From: Jeff Corder
As excited as I was to be seeing KISS one more time I couldn't help but feel like I was attending a funeral. The weather was dreary--wet and chilly. The atmosphere (weather and the knowing this was the LAST Dallas KISS show) kind of made me think I was approaching the Gallows Pole. However, both young and old came braved the elements for the last KISS show in Texas. Starplex Amphitheater was as packed as I've ever seen it and fans stayed, despite the rain during the final hour.

Skid Row was tight but Johnny Solinger ain't Sebitchian (sic) Bach, right?

Ted Nugent is a good guitar player and his chops were great. It's just that I've seen ol' Ted so many times and heard his same ol' BS so often that he just couldn't hold my interest. I will say that seeing Tommy Aldridge on drums again was quite a treat. Aldridge is probably the best drummer in rock. No one can do triplets like him.

I thoroughly enjoyed the KISS set but I will say that Ace's guitar soloing during the 1st half of the show was as sloppy as I've ever seen him play (or anyone else, for that matter). I don't know if his hands were cold or if he was drunk (probably both!) but only someone in denial will say that Ace was flawless. He didn't seem to warm up until later in the show. I did enjoy the special effects from his guitar (his smoking guitar gimmick has always been my favorite) and he did nail the solo on "100,000 Years" perfectly. What really makes this band great live (besides the PYRO) is Paul Stanley. Although Paul didn't HAVE to rant after every song, he did sound and seem sincere about how much the fans have meant to KISS and that KISS owed them everything. It brought a tear to my eye to know that KISS was ending their last song of the show and hearing Paul saying (in his best raspy voice) "God bless you, Dallas---Thank for everything". "We owe you for everything", etc...

KISS had a 25 + year run at the top. In 25 years, no one will remember who N-SYNC, the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and all of the other similar chart-topping artists were or what their significance was. The critics said that the KISS boat would never float. Boy, were they wrong. I will really miss KISS concerts. Other bands (besides the Motley Crue show) just don't compare with the big production. Thanks KISS for teaching me to play rock guitar and showing me what fun concerts are supposed to be like.

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