From: Craig
Wow!! It's great to finally see the lads in make-up. My first opportunity was back in '79 in San Diego but it was a school night and my mom wouldn't let me go. Years of therapy later I saw the Assylum tour but it's just wasn't the same. This is only the second time since the reunion that they've been to Northern California. For the Alive/Worldwide tour they played San Jose 8/27/96 and were suppose to play San Francisco 5/10/97 but cancelled because "they couldn't get their gear to Europe in time for the start of the tour". Wasn't able to make the first show. Had killer seats for the second. (Heavy Sigh!!) The boys were M.I.A. on the Psycho Circus tour. But I finally made it and it was worth the wait.

I wandered the halls while Skid Row played. Saw a great looking Peter (and an even better Peter's girlfriend), a guy wearing a kilt (?), young and hot topless twins, one who had her tits painted like Gene the other like Ace, and -- I swear to God -- Mrs. Cleaver with a tour shirt on. While making my way through a big crowd a lady got her stilletto heal caught in my shoe lace. Being a happily married man this was the closest thing to an affair as I hope to get. It was great!! Lots of people painted up. Saw a couple of Eric's which was cool. Found my seat to watch Ted. I've read so much about his rants that I didn't think I would like him. My brother was/is a big fan so I knew a little of his music. But I really like him. He has great energy and was alot of fun. Usually the opening band is a bunch of posers - Skid Row - but The Nuge it the real McCoy. He dedicated "Kiss My Ass" to Gov. Grey Davis and Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer (all democrates of course). I didn't! mind the rants all that much except the speak English thing. And what depressed me wasn't so much that he said it but that 18,000 people cheered him for it. Over all though a great performance. Tommy Alridge (sp?) was amazing on the drums. The guy looks like he's 103 years old but he still playes like an 18 year old who hasn't been laid yet. Actually he looks like the old guy from Benny Hill with an afro. I don't mean to demean, he is a true musican proven time and time again with Black Sabbath, Whitesnake and all the others. They are a great trio.

Then out come the fellas. Check out Peter as they're being lowered down. He's standing on blocks so that he'll be as tall as the other guy's!! Set list was standard: see "Franks" review for times and songs. Before "Shock Me", Paul talks about how when they were first coming to the Bay Area they didn't think people would like them because everyone was into the Grateful Dead and that he hates the Grateful Dead. It was actually quite funny. He introduces Ace and Ace says "I like the Grateful Dead." He then sings a bit of Uncle Toms Band. Absolutely hysterical. After he's through with his solo Paul comes out and says he was only kidding about not liking the Grateful Dead, in fact they all liked the Grateful Dead. Gene would have none of it. Paul kept asking Gene which member was his favorite. Gene slowly walks over to Paul's mike, I though he was going to say something cold but he finally mumbles "Phil Lesh" (former bass player). Truely funny.

No major flubs or problems that I could tell. Gene flew, Paul flew, Ace's guitar flew. Minor things: Paul almost missed his cue after Ace's solo to say "Ace Freley - Lead Guitar" and had to run to the mike. And at the grand finale all the pyro was going off Paul pumps his fists to accent the bombs but there are no bombs. It takes 3 or 4 beats for the bombs to go off.

Remember the twins that I memtioned before. Well they're front row center. They were wearing tour shirts while Ted was on and would flash him every now and then. They were a big hit with security. Looked like Kiss's photographer came out and took some pictures. The shirts came off for KISS. Gene noticed right away and played to they a bunch of times during the show. Gene also pointed them out to Ace. At the end they got Paul's guitar and the last a saw of them they were waiting to go back stage (this after giving all the security guys hugs).

The other thing that was really cool is that while Paul would introduce the songs in that rather long winded way of his Ace would throw picks into the crowd. Very cool. Great show. I'm glad to finally see them before they go.

Quick plug: I have a drummers web site and have a bunch of links for Peter, Eric and Eric so check it out - http://www.waybeat.com/drummers/criss.html
http://www.waybeat.com/drummers/carr.html
http://www.waybeat.com/drummers/singer.html

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