I was a small kid and my mom let me go to that show. It was my first concert. The Omni was full of pot smoke so I'm sure I got contact high and people were lighting firecrackers from the upper seats. I was freaked out before the show even started!
For me, KISS was no longer KISS when Ace and Peter left. I’m glad I saw them during the reunion tour after KISS Unplugged on MTV. At this stage, just end it.
Kiss should have ended after the first Farewell tour in the early 2000s with the original band intact, Gene and Paul have really botched the ending of Kiss.
Coming from a guy whose first rock album was Kiss Alive when it was first released and from a guy whose front door is just a few blocks away from the site of the old Coventry club where Kiss played their first shows, I can honestly say that you couldn't give me free tickets to see them now. I'd rather remember them in their prime or at least before they got their first AARP letters.
If the current Kiss played in my living room, I would get a hotel room for night. Lick It Up is in my top 2 Kiss albums. The fact is, I've supported every lineup of Kiss (including Eric Singer when he replaced Eric Carr), but I can't support this.
I saw Kiss with the original band members and also I seen Kiss with the two replacements. The magic is in the original band and plus the original members play the music a whole lot better.
You know, I'm just really glad that I was around to see these guys in 1976.... "ALIVE" was the first album I bought, and the album also marks the first time I'd ever heard of the band. I was all of 9 years old, and another kid actually brought the LP to class for Show and Tell!!! Lol At that age, I was interested in two things. Comic Books, and Music... It seemed to me that the band was a little of both. They were never better than they were during that time. I'm in my mid 50's, and have been playing since since around 1982. Music has allowed me to see the country (more than once), and when I wasn't traveling, I played gigs in and around my hometown, and eventually ended up with a publishing deal in Nashville. I always say that I've been blessed, and without hearing that album way back when, I may have never even learned to play anything but the radio... For me, those four original guys were the best, just like the announcer says at the beginning of the album. Thanks for the inspiration, and thanks for the magic. 🎩🍸🎩
Has there ever been a final concert by a band with original members and perfect closure? Pink Floyd’s Live 8 appearance is the only one that I can think of.
Although not a final concert nor a perfect sense of closure, i would say Alice Cooper and the members of the original ACG have looked genuinely happy to have been participatung in the project that they helped create so msny years ago. Their contributions to recent Cooper releases, live shows and various public appearances like R&R HoF and their record store appearance to promote Dennis Dunaway's book seem like their is genuine love between the surviving members of that band and the contemporary incarnation of their lead vocalist.
KISS is such a joke band these days... I actually remember buying their debut album when it came out and loving it. It is still my favorite Kiss album. I was a fan for maybe 2 or 3 years and then I just got bored with them. Ace is my favorite Kiss member, and he seems to be a pretty good guy, especially compared to Gene. This will be their final show until their next show...
I've seen KISS live three times over the years ('76, '78, '97) and each time it was the original four, full make-up, full show, sounding great. I wouldn't see them now, especially since I'm sure they're charging an arm and a leg.
The more I see how undignified and pathetic Kiss is in their alleged final days, the more grateful I am that my beloved Rush went out still near the top of their game and in a classy and dignified way. Textbook examples of how to do it and how not to do it.
@@Travis-d9fNot relevant ? Both are Rock bands , both around at the same time , Rush opened for KISS , both had drummers that died....... what more do you want ? U don't know what you are talking about 😒
Yes…agreed….Gedd and Alex sometimes make rumblings of a drummer and concerts but I hope they don’t…it would be a huge mistake….they were great until the last concert and when Neil joined them at the end for a bow-perfect ending in my book….sad to see them go but glad they were …..
@@chrisstengren8995 Geddy has suggested that if they did, it would not be a trio, they'd likely take more musicians and do something different. I doubt we'll get another Rush show, but we may see a few Lee/Lifeson + friends gigs, which would be dope.
September 22, 1979 I saw KISS with Judas Priest in Chicago. I was 13. Can't beat that for 10 bucks. 10 Rows off to the side, but I felt the heat of the flames on the stage. Judas Priest was superb. Much of the KISS show was nothing more than a rumble. Still fun though. I met Ace and Peter at book signings and it was awesome. I made Ace laugh when I told him I saw him in Chicago in 1979 and he said he just came from Chicago and I said took you forever to get here lol. Peter was cool too. I was in line and he walked right by me. I made him laugh too. They are not KISS without Ace and Peter. End of story.
