Kiss News

PHOTO: TOMMY THAYER AT LA FORUM

PHOTO: ERIC SINGER AT LA FORUM

Excerpted from a review by Alex Distefano

The day after 4th of July, nearly 20,000 screaming rock-n-roll fans filled the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre In Irvine, to witness two stellar performances by two defining rock bands: Def Leppard and KISS.

At 9:45, every section of the venue was packed, from the lawns to the lower pit. KISS took the stage, with roars of applause which, for the most part, lasted for the entire KISS concert.

A huge platform in the shape of a spider was in the middle of the stage as KISS blasted into an hour long set of classic songs, with nothing newer than 1998. Fan favorites included "Duce," "Hotter Than Hell," "Christine Sixteen," "Black Diamond," and "Cold Gin."
Excerpted from a review by Alex Distefano

The day after 4th of July, nearly 20,000 screaming rock-n-roll fans filled the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre In Irvine, to witness two stellar performances by two defining rock bands: Def Leppard and KISS.

At 9:45, every section of the venue was packed, from the lawns to the lower pit. KISS took the stage, with roars of applause which, for the most part, lasted for the entire KISS concert.

A huge platform in the shape of a spider was in the middle of the stage as KISS blasted into an hour long set of classic songs, with nothing newer than 1998. Fan favorites included "Duce," "Hotter Than Hell," "Christine Sixteen," "Black Diamond," and "Cold Gin."

Frontman Paul Stanley, who originally founded KISS in 1973 with Simmons in New York City, took time to thank the crowd more than once, and was constantly smiling throughout the entire evening. "I thank God every day before we get on stage that I can be up here with all of you people!" he yelled at the crowd. "But what I really want to do, is join you all up there," he said, pointing to the upper Lodge area of the stadium midway through the show. For the songs "Love Gun" and "Black Diamond," Stanley and his guitar flew with the help of a guided elevated rope, to a tiny stage set up in the upper level, and played in front of the Lodge and Lawn section rabid fans, as giant screens shot the action close up, and Gene Simmons, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer held it down below on the stage.

One of the most magical elements of KISS live is the blood gurgling, monstrous bass solo, put on by bass master Gene Simmons. After four decades, Simmons still retains the magic and gives off a presence that is unmatched. He is truly a legendary figure among Rock and Heavy Metal music, and his performance alone set the tone and influenced so many shock rock, punk and black metal bands to come. Simmons was put on ropes and elevated to the top of the giant spider platform for his bass solo and stood around 50 feet high, with giant screens detailing his infamous creepy long, reptilian like tongue and spitting up of blood, after which he too was lowered down by ropes to the stage.

KISS played for just over hour, but fans were satisfied, because the band was on fire musically, each member exuded a real passion for what they were doing, and the crowd response was amazing, for each song. Drummer Eric Singer threw it down hard and kept in tune with everyone providing a zap of energy that most drummers can't lock in. Guitarist Tommy Thayer also blasted the audience with 100 percent effort and precision, truly bringing a unique detail and energy to the band that fit in perfectly with the thunderous gigantor bassist Simmons, who is larger than life, in all aspects. In short, KISS might be older, and the band might not consist of the classic original four line up, but they still F*****G ROCK!

By Crystal Larsen

Irvine, Calif.

With the Fourth of July in the rearview, the smell of fire and smoke was still in the air on July 5 for the first Southern California stop on Kiss and Def Leppard's joint summer tour at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine. Traveling across the country to celebrate Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley's 40th year of keeping Kiss alive, two of rock's most illustrious bands put on a show that was hotter than hell � and not just because it was still nearly 90 degrees by sunset.By Crystal Larsen

Irvine, Calif.

With the Fourth of July in the rearview, the smell of fire and smoke was still in the air on July 5 for the first Southern California stop on Kiss and Def Leppard's joint summer tour at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine. Traveling across the country to celebrate Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley's 40th year of keeping Kiss alive, two of rock's most illustrious bands put on a show that was hotter than hell � and not just because it was still nearly 90 degrees by sunset.

