From: Mike Hurst
It was sad to hear that KISS finally did what the KISS army has known and dreaded would eventually happen. Call it quits. I have heard rumors for a while, that they were going to do one more tour and that would be it. I really didn't beleive it. With KISS reuniting in 95, then the Reunion Tour and recording Psycho Circus, I figured that KISS was back to stay. I had at least hoped for another new album or two before THE END. We had wanted the original lineup to get back together in full regalia to show all of these wanna be butt rockers how the big boy's do it. And now it's all over. Or is it just a gimmick for some extra green. I honestly don't think so.

On to the concert. When I heard KISS was coming to SLC I was ripped. So I got my tickets, 34th row on the floor. I would have liked to be closer but hey who cares, I was going to see KISS.

I arrived at the E-center at about 5:00 with my wife and brother. Neither of them have seen KISS and my wife is not the biggest fan but she was a good sport and went anyway. We hung out for awhile checking out the croud and taking in the excitement that was heavy in the air. I walked over to talk to the DJ's from Rock 99 and noticed a guy with red streaks in his hair who was talking on a celphone. I thought to myself that guy doesn't seem like he's a DJ type. Then I noticed the cast on his leg. It was Shake from Skid Row (I had read the report about how he slipped on puke). I'll admit I do like a few of their songs but I'm not real hot for them. Snake finished his call (A radio interview) and my wife, brother and I stepped up to talk to him. He wasn't cocky at all like I had expected. We talked to him for a few and he went on his way.

At about 6:15 or so, the doors opened and people who were flooding the stairs finally got inside only to see mountains of overpriced T-Shirts, Programs...... Don't get me wrong, I bought some too, it was too cool to pass up. Then it was on to see KISS.

Skid row was alright. Ted Nugent was even better. But when the lights went down and the announcer started the show with the infamous ALRIGHT SALT LAKE CITY, YOU WANTED THE BEST, YOU GOT THE BEST, THE HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD, K I S S!!! Then to see the huge black curtain with KISS printed in the center in silver drop. The stage was empty. Then from the center of the light rigging above the stage, smoke started to shoot downward and a platform started to decend from the KISS heaven holding all four members. They took their places and the greatest show (including other KISS shows) I have ever seen began. The Four Who are one were up to their usual antic's, although Peter looked as if he was in pain for the first few songs but seemed to be having the time of his life later in the show. There was more fire and fireworks that can be imagined as Gene, Paul, Peter and Ace took us on a rollercoaster ride Twenty Seven ears in the making. What a ride it was. Mostly old stuff (the usual songs) also Lick it up and Heavens on fire, which I like, but it wasn't the same seeing Ace and Peter doing them. They almost looked as if they were being forced to preform the songs. When Gene was about to fly, he played the croud testing to see just how badly they wanted to see the "God of Thunder" take flight. He flew to the rafters, preformed and came down and Paul flew. Both came off smooth (unlike previous shows this tour). When Paul flew out to his platform, I was a mere 12-15 feet from the Starchild. As the show came to a close, there was confetti everywhere and a sadness in the air. This is, by all means, a must see show. A+++

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