Kiss News

Dalson Chen, The Windsor Star

Windsor teen Shawn Kinghorn may have been too injured to see Kiss blow away Sarnia's Bayfest, but that didn't stop his rock superheroes from acknowledging their fallen fan.

On Friday, representatives of Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital presented Kinghorn with a KISS-approved compensation package: four Kiss T-shirts, a hooded Kiss sweater and an official Kiss program autographed by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer.

"It makes me feel special," said Kinghorn, 13. "Because they don't usually do this for, like, anybody."

Dalson Chen, The Windsor Star

Windsor teen Shawn Kinghorn may have been too injured to see Kiss blow away Sarnia's Bayfest, but that didn't stop his rock superheroes from acknowledging their fallen fan.

On Friday, representatives of Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital presented Kinghorn with a KISS-approved compensation package: four Kiss T-shirts, a hooded Kiss sweater and an official Kiss program autographed by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer.

"It makes me feel special," said Kinghorn, 13. "Because they don't usually do this for, like, anybody."

More than a month ago, Kinghorn had his heart set on seeing Kiss in Sarnia. His father had the tickets, his friends were stoked.

But on July 1, while riding his new bike on Drouillard Road, Kinghorn became involved in an accident with an automobile. According to Kinghorn, the vehicle went through a stop sign, ran him over and dragged him 15 feet.

Kinghorn's injuries -- which included third-degree burns on his left leg and lacerated internal organs -- would keep him in hospital for 22 days. He would not join the estimated 20,000 fans who attended Kiss's blistering outdoor performance at Bayfest.

Suzie Sulaiman, a social worker at the hospital, took pity on Kinghorn's situation. "I'm not a Kiss person," confessed Sulaiman. "He was in the intensive care unit. We don't often have pediatrics kids anymore in our ICU.... He came to us because he was in trauma."

Asked why she decided to step in, Sulaiman replied: "Well, when you're 13, going to see a Kiss concert is a pretty big deal."

On Sulaiman's initiative, Hotel-Dieu contacted Caesars Windsor and asked them to arrange something with Kiss when the band played The Colosseum.

Now recovering from his injuries and the proud owner of new Kiss merchandise, Kinghorn is hoping the band makes good on its promise to return to Southwestern Ontario in October.

Brad Kinghorn, Shawn's dad, added: "No tickets have been on sale yet, or anything like that, but as soon as I get any word of 'em, he'll definitely be going. I'll keep him indoors until then."

Brad -- a diehard Kiss fan who has seen them live at least 30 times --said he got his son into Kiss early. "We got a picture of him from when he was, like, five, dressed up as Ace Frehley for Halloween.... I can look up the picture for you."

By Kristi Singer - For The Sun News

The KISS Coffeehouse in Myrtle Beach celebrated its third anniversary Saturday. The "all day and night rock 'n' roll party" featured an appearance by KISS drummer the Catman Eric Singer in honor of the coffeehouse's continued success.

"You would've thought the band designed [the KISS Coffeehouse] - that's how good he did it," Singer said during a phone interview in talking about creator and owner Brian Galvin. "Some people understand the KISS mentality and how the band wants to be presented, and this guy was the original one who came up with the concept and had it built. And he did a super job."By Kristi Singer - For The Sun News

The KISS Coffeehouse in Myrtle Beach celebrated its third anniversary Saturday. The "all day and night rock 'n' roll party" featured an appearance by KISS drummer the Catman Eric Singer in honor of the coffeehouse's continued success.

"You would've thought the band designed [the KISS Coffeehouse] - that's how good he did it," Singer said during a phone interview in talking about creator and owner Brian Galvin. "Some people understand the KISS mentality and how the band wants to be presented, and this guy was the original one who came up with the concept and had it built. And he did a super job."

As for the coffee, the drummer attests that it's tried and true.

"I am a big coffee drinker, and I will say that the KISS coffee is very good," Singer said. "I've had it before and I'm looking forward to restocking up on my KISS coffee supply."

This is an exciting time for KISS and KISS fans as the band recently finished recording a new album, which will be its first new record of all-new material since 1998. The yet-to-be-titled album will feature 11 tracks and is scheduled to release Oct. 6.

