01/09/2010
I WANT TO ROCK AND ROLL ALL NITE!
Kiss News
01/09/2010
LOVE GUN CLIP FROM DALLAS
01/08/2010
KISS AT THE HARD ROCK
01/08/2010
PAUL ADDS TWO FLORIDA ART SHOWS
01/08/2010
BENEFIT SATURDAY FOR 'CRITTER'
Christopher "Critter" Smith keeps battling leukemia that won't go away
By William Croyle
Photo by Patrick Reddy
IN THE PHOTO - Critter Smith with a pair of drum sticks used by KISS drummer Eric Singer at a concert Smith attended in Milwaukee. Smith, who has leukemia, attended the concert as a guest of the band and had a backstage pass to meet and be photographed with the band.
Christopher "Critter" Smith and the leukemia that invaded his body two-and-a-half years ago are still battling each other.
Every time it seems the 12-year-old has beaten it, the disease or infections resulting from it recur.
"His spirits are usually up, but I think he's sick of being sick," said his mother, Carol Smith.
The disease is also taking a toll on the family financially.
Critter's story received some national attention last year after he stated in an interview with The Enquirer that he was a big fan of the rock group KISS. Word reached the band, prompting singer Paul Stanley and drummer Eric Singer to call Critter at the hospital and fly him to Milwaukee in June for one of their concerts.Christopher "Critter" Smith keeps battling leukemia that won't go away
By William Croyle
Photo by Patrick Reddy / The Enquirer
IN THE PHOTO - Critter Smith with a pair of drum sticks used by KISS drummer Eric Singer at a concert Smith attended in Milwaukee. Smith, who has leukemia, attended the concert as a guest of the band and had a backstage pass to meet and be photographed with the band.
Christopher "Critter" Smith and the leukemia that invaded his body two-and-a-half years ago are still battling each other.
Every time it seems the 12-year-old has beaten it, the disease or infections resulting from it recur.
"His spirits are usually up, but I think he's sick of being sick," said his mother, Carol Smith.
The disease is also taking a toll on the family financially.
Critter's story received some national attention last year after he stated in an interview with The Enquirer that he was a big fan of the rock group KISS. Word reached the band, prompting singer Paul Stanley and drummer Eric Singer to call Critter at the hospital and fly him to Milwaukee in June for one of their concerts.
To help them with mounting bills, a benefit will be held from 6-10 p.m. Saturday at the Newport Elks Lodge, 3704 Alexandria Pike in Cold Spring.
A $10 donation per person will include food, beverages and a live band. Several raffles will be held, and donations of items for the raffles are still being accepted.
"I'd like to raise $10,000," said Critter's aunt, Janet Smith Kalfrat of Bellevue, one of the organizers of the event. "I really don't know if that's possible, but whatever we raise will help."
Critter, a fifth grader at Fourth Street Elementary School, was diagnosed in July 2007 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells. In the six subsequent months, he underwent a round of radiation, five chemotherapy treatments and a bone marrow transplant. He returned to school and was in remission for 15 months until the cancer reappeared in January 2009.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center was as much his home in 2009 as his own home in Newport. He's avoided overnight stays at the hospital since mid-December, but has been too weak to return to school.
His low white blood cell counts have made him very susceptible to infections. Critter will undergo several tests this week to find out why the counts are so low. Once they increase, he will resume chemotherapy treatments.
Kalfrat said Critter may be at the fund-raiser.
"He wants to be there," Kalfrat said. "It will just depend on how he feels."
To donate raffle items, or for more information on the event, call 859-291-9120 or 859-240-5010. Donations can also be made at any Fifth Third Bank location to the Christopher Smith Benefit Fund.
By William Croyle
Photo by Patrick Reddy
IN THE PHOTO - Critter Smith with a pair of drum sticks used by KISS drummer Eric Singer at a concert Smith attended in Milwaukee. Smith, who has leukemia, attended the concert as a guest of the band and had a backstage pass to meet and be photographed with the band.
Christopher "Critter" Smith and the leukemia that invaded his body two-and-a-half years ago are still battling each other.
Every time it seems the 12-year-old has beaten it, the disease or infections resulting from it recur.
"His spirits are usually up, but I think he's sick of being sick," said his mother, Carol Smith.
