Letters

http://www2.morganton.com/news/2010/jul/01/local-band-has-opportunity-open-kiss-ar-244198/

Hi i am a kiss fan and i am goinig to your last concert in cheyenne,wyoming. My mom's friend won 2 tickets to it but he can't go. Oh yeah my bad. I am Ajay and i am 16.5 years old. I am from cheyenne,wyoming. I have been your fan since i was 5. I like that show Detroit Rock City with Edward Furlong,Sam huntington, andrew gillspie, and that other one. I am really syked to write you on here. I am your fan. Well i gotta go so ill write you back again. My email address is [email protected] Sincerely, Ajay VanOrtwick

What a Night , Wow its been a year since my son (pictured) , daughter and I made the Bus ride from Bangor maine to Halifax NS to see u guys on MY BIRTHDAY July 18th 2009 . I turned 40 and I was at KISS ,in the Rain in a Foreign Country for the first time in all our lives .We were soaked but you kicked butt . Add two more lifers to the JR. KISS ARMY !! And thanxs for the greatest Birthday ever ! SEE YA IN WORCESTER! Kissfanaticmaine

I have been a KISS fan for as long as I can remember, I am 17 now and I can recall rocking out to 'Detroit rock city' from as young as 5. I even decided to learn guitar so I could play KISS songs, of which I now do on a regular basis. I can't wait for the next KISS australian tour so that I can cross this great band off of my list of bands I want to see live in concert (plus to have a bit of bragging rights on the side as almost everyone in my year level at school loves KISS haha).

hello, guys. i just wanted to tell you i've seen you a couple times and you are awesome in concert. the show is the best. when i was growing up i liked your music but i could care less whether i saw you or not, but when i was 16 you guys came to springfield ma and a friend who was a big fan convinced me to go to the show and it was awesome. the first show you blew out the electricity in the civic center and had to play with only two of the letters flashing. when you started with detroit rock city like you always do. it was on. now whenever someone says something about you i say they are awesome in concert. gene simmons is the man. love family jewels. hope you keep on rocking for a long time.

When I met the kiss, I had 13 years of age. Today 17 years have I and I'm very proud to be fan of the world's biggest band. Gene, Paul, Eric and Tommy, thanks for being part of my life

Dear Paul, Gene, Tommy, and Eric, My name is Skyler Cannon. I'm from Spartanburg, South Carolina. I'm almost 14, and I am SO obsessed with you guys. My room is KISS, my style is KISS, and basically,my life is KISS. But, as you see in this picture, my art is also KISS. I LOVE art. In these photos, I drew myself with each of your make up. I hope you like it. I am sitting 12th row, center stage, at your show in Charlotte, North Carolina! I can't wait! You guys are my absolute idols! Sincerely, Skyler Cannon

Mini KISS were in Mankato, MN tonight as part of a promotion with our Northern League baseball team. Our daughters, Jordan and Sadie, posed for pictures with the guys. Very friendly and they seemed to be as big of fans of the band as the rest of us. A good time was had by all. Kevin Burns Mankato, MN

HAMPSTEAD - Just before taking the stage for his latest show, guitarist Geo DeCampo sounded more like a politician than a musician. He is attempting to garner as many votes as possible. If DeCampo can get enough of them, his rock band might just open for KISS, the legendary performers he's idolized for most of his life. DeCampo, the guitarist for Carroll County rockers P.U.S.H., entered his band into the Guitar Center On Stage KISS Contest. At each stop during the 22-city KISS tour, an unsigned band will serve as the opening act. The winning band at each site will be chosen, in part, by an online popularity contest. The top five online vote getters at www.eventful.com/competitions/kiss2010/bristow will be considered as an opening act for its 6:30 p.m. Aug. 21 concert at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Va. KISS band members will pick one of the five finalists to serve as the opening act. Online voting continues until approximately two weeks before the concert. That means DeCampo and his bandmates have a little more than a month to make sure they qualify. So far, P.U.S.H. is near the top of the leaderboard. P.U.S.H. is currently in second place in the voting and had almost 1,000 votes as of Wednesday. "I don't think anything could touch it," said DeCampo, of opening for KISS. "Maybe the only thing would be joining them on stage for a couple songs." Opening for KISS would cap a landmark year for P.U.SH., a rock band founded in 2003 that is enjoying a breakthrough year. The band, comprising of DeCampo (guitar), Johnnie Black (lead vocals), Jamie Loud (drums) and Alan "Space" Chapman (bass), released its debut, self-titled CD earlier this year. DeCampo lives in Manchester. Black, who joined the band nearly a year ago, lives in Mount Airy. Chapman is a North Carroll graduate. P.U.S.H. performs throughout the region and most recently performed in Carroll at Genova's in Hampstead Friday. The set list included selections from their debut CD and covers of Van Halen, Buckcherry and Papa Roach hits. P.U.S.H. also performed "Rock and Roll All Nite," the legendary KISS single originally released on their 1975 album "Dressed to Kill." It's a cover DeCampo has performed dozens of times through the years in multiple KISS tribute bands. He is accustomed to donning white-and-black face makeup, just like his favorite band. While all four band members said it would be a dream come true to open for KISS before Friday's show, DeCampo seems to be the most enthusiastic about the opportunity. DeCampo said he also organized the Baltimore KISS Expo in 2001 and 2002. The event attracted about 600 people in 2001. He keeps an extensive collection of KISS memorabilia, including signed postcards and a pinball machine, at a room in his Hampstead home. "In my opinion, this is legitimately the biggest band in the world," DeCampo said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Stiff competition Several unsigned bands are competing for the right to open for KISS when the legendary rock band performs at 6:30 Aug. 21 at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Va. The Guitar Center On Stage online KISS contest will help decide who opens for the band. P.U.S.H., a rock band with Carroll ties, is among the leaders in online vote getters. Here�s a look at the contenders to open for KISS: . P.U.S.H. Votes so far: Nearly 1,000 About the band: The rockers just released their self-titled debut CD and feature plenty of ties to Carroll. Guitarist Geo DeCampo is from Manchester. Alan �Space� Chapman (bass) is a North Carroll graduate. Lead singer Johnnie Black lives in Mount Airy.

Hey KISS, I just wanted to send you guys mail saying how much I admire you guys. I've been listening to your music for nearly four years now, and I'm just about to turn 15. I've been to one of your shows, at Bank Atlantic Center, last year, and it was better then I could have ever imagined. I can't wait to see a show this summer, my dad even said we'd get meet and greet passes, and many more after. I really admire you guys, its hard to believe you've been rocking since long before I was born, and your still awesome! I really appreciate all the music you've given us. Keep on rocking and best regards, Jackie