Having spent the afternoon watching cars whizz round a track at the opening Formula One Grand Prix of the season, and all in the baking 37 degree sun, I have to be brutally honest and admit that the prospect of hanging around and catching Kiss wasn't too appealing. Having not seen the make-upped marauders since Donington's Monsters Of Rock Festival in 1996 it was obvious that, from the moment they hit the stage the magic was there for all to see and, despite the changes in line-up, this was the Kiss that you remember and love. If nothing else Kiss' back catalogue is just oozing with great pop/rock songs and everybody knows at least some of the greatest hits that they deliver with aplomb. It's probably a good job as well that Kiss know exactly what their fans want and require as the crowd was a mix of ages, from the kids on the shoulders of their dads to the older fan who would have seen them back when the band was in it's commercial heyday back in the late 70's early 80's.

Kicking off with Deuce and them straight into Shout It Out Loud this was a set made for singing along to and, if the evidence of those around is anything to go by that is exactly what the audience did from beginning to end. The set ahead was to be dominated with Kiss's greatest hits from the "glory years". Anybody expecting more "recent" material, Domino, God Gave Rock And Roll, Crazy Nights or indeed just about anything post 1982 would likely be disappointed. But any who were were few and far between as classic followed classic and the noise from the crowd just got louder and louder as the show progressed. Such was the international flavour of the show, with fans from world wide gathered for the Grand Prix, that any who hadn't paid the additional $50 to watch were pinned up outside the barrier just to catch a taste of the atmosphere generated. As Stanley stated early on "Where else would Kiss want to kick off their new tour but at one of the best places in the world, Melbourne".

Sure Kiss may be cheesy but they are nothing if not entertaining and the tried and tested stage routines were out in force with this full on Kiss show. Simmons' tongue waggling,  the blood drooling, the wire work that saw him flying into the air to his small stage in the lighting rig and of course more pyro than you could throw a lighted match at. Then there was Stanley, hopping on to a ring and sailing across the Melbourne crowd, singing from the back of the arena before sailing back to the stage again. Then there was the fantastic light show, enhanced by the judicious use of dry ice that kept every eye riveted to the stage to see what would come next.

Rounding out the main set with the almost unmatchable pairing of Love Gun and Detroit Rock City and encore was never in doubt and indeed the encore was something special. First off Stanley emerging with just an acoustic guitar for a stunning version of Shandi and then the ultimate in sing-along anthems, I Was Made For Loving You and the absolute finale of Rock N Roll All Nite and that was it. But Kiss aren't a  band to just disappear with a whisper, not these guys.  Drummer Eric Singer, along with the drum kit were raised skywards with fireworks shooting off  left, right and centre and smoke billowing from the underneath the kit like a rocket ship, whilst at either side of the stage Simmons and guitarist Tommy Thayer were likewise raised on stages too. So much tickertape exploded from the set and blown out that it was almost impossible to see the band's finale departure but the noise, singing and chanting were more than enough as Melbourne raised itself to salute Kiss, still one of the best live bands in the world.

Return To Gig Reviews Main Menu