Mötley Crüe/KISS Tour Kicks Ass at the Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida
Premier Guide Miami
In 2004, Mötley Crüe announced a reunion of one of the most dysfunctional heavy metal rock bands in history. Fast forward to August 2012, and they are back on stage, having kicked ass once again during their co-headlining tour with rock legends KISS at the Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Current members Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil, Tommy Lee, and Mick Mars stood united, proving that years of separation, lawlessness, drug abuse, explosive escapades, and endless lawsuits were history—at least for the night. Mötley Crüe is no stranger to the road, having embarked on their fourth co-headlining tour since 2006, including successful runs with Aerosmith and Poison. This latest collaboration with KISS promised—and delivered—a night of high-octane rock.
The UK band Treatment set the tone for the evening, blending punk rock influences from the likes of the Sex Pistols and Aerosmith. Bandmates Ben, Matt, Tag, and Dhani unleashed a wild and outrageous energy that served as a perfect warm-up for rock’s gods.
From that point on, the night exploded into loud, hard rock. Both Mötley Crüe and KISS brought platform boots, pyrotechnics, heavy makeup, and even fire-breathing guitars to life. The theatrics reached new heights, with Mötley Crüe marching through the crowd while KISS made a grand entrance via flaming rockets.
Despite now falling into the senior citizen age group, both bands rocked like they were in their prime, proving that age is nothing but a number. Mötley Crüe played the role of the teaser, setting the stage for KISS to close out the evening with a dramatic flair that left fans breathless.
Gene Simmons, the family man from “Gene Simmons Family Jewels,” stepped into his rock god persona with gusto, referring to himself as Zeus and showcasing his infamous tongue tricks, complete with fire breathing and blood-spewing antics. The impressive video and background effects elevated KISS’s performance, but the highlight came when guitarist Paul Stanley took flight, soaring across the amphitheater to a raised platform, igniting a frenzy among the audience.
Adrenaline buzzed throughout the crowd, especially during Mötley Crüe’s performance of “Kickstart My Heart,” a song that carries profound significance for bass guitarist Nikki Sixx, who was revived from a heroin overdose by EMTs. Mick Mars delivered a mesmerizing solo that captivated fans, but the true rock star moment came when Tommy Lee invited a lucky fan to join him on his roller coaster 360-drum kit. Watching Lee perform with such energy was nothing short of exhilarating.
As the night progressed, both bands unleashed a powerful assault of music. KISS sprinkled in a few new tracks from their album Monster, while Mötley Crüe treated fans to classic hits like “Home Sweet Home,” “Live Wire,” “Shout at the Devil,” and “Girls, Girls, Girls.”
When KISS wrapped up the show with their iconic anthem “I Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll All Night,” the audience was left in awe. As smoke enveloped the stage, it was clear that this double bill was one of the best rock combinations, marking a truly memorable night for rock ‘n’ roll enthusiasts.
August 2012