Rock and Roll Hall of Famers KISS blow a fireball of a goodbye

Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Farewell tours always come with a certain amount of skepticism as to an artist’s actual finality and the fact that KISS already played this card in the early 2000s only lends credence to the case. Back then, it was all four original members (singer/rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley, co-vocalist/bassist Gene Simmons, lead guitarist Ace Frehley, drummer/sometimes singer Peter Criss), and while that line-up technically never returned to the road, the band was quickly rebooted with newcomer Tommy Thayer and ‘90s mainstay Eric Singer replacing the latter pair right up until today’s “End Of The Road” extravaganza.

KISS saved its lone ballad “Beth” for the encore (with Singer taking the vocal and piano position), though it didn’t take long to rev up the engines again with “Do You Love Me” and “Rock And Roll All Nite,” by far the most mind-blowing moment thanks to a major movie’s worth of special effects that made the Army already yearn for more, though if the group’s prior track record is any indication, the end has only just begun.

Regardless of the players or circumstances, KISS packed the United Center (returning on Sunday, March 10 at Moline’s TaxSlayer Center) with its most outrageous and enormous display to date, plus many of the expected oldies and a few surprises from the past 45 years. Granted, the guys aren’t exactly lyrical geniuses or even the greatest singers and players, but there was no denying their arena-filling abilities or ways of bringing hook-heavy choruses to life with a legendary visual presentation that finally landed them in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Everyone got right to singing along with “Detroit Rock City” and “Shout It Out Loud” as sparks and explosions penetrated the furthest corner of the basketball court. Simmons breathed literal fire surrounding “War Machine,” possibly earning louder cheers for the stunt than the song itself, followed by an extended “Like It Up” that cleverly incorporated elements of The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”

“100,000 Years,” “Cold Gin” and “God Of Thunder,” all left room for drum, guitar and bass solos respectively, while “Love Gun” and “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” found Stanley flying over the audience to a sea of flashbulbs. KISS saved its lone ballad “Beth” for the encore (with Singer taking the vocal and piano position), though it didn’t take long to rev up the engines again with “Do You Love Me” and “Rock And Roll All Nite,” by far the most mind-blowing moment thanks to a major movie’s worth of special effects that made the Army already yearn for more, though if the group’s prior track record is any indication, the end has only just begun.

Click here for more photos of KISS at United Center.

For additional information on KISS, visit KISSOnline.com.

For a list of upcoming Live Nation concerts, visit LiveNation.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the United Center include 2Cellos (Mar. 26); Mumford & Sons (Mar. 29); Muse (Apr. 12); Trevor Noah (Apr. 27); The 1975 (May 8); Ariana Grande (Jun. 4-5); Hugh Jackman (Jun. 21); Windy City Smokeout (Jul. 12-14); Jeff Lynne’s ELO (Jul. 27); Queen + Adam Lambert (Aug. 9); Backstreet Boys (Aug. 10); John Mayer (Aug. 14); Thomas Rhett (Sept. 14), The Chainsmokers (Oct. 4) and Carrie Underwood (Oct. 29). For additional details, visit UnitedCenter.com.

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Rock and Roll Hall of Famers KISS blow a fireball of a goodbye

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