KISS – HMV Forum – Wednesday 4th July 2012

[Rockingbear]

KISS – HMV Forum – Wednesday 4th July 2012
Help For Heroes

When I heard that Kiss were to play a one-off gig at the HMV Forum, in London, in aid of the Help For Heroes Charity, I had no idea that I would be fortunate enough to be attending. The gig, reputedly sold-out within three minutes of going on sale, with priority given to fan-club members.

My best and oldest school friend, also called Mark, very generously asked me if I wanted to go and I could have it as a birthday present!

Going to tonight’s concert also gave me the opportunity to catch up with another old friend, from my Southampton days, Simon, another Kiss fanatic (tattoos and all!). I had been a little concerned that Si’ was going to miss out on this occasion having been on a London to Paris sponsored charity cycle event in aid of Multiple Sclerosis. Fortunately, his old school friend, another Kiss fanatic, bagged two “tickets” so Si’ could see them for an amazing thirty-eighth times; Mark and Brett chalk up another fifty-plus making me the casual fan; this was only my fifth time seeing Kiss.

Following a pre-show drink (or four or five, Brett) we made our way to the Forum with plenty of time to spare, or so we thought. Half an hour before the doors opened we walked to the back of the queue, four streets away! Fortunately, the rain abated for the next hour and half as we all waited patiently for entrance into The Forum. I estimate that ninety per cent of the crowd were adorned in Kiss t-shirts and most of them were different. In terms of merchandising, there certainly is not another band on the planet to match Kiss.

Finally, we got inside the venue at 8.00pm and the atmosphere was already electric. The merchandising stand was doing great business as, hopefully, was the Help for Heroes charity collectors.

As Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” began to play over the PA it looked like we were going to get an early opening to proceedings but it was a false start and more tracks followed. The sound levels were cranked up for Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” which was followed by The Who’s “My Generation” and Thin Lizzy’s “The Boy’s Are Back In Town”. By this stage the atmosphere was incendiary and the aforementioned “Immigrant Song” played before the huge curtain, adorned with a massive gold Kiss logo, swept back and the band exploded on to stage to the classic “Detroit Rock City”. Very few bands have an opening track to rival this; the place was, as expected, going wild!

Now I have always considered Kiss to be bit of a mercenary band that would do anything for the mighty dollar so I was more than happy to be proved wrong with this event. Paul announced, “We know why we are all here: to raise money for “Help for Heroes”. Men and women who fight for our freedom to rock n’ roll!”

What impressed me the most was this was the one and only time that Paul referenced the charity part of the gig and he and the band just concentrated putting on a great show for their legions of die-hard fans.

We got the first live performance of a new track from the forthcoming album “Monster” with the typical, bombastic “Hell or Hallelujah” which definitely got the thumbs up from tonight’s partisan audience.

Now those who have ever read any previous reviews of Kiss albums or gigs know that I am not Gene Simmons biggest fan when it comes to lead vocals, however, the one exception is the rebel-rousing “Deuce” from the eponymous 1974 debut album.

The second song from many fans’ favourite Kiss album, 1976’s “Destroyer”, came with “Shout It Out Loud”. This was the first Kiss video that I ever saw and is an obvious crowd favourite.

The sound throughout the evening was loud and clear but probably not quite as good as last year’s “Sonic Boom” tour. Paul Stanley’s voice held up pretty well throughout the evening and certainly did not detract from the entertainment. This was the first time that I had been close enough to the band to see the whites of their eyes and they certainly appeared to be having a real blast this evening.

The mid-part of the show highlights why I, myself, am only a Kiss fan and not a Kiss fanatic. Songs like “Makin’ Love”, “I Love It Loud”, “Shock Me”, “Calling Dr. Love” and “100,000 Years” I would gladly replace with “Nowhere To Run”, “Heaven’s On Fire”, “Tears Are Falling”, “Who Wants To Be Lonely” and “Sure Know Something”…but who am I to say?

The aforementioned “Shock Me” featured newbie Tommy Thayer (now ten years in Kiss) on lead vocals and had the rocket guitar solo. Not to be outdone, drummer Eric Singer produced his own rocket-launcher and shot down part of the lighting rig. For the kids seeing this for the first time it is just jaw-dropping entertainment and for the rest of us, pure nostalgia heralding back to times when mortgages were a thing for the future!

