From: Rod Harmon
Song list

Detroit Rock City; Deuce; Shout It Out Loud; I Love It Loud; Shock Me; Firehouse; Do You Love Me; Calling Dr. Love; Psycho Circus; Heaven's On Fire; Let Me Go, Rock 'N' Roll; 2000 Man; no comma in "2000" Lick It Up; God Of Thunder; Cold Gin; 100,000 Years; Love Gun; I Still Love You/Black Diamond; Beth; Rock And Roll All Nite

Fans will remember their 'Farewell' KISS
Herald Features Writer - Bradenton Herald

TAMPA - Say it ain't so, Gene. No more blood spitting and fire breathing? No more thunderous guitar riffs against a backdrop of fireworks and flame? No more sticking your tongue out and inspiring bad habits in thousands of impressionable kids? That's what Simmons and the rest of KISS say. This is their "Farewell Tour," and they insist that they mean it. It's easy to be skeptical, especially when you read that The Who will soon be embarking on their third tour since their own "farewell" tour in 1982. If we've learned one thing from rock 'n' roll, it's to never say never.

After all, bassist Simmons and guitarist Paul Stanley said they would never put the original band back together and tour with makeup again. Yet here they were at the Ice Palace on Wednesday, four years after their 1996 reunion tour, waxing nostalgic with original members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss in all their greasepaint glory.

The show was what you'd expect: loud, in your face and non-stop energy. In other words, proof that after 27 years, KISS is still one the best live bands in the history of rock. Even if you don't like the music - and yes, millions of us do - it's impossible to walk away from a KISS show without feeling pumped up and full of positive energy, without having a broad grin on your face and the inability to say anything but "Wow."

Motor City Madman Ted Nugent opened the show, managing yet again to ruin a 45-minute set of good rock by spouting off offensive, ultra-right comments that bashed everyone from Hispanics to homosexuals. Hint to Ted: It's about the music, dummy. Skid Row also played, and that's all I've got to say about that.

KISS' show combined the '70s act that made them famous with modern technology. All the usual gimmicks were there: Simmons' firebreathing during "Firehouse" and blood-spitting from the rafters during "God of Thunder," Frehley's smoking guitar solo during "2000 Man," Criss crooning "Beth" against the dancing lights of a giant disco ball. One of the highlights was Stanley swinging out to the middle of the audience to perform "Love Gun."

But a roomful of fireworks is nothing without the music. And KISS delivered in that regard with a precision that showed their three decades of experience. Like the last two tours, most of the material was taken from 1973-79 (the years Frehley and Criss were both in the band), but a few nuggets from the '80s - "I Love It Loud," "Lick It Up" and "Heaven's On Fire" - were thrown in to the delight of fans. Stanley even performed a snippet of 1982's "I Still Love You" before segueing into "Black Diamond" from the first album. The only song that felt flat was 1998's "Psycho Circus," but that may have been because it was punctuated by cheesy scenes from the band's new video game that made the music sound like a commercial.

What really sticks in the mind is the sincere love KISS has for its fans. Every other song was preceded with a "thank you" for all the years of support, for refusing to go with the mainstream that said KISS was a joke, a gimmick, a group with all flash and no substance. The band has never been a critics' favorite, but then again, the critics never got it. KISS isn't about whining about your problems or trying to make a political statement or telling the world about how much your childhood stank. KISS is about fun, about celebrating life.

So forget about all the dolls, the collectible plates, the action figures, the comic books and the $79 lava lamps. On Wednesday night, KISS showed once again just why millions of people will always consider them "the hottest band in the world."

Rod Harmon, features writer, Bradenton, Fla., Herald, can be reached at rharmon@bradenton.com

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