Letters

"Do you understand now? Do you?" I screamed. He did. After 15 years of wondering about his father's odd obsession with KISS, my son Josh finally understood. As his Dad pumped his fists, jumped up and down on one unbroken foot and yelled "Strutter" at the top of his lungs it all made sense now, ruining all other concerts for him for the rest of his life. His adolescent self-conciousness forgotten for the moment, and rocking Paul Stanley warpaint we shared 2 1/2 hours of Rock and Roll Heaven at the BJCC. From the curtain drop to the final notes of Detroit Rock City it was pure KISS bliss. The band sounded loose but sharp, I could feel the drums in my balls and the guitars in my heart. The band had way too much energy for guys their age, and Paul's voice only got stronger as the show went on, not to mention the killer leads in a call and response with Tommy, who was the ultimate Spaceman, destroying those who came before him the same as he blew up a lighting rig with his rocket guitar. Eric Singer pounded the drums like a lion pouncing on an antelope. And Gene Simmons? He is still the ultimate badass bassist, he almost got the picture of his red footed pajamas from Family Jewels out of my head with his demonic presence. Almost. ( You just can't knock the very funny and warm show, that is how Josh started to become a fan). The light show was amazing, the huge video screen was gorgeous, and no one blows shit up like KISS, that was the most pyro I've ever seen at a KISS show, and that's saying something. As the millions of pieces of confetti rained down like snowflakes, the band raised 20 feet in the air during Rock and Roll All Nite, I found myself ruining my makeup a bit with a few grateful tears rolling down my cheeks. It's hard for me to believe that something that brought me such joy as an 11 year old is still a part of my life. As I stood there with my arm around my son, sharing the moment with him and 15,000 others, I felt so happy, so alive, and that just doesn't happen every day. Thank you KISS, thank you for being there during the good and the bad times, for giving me my own "happy place" when I've needed it the most. Thank you for giving me 30 years of knowing exactly who I am: a KISS fan.