From: Tim Fraser
My first KISS concert, and in all likelihood the last, the KISS FAREWELL TOUR, Nagoya Rainbow Hall March 18 2001. I managed to get one of the last tickets available for this concert, and THAT was an adventure in itself (but that story another time), so when the date finally rolled around I was absolutely hanging out for it.

We got the venue a couple of hours before the doors opened, spent quite a bit of that time before entering standing in the line-up waiting for the T-Shirt and Program stall to open, and then milling with everyone else, checking out the cool costumes and face-paint some of the other fans were wearing.

The Japan leg of the tour was originally scheduled to have a support band (The Sex Machine Guns), but instead, at 5:15pm the lights went down, the crowd went crazy as we waited (quite a long time) for the booming voice announcing the "HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD, KISS!!!!" The huge black curtain covering the stage dropped as Detroit Rock City started and Paul, Gene and Ace descended onto the stage on a platform from the roof, and Eric's levitating drum kit lowered him to the floor. This was followed quickly by Deuce before Paul spoke directly to the crowd for the first time during the lead in to Shout It Out Loud.

Ace's solo after Shock Me absolutely rocked, ending with a cool space theme video of his flying Les Paul as he played. When the smoke started pouring from his guitar the crowd went nuts, and maybe after all these years there were few surprised when rockets flew out, but the results were unexpected and had the crowd excited. The first seemed to surprise even Ace as it looped back and flew over his head, and the second flew straight up into the scaffolding overhead and brought down a set of lights (at first I thought that they were real, but apparently they fall down every night. It was a great touch)

Gene's bass solo was short but cool, the greens lights giving him an eerie tinge. The trickle of blood running down his chin gradually increased to a head shaking, tongue waggling torrent, then he flew up into the rafters where he folded his arms and surveyed all he ruled. The crowd roared as he stood up there looking out over everyone. From there be began God Of Thunder which melted into Eric's drum solo. And a great solo it was too, the fans cheering him all the way.

Paul flew out to the small stage in the center of the hall for Love Gun. It was pretty much a one-man Paul Stanley show as the crowd went crazy, really responding to his prancing and jumping about, leaving Ace, Gene and Eric playing in the dark on the main stage. After flying back at the end of the song, the others left the stage and Paul slowed the tempo down and sang a solo I Still Love You, then blended very smoothly into Black Diamond. Eric took the singing duties for this one, and while it didn't have Peter's raspy, balls-out approach, it sounded great.

This concert was definitely a classic way for KISS to wrap up all they've done in the last 30 years. One classic song after another, with all the things you would expect to see during a show from the Hottest Band in the World: flashing light smoking rocket-launching guitars, fire breathing, fire-works, fire-pots, flying stunts, prancing, pelvis thrusting, gratuitous tongue, a very laid back Ace, and grand finale guitar destruction. Almost all the classic songs from the 70s were there, as were a few gems from the 80's which the Japanese people around me seemed to know particularly well, plus Psycho Circus from the '90s. The encore was preceded by the four of them coming out and bowing and holding up a sign that said "We were made for lovin' you, And we will never forget you too."

Then we were even lucky enough to get an added bonus which apparently hadn't been performed in previous shows in Japan. As they got back to their places Paul asked "Do you want to go home? Nobody wants to go home. What should we play?" and pointing into the front row, "What would you like to hear?.......Ok, that's coming up in a minute. How about you?" He did this a few times until saying "Yeah, that's it" and the band launched into Got To Choose. They really pumped it out, then stopped it half way. "Not too bad" said Paul, then they started Parasite, again belting it out then stopping about half way. "How's that, OK?". They all seemed to be really enjoying this little display, laughing and joking on the stage. Next was She, of which they played a stripped back version up to the tempo change before stopping that too and starting Makin' Love. They played most of this one then launched into I Was Made For Lovin' You. The closer, Rock And Roll All Nite, absolutely brought the house down.

Paul made the most of an amusing bit of basic Japanese throughout the concert, and at one point started humming a famous Japanese tune (Sukiyaki) which eventurally the whole crowd was singing. Everyone had a great time.....there was only one person I could see who sat down for any part of the two and a half hour show! It was a KISS concert, a great KISS concert, and it absolutely kicked ass! One that I will not forget!

SET LIST:
- Detroit Rock City
- Deuce
- Shout It Out Loud
- Talk To Me
- I Love It Loud
- Firehouse
- Do You Love Me?
- Calling Dr Love
- Heaven's On Fire
- Let Me Go, Rock 'N' Roll
- Shock Me - (Ace's Solo)
- Psycho Circus
- Lick It Up
- (Gene's Solo)
- God Of Thunder - (Eric's Solo)
- Cold Gin
- 100,000 Years
- Love Gun
- I Still Love You - (Paul's Solo)
- Black Diamond

Encore
- Got To Choose
- Parasite
- She
- Makin' Love
- I Was Made For Lovin' You
- Rock And Roll All Nite

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