Kiss News

By ALAN K. STOUT / MUSIC ON THE MENU

HERSHEY, PA - For the past 45 years, the state of Pennsylvania has been a frequent tour stop for the rock group KISS. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Wilkes-Barre, Allentown, Harrisburg, Scranton, Erie, State College … the iconic band has played them all. And on Wednesday, with its show in Hershey, the group made what was probably its final stop in the Keystone State. And for the 20,000 fans at Hersheypark Stadium –many of whom had traveled from Northeastern Pennsylvania - it was apparently a most memorable KISS goodbye.

Jim Donnelly of Back Mountain, who had previously seen KISS about 15 times, was at the show in Hershey. Afterwards, he had no regrets about traveling 100 miles to see the band again.

“I’d seen a lot of the new show on YouTube, so I kind of had an idea of what it was going to look like, but it was just incredible in person,” said Donnelly. “The guys were on fire. There’s a lot of energy in this show. They’re saying it’s their last hurrah, and I thought it was incredible.”

 Donnelly has been on the annual KISS Kruise four times and will be setting sail with the band again this fall, and thus he will see the group perform again in a smaller setting. But Wednesday’s show in Hershey will likely be the last time he saw a full KISS arena/stadium show.

“It’s kind of bittersweet,” he said. “I had some friends there, and we were kind of looking back, because there’s a very good chance it will be the last show that I’ll see them at the level. But we say, ‘Thanks for the memories.’ ”

Adam Nulton of Wilkes-Barre was also at the show on Wednesday, which he said was about his 10th KISS concert.   

By Chris Varias, Special to Cincinnati Enquirer

When you’re a member of what you rank as the greatest rock band to emerge from the United States, why would you choose to take that band off the road?

Why say goodbye, and what’s the right way to say it?

Paul Stanley, singer, songwriter and guitarist for KISS, shared his thoughts on these matters, as the band stops in town on a farewell tour that stretches into 2021.

Question: What have critics gotten wrong about KISS?

Answer: I don’t know. It’s their issues, not mine. Clearly, they didn’t reflect in the early days the views of the fans, and critics saw themselves somehow as a higher power that was there to educate the public as opposed to reflect the public. Whether or not somebody likes a certain food is irrelevant to a different person. Art, music, food, it’s all up to the person who’s experiencing it. It’s odd to me when somebody tells you what’s good and bad, because what’s good and bad is totally subjective. 

Q: Speaking of subjective, who’s the greatest rock band to come out of New York City?

A: You’re speaking to one of the members.

Q: Who’s the greatest American rock band?

A: Rock is such a broad term. What’s considered rock is everything from the Eagles to ... pick it …

Q: The Grateful Dead.

A: Anything but that, please.

Q: You said, “pick it.” I picked one. Who’s the greatest American rock band?

A: The greatest American rock band is KISS.

Q: Who’s the greatest all-time rock band in the world?

A: Led Zeppelin.