2 years ago today, on july 2th we saw KISS live in Cologne, it was their last final tour show in Germany ever. We arrived at the Lanxess Arena around 7 pm, we had super seats, first row at Gene’s side.
Around 9 pm the lights went out and on the screens there’s a video showing that the band is walking to the stage. Here’s the video of it:
Moments later we heard the famous announcement: You Wanted The Best, You Got The Best, The Hottest Band In The World: KISS!
As soon as the curtains came down, with Detroit Rock City, we were cheering, jumping, singing along with every song they played this evening.
This show was special to us in many ways, one of them was that this was my lovely wife's 54th and my 75th KISS show!
The venue was packed with 17.000 fans and sold out. Everyone on the balconies was standing and the party was on.
The band was in top form, Paul is still jumping, dancing and moves like he’s a young boy, Gene is still the lord of the wastelands, sticking out his tongue, drooling, spitting fire. Tommy ‘s guitar solos are out of this world and Eric pounds the drums like a warrior.
During Calling Dr. Love Gene noticed us and kept pointing to us. Such a great moment!
The inflatable figures were back at each side of the stage (they weren’t there in Brussels) but the screens at the sides and in front of Eric’s drumkit were not there this time. Some changes in the setlist compared to the Amsterdam & Brussels shows we attended, Do You Love Me was dropped and I Was Made For Lovin' You was moved to the encores. Gene is now spitting fire during I Love It Loud. Also the guitar duel between Paul & Tommy was now on the risers at the ends of the stage.
There were some funny moments in the show, Gene let the crowd knew he can spell Köln (Cologne) with an Umlaut. He also spit water on some fans, pretending it was raining, Paul beated on Gene’s armor, pretending it hurted,lol.
Of course all the well-known show highlights passed by, Tommy shooting off rockets during his guitar solo and letting some ufo pods exploding, Eric’s drum solo, with towel and his drumkit rising up.
Gene spitting fire and his bloody bass solo, followed by his flight to the platform high above the stage during God Of Thunder (always my favorite moment of the show)
Paul flew over the crowd to the little stage at the back of the venue to perform Love Gun and the beginning of Black Diamond. And we loved everything!
With KISS balloons coming down from the ceiling of the venue during I Was Made For Lovin’ You we knew which song was up next.
It would be their last ever played song in Germany: Rock And Roll All Night with lots of confetti, garlands, bombs, pyro and smoke. Gene & Tommy going up on the risers at the ends of the stage, Eric going up on his drum riser and of course, the ultimate frontman, Paul smashing his guitar.
Then it was over, with Gene, Paul, Tommy & Eric bow to the fans and Paul saying: We’ll never forget you they all thanked the fans and then they left the stage…(BTW can you spot us on the photo below?)
We were sweaty, hot, covered by confetti, feeling mixed emotions…sad…excited…al at once!
After 44 years and 37 years of obsessed KISS fandom respectively for myself and Marina and after 75 and 54 live performances under our belts, KISS Kruises and a lot of personal meetings and interactions with band members over those decades it all came to this epic finale in Europe!
It hasn’t really sunk in yet that this show in Cologne is probably our last. If this is indeed the last time we’ve see KISS in Europe or worldwide, we want to thank Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, Eric Carr, Bruce Kulick, Tommy Thayer & Eric Singer for all shows they give between 1976 & 2023 in Europe! All the awesome, fantastic & fun times we had, all the emotions we experienced, all the excitement we had everytime we saw a show.
Thank you KISS, it was a extravanganza, heartbreaking and unforgettable journey!
But the party isn’t over till it’s really over, as Paul said in Brussels during the sound check: there’s more to come for KISS…
This was the setlist: Detroit Rock City, Shout It Out Loud, Deuce, Warmachine, Heaven’s On Fire, I Love It Loud (Gene breathes fire) Say Yeah, Cold Gin (Tommy’s guitar solo) Lick It Up, Makin’ Love, Calling Dr. Love, Psycho Circus (Eric’s drum solo) 100.000 Years (outro only) God Of Thunder (Gene’s bloody bass solo) Love Gun (Paul flies over the crowd) & Black diamond. Encores: Beth (Eric plays piano) I Was Made For Lovin’ You (balloons) & Rock And Roll All Night.
*(c) 2023. All personal photo’s/slideshows/filmed footage may only be used by others if is reference/linked to this site or me and ask me first!
