KISS – The End of the Road World Tour at HellFest 2023 – Gig Review

June 22, 2023 rocknews

Here we are, HellFest 2023, the KISS The End of the Road World Tour, and you just know it’s going to be legendary. This will be the last time we ever get to see KISS live again, but I said that last year at Download. I first witnessed KISS in my 20s, and now at 57, thanks to their iconic makeup, they still look the same. The fiery anticipation fills the air as the black curtain conceals the entire stage. The music blares, igniting excitement among the crowd. The backstage footage of the band plays on the screens, a familiar video that has accompanied countless gigs, yet its significance remains unparalleled because this is KISS.

Descending upon individual platforms, Gene, Paul, and Tommy grace the stage, accompanied by bursts of flames from the front. These rockers are among the few remaining bands who truly understand the art of crafting a pyrotechnics-laden, festival-scale spectacle.

They kick off their set with the timeless classic, “Detroit Rock City.” Archive footage of the band’s early days appears on the screens, further enhancing the electrifying atmosphere as they deliver hit after hit. Paul takes a moment to acknowledge and expresses their love for the audience.

Paul started singing the French national anthem, and the audience joined in within seconds. Their voices swelled with patriotic enthusiasm.

All the signature elements are present: Gene breathing fire, the awe-inspiring drum solo with a rising drum kit, but Paul is unable to go soaring above the audience because of the Hellfest stage layout.

As the show nears its end, they unleash “Rock and Roll All Nite,” the ultimate anthem. Confetti cannons erupt, showering the crowd in a vibrant display, and the audience, intimately familiar with every word, sings along in unison. Giant KISS beach balls suddenly materialize, bouncing throughout the ecstatic crowd. It is a flawless conclusion to an extraordinary performance.

This marks the first day of a four-day extravaganza at HellFest, and I can’t fathom any other headline act surpassing this. While this may be their farewell to the UK, you can still catch them in other countries. See below for a complete list of their remaining tour dates.