Here is an idea for Kiss to salvage its End of the Road Tour, assuming Paul Stanley’s voice doesn’t make a miracle comeback. (For the record, I’m hoping it does recover and this has a happy ending). Click here for Nick’s review of KISS 2/2/2019
Here’s my idea: A Trip Down Memory Lane
This should be Kiss’ victory lap celebrating a Hall of Fame career and a long list of successful albums. If the band played one song off every studio album, it would be the same number of songs in the current set-list. This also would do two things:
GIve the band a legitimate excuse not to play 11 Paul songs (which is what they did for the start of the tour).
Satisfy the fans who crave deeper tracks and not just the hits. Though Kiss has said it’s all about the hits, so the true deep tracks will be just a few, but more than the current list of songs being performed.
Consider this potential set-list (listed by order of release, not the order they should be played):
Kiss: Deuce. A solid choice, though Black Diamond is tough to leave out. If the band was willing to do more than 21 songs, both could be played and Paul wouldn’t have to sing. He could smash the fake guitar, though.
Hotter than Hell: Let Me Go, Rock and Roll. It’s in the current set-list. No problem here.
Dressed to Kill: Rock and Roll All Night. A no-brainer.
Destroyer: Probably the toughest album. Detroit Rock City (Paul) would be the one, and Beth, with Eric on piano/vocal, would be the encore.
Rock and Roll Over: Calling Dr. Love. Personally, I’d prefer Ladies Room but Kiss likes to play the hits when possible.
Love Gun: Love Gun. Paul needs his rap. It’s tempting to have Tommy sing Shock Me, but I’ve got a better idea to get in his two vocals.
Dynasty: Dirty Livin’ with Eric on the mic. A true deep track!
Unmasked: Talk To Me, Two Sides of the Coin, or Torpedo Girl with Tommy on vocal. Since nothing ever gets played from this LP, one of the three Ace songs makes sense.
The Elder: Escape From the Island (instrumental). Paul can’t do the falsetto vocals. This is my cop-out to allow the two songs from Destroyer, or maybe two from the debut album.
Creatures of the Night: I Love It Loud. Or War Machine. But again, Kiss picks the hits.
Lick It Up: Lick It Up. Gene was worthless in the ‘80s after Creatures, so here comes a steady dose of Paul.
Animalize: Heaven’s On Fire. Tempting to go Burn Bitch Burn, but I’m trying to be serious in my suggestions.
Asylum: Tears Are Falling. I think this is the worst Kiss album. Carnival of Souls may argue, especially “side two.”
Crazy Crazy Nights: Crazy Crazy Nights or Turn on the Night, whichever is easier for Paul to sing.
Hot In The Shade: Hide Your Heart. It’s in the current set-list and is somewhere between a hit and a deep track.
Revenge: Unholy or Domino. Gene can take his pick from this record.
Carnival of Souls: Hate. Gene could spit blood here.
Psycho Circus: I love the title track, but Paul can’t sing it anymore. I’m going with You Wanted the Best. All four guys sing which helps save Paul’s voice.
Sonic Boom: Say Yeah. It’s in the current set list and Paul did OK with it.
Monster: Outta This World. A song that Tommy sings on the record. It’s a strong song, one of my faves from the CD. Tommy can emerge from Ace’s shadow – sort of – for a brief moment.
There you have it. A set-list with eight songs each by Gene and Paul, plus two apiece by the hired guns, and an instrumental. The option to add Black Diamond would make it a 22-song set, and Eric would jump to a third vocal.
The only real downer would be missing Shout It Out Loud.
This idea also allows Kiss to showcase its whole career and would be a welcome detour to the End of the Road tour.