Letters

Please help my friends in the tribute band KISS ARMY locate their stolen gear! Their story was aired on a Kentucky news station - here is the video link: http://www.wlky.com/video/22240582/index.html And here is the story: Rock Bottom: Thieves Steal Kiss Tribute Band's Gear $6,000 Drum Kit, Custom 'Kiss Army' Sign Among Missing Items By Ben Jackey/WLKY POSTED: 4:38 pm EST January 14, 2010 UPDATED: 2:04 pm EST January 15, 2010 LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Police are looking for some very distinct stolen property belonging to a very distinct musical act. Recently someone took thousands of dollars in instruments, props and the group's trailer. Kiss Army is a well-known Kiss tribute band. As you might imagine, the stolen equipment is flamboyant and distinct. Police have their suspects, but the gear remains elusive. "Only a close personal few know how deep this really goes." There are fans, and there is Steve. "They made me want to be a musician, especially Peter Criss," he said. And a few hundred times a year, Steve is Peter Criss, one of the four painted faces of the self-proclaimed coolest band in the world, the Kiss Army. For 18 years, they've dressed to kill in full Kiss regalia, packing fairs, casinos and festivals, rocking and rolling all night, and partying every day. Kiss Army was on the verge of making a move to Las Vegas as a house band act when their trailer was stolen. Inside: a guitar, Ampeg bass cabinet, a huge "Kiss" sign, and a $6,000 drum kit. "Here we are, right around the corner from creating our finest moment in our history, and to have someone potentially derail that is heartbreaking," said Steve, who asked that WLKY not use his full name. "We're starving and striving at the same time. We can't afford to have something like this happen." Jeffersontown police said days after the theft, two men walked into Music-Go-Round and attempted to sell some of the goods. Christopher Goff and Austin Becker were arrested. Detectives also locked up Joe Morel and James Riggs. "They didn't get any cooperation whatsoever out of them trying to locate the property," Steve said. "Basically, I'm at a dead end now. You've got a Kiss lighted sign. I don't know what purpose that's going to serve." This Kentucky-based band has several big gigs looming. So to those with their gear? To quote Steve's idols, "Don'tcha hesitate." "Hopefully these guys will step up to the plate on their own account and say, 'I know what I did was wrong. Times are tough. Here it is. What am I going to do with a Kiss drum set?'" he said. The stolen items include: -2007 Haulmark trailer, VIN 16HPB12207H156877 -Pearl 15-drum set, black with chrome pin stripes; eight Zildjian cymbals and one gong with Japanese writing -Ampeg bass cabinet with SVT head -Large "coffin sized" case for drums with "Christie Lites" in white lettering -Stage props and Kiss Army sign