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It’s Groundhog Day. Again. No one really thought that when Kiss played the UK in 2019 that would be the “End of the Road”? Did they? Next, you’ll be spouting that people believed Mötley Crüe when they signed their “Cessation of Touring” agreement in 2014…if you can’t trust Crüe, then who can you trust? For Kiss, with the European leg of their final tour pushed back due to Covid, they could return to the UK when the EU dates were rescheduled for their last, final UK shows. And the difference from 2019, is that this time it really does feel like it is the End of the Road.
In 2019 Kiss brought along American performance painter David Garibaldi as opening act, and as entertaining as his performance was, the thrill of live music was missing. This time around Kiss have brought two opening acts along with them, both from the UK. First up, hotly-tipped newcomers The Wild Things have been gaining column inches not only because both Pete Townshend and Elton John are in their corner, but also because the brand of infectious, hook-laden, melodic pop-rock that they produce is so on trend these days. And with younger music fans caring less about genres than older, more traditional music fans, The Wild Things (like The Struts, and Tempt) could just as easily open for Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, Paramore, etc. Led by the charismatic Sydney Rae White and with earworms such as ‘You’re Really Something’, and ‘Paradise’ packed into their short set, The Wild Things do enough to earn some respectful applause and maybe a few hundred new all-important social media followers.
Having played in this same arena only eight months ago as special guests to Volbeat, Welsh ragga-metal maestros Skindred are on an almighty roll of good fortune at the minute, and they deserve every minute they spend on the largest stages in the UK. With the inimitable Benji Webbe at the helm, Skindred don’t faff around and set out to get the crowd moving as Benji demands “Get your hands in the air you bastards!”, and when the crowd doesn’t get a whoop-whoop right during the intro to ‘That’s My Jam’, the hugely-likable frontman simply says “That’s rubbish” (although the crowd does get a chance to redeem themselves as he tells them “I’m the sort of person who loves people, and I’m going to give you a second chance…”). Ending on what else but ‘Warning’, complete with the Newport Helicopter, Skindred leave the stage to the strains of Carly Simon’s ‘Nobody Does it Better’, all except Benji that is, for he simply does not want to leave. Come the headlining tour in October this year at least 25% of the crowd there will have caught the band for the first time on this run. A band born for the live stage.
No matter how many times you see it, it is still a huge thrill when that famous curtain emblazoned with the Kiss logo is dropped into place. Cue thousands of cellphones sparking to life for that all-important selfie in front of the 50-foot-high logo. And once the houselights dim and the usual intro video plays out and Doc McGhee leads the band to the stage for the billionth time, the arena is awash with cellphone lights for everyone going live on Facebook. Even the most hardnosed cynic would still get caught up in the well-played-out intro, and find themselves cheering at the trademark roar of “Alright Glasgow, you wanted the best, you got the best, the hottest band in the world…KISS”. ‘Detroit Rock City’ kicks in, the curtain drops, flash bombs go off everywhere, explosions, smoke, and then the crowd are met with the sight of Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Tommy Thayer being lowered from the skies on moveable platforms that rise back up once the band step off. Eric Singer has the best seat in the house, atop his impressive drum riser. The crowd is indeed going wild as everybody knows that “You gotta lose your mind in Detroit Rock City”.
What is incredible is that the audience at a Kiss gig seems to be getting younger. Sure there are the usual grizzled Kiss Army veterans, but the number of youngsters walking around in Kiss makeup is amazing. And that timeless, generation-less factor about Kiss is what makes them such an appealing prospect to kids just starting out on their rock n’ roll journey. That plus the pyro. Lots of pyro. ‘Shout It Out Loud’ and ‘Deuce’ quickly follow on, with the large screens being put to great use on the latter when seasoned pro Paul Stanley splits the crowd for some early audience participation, and once the classic song from the debut album starts, the screens play grainy black and white footage from the early days. Regardless of your views on Kiss, the energy on display from the band would put many younger bands to shame.
The pyro goes into overdrive for ‘War Machine’, which features Simmons on lead vocals, as does ‘I Love It Loud’ which was written purely for audience participation, as was the more recent ‘Say Yeah’ from 2009’s ‘Sonic Boom’ album and every time Stanley says “BOOM” the lights illuminate the crowd as the cameraman zooms in on the smiling faces. After the “Classic old-school Kiss” of ‘Cold Gin’, with retina-blitzing strobe lighting, and Thayer’s short guitar solo, the full band return to the stage for ‘Lick It Up’ – still a fan favourite as the Kiss Army raises the roof on this one. Once he gets loud enough screams, Stanley introduces ‘Calling Dr. Love’, and then there is the setlist addition of ‘Makin’ Love’ from ‘Rock and Roll Over’ which features a guitar duel between Stanley and Thayer. Eric Singer gets his moment in the spotlight, quite literally as he is raised to the roof during his drum solo – great pedal work from the highly experienced drummer.
By now Kiss are approaching the home straight and all the gimmicks are pulled out: Simmons spitting blood on ‘God of Thunder’ and soaking up the applause as he hawks a blood-filled loogie into a towel and throws it into the crowd, before rising to the rafters for his trademark song; Stanley flies on a zipline over the crowd to a small stage near the mixing desk for a roaring version of ‘Love Gun’ and there is a group of teenagers going absolutely insane as the Starchild flies over them both on the way out, and on the way back to the mainstage for ‘Black Diamond’; Eric Singer at the piano for ‘Beth’ is cheesy fun, ditto ‘I Was Made for Lovin’ You’ which was kicked off by the crowd, and ending on what else but the mass singalongs of ‘Rock and Roll All Nite’ where the finale has all hell breaking loose in an explosion of pyro, confetti cannons, (the confetti cannons are on another level at a Kiss gig) and Simmons, Singer, and Thayer all rising back to the skies as Stanley hams it up by theatrically breaking his guitar. And then it is all over. Kiss have performed in the UK for the last time. The crowd are beaming from ear to ear as they leave the arena singing ‘Rock and Roll All Nite’. Any doubts about if people had fun tonight can be dispelled by the site of a teenager emerging from the front standing area with a Paul Stanely guitar pic proudly raised aloft like Excalibur, much to the envy of his mates. Rock and roll is in good hands with the next generation.
The End of The Road? More than likely. Simmons and Stanley are not built for retirement though and will no doubt continue in one form or another for Kiss are pure entertainment. Switch-your-brains-off-and-just-enjoy-yourself kind of entertainment.
Last remaining tour dates can be found here.
All live images – Callum Scott Glasgow 2019
