A last Parisian concert for the road. These are hard rock legends settling down on Tuesday June 7 at the Accor Arena in Paris: the American group Kiss. Already three years that they travel the roads of the world to say their farewells, after a career running over more than five decades.
A few hours from the first guitar riff, it’s a big guy almost two meters tall who welcomes us to the dressing rooms of the gigantic Parisian hall: Gene Simmons, one of the two founders of this legendary group. Behind his dark glasses, it is difficult to recognize the famous masked demon that we are used to seeing spitting blood on stage.
This tour, Gene Simmons swears, will be the last. “You have to love and respect the fans enough to feel when it’s time to leave the stage”. In 2019, Kiss ignited Hellfest with this idea in mind, but covid forced them to play extra time. “If we are the best, we have to know how to go to the top!” But to see the enthusiasm of the fans, some of whom camped for several hours in front of the Accor Arena, we guess that the farewells will be difficult.
And Gene Simmons scrolling through his mind-blowing photos of people tattooed from head to toe in praise of Kiss. The Americans are much more than a hard rock band. “When I meet people who have been following us since I was five years old, I can only say to myself that I am the luckiest guy in the world”.
It must be said that in terms of show, they gave a lot… Fire, blood, sweat. On stage, the barnum is amazing. Kiss is the self-proclaimed group “the hottest in the world!” Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, the two founders still present, never wanted to abandon this theatrical force. But today, just the suit and the boots weigh several tens of kilos, the years count double and fatigue threatens. “I’m 72, and although I still feel strong, I don’t want to be seen like Elvis Presley in Las Vegas: face down, fat and naked”.
Kiss will give its last concert on October 7 in Sacramento, after spending June 30 at the Printemps de Pérouges and July 5 at the Arènes de Nîmes. There will always be a few million Kiss t-shirts around the world, so that we don’t risk forgetting them.