Manchester Show Reports Thread

[Father Jack]

I don't get some people. Just because you chase a van or wait outside somewhere does that automatically mean Gene Simmons has to stop doing what he's scheduled to do for you ? The reason why he has people to drive him is so he gets to where he's going...tv, radio, show ON TIME.
Why didn't you actually go into the hotel and wait for him like some other people did in Liverpool (and got rewarded with passes) ?
Not stopping to sign autographs when your supposed to be going somewhere isn't shoddy, sorry, it isn't even ignorant. You stop to sign one autograph then it becomes two, then three, then of course you must talk for five minutes which becomes ten minutes, etc, etc, etc, then your late for what your supposed to be doing and your professional reputation gets a kick in the nuts and don't forget, there are people who are doing the same thing as you all over the country on this tour. Myself and some friend waited all day in Liverpool last Monday (their day off) hoping they'd show up at certain places but things didn't work out. Just unlucky that time. A few of my friends did meet them after the show and the next day too. Just the luck of the draw, but they stalked em good & proper, lol.
Being a fan doesn't automatically give you the right to expect or demand anything from the band.
If your allowed past their security and are actually stood next to them and they completely blank you then that's different and should be remedied with a sharp kick to the shins followed by an "Oi, sign this you old git. If it wasn't for people like me......"

In fact, next time.....make sure you have a pretty girl with you. Simmons will definately stop then. (He still won't talk to you but he will stop, lol.)

[Fabulous-Eggs]

Seen KISS 10 times now and that was by far the best I have seen them! Was stood on the floor about 20 feet back from the stage...the crowd singing around me were AWESOME (as Paul kept saying ) Dressed to Kills antic before the gig were brilliant waving to the crown from their seats - well done boys-

Had Rock Cafe before hand playing Rock the Nation DVD created a brilliant atmosphere- the whole night was superb!!

[Pete]

The 'Yellow Coats' at the MEN are renowned or their rather strict behaviour and adherence to the 'rules'...

[BDJ87]

I don't get some people. Just because you chase a van or wait outside somewhere does that automatically mean Gene Simmons has to stop doing what he's scheduled to do for you ? The reason why he has people to drive him is so he gets to where he's going...tv, radio, show ON TIME.
Why didn't you actually go into the hotel and wait for him like some other people did in Liverpool (and got rewarded with passes) ?
Not stopping to sign autographs when your supposed to be going somewhere isn't shoddy, sorry, it isn't even ignorant. You stop to sign one autograph then it becomes two, then three, then of course you must talk for five minutes which becomes ten minutes, etc, etc, etc, then your late for what your supposed to be doing and your professional reputation gets a kick in the nuts and don't forget, there are people who are doing the same thing as you all over the country on this tour. Myself and some friend waited all day in Liverpool last Monday (their day off) hoping they'd show up at certain places but things didn't work out. Just unlucky that time. A few of my friends did meet them after the show and the next day too. Just the luck of the draw, but they stalked em good & proper, lol.
Being a fan doesn't automatically give you the right to expect or demand anything from the band.
If your allowed past their security and are actually stood next to them and they completely blank you then that's different and should be remedied with a sharp kick to the shins followed by an "Oi, sign this you old git. If it wasn't for people like me......"

In fact, next time.....make sure you have a pretty girl with you. Simmons will definately stop then. (He still won't talk to you but he will stop, lol.)

I largely agree, after a 2+ hour show like that, the band dont owe you anything. However, being blanked, is a little shoddy, I'm afraid. I'm sure the above member would of been over the moon with a thumbs up/high five or whatever, or even just a hello. I'm preety sure Gene wasn't going to pedal a book on prostitutes or whatever at half 12 at night

Being a fan doesn't automatically give you the right to expect or demand anything from the band.

I've preety much said this before, I agree with it. But didn't you start a thread called Liverpool Stalking? So correct me if I'm wrong, had you bumped into them, you were expecting something from the band?

I don't really agree with waiting outside a hotel though, thats borderline stalking (literally )

Anyway, back to the matter at hand! I'm still on Cloud KISS from this show, I don't want to go back to work on Saturday

[mwombwell]

Hats off to the chap walking up and down Gene's side handing guitar picks out to the kids. My two got one of Tommy's and one of Paul's which I'm now looking after.

Four down, one more to go!

[Gojira1975]

Hats off to the chap walking up and down Gene's side handing guitar picks out to the kids. My two got one of Tommy's and one of Paul's which I'm now looking after.

Four down, one more to go!

That is a nice touch, actually.

