From: T J Cole
The weather was gorgeous. The theater was gorgeous. It was an evening that was perfectly fit for a great show and the boys did not let anyone down as far as I and my girlfriend were concerned. Every song was a different color...literally. The performances from Ace, Gene, Paul, and Peter were superb. I think that one of the stand out tunes was "Do You Love Me"...completed with a wonderful video retro-spective of the last three decades...and that was when it hit me. I have been a fan from the very beginning. I was 5 when KISS came into my life and it has been one heck of a great journey. My girlfriend is a bit of a convert. She had little knowledge of KISS before meeting me three years ago and let me just write that she is a die hard fan now...I was very caught up in the moment and realized that this is the last time the original members will be on stage like this...makeup and lights and fireworks and bombs...and it was a moment for me to savor and I did. As much as people will speculate about whether or not this is it...I firmly believe that this is it.

One of the Virginia morning papers, The Virginian-Pilot, had a review with a picture on Monday the 3rd...there is one thing that I would love to see publications and TV stations do: Let the fans write the reviews. The headline read..."THIS ONE LAST KISS LOOKED GOOD, BUT SOUNDED SLOPPY". Jeff Maisey went on to write that..."Ace and Peter seemed to be dragging badly and that Frehley's singing on "Shock Me" was noticeably horrible. The spaceman was in dire need of a rocket booster." Maisey later stated that..."Simmons' makeup began to run as he made a house call to "Dr. Love," where Ace finally nailed down a solo. Unfortunately, they let him crash and burn once again as vocalist during "2000 Man."

I take such reviews with a grain of salt. Why not mention the fun that eveeryone had that was there...about 15,000 I think. The show was non stop KISS. Great music. Great lights and effects and a very sincere Paul Stanley. Paul's stage raps were very different from the previous 8 times that I had seen KISS. He was definately playing the Rock & Roll preacher with the only difference being that no one wanted him to stop. He meant everything that he said too. It was obvious. Peter singing "Beth" was excellent. He knew it was good and so did the crowd. Gene's blood drooling was a very special highlight as well. He was very, very devilish that night. He literally seemed to be someone else that he hasn't seemed to be in years. There was a lot of "blood" too and the way he was licking it from his hands bordered on grotesque. Cool Gene...good job. Ace...well, Ace was Ace. No Ace doesn't have a great singing voice...so what...I don't remember anyone ever claiming he did. At least he was singing on key. He played amazingly well too. He seemed to paying very close attention to his playing.

Overall...this was one to remember. KISS seemed very comfortable and made the crowd feel the same.

If we don't get another chance to see them on this Farewell Tour, that will be alright. The VA Beach show was more than we could have ever hoped for. The night was electric...see ya guys. Thanks very much for the great show.

I hope that all the fans get the chance to see KISS this time around. Even those that are not true diehards need to see and hear them. It is worth it.

Now, like with all things there is one thing that puzzles me to no end about KISS...why the opening act(s)? I hate to sound like a snob, but Ted Nugent has no business being on the same stage. Dear Ted...use your radio show for your right-wing banter. As they say, leave it at the door. Big turn off. Not even remotely funny, and terribly ignorant. I like Ted's music too and that was what bothered me even more about his stage rants. The more he spoke the more uncomfortable for him I became and I'm consertative...that's pretty bad. As far as Skid-Row...I can't write anything...we didn't hear them.

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