When the show finally started the crowd erupted in applause
and excitement for The Treatment, the opening band. Their stage show wasn’t
elaborate but they commanded attention with their energy. The way they took the stage showed their love
and excitement for music.
The Treatment
is a five piece band from Cambridge, UK comprised of Matt Jones (Vocals), Ben
Brookland (Guitar), Tagore Grey (Guitar), Dhani Mansworth (Drums), Swoggle (Bass).
At eighteen years young, the band hit it
big touring with KISS and Motley Crue.
With the loud bang of a cannon Motley Crue made their way
through the crowd and on stage for their opening song “Saints of Los Angeles”. Their stage show was phenomenal and over the
top with pyros, lasers and smoke.
The
screen behind them flashed pictures of women and at one point a giant beating
heart. Song after song, Motley Crue never let the energy die. Scantily clad
women danced all over the stage and manned the flame throwers. At one point
there was even an acrobat hanging from ropes in the scaffolding, twisting and
turning every which way. A woman on stilts in a long dress came out and lifted
her skirt to reveal a woman dressed in bondage gear and a leash bearing Vince
Neil’s guitar. Tommy Lee rode his drums on a loop-de-loop during a drum solo
and even brought a fan from the crowd along for the ride. While playing “Dr. Feelgood”, a woman in a straitjacket
was hoisted up struggling against the restraint of the coat.
The show wasn’t
without humor either. Between songs Vince Neil, Tommy Lee and/or Nikki Sixx
lent their voices and humorous opinions to the rain soaked crowd. While Playing “Girls, Girls, Girls” pictures
of barely dressed women flashed in the background punctuated once with a photo
of Justin Bieber.
Nikki Sixx came out during the encore with a flame thrower
attached to the head stock of his bass launching flames into the air and out
over the crowd. At one point he set the head stock on fire and walked off stage
to have it put out. Overall, the stage show was mind blowing and entertaining.
Between sets every visible angle of the stage was obscured
by a giant KISS flag. No one could see what was going on behind the cloth and
fans were getting antsy speculating on what the stage would look like. When the
flag fell, the photographers and first two or three rows were covered in the
fabric and KISS began their spectacular entrance.
Descending from the rafters on a platform and stepping
forward to play “Detroit Rock City” KISS began their unforgettable show. The
crowd was going wild the entire time they were performing. From the upper pavilion you could feel the
heat coming off of their massive array of pyrotechnics. Tommy Thayer sang ”Shock Me” much to the crowd’s overzealous
pleasure.
Gene Simmons spewed blood from his mouth and was lifted to a platform
on the top of the scaffolding to play “God of Thunder” on his axe bass to a
frenzied crowd. Paul Stanley hung from a ring on a rope out to a platform in the middle of the crowd to play “Love Gun” while the platform rotated. I found it humorous that Gene Simmons kept putting his boot on the head of a giant, bald security guard that was working just in front of the stage.
Eric Singer was right on his A game filling the spot of the departed Peter Criss. Eric is no stranger to the kiss fans. Eric Singer first joined kiss in December 1991 and played with them off and on over the years.
At one point all the
members of KISS stood at the edge of the stage with their backs turned and had
a photo taken with the crowd. While playing their last song of the show, “Rock
and Roll All Night”, giant cannons
erupted spilling smoke and copious amounts of tissue paper shreds into the air
covering the crowd in what looked like snow. After the song KISS took a bow and
left the stage to the loudest applause and cheers I have ever heard.
All in all the show was spectacular and the energy from the
crowd was immense. If you haven’t seen these guys live, I strongly recommend
you put it on your bucket list.
9 comments:
Amazing shots Dennis!
Jaso-
Thanks for these kick-ass photos!
some GREAT pics man! Used to have all the KISS albums back in they day, when they WERE actually "albums". :) \m/
Those are some Baaaad-Assssss pics Dennis !!! The review was also awesome.... Wish I could have been there even more... It IS on my Bucket list and I want to experience the Enegry that you described !!! Those pics are so amazing, it's like they jump out of my laptop screen !!!! Keep up the amazing job of reporting & taking pics !!!! Rock On Bro !!!!
Luv the article and pictures Dennis awesome.=)[ ))
Great shots and an insightful review!
Nice work
awesome pics, gene is so photogenic
Nice concert review and great shots Dennis
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