[dtkdemongene]

That was one of the BEST EVER performances I've ever seen from KISS.....just stunning! Everything just seemed to come together and it was smiles all round from the band and the audience

We had lots of fun too..... pics with folk near the arena entrance for a good hour before the show..... and then walking (gingerly & carefully) down the steep steps to our seats on Tommy's side
Don't think I'll ever forget the roar from the crowd when we posed/waved before KISS hit the stage! Even the security/crew were looking over & pointing! lol!

Off to both Wembley's now.... without make-up

[Father Jack]

I've preety much said this before, I agree with it. But didn't you start a thread called Liverpool Stalking? So correct me if I'm wrong, had you bumped into them, you were expecting something from the band?

I wouldn't have expected a thing to be honest. I would have been quite happy to take a few pix from where I was, anything else would have been a bonus. Still, it never happened and Im just thankful it never rained, lol.
Anyhoo, I hope it hasn't soured what was a great show. You doing Wembley as well ??

[slobberbone]

From where we were sat - Block 115 lower tier we saw KISS walk round ready to get in position for their entrance - everyone started cheering and waving who'd seen them - Tommy turned round and gave us all a big thumbs up and a wave.

[Hazza]

Traditionally cynical review from the Manchester Evening News:

http://www.citylife.co.uk/music/reviews ... _men_arena" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

4/5

Shocking, funny and very, very long: words that could be applied equally to Kiss’s epic new stadium show and to Gene Simmons’s infamous tongue, which hangs out of the self-styled demon’s mouth throughout, pouring with saliva and wiggling lasciviously at members of the audience.

Back in Europe to tour new album Sonic Boom and overdue a visit to Manchester (or “Myan-chest-uh,” as singer Paul Stanley pronounces it), the iconic Brooklyn band play a set that’s split between old hits and tracks from the new album which, given their stoic commitment to a musical formula, blend in seamlessly with three-decade old material.

Of that, solid rock ‘n’ rollers Cold Gin, Deuce and Call Me Dr Love prove Kiss are still a rock band with serious chops, if one whose image - and excessive merchandising - has always overshadowed the music.

Kiss shows are a pantomime; the antidote to every band that plays in jeans and T-shirts and pretends to be bored. They begin with an intro tape that promises “the hottest band in the world,” they wear platform heels that give them the stature of superheroes and make-up that disguises years of rock ‘n’ roll excess.

We see guitarist Tommy Thayer apparently shooting fireworks from the neck of his guitar, we see drummer Eric Singer fire a bazooka, and we even see a portly 60 year-old man fly (though you have to squint pretty hard to miss the wires) when a bloody-mouthed Simmons launches himself to the rafters above the stage.

The show’s best is saved for the encore, which Stanley promises will be the longest we’ve ever seen. Shortly, he’s whizzing over the audience on a zip wire to a revolving platform at the very back of the auditorium, where he sings the disco-fuelled I Was Made For Loving You to the folks at the rear.

Returning to the stage by the same method, the show wraps up with a double whammy of the 1992 hit God Gave Rock And Roll To You II and the band’s signature anthem Rock And Roll All Nite, which is accompanied by a barrage of explosions, plumes of fire and a storm of tickertape.

As the face-painted crowd files out, only the merch stall tills ring louder than our ears.

[andykiss4ever]

I thought it was a GREAT show. Managed to get down the front (about four "rows" back) and centre. The Liverpool guy with his son and the two mad Glasgow guys next to me were jumping up and down and pissing off some old fogies but I thought they added to the atmosphere! Sheffield seated was great but this was the real deal, not booking seated for a KISS gig ever again. BTW just downloaded the show from simfy live its just been made available as an mp3 instant download in the last few hours...cool! http://simfylive.com/en/artist/6927/liv ... ester.html

[metalbearuk]

Hi people,

I've registered on this forum just so I can say what an awesome show Manchester was!

I've been a Kiss fan since 1977, when I was lucky enough to see them at the first night of the three LA Forum shows that became the 'Alive 2' album(well, dependent on who you believe!)

I last saw them in 2008 in Copenhagen en route to the Sweden Rock Festival, and to be honest, I really didn't enjoy that show at all, although that could have been more to do with the venue that kind of brought back memories of Bingley Hall.....

Anyway, fact of the matter is, I got a ticket for Liverpool as there weren't any Manchester standing tickets left by the time I got my wages, and I really enjoyed the show, it was the most intimate Kiss show I've ever seen, you could wander up and down quite easily and get near to the front with no problem.

Then my mate announced he couldn't get time off to the Manchester show, and did I want his ticket, well I wasn't excited as it was a seated ticket,, and I thought any sense of atmosphere might be severely lacking, but boy was I wrong!

There was a great feeling going into the arena, lot's of people, smiling away, and there was a tangible sense that this was going to be something special.

