Rock �n roll history in Cadillac
Behind the scenes of 1975 � how the KISS concert really happened
BY MARDI SUHS / CADILLAC NEWS
CADILLAC � Rock n� roll history was made in 1975 when KISS, a heavy metal band, drove to a small town in northern Michigan to join their Home-coming celebrations. Seven semis preceded them, filled with everything needed for a full on, hard driving KISS concert.
�This is one of the great stories in rock n� roll history,� stated Jim Neff, a former teach-er and coach at Cadillac High School. �This story has been told countless times, on VH1, MTV, ESPN and in publications across the world.� And now, Hollywood is making the event into a movie.
This year, the KISS Cadillac Homecoming 40th Anniversary Celebration, Oct. 9-10, will re create the major events that happened in 1975.
Let�s look back at how it all came about.
In 1975, the fallout from the anti-establishment sentiments of the 1960s were impacting the culture. Music was changing. The British invasion was over and heavy metal was emerging.
The New York City band KISS had their first concert in 1973. According to author Ken Sharp, they were about to change rock n� roll forever with their �thunderous sound� and outrageous appearance.
