Letters

Thank you for evry thing all the music all the movies everything my father and I have been a fan since I was 3 my father has since he was 13 I got him your ''The very best of KISS album for christmas I seen you for the first time ever live in Nashville TN it was my first concert ever thank you for reading this god bless.

Friday night, November 6, was marked on my calendar as, "The Dream Concert." My favorite band, KISS was headlining Chicago at The United Center. One of my other favorite bands, Buckcherry was opening. This would mark the 12th time I see KISS, and the 9th time I see Buckcherry! Those stats alone would give one the reason why it was my dream concert. I went to the show with my best friend, my brother, Todd. We both took half a day's vacation and left for Chicago from St. Louis around 11:00. We made it to the United Center at about 4:30 in the afternoon. With about three hours to spare, we decided to get something to eat and have a drink or two before the show. We found a bar called Crossroads on Madison Ave that had a sign that read, "97.9 The Loop welcomes KISS." We decided that looked like a good place, so we searched for a place to park, and backtracked our way to the bar. The radio station was giving away KISS tickets every 10 minutes, but being setup in 5th row, we were set. The DJ announced they were giving away backstage passes to the person with the most KISS items on them in the next 15 minutes. I scrambled up to where the radio station was set up, and asked if tattoos counted. "Absolutely," they told me. From there, I started displaying my 13 KISS tattoos, then my shirt, necklace, underwear, iphone background, and KISS Visa card, giving me 18 items. However, there was another crazed KISS fan in attendance, who had 22 items in his possession. I sat back down disappointed. Todd told me not to worry about it, cause I just me them a few months ago. I sat and sulked for a moment, and decided that I was worried about it! I told Todd I was going to run to the car and get more KISS merchandise. Despite Todd calling me crazy several times, I sprinted out of the bar and down the streets of Chicago. We parked a good five blocks away, but I sprinted the whole way, cutting through alleys, and j-walking when needed. I got to my car, and franticly searched for any KISS merchandise I could find. I grabbed my KISS jean jacket, a sweatshirt, a KISS shirt, a cd, a KISS cd wallet, and my camera, which I knew had two KISS guitar picks in the case, another pair of KISS underwear, my KISS messenger bag, and more. I ran back to the bar with my arms full of KISS gear, looking like a Chicago KISS looter. I made it back to the bar just in time, and won the contest with a total of 29 KISS items! I was beside myself. I just won the opportunity to meet my idols!! Todd and I scarfed down the rest of our dinner, and made our way to the United Center for the show. We arrived and received our backstage passes! We met KISS, had our picture taken with them, and got a few autographs. Not planning on meeting the band that night, I had to buy a poster at a merchandise stand in order to have something for the band to sign. It was a surreal experience. I kept waiting to wake up all night. It really was like a dream. We only caught Buckcherry's last song, due to the meet 'n' greet, and waited for KISS to take the stage. KISS took the stage at 9:00, and blew up the United Center for two straight hours, playing classics both old and new. They proved that KISS is timeless. They destroyed the audience, and reminded them what a concert is supposed to be like. It was mind blowing! It was my 12th KISS concert, and they were as good as they ever were. It's no wonder why they are the hottest band in the world!! Thank you KISS and thank you 97.9, the Loop, for turning my dream concert into a concert dream!!

