On Sunday night (October 22), KISS will perform in Cleveland, Ohio for the last time as part of their End Of The Road Tour. Before taking the stage, though, the iconic rock band stopped by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to christen the KISS Day Proclamation for October 22, 2023, as well as to accept the City of Cleveland’s first-ever Music Keynote to the City.
Videos by American Songwriter
“We’ve always felt this was a home away from home,” KISS’ lead singer Paul Stanley said at the ceremony. “It’s interesting to be here when everyone knows our storied past with the Rock Hall. The Hall of Fame has found new footing and the artists who belong here are getting in. I’m very humbled after 50 years to be here and to receive awards and do another sold-out show. It’s been amazing, and thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, you’ve been awesome to us. And (Sunday) night, we’ll give you a great big deafening thanks.”
Between KISS’ first-ever Cleveland show and Sunday, it has been 18,101 days, which is almost 50 years. When speaking about the significance of KISS’ half-century run and how Cleveland has played a part in it, City Councilman Brian Kazy emphasized how special the city feels to be loved by the band.
“In those 18,101 days, they have performed once every 624 days in the Greater Cleveland area, which means the guys behind me have never forgotten the people in front of them,” Kazy said.
Piggybacking on this, Stanley attributed their longevity to their original fans making KISS music a “rite of passage,” passing down fandom to younger generations.
“I think the beauty of our fans is that they’ve grown in terms of numbers and demographics,” said Stanley. “Our audience at this point is three generations. It’s a rite of passage. People bring their children because they want them to experience that magic of what we are.”
In the midst of the final tour of their careers, it’s clear the New York-bred band has made sure to soak in the moment.
“We’re on the final 25 shows,” KISS’ guitarist Tommy Thayer said. “The band has never been better, and we’re looking forward to a great, strong ending.”
Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXM
