REVIEW: KISS Kick Off Aus Tour With Performance ‘Unlike Anything Else’

“You wanted the best, you got the best – the greatest band in the world… KISS,” shouts a voiceover to introduce the rock legends. Fireworks set off and with a huge explosion the stage curtain falls to reveal the band members standing on pods floating down from the ceiling and showered in pyrotechnic sparks. We immediately feel the heat from the stage as it ignites in bursts of flames for opener Detroit Rock City.

Each with their own distinct character in elaborate makeup and costumes, Paul Stanley (The Starchild), Gene Simmons (The Demon), Tommy Thayer (The Spaceman) and Eric Singer (The Catman), stand before us in all their glam-rock glory to raise hell with their electrifying live show.

Tonight marks the band’s twentieth visit to Melbourne and the first of three shows at Rod Laver Arena on their final tour ever. “We’ve been coming to Melbourne since 1980 and you people never let us down, so we know what to expect,” teases frontman Paul Stanley. The crowd goes wild and we strap in for an unforgettable, thrilling ride to celebrate almost fifty years of KISS music.

They’ve been waiting to return to our shores for a few years since embarking on the ‘End Of The Road World Tour’ in 2019, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now finally, their devoted army of fans get to celebrate their extraordinary career one last time. They take the audience down memory lane, next up with an old school hit Deuce from their self-titled first album.

Pic by Andrew Briscoe

Their performance is truly unlike anything else. It’s an over-the-top spectacle full of jaw-dropping effects and adrenaline-pumping rock’n’roll moments to keep the audience captivated the entire time. During their 1982 hit I Love It Loud, Simmons even executes his own pyro with a fire-breathing act near the end of his bass solo. Cold Gin sees Thayer give an incredible electric guitar solo, before launching fireworks out of his guitar up to the roof. They’re pulling out all the stops and showing no sign of slowing down in their signature platform heels. It’s hard to believe considering they’re in their 60s and 70s but they show us how it’s done, professionals like no other.

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With twenty studio albums and sixty singles, it is such a huge feat to condense their iconic catalogue into a two-hour-long show, however, they give us the best of the best of their career to please their fans young and old. From the 1974 hit Calling Dr. Love to the 1983 classic Lick It Up, they power through their heart-pounding, fist-pumping, hard rock anthems full of loud guitars and catchy melodies that keep us wanting more.

Pic by Andrew Briscoe

They encourage the crowd to act like animals and get them to loosen up with Psycho Circus before Singer’s drum podium is elevated up above the stage for a massive drumming solo. God Of Thunder unleashes Simmons’ dark side as he performs a blood-spitting stunt that will forever scar us with visuals of his long blood-covered tongue flailing around.

“Every time we come here it feels like home. I love this place so much,” Stanley declares. He sends an invite out to the audience and on the count of three, jumps on a line that flies him out to a second stage. He stays here for two songs including one of their biggest hits I Was Made For Lovin’ You, as the rest of the band continues to play over on the main stage.

Singer then takes a break from the drums and jumps on the piano to change the pace with their heartfelt track Beth and the arena lights up with phone torches for the emotional ballad. It’s the calm before the explosive storm of an epic encore that concludes the evening with Shandi and Rock And Roll All Nite. Enormous balloons and confetti descend onto the mosh pit for a big finish. Stanley swings his guitar and commands a string of firework explosions to set the place alight. KISS have exceeded our expectations and are making damn sure they go out with an absolute bang.

Pic by Andrew Briscoe