Kiss raise the roof in Newcastle: what our reviewer thought of the iconic band's final North East gig

It’s been nine years since KISS last played in Newcastle and 36 years since their first ever appearance on the Lick It Up tour but sadly this would be the last.

Descending from the rafters on octagonal platforms spewing sparks and smoke with explosions rocking the back of the hall, it was like entering a battle zone as KISS kicked off with Detroit Rock City.

Shout It Out Land with Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons trading vocals had the whole crowd singing and punching the air before the hard driving Deuce, from their very first album, took us back to where it all started.

A KISS show was famously described as a nuclear explosion in Madame Tussauds which pretty much sums up this evening performance which featured bombs, flame throwers, rockets, smoke, drums rising 50 feet into the air, not to mention a fire breathing, blood spitting Gene Simmons being hoisted up to the lighting rig during a bombastic God of Thunder and guitarist Tommy Thayer’s rocket firing guitar. This was seriously spectacular stuff where no expense was spared.

That was the icing on the cake but would have counted for nothing if KISS didn’t have the songs to match and they certainly had those by the bucket full.

No KISS show would be complete without the chest thumping, fist pumping party anthem Rock ‘n’ Roll All Nite, the stage was then filled with explosions and rockets and huge KISS emblazoned balloons were hurled across the crowd ensuring this Rock ‘n’ Roll party went out with the biggest bang of them all.

by Mick Burgess