symphony

The entire Melbourne Symphony Orchestra donned black and white face paint last night as they made rock history by performing with seventies group Kiss. In a one-off Australian show, the group known as much for their blood-spitting, flame-blowing antics as their musical anthems played alongside the 60-piece orchestra at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne. It was the first time Kiss had performed with an orchestra, but the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra had previously joined with such acts as Elton John, Frank Sinatra and the Three Tenors. The show began with a traditional rock performance by Kiss - with Tommy Thayer replacing Ace Frehley on guitar - before 10 musicians joined them for an acoustic set. The concert, filmed for a pay-TV special ended with the 60-piece orchestra joining the group on stage in full Kiss make-up. The KISS Symphony Set List Act One: (Full blown KISS) Deuce Strutter Let Me Go Rock & Roll Lick It Up Calling Dr. Love Psycho Circus Act Two: (Acoustic set with MSO) Beth Forever Goin' Blind Sure Know Something Shandi Act Three: (Electric Set with full MSO) Detroit Rock City King Of the Night Time World Do You Love Me Shout it Out Loud God Of Thunder Love Gun Black Diamond -encores- Great Expectations I Was Made For Lovin' You Rock N' Roll All Night

Paul Stanley promised Undercover readers that Kiss fans would be "lobotomised sonically" with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and that is exactly what they delivered. Kiss joined the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for a one night only performance dubbed the Kiss Symphony. "What could be accomplished by a band with our sonic prowess and an orchestra would leave most people lobotomised sonically" Paul told Undercover News. The show was in three parts. Part one was Kiss giving the crowd their rock and roll show. The only thing missing was guitarist Ace Frehley. Instead guitar tech Tommy Thayer, dressed in full Ace make-up, stood in for the Kiss founding member who was MIA. The band warmed the crowd up with a 6 pack featuring "Deuce", "Strutter", "Let's Go Rock 'n' Roll", "Lick It Up", "Calling Dr. Love" and "Psycho Circus". Part 2 featured the 10 piece Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. Peter Criss stole this part of the show with his sentimental "Beth", followed by "Forever", "Going Blind", "Sure Know Something" and a prelude of George Harrison's "Here Comes The Sun" into "Shandi". Stanley praised the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for having the guts to do the performance saying when planning the concept they looked into doing the show in another city and another country and with another orchestra but it was the MSO who had the "guts" to take on the challenge of the performance.