Kiss promising ‘unforgettable’ Melbourne shows for final Australian performances
Rock gods Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons have landed in Melbourne for their last ever Australian shows, which they say will be epic.
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Rock gods Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons have landed in Melbourne with a vow to make their final ever shows in Australia celebratory and unforgettable.
“These shows will be a celebration of everything that we’ve accomplished that wouldn’t have been possible without our fans,” Kiss frontman Paul Stanley said at Tullamarine, after arriving on a flight from LA, on Wednesday morning.
“Our storeyed past in Australia is the envy of other bands. We’ve had an incredible relationship — a love affair — with Australia since our first tour here, in 1980.”
Stanley said the shows, kicking off at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night, will be classic Kiss — full make up, costumes, flames, fake blood and all the hits.
“It won’t be morose, it won’t be funereal,” Stanley said. “It will be cutting edge, because let’s face it, every band now does a Kiss show. You can’t do a show and not see something Kiss has done.
“We’ll make sure we go out with everybody remembering why they loved us, and play all the songs they want to hear.”
With their epic shows and rock anthems, Kiss invented larger-than-life arena and stadium size spectacles. Their hits include Love Gun, Rock And Roll All Nite, I Was Made For Lovin’ You, Detroit Rock City, God Of Thunder and Shandi.
Bassist Simmons said the band’s final tour, titled The End Of The Road, is a statement: Kiss wants to go out on top.
“The reality is, the forces of gravity and nature take over,” Simmons said. “If we were a blues band, or I was lucky enough to be in U2, and be (guitarist) The Edge, who can put on some nice sneakers and t-shirt, you can stay on stage until your 80s.
“This not a criticism,” Simmons added. “It just is.
“I’m in my early 70s, and this is the last tour for physical reasons. I wear dragon boots that are seven inches tall; they’re very heavy. The leather and armour is a lot of weight.
“To do that and spit fire and fly through the air, bla bla, ad infinitum, ad nauseam — the physical nature of what we do prevents us from being able to play into our 80s.
“This is just as well,” Simmons said, “because we’ve all seen too many bands who stay up on stage too long. Get off when you’re at the top of your game.
“You don’t want to hear the Elvis comparison, ‘Oh I remember when he was young and wasn’t bloated.
“My advice is this, ‘Come and see Kiss now, and you’ll see we are great.’”
Kiss performs at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday.
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