Owning the first portion of the evening, Def Leppard burst onstage at 8 p.m. to the tune of 1981's "Let It Go" as a black sheet emblazoned with the band's fiery logo was lifted to reveal one of rock's most celebrated drummers, Rick Allen. Allen sounded like he was playing with four arms instead of one as he led the band through a 14-song set of some of their biggest hits. Highlights included the driving instrumental "Switch 625," which showcased bassist Rick "Sav" Savage and the unmatched guitar prowess of Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell, the latter of whom was in excellent form despite his current battle with cancer; "Hysteria," during which frontman Joe Elliott saluted tourmates Kiss by singing an excerpt from the band's "Beth"; and a performance of the acoustic number "Two Steps Behind." The latter performance took on a special meaning as Elliott noted they recorded the live portion of the song's accompanying music video on that same stage.

With three songs left in their set Collen kicked off the opening riff to "Pour Some Sugar On Me," which gave the audience full reign to shout along to the lyrics. They signed off with an encore performance of "Rock Of Ages" and "Photograph," leaving the words "I want rock and roll/long live rock and roll" ringing in my ears until Kiss took the stage.

The last time I saw Kiss was in 2012 in Chula Vista, Calif., for their joint tour with M�tley Crüe, and I had no idea what to expect as I watched security guards dress themselves in raincoats as they prepared for the band to take the stage. This time, I still didn't know what to expect, but I did know that I was not allowed to enter the photo pit until the kabuki drop fell and was fully out of the way, otherwise I could be killed, according to a venue representative.

But fortunately all went according to plan, as often seems to be the case with Kiss shows, and the band emerged in their painted and sparkling glory to welcome the crowd to their "Psycho Circus." At one point early on in their set, Stanley informed the crowd that they'd play some songs the crowd knew and some they didn't. But whether the songs were familiar or not, there was never a dull moment in the band's 90-minute set.

Some of those moments included the time Simmons pestered a man in the third row to get up from his sitting position, and then rested his big silver boot on a security guard's head; or when Stanley ziplined over the crowd to a smaller satellite stage near the soundboard to perform "Cold Gin" and "Black Diamond." And when Simmons, truly looking like the demon, spewed blood from his mouth during his bass solo before he was suspended in the air to perform "I Love It Loud" from a stage atop the lighting rig.

Fire torches, fake blood and fireworks that sparked from the stage (and sometimes out of Tommy Thayer's guitar neck) combined to create a long-running one-of-a-kind stage spectacle that only the loudest band on Earth can pull off.

As the stage erupted into fireworks and confetti fell from the sky during the finale performance of "Rock And Roll All Nite" it felt like the Fourth of July all over again. Except we weren't wishing America a happy birthday, we were congratulating Kiss on shouting out loud for 40 years, and hoping for 40 more.

KISS' 40th Anniversary Tour with Def Leppard invades The Forum in Los Angeles, California tonight!

Kobra and The Lotus will open the show.

Excerpted from a review by Alex Distefano

The day after 4th of July, nearly 20,000 screaming rock-n-roll fans filled the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre In Irvine, to witness two stellar performances by two defining rock bands: Def Leppard and KISS.

At 9:45, every section of the venue was packed, from the lawns to the lower pit. KISS took the stage, with roars of applause which, for the most part, lasted for the entire KISS concert.

A huge platform in the shape of a spider was in the middle of the stage as KISS blasted into an hour long set of classic songs, with nothing newer than 1998. Fan favorites included "Duce," "Hotter Than Hell," "Christine Sixteen," "Black Diamond," and "Cold Gin."

Frontman Paul Stanley, who originally founded KISS in 1973 with Simmons in New York City, took time to thank the crowd more than once, and was constantly smiling throughout the entire evening. "I thank God every day before we get on stage that I can be up here with all of you people!" he yelled at the crowd. "But what I really want to do, is join you all up there," he said, pointing to the upper Lodge area of the stadium midway through the show. For the songs "Love Gun" and "Black Diamond," Stanley and his guitar flew with the help of a guided elevated rope, to a tiny stage set up in the upper level, and played in front of the Lodge and Lawn section rabid fans, as giant screens shot the action close up, and Gene Simmons, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer held it down below on the stage.

