From: BOZ
I had never seen KISS in concert until last night. I remember clearly back in '75, '76, '77 & '78 when KISS was fairly new but SO Big. To tell the truth, I never took them seriously. I was into Deep Purple, Zeppelin, and then Van Halen. In short, the "musically talented" bands. I thought KISS was a show and their music, although I liked some of it, was just an aside to the show (like a harder Partridge Family or Monkees.) Last night I found out several things, two really stood out,

1.) KISS has some Great music - I already knew that in a way because I always liked "Love Gun" and one of my all-time favorite songs has always been "100,000 Years." There were other KISS songs I liked over the years too, hard and mellower (like "Hard Luck Woman")but I couldn't shake the perception that KISS was "just" a show - not really "real" music (Kinda like movie themes and commercial jingles, no matter how good they sound, aren't "real" music.) I liked a few Monkees songs, but respect their musical talent, umm... no. Last night KISS not only gave a Fantastic, Powerful, Fun Show, but they played music, both old and new, that blew me away. These guys can rock. And they have fun doing it and bring the audience into the fun. That leads to my second revelation of the night.

2.) KISS showed something to me that brought me to near sadness - I should have been a KISS Concert fan way before. These guys Love their fans -in fact they ARE fans. Paul was clear in his words that KISS was started almost 30 years ago because they (the members of KISS) wanted to provide a show that they hadn't seen done and wanted to. The sure have always done that. I knew that from the various media. Now I KKNOW it first-hand. The key though is that KISS wanted to be the kind of band that KISS wanted to see - as a fan. They made me see the artist in them last night but they also made me see the "guys" that are KISS. That alone was worth the $200 the concert cost after tickets, travel, food, t-shirts, etc. After all these years I finally got the KISS manifesto: Provide the Kind of Kick-ass music concert that they would want to see if they were the fans shelling out the cash to see, well, KISS...

All I can say is that KISS succeeded. They did what they set out to do. That is a wonderful thing in this world. And I now have a respect for the KISS music and the KISS band. All because of this Farewell Tour.

So. To you the fans, I say get out to see KISS before it's too late, whether you have before or not. If this Farewell Tour is the last time you can ever see KISS, you'll be sorry someday that you missed it if you do. It's a bigger show, by far, than even the Beatles (as Paul said: "guys who look like your next-door neighbors." not that they did in 1964...[BTW Paul: That's how I feel about Metallica. These money-grubbers don't do half the show you guys do and yet they want to SCREW their own fans. I say let 'em rot in their own basement. I wouldn't download a song of theirs OR buy one now for any reason. Metallica Sucks!]) Prior to last night, the most impressive concerts I'd been to were Van Halen (with Hagar or Roth, take your pick) and Deep Purple (with Blackmore - is anything else "really" Deep Purple?) Now I can honestly say that KISS has the Best Concert.

And to KISS - thanks guys for giving us a piece of your souls. And for the Great shows - in particular the one last night at Nissan Pavilion. I've checked out the new video game coming out (on your website) so I know you guys aren't going to "disappear." I'm just glad I saw the KISS Farewell Tour in time to realize how great a band you are and were. Best of Luck in all that you do from here on... (or for the "christian" or otherwise "religious" reader - Blessings [BTW: what exactly is the difference? Luck or God's Blessing - doesn't either word mean that life has smiled on you in a way that you could not have demanded a right to? Isn't anytime we are "blessed" or "lucky" just a time when we undeservedly and without having earned a thing gotten what we wanted or even more? Anyway...]) I know it took hard work and fighting through critics to get where you are, so I have no delusion that you got there by luck. So keep up the fight and take the luck when it comes...

KISS ASYLUM -- KISS Museum News Archive Features Tour Dates Photos