Photos by Andy Argyrakis

The process of KISS saying goodbye for good, despite having already done this at the turn of the millennium, got a lot longer due to pandemic-related postponements.

But the band that’s been comprised of principal singer/guitarist Paul Stanley, fellow vocalist/bassist Gene Simmons, longtime drummer Eric Singer and lead axe slinger Tommy Thayer since right around that aftermath more than made up the delay to Milwaukee with blood, guts, gore and pyrotechnics galore.

Granted, the mid-week launch to the entire outdoor concert season wasn’t exactly sandwiched around Summerfest, as it was originally intended, but that didn’t stop the KISS Army from filling much of the American Family Insurance Amphitheater for what keeps being advertised as the “End Of The Road.”

Though it was impossible to pack all the “Klassics” into about two-hours, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers came pretty close, representing the earliest days of shocking spectacles, to the more streamlined era out of character and more recent returns to form.

A fellow Midwestern shout-out to “Detroit Rock City” ushered in the explosions as the group levitated from the shed’s ceiling, trading bombastic riffs and menacing poses upon landing on what was easily its most over the top stage yet.

Up next was “Shout It Out Loud,” which started a string of sing-a-longs that also included melodic head bangers “Deuce,” “Lick It Up,” “Calling Dr. Love,” Tears Are Falling,” “Psycho Circus” and “God Of Thunder.”

Simmons of course breathed fire and spit his guts out, Stanley went flying to and from a platform in the back of the pavilion come “Love Gun” and “I Was Made For Lovin’ You,” while Singer and Thayer also had their shots to solo.

In other words, it was the quintessential way to “Rock And Roll All Nite,” which whether or not this is actually the last time or prompts an infinite number of victory laps, there will never be another act that even comes remotely close to any larger than life aspect of KISS.

For additional information on KISS, visit KISSOnline.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater include AJR (Jun. 4); REO Speedwagon and Styx (Jun. 7); Josh Groban (Jun. 21); Jason Aldean (Jun. 23); Justin Bieber (Jun. 24); Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa and Wu-Tang Clan. (Jun 25); Machine Gun Kelly (Jul. 1); Halsey (Jul. 2); Rod Stewart and Cheap Trick (Jul. 7); Backstreet Boys (Jul. 8); Thomas Rhett (Jul. 9); Santana and Earth, Wind & Fire (Jul. 10); Alanis Morissette and Garbage (Jul. 23); Luke Bryan (Aug. 5); Alice In Chains, Breaking Benjamin and Bush (Aug. 22); Pitbull and Iggy Azalea (Aug. 26); Keith Urban (Aug. 28) and Five Finger Death Punch (Oct. 7). For additional details, visit AmFamAmp.com.

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