I was at that show at the old international amphitheater After it was all said and done ….I walked away a huge Judas Priest fan because I thought priest smoked kiss because dynasty was awful , the show was hokey and the place was packed with little kids…..
Awesome! The sound was great for Judas, but KISS was a rumble mostly. I suppose I was a kid as well.My mom and dad took me. They liked it, surprisingly. That place in Chicago was top notch lol. Nice to hear from someone else that was there. I was a big Judas fan before I saw KISS. I saw they were warming up and I begged the folks to take me:)@@joeyjag666
Cobo hall twice, and 1996 Tiger Stadium. Without Ace Frehley and Peter Chris, they never sounded like KISS again, except the Reunion. They had some decent songs After breaking up. Frehley's solo album is very good, And once in a while I crank some Fractured Mirror. New York Groove was a big surprise. I was thrilled for him. His songs, his riffs, double leads and bending the strings, he is just damn good. Paul and Ace Playing identical leads in Detroit Rock City. They were fucking great. Great experiences for me.
I live here in Detroit, and there first reunion show at Tiger Stadium I went too, that show will never be topped. People were balling, crying everybody was so happy to see them back together again my opinion that show was the best I had ever seen, and I had seen KISS god 8 times before that. Another funny fact my uncle can be seen in the audience on there Alive album on inside cover. He brought that up constantly ....lmao.
Agree on the Tiger Stadium show. No concert comes close to the feeling we all had at that show. I think that the unexpected and automatic emotional responses was trigged by not being able to believe what you are seeing. Tears of joy.
It’s true about being grown men. No matter what Paul said about Ace, he should be a part of the end. Do it for the fans. Heck, full makeup and everything. Don’t care if Tommy is on stage, Ace was the original Spaceman, show him how it’s done.
It’s already been said by others below, but the original KISS reunion in 1996 was what everyone wanted. Once Peter and Ace left a few years later, that should have been it. That’s certainly when I stopped following them. Putting Singer and Thayer in Ace and Peter’s make-up was just outrageous. Pull the plug already, guys. You’ve accomplished a lot. Nothing more to prove.
I totally agree! Its waaay past overdue! Expiring date! Milk has gotten sour! Long time ago! Or the bread full of mole but people want to get fooled with a new label,package its like quantity goes before quality! It certainly should be the other way around! But then again! People want the illusion of the band! Not the reality of the band!
Frehley's Comet changed members and it was still Frehley's Comet, in attitude and performance quality. In the beginning Kiss was a $immons and $tanley lead project, Kiss played their last show with $immons and $tanley in the front seat. If Ray Charles or James Brown had changes in their band's line up nobody said a word, they just went with it. Nobody got angry when The Rolling Sones replaced Brian Jones. So a change in members can be a good thing and even make the group stronger.
I love Kiss but they have been nothing more than a Vegas act for 20 plus years now. Ace has put out at least 5 album of new music (2 were cover albums but still!). And he has a new single out now that sounds pretty damn good. For all the years Paul and Gene gave Ace shit, Ace seems to be the one that is the most focused on the music now. Sure he plays a lot of the old songs in concert, but at least he's creating. That's something Gene and Paul haven't done for quite some time now.
I've heard rumblings that they will still do cruises, and maybe even a tour minus makeup so they can say goodbye to the non makeup era. The gear, and the Great Expectations, that come with it. So yes Kiss will continue in some capacity.
@@lisaneal2025 I hope you're right, but rumblings from the Kiss camp, are just like those of the last farewell show. It only took months, and they were back. This summers cruise will feature non makeup Kiss, in chairs. The summer after, full stand up no makeup shows. I guess time will tell.
I saw the orignal line up when I was like 13 years old. I will never forget that. .. I sa them 3 or 4 times later on in life and I thought, If it weren't for the theatrics I probably wouldn't be there. KISS will commercialize their chit if they can make a dollar off it and thats sad. Just look at Led Zeppelin, They pick their shots and those shots are far and few between and thats why many still yearn to see something from them. As a quartet, Even the mighty Zep aren't Zep without John. by the way! Kiss, NOT kiss without Ace and Peter.. Jeez, , You could put Justin Biber in a wig and Make-up and call it KISS and the new generations think their seeing KIss, No, There not! They're seeing the circus when Ringling Brothers' aren't in town.
