Incredibly, KISS may very well be bigger and better than ever. Laying down the blue-print for bombastic, over the top rock spectacles back in the 1970's (and thereby making it nearly impossible for any band before or since to even approximate the level of sensory overload and back-for-your-buck a KISS show delivers), the guys made good on their threat to up the ante. As they detailed when they appeared on my show leading up to Friday night at the United Center, they somehow managed to squeeze more lights, more pyro, bigger video screens, better sound and more tricks into their by now already classic, jaw-dropping onslaught. With a stunning new hit record "Sonic Boom" in the charts, it was like the Fourth Of July, Halloween and a deranged Ringling Brothers Circus colliding... on "11." An all-encompassing triumph.

(See KISS perform "Black Diamond" live at the United Center here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqaEt2iFLJ0)

(See KISS perform "I Love It Loud" live at the United Center here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0d6Q8WY7G4)

(See KISS perform "Deuce" live at the United Center here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOPUpKTXATo)

(See KISS perform "Detroit Rock City" live at the United Center here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZF0D-rt1bs)

Accepting the daunting task of opening the show, Buckcherry ferociously attacked the job at hand with a strut and swagger of their own, making impressive gains in their ultimate goal to be the next generation of arena masters.

(See Buckcherry perform "Crazy Bitch" live at the United Center here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZq_IZhZ9go

Earlier in the week saw a duo of rock front men stepping out on their own at the House Of Blues.

Monday night, the iconic and original angry young man Roger Daltrey of The Who performed a warm up gig in preparation for an upcoming Who record and world tour. Daltrey, who helped lay down the golden god/hard rock front man template (Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin even "borrowed" some of Roger's late 60's look and welded it to Steve Marriott's vocal stylings) was in rare form. With a crack-ass band featuring Simon Townshend on guitar who moves, sounds and looks just like his older brother Pete in tow, Roger looked and sounded great ... and is still his delightfully feisty self, telling off some self absorbed boors who were loudly interrupting his performance.

(See Roger Daltrey and his band perform "Going Mobile" live at the House Of Blues here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxRNN3auIXI)

(See Roger Daltrey perform "Who Are You" live at the House Of Blues here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZGS7QBAlkg)

(See Roger Daltrey perform "Pictures Of Lily" live at the House Of Blues here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWCyd-Kih6g)

On Thursday night, Gavin Rossdale of Bush played his second area gig of the week, this time at the House Of Blues before a packed house.

(See Gavin Rossdale perform "Everything Zen" live at the House Of Blues here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YliWxArg8AQ)

(See Gavin Rossdale perform "Machinehead" live at the House Of Blues here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNn-ALHz8jE)

Several days prior, a rare pairing of Queensryche and Lita Ford rocked the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet. Coming off a 20 year hiatus, Lita slipped right back into the saddle.

(See Queensryche and Lita Ford perform "Close My Eyes Forever" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-0zXSBfLyU)

This week on my show from 10am-3pm: win tickets to "Star Wars in concert" at 10am and 2pm daily, as well as Bon Jovi tickets and passes to see the premiere of the hilarious new movie "Pirate Radio."

(See the "Pirate Radio" movie trailer here: http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/pirate_radio/)

Despite the fact that Chicago has far more legitimate claims as the birthplace of rock 'n roll than New York, that is where the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame organizers have seen fit to hold most of their ceremonies and concerts over the last 25 years. This past weekend was no exception. That aside, it was again a once-in-a-lifetime type of musical event. Marking the 25th anniversary of the Hall, the concert featured numerous unlikely to be repeated pairings. Where else could you catch Ozzy Osbourne and Ray Davies of the Kinks fronting Metallica? Or Mick Jagger jamming with U2?

(See Ozzy Osbourne perform "Paranoid" live with Metallica at the 25th anniversary RRHOF concert here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjKLJLGyVXM)

(See Ray Davies of the Kinks perform "You Really Got Me" live with Metallica at the 25th anniversary RRHOF concert here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH0l-Y_OKa8)

(See Mick Jagger perform "Gimmee Shelter" live with U2 at the 25th anniversary RRHOF concert here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eASIP7NomXQ)

Eventually, these performances will see the light of day on DVD. In the meantime, a rich collection covering the first 24 years of performances on 9 discs has been issued and can be obtained here: http://www.rockhallstore.com/Prod-18-1-292-4/Rock_And_Roll_Hall_Of_Fame_Live.htme

Earlier in the week, Foreigner played a sold-out show here in Chicago at the House Of Blues with it's own touch of history. Playing all of their massive hits as well as their latest offerings, it was received with deafening approval.

(See Foreigner perform "Jukebox Hero" live at the House Of Blues here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-ta0TSXyC8)

Little known, but Foreigner founder Mick Jones found himself in the middle of a historically monumental three week residency in early 1964 as one of the opening acts for the Beatles in Paris. Mere days before their debut on the Ed Sullivan Show (indeed, they learned their single "I Want To Hold Your Hand" has gone #1 in the US while still in Paris), the Beatles were on the precipice of unprecedented world-wide fame and popularity. A wide-eyed 19 year old English guitarist for French chanteuse Sylvie Vartan at the time, Mick befriended the four lads from Liverpool over their shared run of shows at the Olympia Theatre just before such a thing would become impossible again for all concerned. Over the years. Mick and I talked many times about those days which never failed to bring a far-away gleam to his eye, a giggle and a goofy grin to his face. Long ago giving up on the idea that somehow there was any recorded evidence of those concerts, he nearly leapt through the phone when I told him a few weeks ago that I had tracked down footage of the shows, including himself on stage. He literally pleaded with me to show him the film when he got to Chicago. While he and Foreigner finished up their set, I employed the services of their tour manager to help me surprise Mick with the find as he came off stage. To say he was delirious to finally see it would be putting it mildly.

(See the Beatles perform live at Paris' Olympia Theatre in 1964 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5KanBa9UDA&feature=related)

This week on my show from 10am-3pm on 97.9 The Loop in Chicago and worldwide at www.wlup.com: Win tickets to see U2's return to Soldier Field July 6th (before you can even buy them!) every day at 10am & 2pm, 4-packs of passes to attend my hosting of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Soundstage" taping this Thursday, and conversations with Saving Abel on Wednesday at 1:30pm, Steelheart this Thursday at 11:30am, and KISS on Friday at 12:30pm.

Don't miss out!