KISS · Faster Pussycat · Trixter

Some concerts you remember for the music. This one I remember for everything: the music, the night, and the four of us piled into Mrs. Barone’s minivan, arguing the whole way up about which song they’d open with. Paul’s mom deserves her own five stars for that drive and for putting up with us.

Brock Talbot, Carter Salmons, Paul Barone and I got there in time for both openers. Trixter was all energy, and Faster Pussycat brought the sleaze-rock swagger, but everybody in the Igloo knew why we were there.

When the lights went down and KISS opened with “Creatures of the Night,” the place came apart. This was the Revenge lineup: Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Bruce Kulick on lead guitar, and Eric Singer on drums. They sounded heavier and hungrier than they had in years. They went straight into “Deuce” and “I Just Wanna,” and none of us sat down again all night.

The new songs held up next to the classics. “Unholy” was menacing, with Gene at his most evil, and “Domino” was a pure swagger. Bruce’s guitar work all night was outstanding, and Eric Singer hit like a freight train.

Then came the older songs: “Parasite,” “Hotter Than Hell,” “Firehouse,” “I Want You,” “War Machine,” “Cold Gin,” “I Love It Loud.” When “Detroit Rock City” kicked in, Carter about lost his voice for good.

It wasn’t just a greatest-hits night, either. “Forever” and “God Gave Rock ’n’ Roll to You II” hit hard that year, with Eric Carr’s passing still fresh. It felt like the band was playing for him as much as for us.

They closed with “Love Gun” and a blistering “Star-Spangled Banner,” and we walked out into the October night with ringing ears, sweaty T-shirts, and no voices left. The ride home was a lot quieter than the ride up.

The Civic Arena is gone now, but that night isn’t. For me, Brock, Carter and Paul, it was KISS at the top of their game, and one of the best nights of our lives.