Kiss packs it in, just in time

Daily Arts Writer

The Kiss Army has changed a lot since Kiss first established themselves as rock gods in the early '70s. Back then, Kiss fans were a ragtag group of kids who worshipped the band (maybe you saw the movie "Detroit Rock City"), but were scorned by outsiders. Just like any rock clichŽ, the fans have aged. Wednesday night when the group performed the first of two farewell concerts at the Palace of Auburn Hills, people showed up with their kids and the new Kiss Army war chariot, the SUV.

Before Kiss hit the stage Skid Row performed to a half empty house. They played their classics "18 and Life," "I Remember You," and "Youth Gone Wild" in practically the same order they did when they opened for Bon Jovi in '89 (yes, I was there). Without their legendary pretty-boy front man Sebastian Bach, it was like hearing a decent cover band.

By the time Ted Nugent came on stage the arena had begun to fill up. The Motor City's right wing, Republican, gun rights lobbyist, anti drugs and alcohol, hunting video star, guitar guru entered the arena on a massive buffalo (no, he did not shoot it). While some were fooled into thinking this was a rock concert, Nugent's show became more of a political rally. During "Kiss My Ass" the Nug' preached his philosophy which consisted of uplifting sentiments like "Fuck that whore, Janet Reno," "Fuck Bill Clinton," and "If you can't speak English, get the fuck out of the country."

Politics aside he also performed rousing renditions of "Dog Eat Dog," and the Motown classic, "Cat Scratch Fever." It was definitely a spirited performance from Detroit's, well maybe not, favorite son.

Shortly after Nugent's madness ended, Kiss descended onto the stage playing their ode to the Rust Belt capitol "Detroit Rock City." For a brief moment it was 1977 all over again. The stage was exploding and the crowd was going insane, raising their fists to the sky screaming the words "gotta lose your mind in Detroit, Rock City."

After this intense introduction it became painstakingly clear that guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss were a step behind Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. Through their makeup the two appeared rather stoic and brought down the performance. Even when Ace sang his trademark "Shock Me" there was barely any sign of life in him.

Beyond this, Kiss didn't trying anything new for their final send off. The show consisted of the same old theatrics that they've been performing for years. Stunts like Gene Simmons' bloody tongued version of "God of Thunder," Ace's fire shooting guitar, Peter's lame drum solo, and Paul Stanley smashing his guitar which snapped rather easily on cue, were all executed in such a scripted manner the whole event felt like a circus side show.

There were however a few positive elements in the performance, that like the intro, resembled a classic Kiss concert. At one point Paul Stanley was lifted over the crowd to a small stage in the center of the arena from which he sang "Love Gun" while women showered him with lingerie. In addition to this, their finale "Rock N' Roll All Night" was played with a constant stream of confetti and explosions that helped send them out with a rather nice bang. But these spectacles, like all the rest, have been done.

Perhaps it is fitting that Kiss is calling it quits.

In their 27 year career they went from a band that was accused of collaborating with the devil to brain wash America's youth (Knights in the Service of Satan a.k.a. Kiss), to wholesome family entertainment.

When you consider that the Rolling Stones did their first farewell tour in '69 and The Who did theirs in '81, it makes it rather difficult to believe that this will the last Kiss tour. Maybe next time they'll bring back Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer. Now that would be "Unholy."

NORMAN NG/Daily

Peter Criss (on the Jumbotron) and Paul Stanley rocked and rolled the Palace all night