The disease is also taking a toll on the family financially.
Critter's story received some national attention last year after he stated in an interview with The Enquirer that he was a big fan of the rock group KISS. Word reached the band, prompting singer Paul Stanley and drummer Eric Singer to call Critter at the hospital and fly him to Milwaukee in June for one of their concerts.Christopher "Critter" Smith keeps battling leukemia that won't go away
By William Croyle
Photo by Patrick Reddy / The Enquirer
IN THE PHOTO - Critter Smith with a pair of drum sticks used by KISS drummer Eric Singer at a concert Smith attended in Milwaukee. Smith, who has leukemia, attended the concert as a guest of the band and had a backstage pass to meet and be photographed with the band.
Christopher "Critter" Smith and the leukemia that invaded his body two-and-a-half years ago are still battling each other.
Every time it seems the 12-year-old has beaten it, the disease or infections resulting from it recur.
"His spirits are usually up, but I think he's sick of being sick," said his mother, Carol Smith.
The disease is also taking a toll on the family financially.
Critter's story received some national attention last year after he stated in an interview with The Enquirer that he was a big fan of the rock group KISS. Word reached the band, prompting singer Paul Stanley and drummer Eric Singer to call Critter at the hospital and fly him to Milwaukee in June for one of their concerts.
To help them with mounting bills, a benefit will be held from 6-10 p.m. Saturday at the Newport Elks Lodge, 3704 Alexandria Pike in Cold Spring.
A $10 donation per person will include food, beverages and a live band. Several raffles will be held, and donations of items for the raffles are still being accepted.
"I'd like to raise $10,000," said Critter's aunt, Janet Smith Kalfrat of Bellevue, one of the organizers of the event. "I really don't know if that's possible, but whatever we raise will help."
Critter, a fifth grader at Fourth Street Elementary School, was diagnosed in July 2007 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells. In the six subsequent months, he underwent a round of radiation, five chemotherapy treatments and a bone marrow transplant. He returned to school and was in remission for 15 months until the cancer reappeared in January 2009.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center was as much his home in 2009 as his own home in Newport. He's avoided overnight stays at the hospital since mid-December, but has been too weak to return to school.
His low white blood cell counts have made him very susceptible to infections. Critter will undergo several tests this week to find out why the counts are so low. Once they increase, he will resume chemotherapy treatments.
Kalfrat said Critter may be at the fund-raiser.
"He wants to be there," Kalfrat said. "It will just depend on how he feels."
To donate raffle items, or for more information on the event, call 859-291-9120 or 859-240-5010. Donations can also be made at any Fifth Third Bank location to the Christopher Smith Benefit Fund.
01/08/2010
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH KISS
01/08/2010
FATHER AND SON BOND WITH KISS
Hi Guys,
My 14-year-old son and I would love to tell you about the bonding of a father and son that took place on 12-13-09 in Pittsburgh. This story actually starts way back in 1975, when I was six. My uncle introduced me to the song "Firehouse" on Alive, and by the time the song ended I was hooked for the rest of my life. You see, my father was a well-respected firefighter and I emulated everything he did... so of course "Firehouse" fit together two things I've come to love!
Fast forward 21 years later. My AWESOME son was born. As soon as I held him, I knew that I wanted him to be a KISS fan too, but I wanted him to come into it on his own with a little bit of pushing him in the right direction.
Well, now the story gets sad. Atom has what's called a congenital heart defect which threatens his life. This July he had to have emergency open heart surgery. The doctor told me that he had a 20% chance to live due to complications during surgery. My world was falling apart!
When they put him in his hospital room, I made it a point to play KISS videos non-stop so he could hear his favorite band! Well, he made a turn-around and woke up 14 days later. I feel that KISS pulled him though! When he first opened his eyes, he said to me, "Dad, will you take me to see KISS?"Hi Guys,
My 14-year-old son and I would love to tell you about the bonding of a father and son that took place on 12-13-09 in Pittsburgh. This story actually starts way back in 1975, when I was six. My uncle introduced me to the song "Firehouse" on Alive, and by the time the song ended I was hooked for the rest of my life. You see, my father was a well-respected firefighter and I emulated everything he did... so of course "Firehouse" fit together two things I've come to love!
