Review: The long Kiss goodbye ends at New York’s Madison Square Garden, but Kiss avatars loom

NEW YORK — It’s the end of the road for Kiss. One hint, though: In a promotional video released after the show, Gene Simmons said, “It’s gonna be the best concert you’ve ever seen.” Many Kiss fans said they are not interested in paying to see virtual recreations of the band, including syndicated rock host Eddie Trunk. “I couldn’t be more disappointed, disgusted, and shocked at the hideous franken-Kiss they have now created,” wrote Gary Stevens, who portrays Paul Stanley in the Kiss tribute bands Strutter and Kiss Revisited. We couldn’t have done it without you!” Stanley recalled driving a taxi in New York City in 1972 and dropping people off at Madison Square Garden to see Elvis Presley, telling them that someday, people would be coming there to see him. “Rock And Roll All Nite” always closes a Kiss concert, and the usual tsunami of confetti and streamers rained down from the ceiling as Stanley smashed his guitar at the show’s climax, the fans raining down love on the band one last time.