Popular ‘80s rock band KISS brought their 2019 End of the Road Tour to Amalie Arena in Tampa April 11.  

This is the band’s final tour. They announced they were touring globally in 2018, and the tour dates range from January to December 2019.  

KISS gave an incredible performance with their distinctive sound and amazing special effects and pyrotechnics at the concert.  

KISS was formed in 1973 by rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist Paul Stanley, bassist and co-lead vocalist Gene Simmons, drummer Peter Criss and lead guitarist Ace Frehley.  

The current members consist of original members Stanley and Simmons, with lead guitarist Tommy Thayer replacing Frehley and drummer and pianist Eric Singer replacing Criss.  

They opened the concert with a bang by dropping the curtain around the stage while fire exploded in the background as the members of the band were lowered onto the stage by smoking platforms.  

The band is most well known for their members’ eccentric face paint and costumes, as well as their traditional hard–rock sound. 

Each band member has a signature look that they sport. Stanley is known as “the Starchild,” with a star over his right eye, Simmons is known as “the Demon,” with black flames painted over his eyes, Thayer is known as “the Spaceman,” with black and white stars painted over his eyes, and Singer is known as “the Catman,” with black whiskers painted on his cheeks.  

Opening for the band on The End of the Road Tour is David Garibaldi, an American performance painter. He is known for his live performances of rapidly creating paintings of famous rock musicians in a style of gestural abstraction with painterly brushstrokes.  

At the concert, they used elaborate props, displays and pyrotechnics, including fire, blood-spitting, smoking guitars, shooting rockets and ziplines above the audience.  

Simmons performed his signature song, “God of Thunder.” He started the performance by spilling fake blood out of his mouth, and then, playing the bass and singing, he rose on a platform above the audience.   

For their song “Say Yeah!,” Stanley began by pumping up the audience and teaching them the words, so that everyone would sing along as the words flashed on the screen.  

Singer also put on a memorable and emotional performance of the song “Beth.” He played a grand piano and sang as the audience waved their phone flashlights in the air and sang along.  

KISS gave an unforgettable performance at their concert and lived up to the expectations of both their performance quality and sound.