I found my seat, and was impressed at the view I had (back row of block 113), and apart from one couple next to me (who looked like they may have read about the band in 'The Guardian' or something!) everyone around me was on their feet from the moment the lights went down, and didn't sit down until the lights came up.

To say the band were on fire seems an understatement, of all the Kiss gigs I've seen, I don't think I've ever seen Paul Stanley smile so much, and the fact that the audience gave back what the band gave out, just seemed to create an intense atmosphere, with everyone feeding off it.

So, to stop rambling, an amazing gig, and one that will live in my mind for a very long time, and it has also made me think, that at my age, maybe those seats are a good idea, as I looked down at the standing area, and it looked a little packed to say the least.

Hope I've not bored you folks.

[dtkdemongene]

Hi people,

I've registered on this forum just so I can say what an awesome show Manchester was!

I've been a Kiss fan since 1977, when I was lucky enough to see them at the first night of the three LA Forum shows that became the 'Alive 2' album(well, dependent on who you believe!)

I last saw them in 2008 in Copenhagen en route to the Sweden Rock Festival, and to be honest, I really didn't enjoy that show at all, although that could have been more to do with the venue that kind of brought back memories of Bingley Hall.....

Anyway, fact of the matter is, I got a ticket for Liverpool as there weren't any Manchester standing tickets left by the time I got my wages, and I really enjoyed the show, it was the most intimate Kiss show I've ever seen, you could wander up and down quite easily and get near to the front with no problem.

Then my mate announced he couldn't get time off to the Manchester show, and did I want his ticket, well I wasn't excited as it was a seated ticket,, and I thought any sense of atmosphere might be severely lacking, but boy was I wrong!

There was a great feeling going into the arena, lot's of people, smiling away, and there was a tangible sense that this was going to be something special.

I found my seat, and was impressed at the view I had (back row of block 113), and apart from one couple next to me (who looked like they may have read about the band in 'The Guardian' or something!) everyone around me was on their feet from the moment the lights went down, and didn't sit down until the lights came up.

To say the band were on fire seems an understatement, of all the Kiss gigs I've seen, I don't think I've ever seen Paul Stanley smile so much, and the fact that the audience gave back what the band gave out, just seemed to create an intense atmosphere, with everyone feeding off it.

So, to stop rambling, an amazing gig, and one that will live in my mind for a very long time, and it has also made me think, that at my age, maybe those seats are a good idea, as I looked down at the standing area, and it looked a little packed to say the least.

Hope I've not bored you folks.

Welcome to the board mate & great opening post! It was certainly a great night

[jonnybgoode82]

Phenomenal show from KISS in Manchester. Took the G/F for her 2nd KISS experience and we both agreed that this was so much better than Download 2008 (not to say that was shoddy mind). The atmosphere was fantastic and the band were on top form, particularly Paul, his voice wavered perhaps once throughout the evening.

As a KISS vet I would have said not to start with Modern Day Delilah, the entrance screams DRC or ISYL and I would drop Cold Gin and Animal from the set but everything else is fantastic. I thought all the solo spots were spot on and GGRTY brought a lump to the throat.

Really wish I was doing another night of the tour but funds are out.

Anyone pick up any merch? After 10 mins of umming and ahing I plumped for the Destroyer white/grey t-shirt

[KISSoflife]

My first post here to report on the Manchester show!

All in all a fantastic nights entertainment. I have only ever seen Kiss once before in 1996 at the same venue on the Alive/Worldwide tour (which was "AWESOME" ( )btw). On that occasion I was standing right at the front. Have been a fan since I was 11 and have all the albums

I was only able to get seated tickets this time and I was a little concerned I might not enjoy the show as much this time.
I have to say that I was partly prooved right. I have been to MEN before and, when not at the front the acoustics can be a problem. In the first half of the show I was barely able to distinguish the guitars - Things seemed to improve drastically during the second half of the show for some reason however - And I was now HAPPY!

All in all it was a FANTASTIC show and the whole 'event' seemed to have been 'ramped up' a notch from when I last saw the band (which I have very good memories off) - much more pyro and generally just a much more theatrical show - I would never have thought this was possible following the last time i saw them.

As I say - FANTASTIC.

My regrets: Not getting a standing ticket - My fault! (I lay poor sound at times purely as a fault of the venue - It is designed really I guess for sporting events and does not necessarily have the acoustics for large rock events - hence - GET TO THE FRONT!). Also, Gene - Stop gobbing spit and drool all over the place - we want blood NOT mucus!

Gene and Paul were superb as ever. Eric was every bit the drummer that he has become famed for and Tommy was excellent - Just wish I could have heard him a bit more in the muddled sound mix where I was sitting.

VERDICT -EXCELLENT!