KISS delivers visual spectacle at Acrisure Arena as part of 'End of the Road' tour

KISS frontman Paul Stanley said Wednesday night at Acrisure Arena that it was the band's first time at the venue, but it would woefully be the last.

The concert was part of the hard rock/glam metal group's "End of the Road" tour, which founding members Stanley and bassist Gene Simmons say will be the last tour for the band that has enthralled audiences for five decades with its theatrical and explosive live performances.

As the arena filled with fans known as the "KISS Army," many were wearing face paint or in full costumes matching members of the band, which also includes tenured members Tommy Thayer (guitar) and Eric Singer (drums). One fan, Joe Simmons (no relation to Gene), traveled to Palm Desert all the way from Louisiana to see KISS perform in California.

The 59-year-old said he's been a fan since the '70s, adding that KISS was his first concert during high school and the first band he ever played in was a KISS tribute band.

"They're larger than life on stage and don't just stand there duplicating their own music, which I can listen to at anytime. It's all about the show," he said.

Pyrotechnics and flames galore

As the large curtain over the stage with the KISS logo dropped and revealed a visually stunning stage setup with a production of lasers and octagon video panels hanging above the stage, Stanley, Simmons and Thayer each descended from those panels while pyrotechnics went off behind Singer's drum riser and flames shot up from various areas of the stage.

The band made ample use of the pyrotechnics and flames to highlight a break in a song, during a chorus and the ending as the octagon panels moved, formed patterns and were dazzling throughout the entire show. Most seats in the arena were full and the crowd almost drowned out the band's volume during the sing-a-long tune, "I Love It Loud," which ended with Simmons being handed a sword with a flame atop the handle and did his fire-breathing effect.

But even with all the energy and colorful production, many fans were sitting down and Stanley took notice.

"If you believe in rock 'n' roll, get up off your asses and stand up for what you believe in. If you want to sit, go watch television," Stanley said.

During Thayer's guitar solo, he appeared to teleport from one side of the stage to the other following explosions with smoke, but it was still no match for Simmons' performance of"God Of Thunder" when he ascended up to the ceiling on one of the octagons after playing a bass solo as blood dripped out of his mouth, which will never get old no matter how long he's done it.

Stanley took a ride on a rope over the crowd to a smaller stage in the center of the arena floor during "Love Gun" and asked the crowd if he could perform a couple more songs there, which were "I Was Made For Lovin' You" and "Black Diamond."

As a KISS fan who saw the band perform a few times featuring the original lineup and the current lineup, this is the show any fan can expect. All of the highlights such as "God of Thunder" and Stanley riding over the crowd during "Love Gun" have been done before. But the stage design and production of this tour is paramount to KISS' previous tours in recent years that I've seen, and makes every effort to leave the fans feeling they saw something special one last time.

Is it really the 'End of the Road?'

In 2018, KISS announced the tour, which began the following year and said it would be “the ultimate celebration for those who’ve seen us and a last chance for those who haven’t.” But the band also embarked on a farewell tour in 2000 that later ended with original members Ace Frehley (guitar) and Peter Criss (drums) leaving the band and replaced by Thayer and Singer.

"I think this is it for them because of (Stanley's and Simmons' ages)," Farrington said.

But aforementioned fan Joe Simmons is certain this isn't the end for KISS.

"As long as they can do it, they'll do it. Tommy and Eric are in good shape. If they can play and are willing, I think Paul and Gene will do the same," Simmons said.

When Stanley reminded the crowd it was the last tour, there were some boos and a feeling of sadness in the air. But he raised spirits when he declared "It's time to celebrate!"

"I hope we did just a little bit for you because you did so much for us," Stanley said.

It was the first KISS concert for Oceanside resident Keenan Farrington, who stood out in the hallway with a large afro with Singer's Catman facepaint. The 30-year-old said he "randomly looked (KISS) up one day" and has been a fan ever since.

"I felt the music and the makeup was really cool. The whole thing is really dope and that's what made me a KISS fan," Farrington said.

Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @bblueskye. 

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: KISS delivers visual spectacle at Acrisure during 'End of the Road' tour