Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Kiss Boomed London


KISS BOOMED LONDON
Photos and essay by Arie van Rotterdam

We were on a mission to promote the KISS Radio Special on TNT Radio which will be aired june 4th in Holland celebrating the return of KISS to Europe and Holland June 18th at the Gelredome in Arnhem.
We arrived in London May 11th. At 7pm we attended the KISS Photo Exhibition of Denis O'Regan at the Apple Store (Regent Street). He gave a great presentation on shooting KISS ahead of their upcoming Wembley Shows. He lectured on how he works on the road and even had KISS sign all his photos that same afternoon. For more info: http://www.denis.co.uk/
The next day we've explored the Wembley Stadium and Arena in the afternoon and then our mission began. Taking Down (Roadrunner Records), the Las Vegas band that opened for them got their Love Gun locked and loaded. Their debut album "Time To Burn" was released April 12th in Europe and you can catch them June 12th at the Download Festival. For more info: http://www.takingdown.com/
At 9pm KISS enters the stage with the fantastic opener "Modern Day Delilah" (Sonic Boom) and they really know how to make a grand entrance this time with Gene, Tommy & Paul being lifted over Eric's drumkit.
Despite the fact that the Arena was 75% full KISS did go full force one after the other, no interruption, no time to breathe and was a special show celebrating the birthday of Eric Singer.
Proving it was also from 'The beginning' "Cold Gin", "Let Me Go, Rock 'N Roll" and "Firehouse" followed going full force. And then back to the present with "Say Yeah" (Sonic Boom) and the great performed "Deuce" and the crowd gets really crazy with the flames get hotter and the fireworks louder. "Crazy, Crazy Nights" was brought back to life and turned up the party spirit at the Arena. KISS blast through it like there is no tomorrow. After "Dr. Love" it was Tommy's turn with "Shock Me" which led to great solo spots by Tommy and Eric. Both of them levitated on platforms and shooting rocket launchers and really shows they're part of a winning team. After the final new song "I Am An Animal" (Sonic Boom) Paul introduced the next song "100,000 Years" as "the song we always play because it's good". After his blood spitting bass solo Gene goes up to the rafters with "I Love It Loud" (I must admit I do miss "God Of Thunder"). "Love Gun" blast into the Arena and Paul playing a part of "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin. No lectures on politics or enviremental issues this evening it's only about Rock 'N Roll. "Black Diamond" follows with all fans singing along and "Detroit Rock City" finished it off before "the longest encore ever".
"Lick It Up" is the first encore followed by "Shout It Out Loud" and Paul joined the crowd during "I Was Made For Lovin' You". Wembley turned into the church of rock during "God Gave Rock & Roll To You II" and ended the show with a BOOM during "Rock And Roll All Nite".

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