HEADLINE: A Night to Remember: KISS Reunites in 1999 for Explosive Nassau Coliseum Show – 20 Years After Madison Square Garden Magic…
It had been two long decades since I last witnessed the thunder and spectacle that only the original four members of KISS could conjure together. On February 6, 1999, the moment finally arrived — at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York — and for a few glorious hours, time folded in on itself. The band that ruled the world in platform boots, blood, and pyrotechnics in 1978 was back, and I was lucky enough to be there again.
The last time I saw them perform together was February 18, 1978, at Madison Square Garden. I was just a teenager then, swept up in the chaos of makeup, screaming guitars, and a crowd that felt more like a rock ‘n’ roll army than an audience. Back then, they were untouchable gods of the stage — Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. That night in ’78 etched itself into my memory like fire.
And now, exactly 21 years later, I was standing in the crowd again — older, maybe a bit wiser — but with my heart pounding just the same. This time, it was at the Nassau Coliseum, and the energy in the air was unmistakable. I wasn’t alone in my anticipation; fans of all ages, some bringing their own kids dressed in full KISS makeup, packed the arena in a joyous reunion of generations.
The stage lights dimmed, and the opening riff of “Detroit Rock City” exploded through the speakers. When those four silhouettes emerged in full costume — Paul with his glittering star, Gene with his demon wings, Ace with his silver suit, and Peter behind his iconic green cat makeup — it was as if no time had passed at all.
The band tore through hit after hit: “Shout It Out Loud,” “Deuce,” “Cold Gin,” “Firehouse.” Gene still breathed fire, spit blood, and wagged his tongue like a man half his age. Paul, ever the showman, worked the crowd with ease, leaping across the stage and pointing to the rafters. Ace’s solos were razor-sharp, spacey, and thrilling, while Peter’s drumming and gravelly voice on “Beth” brought tears to more than a few eyes around me.
At one point, I reached into my coat pocket, pulled out my old 35mm camera, and snapped a few photos. I didn’t bring it for art — just proof. Proof that I was there. That the original four played together again. That this wasn’t just some dream fueled by nostalgia. One shot captured Gene mid-air, mid-roar, with fire lighting up the stage behind him. Another showed Paul bathed in purple light, holding his cracked mirror guitar aloft like a weapon. And one, blurry but perfect in its chaos, caught all four of them taking a bow at the end, arms locked together.
But it wasn’t just about the songs. It was the history, the brotherhood, the fight, and the makeup worn like armor. This reunion tour was more than a show — it was a resurrection. Twenty years is a long time, especially in rock and roll. Bands rise and fall, members quit or pass on. But that night, the original KISS was alive.
The crowd roared for more, and they delivered with an encore that included “Rock and Roll All Nite” — confetti raining down like snow, pyro shooting to the ceiling, and everyone — everyone — singing every word.
Walking out of Nassau Coliseum that night, my ears still ringing, I looked at the photos I managed to take. Grainy. Overexposed. Perfect. They were time capsules — physical proof of magic rekindled. Proof that, for one night in February 1999, the clock turned back, and four men in makeup reminded us all what it felt like to believe in rock gods.
It wasn’t just a concert. It was a homecoming. A salute to youth, rebellion, and the enduring power of music. It was 1978 all over again — and I was there. Again.
