Review: KISS bow out in a blaze of glory with spectacular End of the Road show
By Cheryl Mullin / www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
The elder statesmen of rock spit blood, fire and blistering music on their End of the Road World Tour
As farewell tours go, Kiss' End of the Road World Tour has been an epic one.
Beginning in January 2019, it paused like the rest of the world during the pandemic, and resumed in 2021. The band - who mark their 50th anniversary this year - had predicted they would play their final gig together in early 2023 - then added a further 100 dates to the tour.
Last night, with just 24 gigs left to go, they took to the stage in Manchester, playing to an arena packed out by the Kiss Army - the name given to the band's devoted fans.
I first started listening to Kiss as a teen in the 90s, as they were constantly being cited as influences by my favourite bands. I'll be honest, I didn't immediately get them, but as I've got older, I've really come to love their music.
They were supported by The Wild Things and Skindred, who warmed up the crowd, ensuring that by the time a huge black curtain bearing Kiss' name was raised across the stage, the crowd was fizzing with excitement.
Lights dropping, Gene Simmons' bassy voice booms into the darkness, "You want the best, you got the best. The hottest band in the world ... Kiss." The curtain falls, the first chords of Detroit Rock City ring out and the crowd erupts.
Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer are revealed, descending from the arena's rafters on platforms. The stage behind them is a cacophony of sparks, bangs and flames - it's going to be one hell of a night.
They may all be well into their 60s and 70s, but they prowl and strut the stage like men more than half their age. Paul's platform boots make my feet ache just looking at them, but he confidently glides across the stage like a glittering peacock.
They pause as Paul speaks to the crowd, which is already eating out the palm of his hand. "We're going to play some old ones, some older ones, and some older ones" he jokes, as they break into Shout It Out Loud - accompanied by eyebrow singeing flares from the flame machines.
Deuce and War Machine are next, followed by Heavens on Fire, and I Love it Loud. As the dying chords of the song ring out, Gene is handed a flaming torch which he holds aloft, before spitting flames into the air.
