‘Last KISS’ Enough To Wake Sleeping Beauty

Pounding the opening chords of 'Detroit Rock City,' scattered with mentions of Moline, to 'Rock And Roll All Night,' the End Of The Road Tour from KISS at the TaxSlayer Center Sunday night read like an old love letter tucked in your High School Yearbook.

The band was rolling out the hits that spanned a nearly 5 decade career to the delighted screams of a sold-out arena. Singer Paul Stanley reminded the crowd of some of the previous shows that brought them through town, and the giant video display of classic footage was a nice touch of the past, but these guys, who are pushing 70 years old, looked like they could do it for another 50.

The crowd was a mix of long-timers, first-timers, kids and seniors.  I talked with one woman who was seeing the band for the 36th time.  Another would finish the year on the KISS cruise for an even 40.  And kids with their moms and dads, seeing the band for the very first time.  I saw a baby not old enough to walk wearing KISS makeup and noise-cancelling headphones.  The concourse flowed with leather, pleather, face paint and glitter.  I saw old KISS tour shirts on twenty somethings, and new KISS tour merch everywhere else.  KISS doesn't host a show, they create an event. And every living, breathing member of the KISS Army adds to the energy.  Little else compares.

These guys know what the audience wanted. Thundering bass, blinding pyro, and the searing dual guitar attack of Stanley and Tommy Thayer complimented the vocal duties of Stanley and Gene Simmons.  By the night's final number, confetti cannons, and even more pyrotechnics, the long-time bandmates left it all on the stage; Blood, Sweat and Tears.