Cobo Hall Diary/Review
25/09/2009
Review and pics by Gary Slater
We flew out to Detroit on Thursday morning, arriving around 6pm their time.
The border guard was pretty cool, telling me he had no doubt where I was going and asked if I'd heard any of the new album! We missed the Thursday promo recording (I'd heard it was competition winners etc. that would only be attending) so headed straight for Taco Bell!
Friday
Headed downtown about 1pm and the Cobo entrance was deserted, I'd figured it would be swarming with fans a-la Peanuts Bar in Paris!! LOL
Went into the box office to pick up our Saturday night tickets and while we were in there two British guys came in to get their tickets too!
Met up with Dan Bach and Ian (Sour Mash) and had a look around the back of the arena - 8 tour buses (apparently just for the crew!), staging and roadies milling about.
Dan calls out to a guy crossing the road - turns out to be Josh the Buckcherry singer!
After hanging around for what seems ages, a guy wearing an Eric Carr shirt turns up. Now, I'm still not convinced but, he states he's Eric Carr's cousin!! He seemed to know more than average about the Fox's family so, the verdicts still open for me on that one!
We headed to Hard Rock for a beer with Sour Mash; Dan decided to hang around longer 'backstage'.
Cool stained glass window in Hard Rock and some of Gene's leg-armour from the Animalize Tour
Back to Cobo around 6.30pm via Subway - Loads of kids in makeup checking out our tattoos.
Hanging out outside, loads of people were asking about the Union Jack banner I'd made and taking pics of my new tattoo & Sour Mash's Ace London tattoo. It was really cool, so may nice people and so many in make-up & with kids.
I Grabbed some shirts and a tour program and headed down the escalator and into the hallowed hall that is Cobo.....
Have to say it gave me chills....It looks smaller outside but with the tiers it's probably NEC sized. Still now I can't believe I was there!
Buckcherry put on a decent show but, I really wasn't bothered. I was at Cobo Hall to see KISS!
Between the bands we did manage to recreate the back cover of Alive. Of all the times for it to happen my camera let me down a bit but, we at least got proof we did it!
Buckcherry's guitarist cam into the crowd taking pics of all the fans in make up - and one of my tattoo!
I was waiting for 'We won't get fooled again', hanging around in the aisle talking to Nicole's Aunt - who 1st saw KISS at Cobo in 1977!
The thin black curtain didn't hide the glow of the speaker cabs on stage, it made me think all they'd done stage-set wise was put some lights in the cabs since the last tour! Little did we know at the time
that they were screens.....and when I found out I did think of Strike it Lucky!!
Then to the strains of Thin Lizzy's 'The boys are back in town'; off went the house lights! We didn't even have time to make it to our seats as the screens showed the band walking to the stage with Doc McGhee...
"Alright Cobo! You wanted the best, you got the best. The hottest band in the world, KISS!"
To the opening chords of Deuce the dry ice billowed over the stage and Gene, Paul and Tommy rose from beneath the stage and Eric's kit rose at the same pace above (what I thought was the oddly placed) KISS logo.
The pyro was awesome and the sound fantastic. Eric's kick drums (yes, both of them! ;) ) really hit you in the chest. I have to say it was the best sounding gig I can remember!
The new costumes looked good but, Paul's boots are the coolest!
As it was virtually the same set as Europe there were no real surprises apart for Modern Day Delilah - it went down really well and I loved the fact that they actually played a new song!!
Eric's solo had a new revolving drum riser. He's effortless behind the kit and really got the crowd going. Great Job!
I strolled my way to Paul's stage (the US fans are way too well behaved!) for Love Gun and thought I'd got some good pics, until I realised was being pushed around by an over-zealous security guard
trying to keep an empty aisle clear - I told him to go forth...... ;) Brits Abroad eh?
Pauls mike in his stage cut out during Love Gun, he promptly kicked the crap out of it and gave up. I'm sure someone else took over the vocals - Eric maybe?? I'm not sure?
The reaction to the closer Detroit Rock City was rather muted to be honest - Dan mentioned he thought the crowd would 'lose their mind' but no, very strange!
It was quite emotional for me to be honest - With Nicole being from Detroit, me wanting to see KISS at Cobo Hall since I was 12 years old and the sense of occasion, I was a bit choked!
