Kiss Alive As ‘End Of The Road’ Nears

“Chicago!” shouted Kiss frontman Paul Stanley on stage Monday night as the group’s “End of the Road” tour winds down. “This is gonna be the last time I’m with ya…” the guitarist mused just outside Chicago on stage at Allstate Arena in the northwest suburb of Rosemont, Illinois. “A little bit of controlled chaos now!”

Monday night’s show was exactly that. While the setlist hasn’t much changed since this tour launched in early 2019, each show nevertheless remains infectiously fun, with Stanley, 71, in particularly exuberant and energetic form despite a trio of canceled shows last week following a bout with the flu.

The last time Kiss performed at Allstate Arena, it was in May of 2000 during the group’s initial farewell tour, two of the final shows to feature guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss alongside Stanley and bassist Gene Simmons in the group’s original incarnation.

Fast forward nearly a quarter of a century and Kiss find themselves again staring down a series of purported final dates, with “End of the Road” scheduled to wrap up over the course two sold out night’s and a pay-per-view extravaganza this weekend at Madison Square Garden in the group’s home of New York City.

“Clearly, the joy that people are feeling getting to experience live music in large groups is palpable,” said Stanley during a conversation earlier this year. “ The air is electric,” he continued, noting the group’s “End of the Road” performances. “There’s such a positive joy in people seeing bands and experiencing the emotional and the physical – it’s what I think we all knew we missed.”

Monday night’s crowd was hot. Despite three prior Chicagoland stops since “End of the Road” kicked off over four years ago, the capacity crowd was on its feet doing the wave following a fun opening set by four piece L.A. rockers Amber Wild (featuring Stanley’s son Evan on vocals and guitar).

“Chicago, Chicago! My kind of town!” growled Simmons with a smile, doing his best Sinatra at the top of “Deuce” early in the group’s two hour and 15 minute set.

Simmons, 74, handled the lead vocal on “Shout It Loud” as Stanley played his guitar between his legs, blue lasers flying over the frenzied crowd.

Fire soared from the stage in time with “War Machine” as the frontman turned to face drummer Eric Singer, skipping in place with his right hand over his head as he shimmied, guitarist Tommy Thayer leaning back and to his right as he ripped an early solo from atop a nearby platform at the front left corner of the stage.

“End of the Road” finds the longest running Kiss lineup going out on top. Singer first donned Criss’ “Catman” persona in 1991 and Thayer took over for Frehley as “The Spaceman” in 2002, with the quartet performing together without a lineup change for just shy of two decades.

“This is a public service announcement,” observed Stanley in his role as de facto emcee. “It doesn’t matter if this is your first Kiss concert or your 101st Kiss concert,” he said, acknowledging the group’s still rabid fanbase (one largely responsible for the act being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014). “You are the Kiss Army and we would not be here without you,” he said matter-of-factly, introducing “I Love it Loud.”

Since forming 50 years ago, few bands have had the impact, particularly on the live concert experience, that Kiss has, with the group’s early embrace of pyrotechnics and overall theatrics continually pushing their shows forward, with many of the group’s trailblazing antics now widely adopted by acts throughout the pop and rock realm during live events rivaling Broadway productions.

Simmons and Stanley were in affable spirits throughout, playing off each other as they hammed it up over the course of the evening. Simmons waggled his trademark tongue early, leaning over to give Thayer an unexpected lick during “Cold Gin.”

During a Kiss set everyone gets a solo. Thayer shot red fireworks from the neck of his guitar prior to “Lick it Up” and battled Stanley in a guitar duel during “Psycho Circus” later.

Simmons breathed fire and spit blood while Singer’s kit soared high over the stage as he pummeled the skins.

But nobody turns the solo into a spectacle quite like Stanley, who ran the length of the arena floor via zip line, performing three songs from a platform situated within the stunned audience.

“This is the biggest hit song we’ve had around the world,” said Stanley following “Love Gun,” a mirror ball spinning overhead as he and Thayer delivered the disco-driven licks to “I Was Made For Lovin’ You.”

Kiss has tallied 30 gold and 14 platinum albums with the “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” record nearly cracking the U.S. top 10 upon its release in 1979.

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The highest charting American Kiss single opened the encore, with Singer sitting down at the piano as his band mates gradually surrounded him during “Beth.” Kiss-emblazoned balloons descended upon the crowd next as the group headed for the finish line with “Do You Love Me.”

“We’ve only got three more shows after tonight – and then it’s over,” said Stanley, barely hiding a smile despite the boos. Confetti floated and streamers fell, sparks flying on stage as Thayer and Simmons hovered above the crowd in cherry pickers, with “Rock and Roll All Nite” proving to be a fitting end as Kiss stares down the potential of a once unthinkable final act.

“Chicago, have you had a good time? All these years did ya get what ya came for?” asked the frontman. “Never forget us and we will never forget you,” requested Stanley, acknowledging one of rock’s most unique fan/band bonds one last time within the confines of the Windy City. “We love you, people. Good night.”