# KISS: Alive! It's not really about the music; it's the whole show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 30, 2019, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiss-alive-its-not-really-about-the-music-its-the-whole-show/831750 "2019-03-30T05:33:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiss-alive-its-not-really-about-the-music-its-the-whole-show/831750/1 "2019-03-30T05:33:53Z")
So, on Wednesday, April 3rd I’ll be going to see KISS for the fifth time. I’ve never seen anyone more than twice. But KISS isn’t a music concert; KISS is performance art, and they do it wonderfully. You’ve got the explosions. You’ve got the fire breathing. You’ve got the blood spitting. And lately zip-lining and other shit. This is in Ottawa, and will apparently be their last tour. Yeah I know Ace and Peter have long since been replaced by Eric and Tommy, but it’s pretty much impossible to tell. I was a huge fan in the 1970s. I’m gonna rock and roll all night. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiss-alive-its-not-really-about-the-music-its-the-whole-show/831750/2 "2019-03-30T15:29:54Z")
Well, you know what they say, “Everybody’s got to rock 'n roll.” 🆒 Saw them in 1976, one of the best shows ever. Have a great time! ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiss-alive-its-not-really-about-the-music-its-the-whole-show/831750/3 "2019-03-30T15:46:14Z")
KISS was my very first concert, back in 1976 on the “Destroyer” tour. Then I saw them again a couple years later. Fun fact - the opening act the second time I saw them was John Cougar. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sps49sd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@sps49sd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sps49sd)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiss-alive-its-not-really-about-the-music-its-the-whole-show/831750/4 "2019-03-30T15:54:01Z")
Play the studio version of ‘Rock and Roll All Nite’ from _Dressed to Kill_. Then play ‘Rock and Roll All Nite’ from _Alive!_. That’s most of **why**. ---
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiss-alive-its-not-really-about-the-music-its-the-whole-show/831750/5 "2019-03-30T16:33:36Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > This is in Ottawa, and will apparently be their last tour. Last tour of 2019 maybe… Never underestimate Gene Simmons love of getting paid. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiss-alive-its-not-really-about-the-music-its-the-whole-show/831750/6 "2019-03-30T20:58:18Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > Last tour of 2019 maybe… > > Never underestimate Gene Simmons love of getting paid. Yeah, for sure. Say what you want about KISS, but Gene marketed the hell out of them and became increadibly rich in doing so. Their live performances are something to behold. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiss-alive-its-not-really-about-the-music-its-the-whole-show/831750/7 "2019-04-01T14:37:16Z")
I too saw them in 1976 - I was a sophomore in high school. I still remember how excited we were. It was a great show. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiss-alive-its-not-really-about-the-music-its-the-whole-show/831750/8 "2019-04-01T15:01:12Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > I too saw them in 1976 - I was a sophomore in high school. I still remember how excited we were. It was a great show. Me as well. I was 12 and I thought they were the greatest. But as I grew up, very few of their songs help up for me. But holy hell, these guys are in their late 60’s. It was silly 15 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiss-alive-its-not-really-about-the-music-its-the-whole-show/831750/9 "2019-04-01T18:44:00Z")
> [@sps49sd](#): > > Play the studio version of ‘Rock and Roll All Nite’ from _Dressed to Kill_. > > Then play ‘Rock and Roll All Nite’ from _Alive!_. > > That’s most of **why**. A joy to listen to musically, sight unseen. That added on jam session in the latter part of the song is very stirring. ( to me ) Great hard rock. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiss-alive-its-not-really-about-the-music-its-the-whole-show/831750/10 "2019-04-01T21:49:31Z")
I went to see them in Sioux Falls on March 6. It was a great show!! You are right, it is a spectacle to behold. Really glad I went no matter if it’s the last tour or not. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiss-alive-its-not-really-about-the-music-its-the-whole-show/831750/11 "2019-04-02T13:56:23Z")
I have never seen them, but Alive! is one helluva great live album. It makes me feel young again. Enjoy the show! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kiss-alive-its-not-really-about-the-music-its-the-whole-show/831750/12 "2019-04-04T16:29:31Z")
It started with “Detroit Rock City” and just kept rockin’! The sound quality was much better live. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JGUWrvJCkZw/maxresdefault.jpg "Kiss - Detroit Rock City - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Apr 3, 2019") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGUWrvJCkZw)