From: Dan
There is not much here that can be covered that has not already been said.

But rather a personal opinion than a review of the show.

Missed the skids as so many others have...

Ted was in rare form, sounding excellent & running off at the mouth as we have come to know him to do...May 24th he closed the show with Great White Buffalo, then for the encore played Fred Bear...the 25th he threw in a bit of a change & closed with Fred Bear, then the encore was Great White Buffalo & Ted came out riding upon a buffalo...was awsome...another thing that Ted did throw in that was kinda cool (& was not at the Toledo show) was a gas campfire...

Then came time for the boys...

The "Who" blasting thru the speakers announcing to all in the concourse that the show was about to start...get your final beer & hit the bathroom, or miss it.

The set list did not vary...

The gags were all the same, and went off without a hitch.

The conversation with the audience was also the same.

The music was excellent, the boys were all on & appeared to have a great time with the show, the all looked excellent.

What appeared to be different however was the feeling...as I looked about the Palace, very few people were observed to be sitting for the nearly 2 1/2hr. performance...

And there was this feeling about the arena....almost of a somber,party like attitude.

I mean how do you come to say good-by & "celebrate" the past 27 years? As the show winded to a close...the final bombs from Black Diamond ringing in my head, the closing melody of Beth ("me & the boys will be playing...all night......")& the final parting comments from the Starchild thanking people for making it happen for them...people were observed to be toasting KISS, each other & embracing.

And for one "final" time we were treated to the "rock -n-roll national anthem", the confetti (tons of it!), the pyro, the levitating platforms..."Detroit, we will never forget you, Good Night!"

And it was over.

As I sat in my seat & the lights came up...many were scampering to the exits...however many were also not...they, like me were just sitting & watching...watching the stage being cleared, the smoke leaving the Palace...the Palace employees made no overt efforts as in the past to "push" you out...

I couldn't help but feel as though a part of my childhood had just come to a close...all of the collectibles, past halloweens dressing like the demon...all of the past shows & the excitement that came with them...nearly 25 years of music & fantasy for me...

Like so many others I am sure, I have never gotten a front row ticket...or came to anything close...never cought a firehat, or smashed guitar or guitar pick, drumstick, or anything else that had been "given" away (and I am sure with the pending auction that only those with big $ will be able to afford anything substancial).

But was never the less important to attend each & every show...

To Gene, Paul, Peter & Ace, should you ever stumble across this minor thread...I would just like to say thank-you...

Even with all of the controversy, marketing, hype & glory, rarely will we see the likes of another KISS, you were surely one of a kind.

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