Kiss Farewell Tour

The Kiss Farewell Tour was a concert tour performed by the rock group Kiss, four years after they reunited the group's original line up for a record-breaking Reunion Tour in 1996, "Kiss Alive Worldwide". A follow-up tour in 1998 in support of their then recent release, Psycho Circus, saw lower ticket sales in the United States but did better overseas. Two years after this, the "Farewell Tour" was announced. This trek was more successful than the 1998 tour and it covered the entire USA and was brought overseas as well.

It was intended to be Kiss' last tour. However, in late 2002 they announced that they were not going to retire as planned. Although Kiss continued performing after the conclusion of the tour, this was the final tour with the original, reunited classic lineup. Paul Stanley later revealed the tour was an attempt to "put Kiss out of its misery" following the legal troubles during production of Psycho Circus, and the reunited band having underwhelming live performances and "being virtually prisoners to doing the same songs every tour."^[1] The initial Japanese leg of the Farewell Tour was announced by promoter UDO Artists on September 15, 2000 but cancelled six days later due to "scheduling problems." Peter Criss had effectively left the band following the final "Farewell" show in North Charleston, South Carolina in October 2000; however, this was not publicly known at the time. His reunion contract had essentially expired and he and Kiss were unable to come to terms for him continuing with the band for the Japan/Australia 2001 tour. As a result, he was replaced by Eric Singer.

In an interview with Ace Frehley at the show in Ames, Iowa, he stated that after the Australian leg, would be 5 final shows in New York City at Madison Square Garden. Those were cancelled. Skid Row and Ted Nugent were the opening acts for most of the shows on the US leg of the tour. One notable aspect of the tour was the fact that for the first time since returning to wearing makeup, the band began to include songs not recorded with the classic lineup in their setlist. "Lick It Up" and "Heaven's On Fire" were played representing the bands' non-makeup era, and "I Love It Loud" was included from their late-makeup era which did not involve the original lineup.

Kiss opened the show by synching an explosion sound with bursting lights as a large black curtain blocking the stage dropped away to reveal the band descending from the lighting rig on a chrome platform spewing sparks underneath. The group stepped off onto center stage, and it raised up back into the lighting rig as they began playing. Initially all four members rode the platform down, fists in the air; soon, however, the band was already playing the first song as it started to lower, and drummer Peter Criss descended on his own platform, playing his drum kit, in synch with the front platform. On June 27, 2000, the band filmed their show at East Rutherford, New Jersey for a pay-per-view concert film, "The Last KISS", which was released later on home video and is part of the Kissology set.

Setlist

1. "Detroit Rock City"
2. "Heaven's On Fire" (only on selected dates)
3. "Deuce"
4. "Shout It Out Loud"
5. "I Love It Loud"
6. "Shock Me"
7. "Firehouse"
8. "Do You Love Me?"
9. "Psycho Circus"
10. "Calling Dr. Love"
11. "Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll"
12. "2,000 Man"
13. "Heaven's on Fire"
14. "Lick It Up"
15. "God of Thunder"
16. "Cold Gin"
17. "100,000 Years"
18. "Love Gun"
19. "Black Diamond"
20. "Beth"
21. "Rock and Roll All Nite"

• "I Stole Your Love" and "Into the Void" played only on US legs. "Talk to Me" played on Australian and Japan legs. Parts of "Forever" and "I Still Love You" occasionally played solo by Stanley before "Black Diamond", "Hard Luck Woman", "Shandi" or "I Want You" played in Australia solo by Stanley before "Black Diamond". "I Was Made for Lovin' You" was played only in Hamilton and Ottawa, Ontario as well as the Japanese and Australian legs replacing "Beth" after Peter Criss had left.
• Some other songs from the 70's albums played on Australian and Japan legs into a brief "medley" during the encore included "New York Groove" "Goin' Blind", "Mr. Speed" (only in Melbourne, Australia) and, more typically, "Parasite", "She" and "Makin' Love", "Strutter", "Rocket Ride", "Hotter Than Hell", "Got to Choose" and "2,000 Man"
• During the US leg Frehley would occasionally drop in snippets of songs during his spotlight-solo, e.g. "Hard Times".

Tour dates

^[2]

Postponed/Cancelled dates

• ^Note 1 The band rehearsed at this venue several days before their debut show.
• ^Note 2 This show was troubled by major production errors. During the opening to the song "Love Gun" each night, Paul Stanley would ride on wire with foot sling to a small second stage in the arena floor where he performed the song. At this show, he became stalled a few rows out from the main stage and hung over the audience, helpless for quite a while before the road crew were able to reverse the wire and edge him back to the main stage. Many other errors occurred as well.
• ^Note 3 Ace Frehley was so late arriving to this show, the band was preparing to dress up Tommy Thayer to fill in. Frehley traveled by helicopter to make it.
• ^Note 4 The band and manager Doc McGhee presented Gene Simmons with a surprise, a giant birthday cake in the shape of a woman's breasts. He turned 51 that day.
• ^Note 5 Peter Criss' final drum solo in the song "100,000 Years". Criss had added a tear to his facepaint to signal his dissatisfaction with the band. He left the stage before the band took its group bow, so only Frehley, Stanley, and Simmons joined hands and bowed.
• ^Note 6 Peter Criss' last show with Kiss; he destroyed the drum kit at the show's conclusion in frustration.
• ^Note 7 Eric Singer's first show, after a five-year absence. Donned Catman makeup and outfit
• ^Note 8 Ace Frehley's last show

References

1. ↑ PAUL STANLEY: 'The 'Farewell' Tour Was Us Wanting To Put KISS Out Of Its Misery', Blabbermouth
2. ↑