Kiss is not KISS without Frehley & Criss. I agree with Ace in terms of this not being "the end of the road" ... greed is a hell of a drug & both Gene & Paul are addicts.
I have been a fan since '77 and have supported them in all there incarnations. However since the fairwell tour of 2000-2001 Gene and Paul should have called it quits. Several months agoAce was asked by Eddie Trunk what costume he would want to where if he played at the last show, Ace replied i would show up in my boxers , as long as i got paid! Lol That is the langue that Gene and Paul Speak. Peter , ( just my opinion) would not showup for any amount of money! Also i think Peter is more than capable of playing a few songs with these guys, i dont think they would be able to play with him due to backing tapes and pre-recorded vocals. PAUL AND GENE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES!
I've never had a problem with Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer being in Kiss. What I have the problem with is Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer being in the Catman and Spaceman costumes, respectively. They should have just come up with new characters for them to play. Simple as that. I don't think any true Kiss fan would have had a problem with that. But Gene and Paul couldn't even do that for the fans. 🙄
That's because Gene and Paul decided when the makeup went back on,it was there to stay.They told Peter and Ace that too. The "Farwell" was to the dark cloud and flake that were Peter and Ace.
I havent heard a word from either of them mentioning Eric Carr. I would think that they'd have some sort of video tribute to him. After all, he was in the band from 1981-1990, There also has been no mention of Bruce Kulick, another long time member.
I have been a life-long KISS fan. I saw two shows in '96. Milwaukee and Madison. Fabulous. Paul could still sing and Peter and Ace were at the top of their game. For me though I thought they should have hung it in Y2K on top rather than making us watch them just get tired.
Ace WAS the rock soul of Kiss. Without him it's not Kiss. I saw them 3 times during the reunion tour. FIrst 2 times they were on fire. Last time, Peter wasn't there and they didn't bother to tell anyone that Eric was in the makeup. The band sounded tired. So late 90's was THE time to see them. Now? Not Kiss, don't bother.
Yea i agree ace freely and Peter cris should be playing with kiss it takes all four band members in reality everyone would love to see all four original band members…..or plot twist this could be there last show now but maybe they could bring back all original four members and do another tour guaranteed this would be the biggest upset ever gene Paul lets do this….fuk sitting at home it’s a death sentence
Paul's vocal range is limited as he is in his mid 70's and probably did not spend much time working with vocal coaches. Gene is starting to show his age and is tiring more quickly so the shows are a physical strain on them both. Technology has such that holograms are performing for all kinds of acts like Ronnie James Dio and Whitney Houston and Roy Orbison and it's only going to expand as times goes on. What happens is a representative of the artist will hire musicians to play around a hologram that will be taken from past performances but will look like it is for that performance. Technology is mind blowing. People are amazed at how close the hologram of that artist is to the artist in person. I was on simulated tours of space and I actually had to remind myself I was not on Mars. So, these hologram shows are only going to get better as technology improves. Ace and Peter don't own any interest in Kiss anymore so the hologram shows can go on without them getting paid.
At what point do Ace and Peter take responsibility for their actions? They have been non members for A LOT longer than they were members. The band is as good as it ever was.
It would be nice if they rode off into the sunset together, even if it's jusr Ace and Peter walking on stage and taking that final bow with the rest of the band. Will it happen? Doesn't look like it. Is this actually Kiss' final tour? Will they do one off shows again? Will we see a future incarnation of the band, with no original members?
And to answer your question, of course KISS is still KISS, just as Deep Purple is still Deep Purple, ACDC is still ACDC and so on....and the fact is, KISS sounds much better these days than during the reunion tour. Tommy is a better guitar-layer than Ace, (he is, so to speak, a better "Ace! than the original one) and no one can dispute that Eric Singer is a 100 times better drummer than Peter.