The crowd were in fine voice for an a capella opening to one of my favourite Kiss songs, the not so subtly titled, “Love Gun”. Following the first verse and chorus the band started again for a full run-through of the electric version. The audience were also on hand to sing along to the main set closer “Black Diamond”.

The band briefly left the stage before returning to a hero’s reception and taking a full deserved standing ovation before launching into “Crazy, Crazy Nights”. Paul was in fine voice on this track but the chorus was best left to the crowd who were in better key than Gene, Tommy and Eric!

“Lick It Up” just reminded me why I like love eighties hard-rock so much and was many highlights from a brilliant evening. The pyrotechnics during this song had to be seen to be believed (and the next time I see any on that magnitude will be the Closing Ceremony of the forthcoming London Olympics!).

Kiss, for nearly forty years have been one of the most successful and enduring stadium rock bands but tonight they showed they were equally at home on a smaller stage. Typical Kiss, however, very little of the stadium show was scaled down including Eric Singer’s drum riser!

They have the songs to put on a great rock ‘n’ roll show and arguably the greatest party anthem of them all in, “Rock ‘n’ Roll All Nite” from 1975’s “Dressed To Kill”. Four large cannons were loaded with ticker tape that was ignited during the opening of the final track. At one stage the band basically disappeared from view amidst the snow-storm of paper; it eventually cleared but was set off again for the last two minutes of the show leaving is almost an inch-deep in ticker tape!

No one went home dissatisfied despite a shorter set than the “Sonic Boom” tour, having witnessed a simply phenomenal show that helped raise thousands of pounds for a wonderful charity in “Help for Heroes”. I was however, slightly saddened and surprised at the omission of “I Was Made For Loving You” and I had hoped for a rare track or two for my friends in the Kiss Army but I suppose that was just getting greedy!

I look forward to seeing them again (once) on their forthcoming “Monster” arena tour that promises to be bigger and better than ever before…I can hardly wait!

Certainly a birthday present that I will never forget, thanks Mark!

[No Surprize]

Going to see them on the 27th of this month. Thanks for the review RB.

[Rockingbear]

Look forward to hearing about the "Monster" stage set and the new tracks from the forthcoming album. Hope that you enjoy the gig as much as I did, NS.

[No Surprize]

Look forward to hearing about the "Monster" stage set and the new tracks from the forthcoming album. Hope that you enjoy the gig as much as I did, NS.

Ok, last night in Palm Beach, seen the concert. Both bands played the same set-list as in previous shows. I was surprised that The Crue sounded great and put on a great show. Had the carnival type feel to it and having 2 hot babes on stage added the eye candy. But man, the humidity level last night was fucking like the gates of hell were opened up and this was AFTER the sun went down. Having or seeing a concert in the summer outside in Florida is probably like being as close to Cambodia as you can get. We had lawn seats and the fucking motherfucking mosquitos were like B-52's dive bombing on your ass, face, inside your nose & ears and making it almost unbearable to enjoy the concert. The one thing that would have made it appropriate was if Kiss would have played "Hotter than Hell" for about 5 straight times. Kiss were their usual selves but with a strip down stage compared to the Crue's. Stanley sounded a lot better than I expected him to. And if your going to have Thayer sing, how about "Lighting Strikes" of the last cd? Him singing "Shock me" is fucked up.

[Rockingbear]

Hi No Surprize,

Being in Britain this year I can only imagine the type of weather that you experienced at the show. It’s only 14 °C over here and the middle of our summer! I personally like these co-headlining tours as I believe they give better value for money and also, in theory, should mean that all bands put on their best shows.

Pleased that you enjoyed the Crüe and that they had a good sound as I was fairly disappointed with them when I saw them last December supporting Def Leppard.

[No Surprize]

Hi No Surprize,

Being in Britain this year I can only imagine the type of weather that you experienced at the show. It’s only 14 °C over here and the middle of our summer! I personally like these co-headlining tours as I believe they give better value for money and also, in theory, should mean that all bands put on their best shows.

Pleased that you enjoyed the Crüe and that they had a good sound as I was fairly disappointed with them when I saw them last December supporting Def Leppard.

Hey RB, I to like the co-headlining thing, it push's both bands to play at the top of their game and you feel like you get your money's worth with 2 legendary bands. And yes, I can honestly say, I would have given up my left kidney to have an A/C blowing on me that night. My kid even said that Europe's weather this past June/July was great. He just got back.