Amazingly, although I had been an off-and-on, but diehard, KISS fan since the late 1970’s, it wasn’t until Thursday, June 7, 1990 that I first saw them in concert. I had previously met ex-member Ace Frehley three years prior - but that was the extent of my brush with KISS fame. I attended this particular concert, in support of their latest album Hot in the Shade, with Christi at the Dayton Hara Arena.
Even though our track record hadn’t been too good at Hara concerts (the Metallica crash - I’ll tell you about that later), this one was very enjoyable and quite memorable. First off, although Hara Arena did not have assigned seating, Christi and I somehow found great seats. We didn’t attempt to get into the mosh pit by pushing our way to the front, but we found some good ones in the upper level, very close to the stage and off to the right side. It was even cooler since there were catwalks that came out on either side of the stage, placing the performers almost directly in front of us whenever they got onto them.
The stage show was really exciting, with a giant sunglasses-wearing Sphynx the backdrop for the show. At one point, it shot laser beams from its eyes. This was before the days of closed-circuit videos of the band being displayed above the stage, but we were close enough that we didn’t care - just enjoying KISS belting out their classic rock and some new favorites. The opening acts were Little Caesar and Slaughter, former bandmates of KISS alumni member Vinnie Vincent.
The most memorable thing to happen, which I recall destinctly - and Christi wrote about in her journal - was that at some point during the show, Gene Simmons came out onto the catwalk on our side of the arena. I, having quite a long tongue myself, stuck it out at him in tribute to his trademark tongue wag. He stared directly at me and dropped his jaw wide-open as if to say “I’ve never seen anything like it.” Of course, he was being facetious - but that didn’t stop him from pegging us with several guitar picks until Christi and I each caught one (she was first to catch one, as she would insist I remind you). The front of the pick is displayed at the top of this entry and the back of it is at left. Even though it says “Paul Stanley” on the back, it came from Gene.
Although this configuration of the band couldn’t hold a candle to the classic makeup days, I’m glad I got to see this tour with Gene, Paul, Bruce Kulick, and Eric Carr. In fact, it was the only time I saw Eric Carr before he died on November 24, 1991.
Christi’s and my tickets - together again.
That’s another great story! I, also, saw them on this tour for the very first time. I believe Faster Pussycat and Slaughter opened up for them at the Kiel in St. Louis. It was the only time I saw Bruce Kulick and Eric Carr play with KISS. I seem to remember that the KISS sign came out of the Sphinx’s head at some point. That was a good show. But the concert I will always remember is seeing the original band in 2000! I felt like I was 8 years old again! Keep up the great stories!
Dave Chasteen
September 2nd, 2007