Then, that was it 'KISS Thanks you, Detroit Rock City'
Find Dan talking to the camera crew who've been filming all over the arena - and he lets them know where we'll be sitting for the Saturday night show.
Off to Hard Rock Cafe Detroit in my 1st (and would you believe Nicole's 1st) Yellow Cab! - Suprisingly, there were about 30 in the place after the show!.......walked back Nicole's truck in the rain - what a day!
Set List - Friday 25/09/09
Deuce
Strutter
Got to Choose
Hotter Than Hell
Nothin' to Lose
C'mon and Love Me
Parasite
She
Watchin' You
100,000 Years
Cold Gin
Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll
Black Diamond
Rock and Roll All Night
Encores
Shout It Out Loud
Lick It Up
I Love it Loud
Modern Day Delilah
Love Gun
Detroit Rock City
Saturday
Met Sour Mash in a bar called Cobo Joe's about 4pm, WRIF Radio are there - playing Sonic Boom - then Don (acesmiddlefinger) and Chris (TomSnydersTeddyBear) come in.
Great place to spend the afternoon, especially with fire-breathing barmaids!!
This is when I 1st learn of the legend of Kenny Moon & the Detroit Ocean!! We had such a laugh, great lads!
Dan started texting me asking for the KISSinUK flag...NOW!
After probably 3 more too many drinks, I head down to the back of Cobo and ended up being interviewed for Scuzz TV!
Met up with Dan who introduced me to Paul Elliott a journalist of either Metal Hammer - Classic Rock or Kerrang - and I'm still not sure which! He may want to use some of our pics for a feature! We're being liggers again, and an intimidating figure walks out - a certain Mr Francis, Head of Security for KISS. After acknowledging Dan and giving me a glare he hands me a couple of Paul Stanley picks! Nicole
and I head back to the entrance of Cobo, Dan stays behind, again!
I get interviewed by another TV channel and have loads more pictures taken of my tattoos. Needed to exchange a shirt - No Event merch left - at all!!
Into Cobo around 7.30pm Buckcherry already on stage - another descent show - still not that bothered though!
Dan nowhere to be seen!!
I go for a wander - come back - there's Dan in his seat - with a AAA
pass!!!
His patience had paid off and he showed me a pic on his phone of him with KISS!
KISS hit the stage again, I'm prepared this time, Row 12 - great view and sound is awesome.
All goes well until Gene's solo......
He flies, about 4 feet then, he's left hanging. The whole place just gasped! He's lowered again and I hear him shout "One more time".
The same thing happens!! OMG! I did feel really sorry for him - he was soooo pi$$ed! Someone was walking home without a job that night!
The crowd really rallied after that and it didn't take anything away from the band - they kicked arse!
During Shout It Out Loud - the two guys from the back cover of Alive, walk down the centre aisle - with the original banner!! That was cool!!
Paul flew over our heads on Love Gun, no technical problems this time either. His new revolving stage is cool too!
I think they overloaded the confetti cannons tonight, I couldn't see the stage at one point!! mad!
DRC goes down better tonight and I nearly lost it again!
Paul ends with "Detroit, you f$@kin' ROCK!"
As the crowd leaves to the sound of GGRARTY - me and Dan sit in an empty row of seats and just say "We did it!!"
We see Don and Chris taking pics - as we walk over Chris finds out someone had walked off with his bag full of swag - robbing barstewards!! That was a real downer but, he soon had a smile of his face again when he got to have his pic took holding the original KISS ALIVE! banner with the two guys!! They held the KISSinUK Flag too! CLASS!!
Another Cab ride to Hard Rock - another bar tab - another great night.
Set List - Saturday 25/09/09
Deuce
Strutter
Got to Choose
Modern Day Delilah
Hotter Than Hell
Nothin' to Lose
C'mon and Love Me
Parasite
She
Watchin' You
100,000 Years
Cold Gin
Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll
Black Diamond
Rock and Roll All Night
Encores
Shout It Out Loud
Lick It Up
I Love it Loud
Love Gun
Detroit Rock City
It was a real first & last chance to see KISS at Cobo for me.
I was so close to not going cos of the money - but, no money could replace the feeling I got in that place - The real DETROIT ROCK CITY!
Thanks to all the forumees that made the trip, you guys are great.
And, special thanks to my wife for putting up with me. She enjoyed the shows but, said the best thing about it was watching me having the time of my life!