‘Full throttle’ Kiss delivers killer Melbourne show
Kiss’s first Melbourne show of their farewell world tour was a full throttle knockout punch of greatest hits and over-the-top theatrics.
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Old rockers don’t grow old. They apply make-up, fly, spit blood and play stadium-sized anthems in an arena rock industry they helped invent.
US superstars Kiss have done these deeds for 50 years strong, and now, with the band’s leaders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons aged 70 and 72 respectively, they’re hanging up their platform boots and stage outfits.
The forces of the nature and gravity may be taking over, but Kiss’ farewell lap of the globe, called End Of The Road, is strictly on their terms: loud, celebratory and using every trick in the book.
Their swan song is vintage Kiss – at full throttle.
At Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, amid the famous make up, speaker stacks, blazing pyro and modern gadgetry, Kiss delivered a knockout punch of greatest hits, over-the-top theatrics and, often forgotten in the spectacle of it all, serious musicianship.
Kiss descended from the rafters, as flames blasted into the sky, for the bombastic opener Detroit Rock City.
“We’ve been waiting years to come back and see you,” Stanley said.
“So tonight, it’s special.”
Guitarist Tommy Thayer, 61, and drummer Eric Singer, 64, lend muscle and vitality to Kiss’ founding fathers Stanley, the ringmaster and evangelist, and Simmons, the blood-spitting tongue-lashing demon.
Hits Deuce, I Was Made For Lovin’ You and Rock And Roll All Nite were played with absolute power and intent.
God Of The Thunder had Simmons, in menace mode, soaring about the crowd. Stanley flew, too, over the crowd, to a b-stage at the other end of the arena, during Love Gun.
Singer was in fine voice for the piano ballad, the beautiful Beth. And Kiss threw in an Australian fan favourite, the pop-crossover hit, Shandi, as an encore.
Yes, it’s the end of the road, but what a wild ride. Thank you, Kiss, for making rock bigger, bolder, brighter and most importantly, fun.
Kiss performs at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday and Tuesday.
Originally published as ‘Full throttle’ Kiss delivers killer Melbourne show
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