I’m sure it would be a DREAM COME TRUE for any Die Hard Kiss fan if they did the Grand Finale Show w/ all of the original members of KISS!!!!! But the reality of the situation is that it’s only a ‘Dream’ given to the fact that they can’t get over the financial Squabbling!!!!!;(;(
I was a HUGE Kiss fan in the early days, but while they were taking their break, and doing the solo albums my interest wained, and I moved on. Then Ace & Peter left, and it was no longer Kiss to me. Not saying anything against the guys that came along after, they were all good musicians, but it wasn't the same in my opinion. I don't blame the 2 for not taking part without a good pay check, with all the money Paul & Gene made over the years, they could afford to make it right, but they chose not to.
Quit saying they said the were going to stop touring.They didn't.They said Farewell to a dark cloud and a flake.That's all. NOW.I think they(Gene and Paul)are done. Not sure what Eric and Tommy will do.
It's not just Ace and Peter. Bruce Kulick and Vinnie Vincent weren't invited either. And how about a tribute to Eric Carr at the final show? We can only hope 😅
I never was a KISS can, so I don't care of Tommy Thayer plays on the farewell tour... Hopefully the concert on 2nd of December (=today) in Madison Square Garden is really the last one... They should bring it to an end...🤔
There comes a time when bands, after playing for decades, become caricatures of themselves. Yes, Whitesnake, KISS, Motley Crue, etc. But their love of money and fame forces them to continuously inflict their wrinkly asses on the public. Retire already, for God's sake.
Not a kiss fan but to the point of a band ceasing to be a band i think it dependz on the band and what constitutes thier sound or appeal for example Queen without Freddie is no longer Queen but Fleetwood Mac remains Fleetwood Mac as long as Mick and John remain, although named by Peter Green, that's not to say a band cant make good music still after losing key musicians The Rolling Stones for instance,we shant mention The cosmos rocks.
Having never been a fan, I could care less about KISS, although the soap opera drama is kinda fun. But they owe it to their die-hard fans to have the original iconic members Ace and Peter on that stage. This could all be a ruse anyway, for publicity's sake. We'll see.
I wouldn't watch kiss if they paid me to go. They say they give the fans what they want. Well at the rock hall of fame show, the fans wanted Ace and Peter to play. The original lineup. But gene and paul ruined it. My respect for paul and gene was gone right then and there. Nothing against Tommy and Eric. Both nice guys just doing a job. But gene and paul quit caring about the fans years ago. It's all about the money and screw the fans. I remember when they were number 1. Now I couldn't care less for kiss. I was offered free tickets once by a friend if I would drive. I turned it down. I followed them from 1974. Even got in fist fights as a kid defending them. Now I care for gene and paul like they care for the fans. They don't. So I don't care for them. Kiss is just it's own overpriced tribute band now.
He's as delusional now as when he thought he'd "ruin" KISS by leaving. Gene and Paul are worth about 400 million a piece.Peter about 10.Ace maybe the same.THANKS to KISS.Otherwise.Nobody ever would have heard of them.😊
Never was a big KISS fan, but after I went to Barkley's to see them be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and they didn't perform, I lost even that slightest bit of interest in them. Later on I did go to an Ace solo concert and it was ok. Worthwhile but not inspiring.
The fact stands at the 96 / 97 reunion tour Kiss sold out 4 nights at Madison Square Garden and many other venues has multiple sell out shows. Gene was so ecstatic at the money bags that Ace & Peter brought to the band. This 96 / 97 tour should have been the wrap up of the band on a high. But sadly greed and delusion set in as Paul & Gene pushed the band way past it's use by date. Pauls voice has been totally shot since 2010, and the 'Fake Ace' Tommy Thayer is still unable to add to the Kiss vault of music even though he's been in Kiss since 2002. But that actually suits Paul & Gene who completely control the fate of the band. Kiss's final live shows at Madison Square garden are only 2 sold out nights. So see what happens when Peter and Ace are excluded. I could explain much more but I'm sure Michael understands as much as I do on Kiss.
yes the "real" KISS has been gone for decade's...I used to have so much Music memorabilia and that included KISS stuff...now because I had to down size...I have the greatest hits CD from 2007... I think...either way the original Band on the front cover and throughout the artwork...and the McFarlane Toys bust statues...color versions...the sculpts were taken from the Alive album...
