Description
Cd with printed innersleeve and a 4-page booklet
This was Kiss first visit to Europe in four years. The summer of 1988 saw the band doing shows in support of the Crazy Nights album, some headlining shows and some shows as part of the Monsters Of Rock package that featured headliners Iron Maiden as well as David Lee Roth and Anthrax as well as a couple others. The fifth and final date were held at the Arena Festa Dell Unita in Modena, Italy on the 10th of September 1988 and its that show that are featured on this disc. On the Monsters Of Rock tour the band got a 60 minute slot to get their music across however this show at Modena runs for almost 80 minutes and is the longest show on the Monsters Of Rock tour the band did. The line up was smaller than the other shows, David Lee Roth was not on the bill which allowed them to play longer. Kiss was no stranger to being an opening act, their rise to stardom in the mid 70’s was built upon playing every gig like they were the headliner and showing no quarter, an attitude that would be their battle cry. Their set list was made up of classic Kiss songs with only two songs from the new record, this would maximize the bands time perfectly. The recording from Modena is a very good audience source, being from a open air stadium gig it is distant but clear and well balanced with all instruments and vocals clearly heard plus a nice range of frequencies, the sound does move around a bit as one would expect from an open air venue. Paul asked the crowd how they are and the band launches into Deuce, the perfect opener since it was immortalized on the first Alive record. The band teases Led Zep’s Heartbreaker and Whole Lotta Love prior to Fits Like A Glove that gets the audience cheering. There is no time for individual solo spots, the band stick to the music and hammer out hit after hit, never get used to hearing Black Diamond early in the set. The band add I Was Made For Loving You to the set, it had been played on the Japanese tour and the audience goes crazy, based on the response for the crowd, the song would remain in the set for the rest of the tour. The band take a quick break after Shout It Out Loud then hammer the rest of the set, Detroit Rock City finishes the crowd off, Eric Carr pounds the audience with his double bass drums. The interview at the end of the CD is a two minute spot done for RAI TV, pretty much talking about doing your own thing and large crowds of Rock fans and how well behaved large groups of fans are. Great performance for fans of 80’s era Kiss. The album sleeve and insert have pictures of the gig poster and event schedule as well as liner notes from Kerrang, RAW, and Classic Rock magazine writer Dante Bonutto. There is also a picture of Gary Corbett playing back stage and a great shot behind Eric Carr looking over the crowd.
Track list:
1. Deuce
2. Love Gun
3. Fits Like A Glove
4. Heavens On Fire
5. Cold Gin
6. Black Diamond
7. No No No
8. Firehouse
9. Crazy Crazy Nights
10. I Was Made For Loving You
11. War Machine
12. Tears Are Falling
13. I Love It Loud
14. Shout It Out Loud
15. Lick It Up
16. Rock And Roll All Nite
17. Detroit Rock City
18. Interview with Gene and Paul-Rai TV