"It's been 11 years since a full new KISS album of original material came out," Singer said. "This was totally a band effort. I'm excited because I'm pleasantly surprised that the whole process of making this record really was really easy and enjoyable and fun and the way you hope to make a record. Everyone was very low-pressure and low-key, and we took our time to make sure we got the performances that we wanted. Because we did it really organically. We didn't do it where we put it in a computer - we played in a room as a band, and when you do it that way you have to take your time and be well-rehearsed and take your time."

In addition to a new album, fans can anticipate an upcoming U.S. tour, new costume and new stage show.

But no matter how busy the band is, Singer is always happy to meet his fans.

"The KISS fans are unlike any other fans in the world," he said. "I've played around with bands in my career, and there are no fans like KISS fans."

By Karen Fader McBride

For 11 years now, Sarnia Ontario has played host to an ever-growing music festival known as Rogers Bayfest. Split over two weekends, they celebrated last year as their 10th anniversary by shaking up the city with hit acts like Bon Jovi and Motley Crue. With two legendary bands headlining last year, the biggest question for the current 11th year ended up being how on earth the Bayfest organizers would top such a show. The answer to that question... KISS!

Being able to cover this year's event was something special to me as I grew up in Sarnia. Bayfest began long after I moved away, yet none of my return trips ever coincided with the festival. Finally my timing was spot-on and I managed to take in the most incredible show of my life to date.

By Karen Fader McBride

For 11 years now, Sarnia Ontario has played host to an ever-growing music festival known as Rogers Bayfest. Split over two weekends, they celebrated last year as their 10th anniversary by shaking up the city with hit acts like Bon Jovi and Motley Crue. With two legendary bands headlining last year, the biggest question for the current 11th year ended up being how on earth the Bayfest organizers would top such a show. The answer to that question... KISS!

Being able to cover this year's event was something special to me as I grew up in Sarnia. Bayfest began long after I moved away, yet none of my return trips ever coincided with the festival. Finally my timing was spot-on and I managed to take in the most incredible show of my life to date.

This was definitely one for the history books as far as the small city of Sarnia is concerned. Fans of KISS, known as the KISS Army, invaded the town early in the day, even though gates would not open until 6pm. As I made my way to the show grounds I spied more and more fans dressed up as KISS members and some of them were very creative costume wise. It is amazing what one can do with old hockey gear and a few boxes of tinfoil. Once inside the backstage area, I immediately spotted actual members of the band KISS as they walked around socializing with crew and media folk. Tommy Thayer and Paul Stanley were nearby signing some KISS memorabilia for fans as Gene Simmons chatted with some locals.

It was a good half hour before a large black curtain emblazed with the name KISS dropped from the top of the stage to hide the last of preparations. The crowd was indeed anxious but finally the curtain fell and standing before the crowd were the three guitarists of KISS; Gene, Tommy and Paul riding what looked to be a spaceship down from the top of the stage, jets of smoke billowed from beneath the machine as it finally landed center stage. The three of them hopped off and ripped into the first track of the evening, Deuce. Fans were screaming and camera flashes were so constant it was as if there was a steady strobe-light coming from the massive crowd. Paul Stanley addressed the audience; "How you doing people, did you come tonight to get some rock and roll? Well you came to the right place!" The response was expectedly deafening as the band tore into their song, Strutter. Concussion and pyrotechnic effects were fired off throughout the 2 hour long set, confetti cannons fired during Rock and Roll All Nite with such force and consistency that it seemed to snow throughout the park during the bands show. Fireworks were set off atop the stage, reaching far into the sky, lighting up not only Bayfest but many city blocks as well.

Guitarist Tommy put on some amazing solos, of which one had his guitar firing off pyrotechnic like a screaming dragon. At one point Gene rose above the stage to the top of the light; not long afterwards Paul rode a zip-line out to the soundboard stage, flying over and above the crowd. He played there for most of Love Gun, giving those fans further back in the crowd a show all their own before making his way back to the stage. On drums Eric Singer ran through a barrage of solos for the huge crowd; as only The Cat can. Gene took a moment to show everyone he can breathe fire as well, holding up a torch and spewing a steady stream of flame metres into the air. Paul, aka Starchild, addressed the crowd at one point telling everyone that "Big cities could learn a lesson from Sarnia". A good point considering the population of Sarnia is under 100 000.

The show never wound down, it was hyped and crazy until the last song, Detroit Rock City, and then the crowd roared for a good ten minutes; so caught up in the energy of the show they were still singing KISS songs. Slowly the masses filed out of the park, although it would take a good hour or more to get out of the parking area alone.