It's sad what has happened to Kiss in the past few years at the hands of Gene and Paul. They should have gone out on top like Gene and Paul always brag about, but instead they have driven the band into the ground trying to milk every last dollar from their fans. The once great band who used to slam other bands for using tapes is now a shadow of its former self, with Paul Stanley miming 90% his vocals each night. It's really sad to watch. While Ace is obviously showing signs of age and the previous substance abuse, I'd much rather see him live than Kiss. In fact, if I was given free tickets I wouldn't bother with Kiss. At least Ace is still playing live without tracks.
I don't blame Ace, in fact I agree with him on being paid accordingly, a quarter million sounds fair to me. I also agree with him on not wearing his makeup and clashing visually with Tommy who is wearing Ace's makeup. Peter Criss should be given the same option as well.
Love Ace, but you are overhyping him! He was awesome back in the day. But his recent material, except some covers, has been weak. And his playing has degraded a lot, especially live
I can't say they are no longer Kiss after Ace and Peter left (huge Ace fan here) because as I was only 10 years old when Ace left, Kiss was my absolute favorite band in the 80's and 90's. However, the moment they put the make-up on Singer and Thayer I was done. What they have become disgusts me.
Michael, i agree with you about KISS. I saw them once in 1977. I enjoyed them then, but have no desire to see them again. Their best album, Destroyer, still rocks!
I saw them 3 times. Twice with Ace and Peter and once with Tommy and Eric. 79, 97, and 2012. It’s too expensive nowadays. I looked up the pay per view for the final show and it’s 39.99 a lot cheaper than the price to go there. I’m just glad it’s over. I also read that Gene said if Ace and Peter were to do it they would not wear the makeup. In my opinion they probably would’ve only done 2 or 3 songs anyway so it’s not worth it
KISS is a complete Joke. i was a huge fan (still love almost everything up until 2001) but just stopped supporting them after that. i really have not purchased anything KISS related, since 2001. except the kissology DVDs. lol
Ace and Peter should have been at Madison square garden, regardless the price. No disrespect to Eric and Tommy, but Ace and Peter are the founding members of the band. Imho, it's a shame that it did not happen.😵💫
Hi Micheal,it would be good to have Ace and Peter at the last concert at Madison Square Garden as a celebration of the bands success over 50 years! Keep well. Cheers Glenn Sydney Oz
I was so happy to see the 90s reunion tour twice. I was too young in the 70s to go to the concerts according to my mother. Those shows were incredible. 🍻
I was a huge kiss fan in the 70’s but stopped because I moved on to other rock….I will always love the music they made before 1980…Alive 1 was the first rock album I ever bought…I have a vinyl copy currently….I have come to really hate gene and Paul……it started to dawn on me it was just a marketing venture disguised as a band and the metal heads were duped into buying anything …I mean really anything…..coffins…condoms….kiss kruses….it’s all just fugazzi…..my good friend is from Cadillac Michigan and was a high schooler when kiss invaded-really invaded the town in 1975…..the mayor wore kiss makeup for gods sake…..10 or so years ago the town wanted to honor this event with ceremonies and a huge granite monument…..this attracted the die hard kiss army folks and my friend escorted one of these rabid fans to some of the sights around Cadillac where kiss was back then…..this guy was so excited to have a brick from the torn down motel they stayed in….my friend gave this guy a mimeograph flyer that kiss threw out of a helicopter on the football field…I guess my buddy had a stack he picked up after they littered the field with them….so at the unveiling of the monument I was there and the mc told the crowd of about 300 kiss fanatics that the town tried to contact gene and Paul but didn’t hear anything from them……that was the final nail in my kiss fandom….to think what kiss meant to the town and those dicks couldn’t care less….eff them…..but apparently they can still cash in because the farewell tour de jour is probably lucrative…..I even herd Paul say that there could be a revolving cast of band members in makeup to perpetuate the grift into perpetuity…..how’s that for a big one up the you know where…..
I was at the 1st Kiss concert in North America on the 5th of February 1974, at the Jubilee Auditorium, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. As a teenager back then I even joined the Kiss Army, but when Ace and Peter left so did I. That was Kiss to me, and I did go back for ths reunion tour in 1997. Then, once again Ace and Peter left, but this time I bought a one way ticket instead of the usual round trip....cheers....✌️
