From: Gary Shaller

If you ever forget why KISS is the greatest band ever, take a kid to a KISS concert.

Ever since I bought tickets last month for the 3 New York and New Jersey shows, my 11-year-old brother Brian had been getting more and more excited about seeing the legend live. I've been a fan since I was 5 years old (when "The Elder" came out), and I've made it my business to "educate" Brian about KISS as soon as he left the crib. I will never forget how it felt seeing them on the reunion tour in 1996... fantasy became reality. Now Brian was going to feel that thrill, which made me even more pumped-up about the show!!!

FINALLY Sunday, November 22nd rolled around. I had bought a pair of $80.00 seats so that we would be able to feel the heat of the fire and smoke close- up. Driving out to the Meadowlands Arena from our house in the Bronx, the excitement got bigger and stronger. I had built up this whole notion of the KISS Army and how great the fans are, and tonight was no exception. People were smiling, laughing, gathering in crowds around the arena. While I traded KISS stories and memories with fans and friends, Brian chatted with folks who were enthusiastic to see an 11-year-old kid at the show.

7:00 hit, and we entered the arena. Soon we were munching disgusting hot dogs and holding armfulls of costly memorabilia... I swear, KISS is like a baseball game: you GOTTA spend the money on the nasty food and expensive souvenirs to REALLY get the full experience... I love every moment of it!!!

9:00... the opening act is gone... not too bad... the tension is mounting... Brian and I are looking at our watches every 3 minutes... every time a drop of light flickers behind the curtain we pray that KISS are on their way to the stage... ...THE LIGHTS GO DOWN, THE CROWD IS ON ITS FEET... WE BEGIN TO ROAR... ..."ALLLLLLLLLLLLLRIGHT, NEW JERSEY... YOU WANTED THE BEST..." All around us, in the darkness, elated members of the KISS Army scream along with the magic words... "...YOU GOT THE BEST..."

Brian is now standing on his seat, fist in the air... I look at him and remember being 5, staring at the cover of "ALIVE!"... listening to the intro over and over and over again... "THE HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD!!!"

The numbness hits... it's that feeling of detatched-reality... am I really here or is this a video? A memory? A DREAM?

"KISS!!!!!"

...and then the party started!!! From the opening thump of "Psycho Circus" to the last notes of Black Diamond, this was a perfect KISS concert. For Brian, it was a chance at last to see and hear what I had always raved about. His favorite album has always been "Destroyer" and hearing 6 tunes from that album blew him AWAY... and for ME this whole tour has been monumental!!! "Psycho-Circus" (the album) will always be MY Kiss record because when I became a fan, the classic line-up had already deteriorated. And now, this tour, even more so than the last, THIS ONE is MY KISS tour.

PETER HAS REDEEMED HIMSELF!!! On the last tour he did a good job keeping time and beating the skins, but THIS is the Peter of legend who brought the jazz/swing sound into heavy metal... his solo was GREAT, as was his playing on both new tunes and classics.

THE CHEMISTRY is FANTASTIC!!! It was clear that the guys are indeed getting along well (at least well enough to put on one hell of a show)... They joked around, yelled at the schmuck with the lazer pointer, and seemed to have a great time all-around.

Well, I could go on and on and on... I already have... Brian and I had the time of our lives. The Garden show I saw the night after was musically tighter, more KISStoric (seeing them get the gold albums, etc.) and louder/crazier, BUT there is NOTHING like taking your little brother to see KISS live!!! THANK YOU KISS!!!

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