From: J. KISSFAN
I’ve been to seven Kiss shows over the years and by far this was one of the most entertaining shows that I have had the privilege to see. I’ve never commented on any of the other shows, but I felt since this was the last show that I will ever attend I should say something. I’ve been a fan since 1987, and to be honest, I never knew about the mystery of the makeup years at that point. Although I new that it was in their past, it was the only thing I new. When I picked up an older record and listened to I was hooked and then the constant research and knowledge of the band was all I wanted to do. After many years and through many incarnations I’ve stayed a true and loyal fan. I’ve tried to see every show that was in the area and all I can say is no one can do it like Kiss. My first Kiss experience was a show in Kalamazoo, Michigan on the revenge tour. I had a ball and I told myself I wouldn’t miss another tour as long as the group was around. After that were three shows on the reunion tour, a psycho circus show and, two shows on the farewell tour. I also saw Union at Peppers nightclub a few years back, and Ace and Peter on the Bad Boys Tour in 1996. That was a great show not many people had shown up, but I had a great time. To my surprise I was the only one there with make up on and I stayed right in the front row. Ace smoked his guitar right in my face it was great.

On the reunion shows everyone was having a great time and the shows complimented that. On the psycho circus tour the show was kind of lame and everyone looked like they were only their for the money. The first farewell tour show I attended was at Grand Rapids, Michigan. And it was a good show they seemed to have a good time but Peter was showing signs that he was tired. During the show you could see him sigh and he wasn’t hitting the drums with much power. It was a kind of a disappointment in my eyes to see parts of the band look and act as old as they are, even though you don’t want to admit it. I was hesitant on going to the East Lansing show because I thought that the show could get worse with all the touring that they were doing considering how much it must take out of them. I wanted to remember them in the best form that I could, so it was a toss up. But as all diehard Kiss fans you have to support your favorite band no matter what. And so I went.

Getting to Michigan State University was easy enough but we ended up getting there a little late. There was an opening act in front of Skid Row but I don’t know who the hell it was and I didn’t care I was there to see Kiss. I picked up a few shirts I loved the Dressed to Kill shirt but they weren’t carrying any in 2x which pissed me off, that has always been my favorite album cover. I bought two other shirts that they had and a cool Mylar poster. We sat through Skid Row which were alright, but they are not my favorite band and personally I thought they could have picked a better band to go out on tour with Ted wasn’t there this time and he always puts on a great show. There were a lot of people dressed up and with make up on. There was a family dress up like kiss in the dynasty era costumes and they did a great job with them. When the Who came on I knew it wasn’t long before they came on and that made me anxious. The curtain fell and the crowd went nuts. When Kiss came out it was great the crowd was into it. Detroit Rock City started it off and the only misshap was Ace guitar wasn’t fully in tune and he tried to fix it while he played. This night Ace was phonomenal with his guitar playing never missed a note. Usually during his solo the theme from 2001 doesn’t sound very good but tonight it was great I’m not sure why either but it sounded perfect. He smoked his guitar and shot rockets at the light trus. Gene was having a great night as well. His bass playing was great and they had the volume turned up more than usual it seemed to me which sounded great. His blood spitting act was the best I’ve seen yet very groosum and wicked only the way Gene knows. I watched an older woman that was down in front of me actually put her hands over her eyes, with her mouth wide open, and as Kiss can do by the end where he flies up to the ceiling she clapping and yelling because of the thrill. In the front row a chick gave Gene her bra and like Gene he flirted with her all night. Imagine that. Paul was great as always saying the usual things and justfying the price of ticket to everyone. The women were trying to have his children and Paul was the showman. He flew to the middle of the arena like before during love gun. It was a great show for him. Now for the main reason that I thought it was the best Kiss show that I’ve seen was Peter Criss. Now I’ve always been a diehard Ace fan but that night it was Peter. He was hitting and playing drums like an animal. He using some great fills during songs that were terific. During 100,000 years he did his fills when paul talks and sounded like Alive 1. The Peter on Alive 1 was very close to the Peter on this night. The only problem was tha during Firehouse when he makes it sound like a fire alarm he forgot to do it and Ace pointed to him and shook his hand to show him to do it. Peter jumpped over and did it with out much of a problem.

The guys that night were laughing and screwing around like they were in their 20’s again. Its too bad they have to leave us, but its understandable. I’m sure there will never be anything like Kiss in the future. They are their own element in society. They will always be the HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORD!

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