Review: Rock and Roll All Nite as KISS farewells the faithful at Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Beneath the stunts and make-up lurks an excellent glam rock band that knows how to bring the party – as they did last night at a packed Entertainment Centre.

KISS on the End of the Road World Tour. Photo: Keith Leroux

KISS has always been more than a band. KISS is an idea, a philosophy bordering on a religion to many. KISS has an Army – not many bands can boast that.

At 47 years of age I cannot remember a time before KISS.

We pilfered KISS trading cards from my parents’ corner deli to trade with kids at school.

We ate KISS ice blocks in the summer and I painted my face like Ace to perform Shandi with tennis racquet guitars at a family barbecue.

The religious right hated KISS. They said their name stood for Knights In Satan’s Service and they existed only to guide children toward the devil. It was all great publicity.

In 2019 the band performed for a handful of people and some great white sharks (which didn’t turn up) on the back of a boat at Williams Island, off the coast of Port Lincoln.

As weird as that was, it perfectly embodied the KISS ethos. If the cheque is big enough and the people want it then … why not?

But beneath all the stunts and merchandise and make-up lurks an excellent glam rock – at times veering into power pop – band who know how to bring the party and that’s exactly what they did last night at a packed Entertainment Centre for their End of the Road World Tour Show.

It was a show that had been a long time in the making.

The band was forced to reschedule in 2019 due to illness, and again earlier this year due to Covid-related border closures, so the KISS Army was champing at the bit to give the band they love so passionately a fitting send off and heartfelt thank you for 50 years of rock ’n’ roll.

You wanted the best, you got the best – KISS in action. Photo: Keith Leroux

The lobby of the sold-out Entertainment Centre (excellent Tuesday night effort Adelaide) felt like a Comic-Con as much as a rock show, with many of the KISS Army donning full make up and the ultra-faithful turning out in full costume.

It gives every KISS show a carnival atmosphere. Like professional wrestling fans, KISS fans know this is all a bit silly, but that’s literally the point.

“All right Adelaide, You wanted the best, you got the best! The hottest band in the world, KISS!” With that the curtain fell, the first startlingly-loud pyrotechnics erupted and KISS took to the stage for the opening number, Detroit Rock City.

It was instantly clear that, despite the years (both Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons are in their seventies, while guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer are in their sixties) the band was as tight as ever and all voices were in good order.

Stanley in particular looked incredibly youthful, and his energy levels remained at an insane level for the entire two hour-plus show.

“This is the ninth time we’ve played Adelaide, and we love you people,” he told the crowd.

“What a way to turn a Tuesday night into a Saturday night. We came here to kick ass!”
And, well, they did.

Shout It Out Loud was a rollicking singalong, while the excellent Deuce – from the band’s 1974 self-titled debut – reminded everyone where it all began.

I Love It Loud was punctuated by a little trademark Simmons fire breathing, a vocal chord warm up perhaps for Cold Gin, which he knocked out of the park.

A blistering Thayer guitar solo gave the rest of the band a well-deserved half time break, before they were back out for round two, a round which took the theatrics to a whole new level

Paul Stanley doing things 70-year-olds probably aren’t supposed to do. Photo: Jay Gilbert

There was a guitar duel between Thayer and Stanley, a ridiculously entertaining drum solo from Singer, kit rising on a platform to heights not even Spinal Tap could dream of, and then an epic bass solo from The Demon Gene Simmons himself, complete with what seemed like litres of blood pouring from his mouth. This is why everyone’s parents hated this band, and why the kids couldn’t get enough of them.

As the blood flowed Simmons was raised on a platform all the way to the ceiling where he performed the powerful God of Thunder.

It was grotesque and ridiculous and completely awesome, and the crowd lapped it up.

But just when you thought things couldn’t get any crazier, Stanley upped the ante by flying above the entire stadium on a rope to a platform at the other end of the room where he performed Love Gun and crowd favourite I Was Made For Lovin’ You.

The main set ended with Black Diamond, before an encore made up of ballad Beth, with Singer on piano and delivering a perfect vocal performance, Shandi and, of course, the anthemic Rock and Roll All Nite.

Thank you and goodnight! Photo: Igor Vidyashev

If this really is the end, then thank you KISS for all the rock ’n’ roll and fun times.

However if you decide to be the first centenarian rock band then I don’t think anyone at the Tuesday night’s show would object.

It would be fun to think that perhaps one or two more generations could experience the epic rock circus that is a live KISS show.

SET LIST

Detroit Rock City

Shout It Out Loud

Deuce

War Machine

Heaven’s on Fire

I Love It Loud

Say Yeah

Cold Gin

Lick It Up

Calling Dr. Love

Do You Love Me

Psycho Circus

100,000 Years

God of Thunder

Love Gun

I Was Made for Lovin’ You

Black Diamond

Encore:

Beth

Shandi

Rock and Roll All Nite