send a chill down the spine of Satan himself. The highlight of his performance was his live "Kiss My Ass", one of the true memorable moments of the evening. "Governor Grey Davis and Diane Feinstein can suck my dick, Janet Reno Is A Whore!". He then went on performing some classic Nuge tunes, such as Great White Buffalo, Cat Scratch Fever, and the crowd favorite, Stranglehold. He fnished off the set by firing a flaming arrow into his guitar, sending what he called his "sacrifice" bursting into flames. Such an advance from the previous act, Ted really set the stage for what was to come.

Next were probably the longest thirty minutes of my life. Awaiting in sheer anxiety for KISS to take flight. I waited in a line for the mens bathroom that would put any ladies room wait to shame. I returned to my seat, and I waited for what seemed like hours. After about fifteen minutes, the tech crew lowered a black curtain to conceal the stage, with a giant silver KISS logo right in front. The crowd went wild. Again, we waited for what seemed like an eternity, until finally... the lights went out, the crowd roared, and the curtain fell. Four costumed characters stood on a platform, adorned in their traditional kabuki style makeup, that slowly lowered on stage. The music began, and KISS belted out an excellent rendition of their classic Detroit Rock City! The crowd stood and cheered non stop through the song, and into the next, Shout It Out Loud. KISS was in top form, and nothing could stop them. Nothing could stop me from the state of euphoria I was in, not until... I heard ! a gagging sound. I turned around, and someone behind us was vomiting all over myself and my girlfriend, Nedda. My back, my arm, and my hair, covered in drunk, frat boy puke. I was horrified. I quickly got out of my seat and headed for the exit, to wash off as soon as possible.

We complained to the head of security for that wing of the arena, but were only told that we either had to sit in the mess, have it cleaned, or sit behind the stage. What?! Behind the stage! I didn't pay $45 a ticket to sit behind the stage you bitch, kick them out and clean it up! No, we had to either sit behind the stage or find whatever empty seats we could. So be it, we headed off in search of seats before we missed any more of the show. We found two empty seats next to my two best friends, which we stayed in for the remainder of the show. Nedda's mother found an empty seat right in front of us. My father was not so luckly, and opted to wait in the hall. To his credit, the sound quality was alot better out there anyway. I had made it back in time to hear Gene performing one of my favorites, God Of Thunder, and from that moment I had completely forgotten what had previously happened and remained in a state of awe throughout the evening.

KISS ripped and roared through a performance nothing short of miraculous. Detroit Rock City, Shout It Out Loud, Deuce, I Love It Loud, Shock Me, Do You Love Me, Calling Dr. Love, Firehouse, Heavens On Fire, Let Me Go Rock And Roll, Psycho Circus, 2000 Man (to which Ace performed a stellar solo, consisting of Hard Times, Parasite, and more), Lick It Up, God Of Thunder, Cold Gin, Love Gun, 100,000 Years, Black Diamond, and the encore consisting of Beth and Rock And Roll All Nite. I'm not 100% sure if that is the exact order the songs were in, for I was far too occupied basking in the sheer glory of seeing KISS live. I Stole Your Love was dropped from the encore, and Paul also performed an excellent solo in which he twanged the opening notes of Forever, to which the crowd went wild. Everyone was just slightly disappointed, however, when the band failed to include the song in the rest of the set. A minor setback in an evening of indefinite magnificence.

Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss gave it all they had, and sounded as fresh as they did twenty years ago. Their performance was played to a perfect T, despite the few minor technical difficulties that occured, such as Gene Simmons being whisked into the air, and lowered back on stage, only to get stuck a foot aobve the ground, having a box placed under him to stand on so he could play away. Not to mention Paul Stanley being lifted in the air to the performance of Love Gun. The crowd went wild, waiting for Paul to join them, only to have him get stuck a few rows out off the stage. Gene sang the first few lines while the crew desperately struggled to save Paul from toppling in to the audience. He was then pulled back on stage, where he displayed his disgust with the situation. "That really makes me very unhappy. I was really hoping to come down there and sing it with all of you. But lets just pretend I'm down there, while I'm really up here." To which he belted out an excellent rendition of Love Gun.

The set ended with their rousing performance of Black Diamond. The pyrotechnics went crazy, and Peter Criss' drum mound was raised into the air, revealing two rabid looking cat murals painted in front. Two extremely large, whirling sparkler wheels rapidly turned from his drum set, sending sparks flying across the stage. It was an amazing stage show that no other band on the face of this once green Earth will ever be able to reproduce live. The lights began flashing, fireworks went off, and KISS had bid a final farewell to southern California, before going into an encore that sent confetti sailing throughout the arena.

A perfect ending to an otherwise fantastic evening, forgetting of course the barf bath I and Nedda were given by the alcohol obsessed pretty boy behind us. KISS proved to everyone that they truely are the Gods Of Rock And Roll, and gave us, the KISS Army, a night we will never forget...

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