From: Greg Pinkerton & Brett
I will start this off by saying that the anticipation of taking my son to his first rock concert was compounded 10 times by the fact that it was KISS. My first concert ever was KISS at the age of 13 in Philadelphia. From the first day I told him we would be going to see them live he was counting down the days EVERY DAY for over two months. He is only five, and reading most of the reviews that had been posted so far I was a little apprehensive about taking him to see the opening acts, specifically "Uncle Ted". Well when I went to get tickets we found out it was general admission for the entire building. So obviously we had to show up EARLY to get good seats. We were able to sit about 15 rows back from the stage off to the right behind the hockey boards. Tremendous seats if you are taking your kids to see the greatest band out there, which I hope EVERYONE out there does. Your kids deserve to see what ROCK & ROLL and the showmanship that should go along with it is all about. Get them a good nap before going but make sure YOU TAKE THEM!!!!!

I'll move on before I bore all of you with repetition about taking your kids..DO IT!!!.

Skid Row came on right at 7pm and going into this concert I had a negative attitude thinking that they would be sub-par at best. Well after watching one song the lead singer had everyone right with him. Not a great voice, but good enough to keep up with the songs. They played up till 7:35 and headed off. Not a bad opening act. Not nearly as bad as some people have made them out to be.

"Uncle Ted" came on at 8pm and tore right into his songs. I was waiting for him to go into his political tirade (which he is entitled to) so I could escort my 5 year old son to go get something to eat. He played about 4 songs before doing this. As Ted may have his rights to say 'whatever' he feels, he should have some intelligence as to who is in the audience. There were MANY, MANY, MANY kids in the audience, which was great to see, however Mr. Nugent could well get his point across with other well chosen words. I guess he feels to get the reaction he wants from the crowd he must use other words. Oh well, to each his own. After all my ramblings I would still recommend everyone see his set. It was well put together, Ted and the 'Nugent Buys' are ON the entire time they are on stage. Very energetic and GREAT tunes. He headed off after the flaming arrow through the guitar shtick around 8:55.

Well it was finally time to see the group I have loved for nearly 3 decades. The KISS curtain was wrapped around the stage and everyone was waiting for the boys to hit the stage.

9:20 PM the curtain drops....Gene, Paul, Ace & Peter all drop from the rafters and tear into Detroit Rock City. If only we could bottle the energy in that building it could power a few small cities for days. They went through the night with the standard set list they have been performing at all the shows. They did all the standard gimmicks that we all know and love. The fire breathing, the blood spurting, the microphone wrapping around Pauls neck as he prances around the stage, Peter having the towel draped over his shoulder while he sings Beth, Aces guitar smoking & elevating, all the different solos, everything that makes a KISS concert a KISS concert. Which is what we all go to see them for. It was all the same as before but there is something special, something melancholy about watching the four guys on stage this time around. They TRULY are enjoying themselves on stage. They joke around like never before, they look genuinely happy to be up there playing FOR US, the fans. !

All four were completely on this night. Not a single thing happened that made you think about anything but THE SHOW. As the night progressed and the songs faded into memories the thoughts started to arise that the whole night would soon be a memory. I watched my sons face while Gene rose up to the rafters, while Paul flew through the air,while Ace was being Ace, while Peter sang Beth, (and my son sang along almost every word) and I realized that the group we all had taken for granted all these years, the group that we all got ribbed about liking while growing up, the group that the critics and parents alike said would never last, have transcended time and would soon be gone. To watch his face and see the excitement that was generated by that entire evening was to know that these four guys have done something special. To hear him ask "when can see them again" and know that this was the end is something sad. So I urge you all to enjoy the swan song that this is supposed to be. Take your kids, take your parents, take your friends. This is a party to end all parties for the group that sure knows how to throw a party. From the beginning guitar sounds of Detroit Rock City to the mind blowing, confetti shooting, knock down drag out rendition of Rock and Roll All Night this was a rollercoaster ride that didn't hit a down point all evening.

To Gene, Paul, Ace & Peter.....

THANK YOU for 27 years of the greatest rock and roll anyone colud want.

THANK YOU for 27 years of in your face live performances topped by noone.

THANK YOU for 27 years of giving what the fans want.

THANK YOU for being around long enough for me to be able to see the excitement that must have been in my eyes 23 years ago, when I saw my first KISS concert, that was and still is in my sons eyes a day after his first.

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