From: Ren
The crowd outside was watching as fans without tickets were trying to win some from the local radio station. Two girls made out atop of a van for around 1/2 an hour to get front rows seats. Another fan got a tatoo right then & there. Inside people were forced to listen to Serial Joe & Skid Row. In my opinion the bass for both bands was drowning out every thing else.

During the changeover the Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" played at the extended part of that song it got louder until... the Roger Daltry scream That's when a HUGE KISS banner dropped. Needless to say Hamilton went nuts. KISS made their way onstage soon after that decending form the roof on a smoke spewing contraption. It was great. Detroit Rock City blared throughout the Copps Coiseum. From there it was one great KISS song after another. It was just like a LIVE Greatest hits package.

The show did not go on without it's problems though. Ace's smoking Les Paul didn't give off as smoke as he would have liked. After he got back onstage after it assended to the roof he mentioned to the crowd that it didn't work properly & that he had only had it 3 years. Again one of Ace's effects didn't work while he shot his rocket firing guitar. The first went of to the desired effect the second went off, but it didn't get the prop to explode. Instead it just fell from the ceiling once it hit the ground you saw the confetti come out. Peter never did a drum solo.

Being a fan for most of my life. 23 years to be exact. I was thrilled to see the greatest band, the greatest showmen in rock history once again prove Gene right when he says that KISS is going to show the other bands out there HOW THE BIG BOYS DO IT!!! The non- orignal line up songs went well. I felt that Peter was a little off during Heaven's On Fire though. Paul was in fine form. The banter between songs was cool. He told the crowd that they were asked to come back to Toronto.(chorus of boos) But KISS wanted to come back & play where the film DETROIT ROCK CITY was filmed. (CHEERS) Paul also mentioned how he had learned some "Canadian language" he told the crowd that he was a regular Canadian guy after living here for 6 months during the Phantom of the Opera. He told us that he was a Secoond Cup/ Tim Horton's type of guy. ( Those are coffee shops. For anyone who doesn't know Tim Horton's are on almost EVERY corner of Ontario) Frome there Paul exclaims "HOLY COW IT'S HOT OUTSIDE...EH!!!" That got huge cheers & laughs. He did it quite well Americans usually who try to do it usually make it sound forced.

The show was great all around. I brought my fiance to the show she had heard of KISS. She didn't mind their music, but had no idea what to expect at a KISS show. She left impressed. Just as a little note for all the KISS fans out there if you haven't seen the guys on this tour WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!!!! Paul said it best before the playing Rock & Roll All Nite. That if you go to another show & you don't get what you got at this show. Then you got jipped! HE's damn right.

On a funny note I had this moron beside me trying to sound all cool a knowledgeable. He mentioned that it was Gene & Paul raking in most of the money form the reunion. He mentioned that Peter was getting pissed & wanting more $$$. Threatening to not play if his demands weren't met. If there is Peter then there isn't a original line-up etc. This guy then said to me that the rest of the band wasn't going to put up with that and that...are you ready for this... That Gene & Paul have got ERIC CARR waiting in the wings to take his place if Peter walks out. What a dip shit.

Growing up I never got to see Paul, Gene, Ace & Peter play live. I had my dreams come true in '96. I saw them front row in '98. It is with regret that I am saying that I have seen them for the last time. BUT KISS has made that last time memorable by going out with a bang. On Saturday Sept. 23rd Hamilton & myself said good bye to HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD.

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