Fast forward 21 years later. My AWESOME son was born. As soon as I held him, I knew that I wanted him to be a KISS fan too, but I wanted him to come into it on his own with a little bit of pushing him in the right direction.
Well, now the story gets sad. Atom has what's called a congenital heart defect which threatens his life. This July he had to have emergency open heart surgery. The doctor told me that he had a 20% chance to live due to complications during surgery. My world was falling apart!
When they put him in his hospital room, I made it a point to play KISS videos non-stop so he could hear his favorite band! Well, he made a turn-around and woke up 14 days later. I feel that KISS pulled him though! When he first opened his eyes, he said to me, "Dad, will you take me to see KISS?" I made a promise that day that we would go see the hottest band in the land. He found that you were going to be in Pittsburgh on my 40th birthday and we got tickets.
We drove 197 miles in really bad weather, but the show was well worth the drive! We painted our faces and sang along with every song. And before you knew it, it was over! But, I felt that the night will last forever in our hearts and minds! And when Paul rapped that KISS was there for the parents and will be there for the kids too... I must admit I was moved to tears. That's the tone I wanted him to walk out of the arena with...and he did!
Thanks for being there for us! We will follow you to the ends of time!
Scott & Atom Hasson
LETTERS
My 14-year-old son and I would love to tell you about the bonding of a father and son that took place on 12-13-09 in Pittsburgh. This story actually starts way back in 1975, when I was six. My uncle introduced me to the song "Firehouse" on Alive, and by the time the song ended I was hooked for the rest of my life. You see, my father was a well-respected firefighter and I emulated everything he did... so of course "Firehouse" fit together two things I've come to love!
Fast forward 21 years later. My AWESOME son was born. As soon as I held him, I knew that I wanted him to be a KISS fan too, but I wanted him to come into it on his own with a little bit of pushing him in the right direction.
Well, now the story gets sad. Atom has what's called a congenital heart defect which threatens his life. This July he had to have emergency open heart surgery. The doctor told me that he had a 20% chance to live due to complications during surgery. My world was falling apart!
When they put him in his hospital room, I made it a point to play KISS videos non-stop so he could hear his favorite band! Well, he made a turn-around and woke up 14 days later. I feel that KISS pulled him though! When he first opened his eyes, he said to me, "Dad, will you take me to see KISS?"Hi Guys,
My 14-year-old son and I would love to tell you about the bonding of a father and son that took place on 12-13-09 in Pittsburgh. This story actually starts way back in 1975, when I was six. My uncle introduced me to the song "Firehouse" on Alive, and by the time the song ended I was hooked for the rest of my life. You see, my father was a well-respected firefighter and I emulated everything he did... so of course "Firehouse" fit together two things I've come to love!
Fast forward 21 years later. My AWESOME son was born. As soon as I held him, I knew that I wanted him to be a KISS fan too, but I wanted him to come into it on his own with a little bit of pushing him in the right direction.
Well, now the story gets sad. Atom has what's called a congenital heart defect which threatens his life. This July he had to have emergency open heart surgery. The doctor told me that he had a 20% chance to live due to complications during surgery. My world was falling apart!
When they put him in his hospital room, I made it a point to play KISS videos non-stop so he could hear his favorite band! Well, he made a turn-around and woke up 14 days later. I feel that KISS pulled him though! When he first opened his eyes, he said to me, "Dad, will you take me to see KISS?" I made a promise that day that we would go see the hottest band in the land. He found that you were going to be in Pittsburgh on my 40th birthday and we got tickets.
We drove 197 miles in really bad weather, but the show was well worth the drive! We painted our faces and sang along with every song. And before you knew it, it was over! But, I felt that the night will last forever in our hearts and minds! And when Paul rapped that KISS was there for the parents and will be there for the kids too... I must admit I was moved to tears. That's the tone I wanted him to walk out of the arena with...and he did!
Thanks for being there for us! We will follow you to the ends of time!
Scott & Atom Hasson
LETTERS
01/08/2010
TOMMY TO PLAY IN BOB HOPE CLASSIC
01/07/2010
BRUCE KULICK AT THE KISS COFFEEHOUSE
01/07/2010
KISS KIDS, YOU ROCK!!!
