It's Brisbane turn to witness KISS' The End Of The Road Tour (6 September) and outside the Brisbane Entertainment Centre (BEC), a KISS army is waiting behind the barricades, ready to claim their territory from which to experience the show.
Made-up faces replicating their band idols and costumes including some extremely elaborate ones can be seen among the fans. There is a sea of smiling faces reflecting the joy of their anticipation of the big shebang we have been craving to see.It's not too long before the gates open and the cast of thousands – who range in age from kiddie punter to those who can recall the release of 'Nothin' To Lose' and KISS' first big hit 'Rock And Roll All Nite' – swarm the BEC forecourt.
Many are near to running once they get through the turnstiles. Targeting the merchandise stalls for first dibs at the KISS merch while others strategically opt for food and beverage supplies first. When the arena doors open, the standing area crowd are deadset on staking their piece of the floor for the night ahead.
I can't stop saying to anyone I talk to "I'm so excited, I'm so excited!" I may sound like a broken record, but it's true – I hardly slept a wink knowing tonight will be likely be the last time many of us will get to see the hottest band in the world!
To warm us up good and proper with their opener 'Dimension' followed by 'New Moon Rising' are hard rockers Wolfmother. After this the rock keeps coming at us with 'Woman', an extended version of 'White Unicorn', 'Rock Out' and 'Midnight Train'.
Wolfmother - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Andrew Stockdale reminds us from the stage he's Brisbane born – he's saying that as a kid he used to listen to KISS and now he is getting to open for KISS in his home town! Makes me think there's no better band to be chosen to get us rockin' in our socks?!
Stockdale, Hamish Rosser and Bobby Poulton give us a set of ten songs ending with 'Apple Tree', 'Gypsy Caravan', 'Victorious' and their banger 'Joker And The Thief' that has punters singing and head-banging along.
With Stockdale working his vocal and guitar magic, Poulton is brilliant on keys and bass, pulling off his signature stances. However, my beating heart was floored by Rosser working the tubs like a man possessed! Okay, I'm truly warmed up for the main act.
A large black curtain hangs across the front and part of the side of the stage. As we listen to AC/DC and Black Sabbath blasting from the speakers, red emblazoned branding in lights is seen across the front of the black curtain.
There is an electric charge in the atmosphere created by the anticipation and expectation of punters who are filling the enormous BEC arena. And. . . we are hearing: "You wanted the best, you got the best. The hottest band in the world, KISS!" as the black curtain is unrestrained, unmasking descending platforms with those four familiar figures.
KISS - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Oh boom! Arcing pyrotechnics shed a whole lot of light on our subjects! What a glam-glorious sight is this before me! I am grinning ear to ear at the familiar make-up, those ridiculous yet perfect platform boots and the rocking vibes that are taking us from warm to 'Rock And Roll' hot, to fire-cracking sizzling with 'Detroit Rock City'.
The sound vibrations are permeating our bodies and combined with the sight before us, we are being held in an absolute rapture. Seriously, it's like five minutes in and I can hardly contain myself and there are many in the rest of this huge crowd that are unable to as the screams of delight are heard!
KISS - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Punters get 'Shout', 'Deuce', 'War Machine', 'Heaven's On Fire' and more sizzling fire with 'I Love It Loud'. The performances and stage production so far has my heart pumping and I know I am witnessing one of the most outlandish and flamboyant rock & roll moments of all time.
The fact this band has fans that span generations while they themselves are in the seventh decades of their lives and can still dance and jam in platform boots for hours on end amazes me no end!
KISS are now giving us 'Say Yeah', followed by 'Cold Gin' and guitar solo from Thayer, and I am astounded that his fingers didn't shred with the note picking! The crowd are losing their minds for 'Lick It Up' and didn't need much coaxing to yell out who the doctor was for 'Dr Love'. We didn't stop there and kept singing with the band who continued to tear it up with 'Do You Love Me' then 'Psycho'.
KISS - image © Clea-marie Thorne
A very cool drum solo from Singer while riding high in the air on a drum riser is next – I am loving that Catman has the golden cat on the black sheet covering the scissor style lift.
And it's gore time, as Simmons spits blood from his podium during 'God Of Thunder' and has us ooooohing and ahhhhhing; some of us even cringe as we see the close up on the big screens side of stage – yeah baby, rock & roll!
KISS - image © Clea-marie Thorne
After a bit of crowd banter, Stanley takes a foothold in a flying fox contraption and glides from the main stage to a small stage at the other end of the arena to play 'Love Gun'.
I notice that instead of risking a strain to reach those high-range screams, Stanley is craftily adapting his vocals around the melodies, in a dual effort I would say to keep it lug worthy for punters and to take care of his vocals.
It's just amazing to see him rock & rolling with fans of all ages and the ladies of all ages screaming out to him during 'I Was Made For Loving You' – man he is killing it up there and can gyrate like a 30 year old who knows what he is doing (gulp)! Actually it's unfair not to say THEY ALL ARE! I hope I am half as rock & roll as Simmons, Stanley, Singer and Thayer, when I hit my 70s.
KISS - image © Clea-marie Thorne
The drum riser is up again during 'Black Diamond' and we know the show ain't over even though darkness descended on the stage.
Light returns and Singer takes to a silvery bejewelled piano that has now been set up, to perform 'Beth' formerly performed by Peter Criss. It is perfect. 'Shandi' has us all singing along, so hoarse, yet not wanting to stop. Giant yellow and white balloons are let free from the middle of the arena to the crowd below.
Confetti guns begin to bang and shower the whole venue and streamers fall in ribbons towards us due the finale song 'Rock And Roll All Nite' while bursts of pyro are relentless onstage. Is this really the final KISS tour? Who knows?
To steal from their lyrics – I can tell you, that KISS drove us wild, they drove us crazy, they rock & rolled us and left us wanting to party every day from here on. The show was big and bold with the atmosphere nearing combustible, with the electric energy of excitement and nostalgia feels filling the BEC a sensory overload.
KISS - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Their performance combined with special effects, clearly not purchased on a shoestring budget, is totally wild. Captivating and engaging us for every second of the show, KISS is still killing it on stage.
Their End Of the Road World Tour is epic! A legendary production that starts a two-hour party with a bang and keeps banging with music that does not let up until it closes with balloons, streamers, laser lights, and more banging pyro – even mini Catherine wheels spinning sparks at the side of the digital backdrop!
I really don't think there is a word for the enormity of infectious joy and excitement this spectacle gives. Is it a five-star show? Nah – I give 11 devil horns out of 10 and you will not, cannot change my mind on rating.
More photos from the show.
