Thoughts On The END OF THE ROAD (Blog)

There is a ton of stuff going on in the world of KISS. As always every step they make gets analyzed and then polarized and then debated and often argued about. The End Of The Road Tour is no exception. I have remained silent on the sidelines watching and listening to it all. As the Podfather, Ken Mills calls it “the greatest soap opera on earth”. I figured it was finally time to weigh in with my 2 cents on the subject.

Those that know me are well aware that I am a KISS fan. Years ago some people would have said fanatic or obsessed. I suppose that is all relative.

It must have been around 76 maybe 77 when I first laid eyes on KISS. I walked into my cousin’s bedroom and the Spirit of 76 poster was hanging above his bed. My jaw hit the floor! I was 6 years old and was completely mesmerized. My cousin then pulled out the Dressed to Kill album and we listened to “Rock and Roll All Night” over and over again. Not sure why but he only played that one song. He also had some KISS bubblegum cards and I was completely fascinated with these larger than life, superheroes with guitars.

Alas, I was only 6. I didn’t quite have a job yet and my parents, although fairly cool were not about to buy me any KISS records. My obsession would not take hold until 1983’s Lick It Up album, their first without the war paint.

My indoctrination with heavy metal had already begun. Def Leppard, Motley Crüe and Quiet Riot broke open the floodgates and each week I would trek to the record store with my paper route money to purchase whatever cassette that looked remotely cool and metal.

I will never forget the first time Friday Night Videos aired the “Lick It Up” video. The next morning I was on a mission to purchase my first KISS album. It was sort of special as I already had a small history with KISS, albeit one song played over and over on an orange Fisher Price record player but we had bonded in 76!

The awesome part about discovering KISS when I did, was having this huge back catalogue of albums available to discover. It was great because I wasn’t hung up with who was in the band. Ace and Peter started the party but KISS was also Eric and Vinnie. I was just happy to have KISS as my band.

I worshipped this band, devouring every album. Defending them to the non-believers. I loved all the different musical flavours of KISS. You had hard rock classic KISS, heavy metal KISS, power pop KISS. Their catalogue has something for everyone, something for every mood and I will always cherish the music and the memories it brings.

Live, they were pretty much untouchable. Always putting on spectacular shows right up through the reunion tour. Every show was brilliant. I loved taking new friends to see their first KISS concerts. Nobody ever left unimpressed and I felt a satisfaction as I converted a few of those non-believers.

Say what you will about “80’s” KISS (Lick it Up through Revenge) but every tour was something new. New stage shows, new costumes and most of all new SETLISTS! Pre-internet so you often had no idea what the stage was going to look like or what songs you were getting.

Then the Reunion Tour. I was absolutely thrilled when KISS reunited and I finally got to witness the spectacle of the original lineup. They blew the roof off that tour and my cousin (yes the same one) were taken back in time to his poster and orange fisher price record player. That tour was absolute magic and the world went KISS Krazy!

But it was after the Reunion Tour that my band started to slip away. They stopped being innovative, stopped progressing, stopped evolving. Psycho Circus was the first KISS album that didn’t thrill me. It had a few good tunes but much of it sounded contrived. It should have been a return to glory.

Now at no point have I turned my back on the band. I enjoy Sonic Boom, I enjoy Monster. Took my daughter to her first KISS show (Sonic Boom in Toronto), had a blast with The Meister at the KISS/Def Leppard Tour. Enjoyed “The Tour” with KISS/Motley Crüe. When the lights go down and the intro of “You Wanted The Best!..” blasts through the speakers, the adrenaline still flows BUT…

Here is where I stand as a lifelong FAN of the band and the End Of The Road Tour that has the KISS world all a buzz. Unless something truly remarkable happens***, I am most likely sitting this one out. I will also make it perfectly clear that when they roll through town part of me is gonna really, REALLY want to be there. It’s not an easy decision but that’s a few months away.

I could tell you it’s the ridiculous ticket prices that have turned me off because they do. That’s not just KISS with inflated prices, that’s most big shows these days. It’s not necessary, Garth Brooks tours the world with a huge production and every seat in the house was 65 bucks! That’s one of the reasons he can roll into a town for 5, 6, 8 sold out shows. This, however, isn’t really the reason.

I could also tell you it’s because Paul’s voice is beyond repair and it also appears he will be actually lip-synching or at least singing along with his own pre-recorded vocal tracks. Although I don’t agree with this practice, I am willing to cut him some slack for this final tour. Hypocritical of KISS? Absolutely but it is what it is.

Why am I sitting this one out? It’s simple, it appears that the current lineup (Paul, Gene, Eric, and Tommy) will be traversing the globe playing the same 16 or 17 songs that they feel they must play otherwise they might alienate the “casual” fans. You know the sheeple that only know KISS because of “Rock n Roll All Night”, “Detroit Rock City” and God forbid “Beth”!

Well, FUCK those casual fans! I was there fist in the air screaming along with KISS as they performed “Fits Like A Glove”, “I’ve Had Enough (Into the Fire)”, “Bang Bang You”, “Young and Wasted”, “I Just Wanna” and “Unholy”. Hell, am I the only one truly pissed off that I never got to see a Carnival of Souls tour?!? For once, fuck the casual fans, what about your diehards? Those casual fans never bought Crazy Nights or Asylum, hell some of them never knew you took your make up off and soldiered on.

Here is a chance for KISS to once and for all celebrate ALL the eras of this incredible career. It doesn’t even have to be more bombs and more fire. Have Ace come out for a few tunes, have Peter come out to sing “Beth”, have Bruce come out and celebrate his incredible contribution to this great legacy. Dare I say it, even the loony toon Vinnie Vincent deserves to be involved. I am sure with some assistance he might be able to re-learn at least the “Lick It Up” solo before the tour starts and if you were to give him a call, get him to sign a bloody contract!

The End Of The Road Tour could be something truly special for KISS fans. The End Of The Road Tour SHOULD be something truly special for KISS fans. I will probably get labeled a “hater” for this but this is why I am sitting this one out. I will always love KISS, their music and my memories of concerts past. They have given me decades of joy and entertainment and they owe me nothing.

I honestly hope the End Of The Road Tour is a huge success, there is nothing like a KISS concert. I hope everyone that attends has an absolute blast and I know they will. There ain’t nothing like a KISS concert!

When they roll into Toronto for the final show I intend to raise a toast from home as I blast out some of my favourite KISS songs. From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Paul, Gene, Ace, Peter, Eric, Vinnie, Mark, Bruce, Eric S., and Tommy. What an amazing ride it has been. – Cheers.

***Addendum to this blog. This blog was originally penned in mid-December while commuting to work. Every word is true but something truly remarkable did indeed happen. It seems my wonderful Santa Claus Daughter felt I should see the End Of the Road Tour and surprised me with a ticket to the August Toronto show. Not gonna lie, I am kinda excited. Time to “Rock and Roll All Nite” one last time.