One of the most magical elements of KISS live is the blood gurgling, monstrous bass solo, put on by bass master Gene Simmons. After four decades, Simmons still retains the magic and gives off a presence that is unmatched. He is truly a legendary figure among Rock and Heavy Metal music, and his performance alone set the tone and influenced so many shock rock, punk and black metal bands to come. Simmons was put on ropes and elevated to the top of the giant spider platform for his bass solo and stood around 50 feet high, with giant screens detailing his infamous creepy long, reptilian like tongue and spitting up of blood, after which he too was lowered down by ropes to the stage.

KISS played for just over hour, but fans were satisfied, because the band was on fire musically, each member exuded a real passion for what they were doing, and the crowd response was amazing, for each song. Drummer Eric Singer threw it down hard and kept in tune with everyone providing a zap of energy that most drummers can't lock in. Guitarist Tommy Thayer also blasted the audience with 100 percent effort and precision, truly bringing a unique detail and energy to the band that fit in perfectly with the thunderous gigantor bassist Simmons, who is larger than life, in all aspects. In short, KISS might be older, and the band might not consist of the classic original four line up, but they still F*****G ROCK!

By Crystal Larsen

Irvine, Calif.

With the Fourth of July in the rearview, the smell of fire and smoke was still in the air on July 5 for the first Southern California stop on Kiss and Def Leppard's joint summer tour at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine. Traveling across the country to celebrate Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley's 40th year of keeping Kiss alive, two of rock's most illustrious bands put on a show that was hotter than hell � and not just because it was still nearly 90 degrees by sunset.

Owning the first portion of the evening, Def Leppard burst onstage at 8 p.m. to the tune of 1981's "Let It Go" as a black sheet emblazoned with the band's fiery logo was lifted to reveal one of rock's most celebrated drummers, Rick Allen. Allen sounded like he was playing with four arms instead of one as he led the band through a 14-song set of some of their biggest hits. Highlights included the driving instrumental "Switch 625," which showcased bassist Rick "Sav" Savage and the unmatched guitar prowess of Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell, the latter of whom was in excellent form despite his current battle with cancer; "Hysteria," during which frontman Joe Elliott saluted tourmates Kiss by singing an excerpt from the band's "Beth"; and a performance of the acoustic number "Two Steps Behind." The latter performance took on a special meaning as Elliott noted they recorded the live portion of the song's accompanying music video on that same stage.

With three songs left in their set Collen kicked off the opening riff to "Pour Some Sugar On Me," which gave the audience full reign to shout along to the lyrics. They signed off with an encore performance of "Rock Of Ages" and "Photograph," leaving the words "I want rock and roll/long live rock and roll" ringing in my ears until Kiss took the stage.

The last time I saw Kiss was in 2012 in Chula Vista, Calif., for their joint tour with M�tley Crüe, and I had no idea what to expect as I watched security guards dress themselves in raincoats as they prepared for the band to take the stage. This time, I still didn't know what to expect, but I did know that I was not allowed to enter the photo pit until the kabuki drop fell and was fully out of the way, otherwise I could be killed, according to a venue representative.

But fortunately all went according to plan, as often seems to be the case with Kiss shows, and the band emerged in their painted and sparkling glory to welcome the crowd to their "Psycho Circus." At one point early on in their set, Stanley informed the crowd that they'd play some songs the crowd knew and some they didn't. But whether the songs were familiar or not, there was never a dull moment in the band's 90-minute set.

Some of those moments included the time Simmons pestered a man in the third row to get up from his sitting position, and then rested his big silver boot on a security guard's head; or when Stanley ziplined over the crowd to a smaller satellite stage near the soundboard to perform "Cold Gin" and "Black Diamond." And when Simmons, truly looking like the demon, spewed blood from his mouth during his bass solo before he was suspended in the air to perform "I Love It Loud" from a stage atop the lighting rig.

Fire torches, fake blood and fireworks that sparked from the stage (and sometimes out of Tommy Thayer's guitar neck) combined to create a long-running one-of-a-kind stage spectacle that only the loudest band on Earth can pull off.

As the stage erupted into fireworks and confetti fell from the sky during the finale performance of "Rock And Roll All Nite" it felt like the Fourth of July all over again. Except we weren't wishing America a happy birthday, we were congratulating Kiss on shouting out loud for 40 years, and hoping for 40 more.