Dear KISS: Thank you for the fantasticly rockin' concert on Nov. 7! My husband has been a fan since you started (he was about 5 or so and a member of his own family band). He had a hard life growing up, traveling every summer for the band, settling just long enough for the kids to attend school, then off on the road again. The positive side of that is that the 4 children all learned to play drums, bass, lead guitar, and backup guitar by ear. (His younger brother can drum ANYTHING perfectly right down to Metallica). My husband's dream was to attend a KISS concert. He had to wait 35 years... Our local radio station put on a contest which sparked the flame for my husband. We were like the teenagers in the movie wanting KISS tickets, driving to each registration location! It was nuts - exciting and frustrating all in one. We didn't win. However, my husband's childhood friend did but couldn't attend the concert. We have been hit hard by the recession and didn't have money for tickets, but my husband traded his beloved guitar for his friend's pair of ticket for the Minneapolis show. He didn't care how we were going to get there, he just knew he was going! He sold a few musical items to a local music shop and pawned his wedding ring so we could have gas money. We arranged for sitters for our four kids, gassed up our van, and left for Minneapolis on Saturday. We got there early (3:30 to be exact). I've been with my husband for 18 years and don't think I've EVER seen a sparkle in his eyes like there was that day. His dream was coming true. It didn't matter that we didn't have extra money for a dvd or the new Sonic Boom album or even for food. All that mattered was that my husband was at KISS. He didn't even take his eyes off the stage (before anything started mind you) so I could take our picture! We arrived back home (near Mason City, Iowa) about 2:30 on Sunday morning - I think he slept like a baby,and I'll bet my life that he dreamt KISS all night!! All he's talked about since then is how you rocked Minneapolis and he wished he would have been able to purchase DVD because he might not ever see you live again. I wish we could have been fortunate enough to have meet-and-great tickets so that you could have seen the child-at-Christmas in my 40 year old husband's eyes! You guys should be VERY proud of how far you've come...there will never be anyone like you. You've made your mark, and my husband got to witness it, so thank you, thank you, thank you! Sincerely, Heather Jones

Hi guys. I just wanted to thank you for bringing the best show Atlanta has had all year. It was even more special this time around because I was able to take my son this time. This was his first concert, and what a better first than KISS? It was also his 9th Birthday present. Which is cool because on my 9th birthday I saw KISS for the first time. "Love Gun Tour. 1977" Enclosed is a picture before we left for the show. Sonic Boom Rocks! Hope there will be more to come. Rock on! D.B.

Guys, please play this song monday in Winnipeg!!!

WHAT A SHOW ! KISS WAS AWESOME AND SHOWING NO SIGN OF SLOWING DOWN . THERE WERE FANS FROM ALL AGES FROM TEENS TO 60 'S. I MET ALOT OF FANS FROM ALL OVER AND IT WAS LIKE A FAMILY REUNION. KISS AND THE ARMY RULE. I AM PLANNING TO GO SEE THEM AGAIN IN COUNCIL BLUFFS 12/11. THANKS FOR A GREAT SHOW.

First, I would like to personally thank Doc for giving my little girl Taylor a Paul Stanley Alive 35 guitar pick. Doc approached her and asked her if this was her first Kiss show. My little girl, who is three, knows the classic Kiss intro but only said "All right Minneapolis" for Doc. My wife said he laughed. What a way to top off a special night! Thanks again Doc, your a great man and it's an honor knowing my family met you! Second, thank you Kiss! Last night was my tenth Kiss show and it was the best I have ever seen! To bill this show anything less than "The Greatest Show on Earth" would be a crime. You were perfect last night! Tight and loud! The best part though was seeing the reaction my little girl had watching you. So, thank you again for always being there. My girl has now been christened into the Kiss Army! I have said it before and I will say it again, the good lord sends us something special once in a lifetime and that something special is Kiss! Thanks again Kiss and Doc! We love you! Travis Bierwerth Minnesota Chapter of the Kiss Army

Hey guys! Congratulations for the Sonic Boom album, is very very loud! KISSes!

Dear KISS, I recently purchased your new book and I must say that it is nothing short of amazing. I've enjoyed reading the whole book along with viewing the classic photographs. I would just like to give credit on one of your pictures. The picture at the bottom of page 177, with the whole band holding their gold & platinum records, was taken in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on August 6th, 1979 on their Dynasty tour backstage at The Montreal Forum. New England was the opening act. It was my very first KISS concert. Todate, I've seen KISS 11 times in Montreal. Plus, I've witnessed them live twice in Toronto and once in Long Island, NY & at MSG in New York City, NY. KISS, thank you for including this picture in your book. Montreal Loves You! Gerry Pichirallo

Hi everyone! I am fan from Czechia who has moved in to Oslo, Norway few weeks ago and it was really nice for me to find couple of people who share my enthusiasm for the hottest band in the world! On the last of October, there was a KISS night in John Dee, club in Oslo. Thanks to Stig (in Starchild's make-up on the photo) for playing the whole Sonic Boom there, because it's simply fantastic. Rock'n'roll all night! Zdenek