From: Charlie Fultz
For me it started in 1978. My buddy Joel and I first got our glimpse of Kiss with Kiss Alive II. It forever changed my life and my music preferences. We used to hop up on the dressers in his bedroom and sing the whole album from Detroit Rock City thru to Shout It Out Loud as his mother asked us to turn it down. I was hooked. I have every album they ever put out and had the lunchbox, dolls, you name it. I didn't first see them until the Hot in the Shade Tour in 1990, which was a great show. I saw them again two years later on the Revenge tour, which was the greatest Kiss retrospective from 1974-1992, even better than the show tonight. When the group reunited, I said I never wanted to see them in makeup as Gene once said that it would just be rehashing old territory and that it had been done before. I liked Ace and Peter, but Bruce and Eric did it for me. I didn't go see them on the Reunion tour or the Pscyho Circus tour. But the Farewell Tour, a different story. It seemed as if I needed to see them ONCE in makeup to say that I did see the greatest show on earth and fulfill my childhood dream, and they did not disappoint.

Now my review, I really liked Skid Row. Having seen them in 1989 opening for Bon Jovi (yeah I went and saw them, what a stinker Bon Jovi was!!!!), I was excited about seeing them again. The new lead singer, in my opinion, did a great job. I don't understand all the fuss but I guess if Paul ever left the band and someone else sang lead it would be different. Personal favs were the part acoustic/part electric I Remember You and of course Youth Gone Wild. The crowd was really into Skid Row and I enjoyed them.

Ted came on about 7:45pm, and I'm not much into Ted. I did like the Kiss My Ass song and his personal references to Janet Reno, Al Gore, and others who he told to do so. He is a great guitarist and Tommy Aldridge blew me away behind the kit. What energy he brought to the show, but it's time to get rid of the hair!!!! That went out with Whitesnake!!!! LOL

Kiss hit the stage at 9:15, and came from the ceiling to Detroit Rock City. I thought they were really into the show and into each other. They were talking and laughing and having a blast on stage and the crowd was thoroughly into it. My personal favs were the long version of Let Me Go, Rock N Roll, (my fav from Alive!), of course Do You Love Me video tribute (but I don't remember them showing Eric Carr, which I thought should be, but who am I to say anything!!!), and Firehouse. All bleeding and bloodspitting aside Gene was his best as were Paul, Ace, and Peter. I liked the fact they constantly told us they appreciated us and that they could not have gotten this far without us, the fans. Most bands don't give us that.

Paul and Gene had a great rapport with some ladies down in front of us and of course they didn't disappoint with some flashing and such. Needless to say they were backstage later!!!!!!!!!

To sum this up, I did feel my heart drop a little as Rock and Roll All Nite finished up. I'll never see the makeup group again, I know that I won't even if they tour again, which I doubt they will. But I must say that this was the icing on the cake for my childhood up to adulthood. I grew up with only one band. I used to take grief because I was a Kiss fan, even through high school during the non makeup days. I didn't care as Kiss was a life for me. Thank you Paul, Ace, Gene, Peter, Mark, Vinnie, Bruce, and the two Eric's for making life so much better with you around. There will never be a band quite like KISS again, and I'm glad I was in for the long haul. Thanks for the great shows and memories you gave me. My 22 years of following you were always appreciated and rewarded, and I thank you for it. I will never forget this night as it made me feel 8 years old again one last time. Not many things in life can do that, but thanks Kiss it was a great ride!!!!!!!!!

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