KISS World Tour 2009 - Setlist Wish

As most of us rock fans know, the latest rumors out of the Kiss camp is they are going into the studio to record a new album which will be followed up by a world tour in 2009. I don’t know how true any of the rumors are, but one can hope. I’ve been screaming for a new album since Kiss decided that the farewell tour wasn’t their big finale. Now my pleas may finally be answered.


Last year, Kiss toured mostly Europe in support of their 35 year anniversary, dubbed the Alive 35 tour. For that tour, Kiss got unique with the setlist and decided to play Alive in its entirety. I thought that was a great idea and something different for sure, as I grew tired of the same Kiss setlist every time they went to tour, Of course, they never made it to the east coast, so I never got to see the Alive 35 tour, which was a disappointment. Now, they have a chance to make that up to me and the rest of their American fans.


With a new line up in place and a new album out on the shelves, there is no reason for Kiss to give the same tired performance. This is their chance to shake up the setlist and give the fans something they’ve wanted for a while – a solid entertaining concert with some deep cuts and an amazing show. Sorry, Gene, but you’re going to have to work for this one. If Kiss thinks they can charge $100 to play the same songs that they’ve played for 30 years, they really need to stop for a moment and look at the current economic situation. I know Gene is going to charge a lot of money to see Kiss, and that’s his prerogative, but, if he wants my money, I want a different show.


First, lose the makeup. I know Kiss is defined by their makeup and the explosions and the blood and fire, and so on. The gig is up on the makeup years. Kiss did just fine without makeup for many years, and the Hot in the Shade tour was one of the most dynamic tours ever done by the band and look, no makeup. The unplugged performance is one of the best Kiss performances ever, and look, no makeup. The makeup works when it’s the original members, it doesn’t work now. I love the makeup as much as any other fan, but seeing guys pushing 60 in very revealing costumes with their “I got fat on too much money” guts hanging out isn’t cutting it.


Now we would have a new tour, with a new CD, without makeup, and a chance to really reclaim the Kiss name and put the band up there with AC/DC, the Rolling Stones, and other living legends. The stage set would obviously be based around whatever theme the new disc is, so that’s hard to speculate right now. The only remaining piece of the puzzle is the setlist. Fortunately, cousin Ryo has put together a special wish list for the set. This would make a comprehensive, spectacular Kiss show, with just the right balance of huge hits, deep cuts, new tracks, and tracks never before played live.

Keep in mind that for this setlist that there will be new songs included (supposedly they are supporting a new album) and I have no idea what those songs will be, but based on the Psycho Circus tour (the last time Kiss toured in support of a new album) there should be 3 new tracks which you will see noted in the fantasy setlist below. So without further adieu, here is what I think would make the ultimate Kiss setlist:


Detroit Rock City
Deuce
Sweet Pain
New Track 1
Uh! All Night
Rock and Roll All Night
Master and Slave (from Carnival of Souls)
Crazy, Crazy Nights
Love Em and Leave Em
I Pledge Allegiance to the State of Rock and Roll
New Track 2
Lick It Up
Shandi (Why should Australia be the only country to enjoy this song?)
I Love It Loud
New Track 3
Heaven’s On Fire
I Just Wanna
I (from Music from the Elder)
Black Diamond
Encore
God Gave Rock and Roll to You
Let Me Go Rock and Roll

There it is. Well balanced and chock full of hits, obscurities, and new songs. What do you think? Would you want to see this show?

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.