KISS: The Setlist from Their Final Show
KISS said farewell to touring in epic fashion on Saturday night (Dec. 2) in Madison Square Garden in their hometown of New York City. “How could we not end where…
KISS said farewell to touring in epic fashion on Saturday night (Dec. 2) in Madison Square Garden in their hometown of New York City.
"How could we not end where it all started?" Paul Stanley asked the sold-out crowd right after Tommy Thayer's epic guitar solo.
The show was live-streamed via PPV.com, and it featured absolutely stunning camerawork showing KISS in all of its glory. Anything less than over-the-top, and then it just wouldn't be a KISS show.
The fact that this was the final KISS show was clearly on Stanley's mind. During one of his banter breaks, he recalled when KISS played MSG for the first time. Stanley said he remembered seeing his parents in the crowd, as well as Gene Simmons' mother. It was a sweet moment that acknowledged just how much this band has accomplished in its lengthy hist...nay...KISStory.
Stanley also told a story about being a cab driver back in 1972. He picked up some people who were heading to Madison Square Garden to see Elvis Presley perform. Stanley told his passengers that one day, he and his band would play the Garden. While the passengers thought he was crazy, Stanley clearly got the last laugh.
While it's truly the end of an era, the evening wasn't a sad affair but a massive party that only KISS could throw. Below is the setlist.
KISS - 12/2/2023 - Madison Square Garden - New York City - Setlist
Detroit Rock City
Shout It Out Loud
Deuce
War Machine
Heaven's on Fire
I Love It Loud
Say Yeah
Cold Gin
Guitar solo from Tommy Thayer
Lick It Up (with a bridge of The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again")
Calling Dr. Love
Makin' Love
Tommy/Paul guitar duel
Psycho Circus
Drum solo from Eric Singer
100,000 Years
Bass solo from Gene Simmons where he spits blood
God of Thunder
Love Gun
I Was Made for Lovin' You
Black Diamond
ENCORE
Beth
Do You Love Me
Rock and Roll All Nite
Gene Simmons is one of rock's most fascinating figures. The KISS co-founder was born Chaim Witz in Haifa, Israel on August 25, 1949. When he was only eight years old, he and his mother, Florence, immigrated to the United States.
Simmons has often recalled growing up poor with his mother, who was a Holocaust survivor. He's given many interviews over the years about how his very humble beginnings inspired him to want to be a success. Once the success came, Simmons was far from wanting to be humble about it. He has many notorious quotes about that and more, which we will explore here.
One of the many reasons why The Demon is so interesting is because he's not afraid to speak his mind. It seems like so many rock stars today hold back on what they really think about a given topic. However, that has never been Gene's style, which is something he is often loved and hated for.
So, how do you honor such a prolific presence in rock history? In the case of Simmons, you do so by looking back on some of his most brash, yet poignant quotes that have been attributed to him. Enjoy! (We know Gene totally would!)
“I’m fascinated with myself and love hearing the sound of my own voice. I’d like to hear what I have to say. A lot of people don’t like being alone because they truly don’t like themselves, but I love me.”
Bono once sang in a U2 song, "I like the sound of my own voice/I didn't give anyone else a choice." It seems like the two rock stars might have something in common here! However, you have to respect Gene enjoying his own company. Not many people can say that about themselves.
“Life is too short to have anything but delusional notions about yourself.”
Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Cantor FitzgeraldOnce again, The Demon isn't short on confidence with this quote. Regardless of your opinion of this quote, we can all agree with Gene on one thing: Life is too short.
“I have to have an emotional connection to what I am ultimately selling because it is emotion, whether you are selling religion, politics, even a breath mint.”
Paul Kane/Getty ImagesYou can always tell when someone truly is passionate about something. We think that's one of the takeaways from this quote. Well, that and even if you're trying to sell breath mints, you've got to believe in them in some form or another.
“If you’re the greatest, it’s okay to say you’re the greatest. My suggestion to everybody is to be their own greatest fan. Weaker personas and personalities define that as egotistical or arrogant, but what it means is their self-esteem isn’t that strong.”
David Livingston/Getty ImagesBeing your own biggest cheerleader is actually really great advice, regardless of who you are and what you do for a living. Having strong self-esteem is one of the most important things anyone can have. Who cares if other people think you're arrogant? You're the one that has to be able to look yourself in the mirror every day and like what you see.
“Rock is about finding who you are. You don’t necessarily have to play your instrument very well at all. You can just barely get by and you can be in a rock band.”
Paul Kane/Getty ImagesThis certainly echos the sentiment of, "It's not what you play but how you play it." Some of the biggest rock stars in the world often think they're far from the best musician ever. Sometimes, personality can really take you a long way.
