KAOS2000 Magazine Concert Review: KISS

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KISS - Farewell Tour - KISS for the milking

March 23, 2000 - Oakland Arena - Oakland, CA
KISS - Heralded by some as the world's greatest band, at least their live announcer will tell you so. Perhaps at some time in the past that may have been true but, all things age. After a successful "reunion" tour in 1996, KISS released a new album in 1998, "Psycho Circus", in the hopes of rekindling glories past. Gene Simmons had even remarked that it would be the next "Destroyer". It always seemed as though everything KISS-related revolved around that album, almost lessening the importance (if any) of any other KISS recording, save for the first two "ALIVE" albums. Truth be told, despite their popularity, aside from the early days, KISS had never been a big album seller. In fact, due to the misinformation given to the public and industry and fudging of real numbers, KISS was a main reason for the revision of the Billboard charts. The fact was simple, out of the millions of albums that KISS had supposedly sold, most were rejected, returned and bargain binned. Having said all that, sales for "Psycho Circus" were disappointing for a band as big as KISS had been. This was in part due to their record company's dropping the ball and not being able to release, unless much later, the next batch of albums after the initial release. No amount of touring and TV spots would rekindle the real amount of excitement in newer rock fans. KISS, rock's mighty megalith, apparently decided then, after the disappointing sales of 1998's "Psycho Circus" to not bother recording a follow up "reunion" album of new material and have unceremoniously gone on to make a "Farewell" Tour for the year 2000. Why? Why no big media blitz about it? Because, their time had come and is now fading. KISS are no longer the ringleaders of the rock 'n' roll circus. The attractions have faded. Sure, everyone knows they're on tour but the news of this being the "last" time is not a big deal to anyone really. The most popular rumor was that they were to play a "final" show for New Year's 1999 in Detroit or Madison Square Gardens and even that could not come to happen.
So, KISS had just started their tour in the the year 2000. "2000 Man"? Fitting. KISS were the kings at one time and it has come to pass to give the crown to someone else. The show that we caught was at the Oakland Arena in CA. The crowd was packed indeed, all ready to have a glimpse of 1976 all over again. There were surprisingly few fans in make-up, compared to days of yore. Someone at the show suggested that it may be because people got older and too tired to bother. If one were to judge what made up the majority of KISS fans, by looking at this particular crowd, it could be assumed that most of the fans were blue-collar working class guys who drank a lot of beer and liked to stare people down in machismo manner. Not a brainy crowd, not a fun crowd, just a crowd.
When the black curtains, emblazoned with the silver KISS emblem, dropped, the band was lowered by a platform onto the stage where they strutted out to the front to... pose. Pose? No big hoopla introduction, no big fireworks, no blasting guitars. This was four older gentlemen in make-up just standing there for idolation from the crowd. (??) After a couple of minutes they launched into a rousing version of "Detroit Rock City". However, knowing that the first two songs were reserved for all the media photographers and video, the band spent a good portion of time hamming it up with poses and postures galore - including much of "nail drying" hand waves. Most of that stopped after the photographers were escorted out of the pit. At this point, the band was going into "Shout It Out Loud".
KISS used to be something special. Back in the mid to late 1970s, KISS was truly as SHOW, as it were. There was plenty of fireworks, blazing lights, attitude and a real love for playing live. At this show, something was missing. It really wasn't KISS the way the band is always fondly remembered. Of course, as I find, "true" fans will love a band no matter how great or deplorable a performance, so I expect some flack for my view of the show. The fact is, it is most obvious that these are four tired older men who really are ready to move on and don't seem to care about the youthful endeavors of live performance - nor do they have to. Paul Stanley is seeing a career blossom on Broadway - a note on that is that Paul's wig was quite convincing, for those who didn't know that he really has quite short hair now. Peter Criss seemed to be donning a rug as well, as his once gingerly peppered hair has miraculously become solid black once more. Gene Simmons will undoubtedly move ahead into yet another business venture (the success of which will have to be determined after it happens, if one is to judge past works). In any case, the band was very contrived, to put it mildly. Every word appeared measured and planned - from the introduction of the songs to the execution of them. The moves were there, undoubtedly, and the band did their most to endear themselves to the adoring audience, the only problem is, from a different perspective it did not appear as though this was a group of musicians who really enjoyed performing to these people but rather, were milking an attentive audience for all that they could get. Gene Simmons himself once said, "I'm never going to be a Billy Sheehan. It's all about the money." Very obvious. Unfortunately, fans buy into it all and truly believe all that they are told, rather than judging for themselves.
