From: Fergus Lee
Well, where do you start when writing a personal eulogy for a phenomenon that has significantly influenced your life since you were a little child?

Firstly, for a band that is retiring KISS sure gave a high-energy performance. Although I believe Mr Singer’s fantastic performance on drums contributed greatly, I challenge anybody (of any age) to equal the energy delivered by Stanley or Simmons for almost 2 straight hours. Even Ace seemed to be a lot healthier and focussed than he was on the reunion tour in Australia.

(The set list is at the bottom of the review. If you are planning to see them in Australia, you may choose not to read it and surprise yourself).

Having missed the Psycho Circus tour (no Australian visit), I’m not sure which parts were new to the Farewell Tour. What I can say is that overall the show was perfectly balanced with a healthy dose of classic favourites mixed with a few more-recent numbers (onto which Ace placed his signature style very well).

Of course, there were all the usual KISS trademarks like Ace’s smoking/rocket shooting guitar, Gene’s fire/blood/flying, Eric’s solo, rising drums, smashed guitars, etc. There were a few small changes to the reunion show but in general it was the same format.

One of the best additions to the usual set was an excellent medley of older numbers at the end, which was unexpectedly nostalgic for me. A perfect end, which rounded the band’s history off very well in my opinion. It almost seemed unplanned (although I’m sure they play it at every concert) and gave me a brief glimpse of the energy KISS must have delivered in their earlier years.

The best song of the set is hard for me to call, but if I had to choose it would have to be Paul’s solo of I Still Love You. Simply fantastic. If you are a Creatures fan, you will love this version.

What made the Farewell concert stand out for me? Apart from a more free-flowing, better-balanced set, I’d have to say that bringing Eric Singer on board was an excellent move. A fantastic, well disciplined drummer who adapted his style perfectly to the needs of the other players. He was simply perfect. The double kick is definitely there, but always used in a low-key manner that does not detract from the music. His solo was very respectful to the first Catman, but took the many rough (and slow) edges off anything that Peter could create himself these days.

I know Peter Criss’ diehard fans may not like hearing me say this, but Eric is in my eyes a better drummer for KISS. I have been a fan from the beginning and am aware of Peter’s role in the earlier years and appreciate his role in the KISS family. However, I have to say that the music simply sounded better to me tonight because of Eric Singer. Some might say this is because of the age difference.

The stage set up was simple but effective. I still prefer the original Alive II stage myself.

In the past if I am disappointed by sloppy playing it is usually Peter and/or Ace. I am happy to report that Ace is in much better form than he was back on the Reunion tour (perhaps it is those Yoga classes he took?). 6 string errors were minimal. Gene was on the ball as usual.

Being a gaijin (foreigner) there was an added dimension to the concert for me the Japanese fans. Since seeing KISS In Japan on TV as a kid, it was always a dream for me to see my favourite band in the land of the Rising Sun. The most striking thing for me was the range of people at the concert. Kids, salarymen, teenagers, teen boppers, etc. I was wedged between 2 middle-aged couples dressed in their Sunday best clothes who I would never have picked as being KISS fans. There were many such couples at Rainbow Hall and did they get into it!! Everybody was standing from start to finish and clapping along in a very uniform 4/4 manner to every song, regardless of its tempo. They really appreciated Paul’s attempts at the local tongue (doomo arigatou, minasan, hai soo ka, mushi mushi, etc). Paul really seemed to be getting into it and enjoyed the challenge of using Japanese to communicate with his fans. At the end it was minasan this, arigatou that. I know a lot of people appreciated your extra efforts Paul.

I’m sure they also believed you when you said Nagoya was number 1!!!

There were also the usual parents passing the torch to their kids and the odd individual covered with the all too familiar face paint (as well as a few other more odd patterns).

In conclusion, I wouldn’t go as far as to give the concert a Nigel Tuffnel rating, however it would have to be a 9 out of 10. As far as Farewell Tours go, it was bloody fantastic. I’m glad that we can remember KISS as a band that could always kick ass, not like some should-be-retired efforts that are putting on lame performances at high prices when they are very much past their used by dates.

The timing is also perfect. They still provided a high energy, professional performance that delivered all and more to the crowd’s expectations. KISS is one of the few things on this Earth that sets a high expectation and consistently delivers over and above it.

I wanted the best and I got a lot of it.

One thing that everybody who has been touched by KISS over the years has to remember is that without KISS, of course, we wouldn’t even know what the best is. Without KISS we wouldn’t have hundreds of new bands constantly trying to deliver something bigger and better. At the end of the day, though, there has been no band since KISS that has delivered such professional (and enjoyable) music together with a show that always leaves you smiling.

Thank you KISS for making my life that much more fun. I know you have heard this thousands of times already (including from that guy at the Perth KISS Convention) when I simply say, Thanks for the music.

Everybody needs heroes in this life. Otherwise, what's a world without heroes?

Setlist

Detroit Rock City
Deuce
Shout It Out Loud
Talk To Me
I Love It Loud
Firehouse
Do You Love Me
Dr Love
Heavens on Fire
Let Me Go Rock 'n Roll
Shock Me (solo)
Psycho Circus
Lick It Up
God Of Thunder (solo)
Cold Gin
100,000 Years
Love Gun
I Still Love You
Black Diamond

I Was Made For Lovin’ You
Medley
Got To Choose
Parasite
She
Makin’ Love
Rock 'n Roll All Nite

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