Kix’s fuse finally blown for good

REVERED hard rockers Kix are calling it a day.

The north-eastern US favourites, who invited fans to blow their fuses in 1988, announced on stage at their home town M3 Festival show at the weekend that they would be winding up.

Against their own advice on that breakthrough album, they’ll be closing their eyes for good at a special September 17 show at the same venue, Merriweather Post Pavilion.

“I wanna make an announcement here,” singer Steve Whiteman told the crowd.

“And it’s gonna be probably a little hard to get through, but I wanna do it anyway, ’cause we want you all to know. We’ve decided that after 45 years of doing this, I think we’re gonna call it a career. Not tonight. We’re gonna do a show here September 17th.

“It’s been a long, long, long road and my health is failing. Jimmy’s [Chalfant, drummer] health is definitely failing. And we just decided we’re gonna finish up these dates through the summer.

“And we were gonna end in Hinckley, Minnesota. And we thought, ‘Who the fuck wants to end a career in Hickley, Minnesota?’ So we brainstormed, and we said, ‘We wanna do one big final rock and roll show in the area,’ because you guys deserve it. No offense, Hinckley, but fuck that.

“So September 17th will be our final show, and we’re lucky enough to be doing it here, so we hope you all will come join us. Will you come join us for our final show? We’re countin’ on you.

“So, it’s sad, but it’s just time. You know when it’s time. It’s like an athlete. You know when it’s time. And I think it’s time. I’m tired. I can’t fucking do this anymore. [Laughs].”

Although heavily influenced by AC/DC, Kix had their own style and their shows were full of semi-choreographed rock shapes and spades of Whiteman’s humour.

The ‘Godamn Kix Band’ reformed in 2003 without songwriter and band leader Donnie Purnell and put out a well-received album without him, Rock Your Face Off, in 2014.

Image: Kixband.com