Blood and fire: my first concert ever

I come by my love of the "theater of metal" honestly. In fact, in a future article I'll go into some detail about how I think theatrics and metal go hand in hand. For now, though, I want to explain where it all started for me.

I'd been listening to the likes of The Monkees, Elton John and Steve Miller for a good chunk of my youth. Somehow, and honestly I don't remember how, I learned about KISS. I picked up their latest record, Destroyer, and also had the collection of the first three albums (Kiss, Hotter Than Hell, Dressed To Kill). I particularly liked "Detroit Rock City" a song that I still like listen to; it sets such a mood. The music registered for me in a way that was different from the mellower stuff I'd followed previously. But, honestly as a pre-teen, Marvel-comic and horror film loving kid, what really got me was the costumes.

Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. A superstar and a demon, platform shoes, big hair... I was hooked. Ace Frehley, smoking pickups, trashed guitars. Awesome. Peter Criss and the big drum kit. I'd never seen anything like it. It was mesmerizing and the timing of my discovery was perfect. KISS was coming to the Oakland Coliseum, right near Berkeley, where I grew up. I had to go. But wait, I was only 13 and, though my parents were always very supportive and open-minded, there was no way there were letting me go see KISS alone.

To this day, I have no idea what the conversation was like between my parents. Did they draw straws? Did the winner take me or did the loser take me? No clue, maybe they'll shed some light on this once they read the article. However the decision was made, my dad was taking me to the show. Lucky for him we had seats, not the floor. I don't remember anything about the drive to the show or parking. All I remember is my dad sitting next to me, with his fingers in his ears the whole night. But that didn't get in my way. It was heaven for me. Pyrotechnics, Gene Simmons spitting fake blood and stalking around the stage. Bombastic and immersive and incredibly entertaining. The show sucked me in, not just to that night at the Coliseum but into the rest of my musical life.

My love affair with heavy music and big stage shows began that night and it hasn't stopped. I know a lot of folks that smirk at KISS musically, and I understand where that comes from. Particularly the original lineup was musically overshadowed by other much more polished musicians. But that's not what it's about. It's a show and if you haven't seen KISS live onstage you are missing out (yep, not even Blu-ray will suffice, sorry). It's the ultimate live music show, and any self-respecting rock/metal fan really owes it to her/himself to see them once. One can follow similar logic to conclude that you have no right to comment on a "Monster Trucks" show until you've attended one. It is what it is.

Which leads me to the strange combination of adrenaline rush and smirk that I experience when KISS and Mötley Crüe announced their upcoming tour. Talk about the perfect lineup: two bands that exemplify the theater of heavy music. Makeup, costumes, straight ahead music and big stage shows. With me here in Bozeman, I'm not sure there's any way I'll be able to catch the tour, but it's tempting. Really, really tempting...

If I can make it happen, will I see you there?

Comments

[Jeff Shattuck]

Ah, KISS. I, too, remember thinking they couldn't really play all that well but I've changed my mind. When I listen to KISS Alive!, I hear an easy, relaxed back-beat that keeps the whole thing from going over the top (musically, at least), great guitar playing and note-perfect bass lines. As for vocals, they're rock solid, especially compared to some Zep boots I've heard! Last, but not least, the songs. Strutter? I mean, what a tune!

[David Hearst]

Jeff,

And yet another thing we have in common. Yeah, "Strutter" completely sticks in my mind too. I think the thing that gets lost a bit re. KISS is that they really are a hard rock riff band. Their image kinda makes you want to push them farther into heavy metal. They obviously migrated over into hair metal, especially during the no makeup phase, but I think their real strength is straight ahead, riff based songs.

David