On December it was announced that KISS will start from Stockholm in the brand new Friend's Arena stadium the European Tour for 2013 and taking account the age of some members of the band it was a very good chance to catch the band live, though I never considered myself as a huge fan of the band. So tickets were booked and fast forward half a year later we were on our way to this huge stadium in the suburbs of Stockholm, on an extremely rainy June afternoon.

The stadium (with a roof that could open) could seat approximately 65.000 people and as we entered, three hours before KISS hitting the stage, it seemed half full. Mind that of the three floors with seats the third was closed (A month later IRON MAIDEN managed a sold out with 55000 people in that same arena). Around 19:00 o clock the first Swedish support band, SATAN TAKES A HOLIDAY (sic) hit the stage and then at 20:00 HARDCORE SUPERSTAR (less sic). But they were awful and unfortunately bearing them was included in the price of the ticket. During that time everyone could witness a huge metallic monster that looked like a spider on top of the stage, on which was used as the stage's light source. It was indeed the so promised brand new KISS stage.
 

At 21:30 lights have gone dark a huge black curtain was hiding the scene with a huge KISS logo. From the speakers came an intimidating music and from the video walls we could see coming from backstage to the scene. Screens went dark again, music kept being intimidating and suddenly Paul Stanley was heard in the arena. Curtain dropped and KISS were airborne! All except Eric Singer were standing on top of the huge metallic spider in the air and on the back Eric Singer was hanging in the air on the platform supporting his kit. Oh and the song opener was "Psycho Circus". The platform and spider came down and the band stormed the stage amongst fireworks and a shower of lights with an ecstatic crowd cheering, singing and jumping up and down. The scene featured a huge screen on the back and additional two on the left and right of the stage. The band kept playing with tremendous energy throwing hymns one after another and with the occasional gimmicks happening again. On "War Machine" Gene Simmons was spitting fire, on "Heaven's on Fire" everywhere flames were jumping, on "Outta This World" came the classic solos in the end between Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer while standing on platforms quite above the stage and ending with Singer firing a bazooka with fireworks. Before "God of Thunder" Gene Simmons did his infamous blood spitting and then he flew on top of the spider to start the song from there and on "Love Gun" Stanley flew over the crowd to a platform in the middle for the crowd. "Rock'n'Roll all Nite" left us with an arena full of small papers and a fog of smoke and a very impressive party ending for the normal part of the show. On the encore the band hit us with another triplet of hits starting with "Detroit Rock City" then "I was made for Loving You" and closing this marvelous night with "Black Diamond".

The band performed amazingly and was in great spirits. Sometimes Stanley's voice was breaking, but really who cared? Simmons voice was in great shape and Thayer and especially Singer showed that they have exceptional Rock'n'Roll voice. Despite their age they did a hell of a performance playing a two hour long set full of fireworks, classic KISS gimmicks and a brand new and impressive stage show. Indeed if this band is famous for something that is their stage show and oh man … it was unbelievable. I have been to so many lives but never to live rock and roll party, because this was more than a show. It was an experience that everyone must witness and live. No matter what people say about the band, which is sometimes even justified, when performances like this one are happening all mouths are shut and answers are given on the stage. For the cost of a normal ticket for a band of that size find me other bands that play a two hour long performance with a bunch of legendary Hard Rock songs, an amazing stage show and tons of fireworks. Indeed, there is no one like them.