Does someone hate Ace Frehley? Apparently the lighting director, perhaps under orders of some others in the band. Ace was kept in the dark, or dimly lit, for the majority of the evening, excepting his own solo of course. When "Love Gun" was being played, Paul flew over the crowd onto a middle stage to sing and dance. During the lead guitar break, Ace played in almost no lighting at all while all spots were on Paul's little jig. What respect is that? Speaking of solos, it was truly amazing to notice that, during the songs, Ace played some sparkling renditions of his earlier solos but, during his own solo, there are no words to describe how amateurish he played. I cannot see where the childhood idolatry of my own came from. The majority of long-held notes, stunted hammer-ons and fast-picked one notes were almost below "garage standard". Of course, I compare this to the standard of the 1970s when we all grew up loving the band. These days his playing would not be allowed in light of all the young Yngwies. Was it a bad night? It didn't appear to be. Again, the signs of boredom I believe.
On a lighter note, the best songs were "100,000 Years" and "Black Diamond", with a few others being above par. "Rock 'N' Roll All Night" was fine but a little long-winded and seemed to really be the "let's get it over with" number. It was odd to see them play a few non-classic KISS line-up numbers including "Heaven's On Fire" and "Lick It Up" although the fans appreciated them. "Cold Gin" was a nice number to hear, especially with the responsible message given by Paul to the imbibing fans of "It's OK to drink, just don't drink and drive. I mean that from the bottom of my heart." Kudos to Paul for that.
Overall, Gene likes to brag and some people like to listen. The fact is, the show was minimal at best. Gone are the days of true KISS pyrotechnics and the lighting was absolutely not the best. The sound was muddled in places. To note, Gene had talked about the last tour and also about the last album being "the first in 3D". Wrong. The Rolling Stones did it in 1967 with their 3D cover of "Their Satanic Majesty's Request". The true reasons for the band's sudden insistence on a farewell tour and not really making it a bigger hoopla is a bit of a mystery. If one is to judge their performance by the crowd, inside the audience was raving for the band (not the loudest crowd, but noisy enough), while outside was a different story. Upon leaving, there was a strange lull over the crowd, not much "Oh yeahs!" or anything. The only two comments that I heard clearly were a guy discussing the light show in reference to the band, "It's always amazing how they can illuminate such garbage." and another couple of men shaking their heads while droning, "Poor. Very poor. You called that a show?" If this is the sum of all the years that KISS had built upon, it was a very dismal end. Paul Stanley had really tried to drive home the fact that "this is the last time in Oakland." In fact, it almost appeared as though the majority of the crowd was thankful after all was said and done and the lights had come up. Topping off the night with a death during the show from a man dropping four stories just to get a better view doesn't exactly make this the best "show of all shows". It is really too bad that KISS could not have provided more and actually appeared as though they cared instead of pretentiously stating their prepared speeches for the sheep to latch on to. At least KISS will be able to milk a few more dollars yet out of their loyal mind-numbed fans as the release of "KISS Alive IV" comes out around the time of the live video of this tour, and so on and so on... Got KISS?
Written by and all Photos © 2000 Philip Anderson / All photos © 1998 by Julie Wilson

KISS PHOTOS FROM MT. VIEW / CONCORD, CA - JULY 2000

KISS CONCERT REVIEW FROM MT VIEW/CONCORD - JULY 2000

Philip Anderson is a musician, in addition to being a writer/photographer. He has performed as a guitarist/vocalist, as well as songwriter, in several bands over the past 20 years. As a writer and photographer, he has been published by several magazines and in several books, and had his works appear on television.

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