KISS are an unmatched hallmark of rock music. Their legacy lies in the bombast of leather-clad music videos, fire-breathing infernos and galaxy-conquering riffs, transcending what it means to simply be a band.
For 45 years, fans of pulsating, electrifying rock music have worshiped at KISS’ throne, raising their devil horns in respect at their larger-than-life overlords who’ve gifted them with a lifetime of anthems and good times.
Earlier this year, after almost half-a-century of music, KISS announced their final ever world tour. The announcement signified the end of an era. With other music legends, Ozzy Osbourne, Elton John and more announcing their retirement from touring, KISS’ exit from the game feels apt. However, KISS have never been known to follow a rule-book – they’ve written their own history for it to be continually retold as urban legend.
“We’re not a band that is out there in our trainers and a t-shirt playing rock n roll, we’re out there in seven-inch heels, thirty to forty pound of gear and running around,” says fearless frontman Paul Stanley, known to most as the magnetic Star Child.
“Well it’s glorious to say the least but it would kill most people,” he continues. “While we are feeling great, but it’s time to say, let’s do a victory lap, let’s go out there and let everybody know, that this is the last, this is the end of the road.
“It’s a combination of everything we’ve done to this point and it’s a night where we can all reflect on our connection to each other and what we meant to each other – in the midst of the most bombastic and biggest show we’ve ever done.”
Watch: KISS’ ‘I Was Made For Lovin’ You’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlSFmotba2I
With 20 albums, countless tours and an entire fan army under their belt, KISS have fostered a connection with fans that now eclipse generation. Every kid who’s ever picked up a guitar in the hopes of one day fulfilling their dreams of slaying a stage have picked along to the opening lines of ‘Detroit Rock City’ until their fingers have bled. Rock fans worldwide have painted their faces and fashioned seven-inch heels to pay homage to their heroes, and millions have been left in awestruck at their epic ascent.
“The truth is, now you can go and see any band and you’re seeing our DNA,” he says. “You can have a show like KISS’ but you can’t be KISS and nobody has that connection to an audience, that’s lasted this many decades.
“For us it’s important for us to say, ‘Let’s have that night together, let’s take the victory lap and let’s go out with the biggest bang possible’.”
Whilst KISS’ DNA may be present amongst all guitar wielders, according to Stanley, few have come close to creating the connection and passion amongst their fan bases like KISS have.
“I think that it is unfortunate that most bands today may have created music in a studio or with a computer but they are clueless how to communicate and connect to an audience.
“It’s missing from most, sure you can have a pyro display, you can have a laser but what about your connection individually to the audience?” he continues. “That’s a craft that you don’t learn in a year and you don’t learn by using the computer to make music, you have to go out there and play night after night to learn the language and learn how you can connect to a mass audience.”
“Let’s have that night together, let’s take the victory lap and let’s go out with the biggest bang possible.”
Pondering on the state of modern music, Stanley believes the sterility ruling today’s artists will see the rawness and pure rock ‘n’ roll glory return to the forefront – a prime reason for the band seeking to put on their most explosive ever show one last time.
“I think that when perfection replaces passion and when sterility replaces the power of emotion, then we are missing something,” he says. “When someone in the studio is looking at a computer screen, instead of listening and being emotionally connected to the music, I think it loses a lot.
“I think that for me, whether it was Led Zeppelin or Jimmy Hendrix, that wasn’t perfect music. There were imperfections in it but it was done with incredible passion and I think some of that is lacking today, I think that musicality is lacking.”
Watch: KISS’ ‘Black Diamond’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeUosbClag8
“I don’t believe that being able to program a song on the computer is the same as being able to play instruments, different songs, people are happy right now, listening to something, different to what I would sing, so be it and at some point I think everything comes full circle and people will need music that is based in fire and passion.”
It’s that raw and authentic connection that makes KISS so special – a trait that’ll be celebrated on their final ever tour.
“We’ll be there in full power, when we do these shows, it will be the biggest most explosive show we’ve done, and it goes beyond being a concert because it is a conscious celebration of our connection to our audience and people who have never seen us will have this last chance and the people who have will do the same, will share the evening.”
KISS conquered the monolithic task of becoming a brand – in the most authentic way possible, the cartoon rock stars became the faces plastered on lunchboxes, car decals and Halloween costumes across the planet – their attitude and glory is one of total pop culture psyche takeover.
“It was in response to listening to the fans, you can’t get somebody to purchase something that they don’t want,” he explains. “We’re not marketing geniuses, we listen to what people ask of us and we get some sort of either credit or loathing, and we somehow have this merchandise mentality but the truth of the matter is, when people love you they want to be connected to you.”
“It’s the best show we’ve ever put on.”
KISS have always found a comfortable home in Australia – which Stanley confesses he’s head over heels in love with.
“I am adamant and in love with Australia, and always have been and it’s spectacular in every way, the people are phenomenal, the wine is probably my favourite and the food is great, it’s magical.
“Australia is a magical country and I have always felt an affinity for the people and I’m glad that they have seen that it is genuine, thank you very much, it’s reciprocal, it’s very much reciprocal.”
KISS fans all over the globe are currently waiting patiently to see what the band will pull out for their last ever live act – without giving away too much, Stanley noted that it will be unlike anything they’ve ever done before.
“I can tell you that we’ve been rehearsing now for going on a month which we never do, we never do that far in advance. But we’re really making sure we have our sea-legs and we want to play more songs than we have for quite a while. The show could be 23 to 25 songs, which is far more than anything we’ve done in recent years.
“It’s a complete new structure, new design, has no connection in any way to what we’ve done before, it’s the best show we’ve ever put on.”
KISS End Of The Road Australian Tour 2019
Saturday, November 16th
RAC Arena, Perth, WA
Tickets: Ticketek & 132 849
Tuesday, November 19th
Coopers Stadium, Adelaide, SA
Tickets: Ticketek & 132 849
Thursday, November 21st
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Tickets: Ticketek & 132 849
Friday, November 22nd
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
Tickets: Ticketek & 132 849
Saturday, November 26th
Supercars Newcastle 500, NSW*
Tickets: Ticketek & 132 849
Tuesday, November 26th
QUDOS Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW
Tickets: Ticketek & 132 849
Thursday, November 28th
Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets: Ticketek & 132 849
