KISS FANS PUT SAULT IN RUNNING

by Frank Dobrovnik

Cdr. Paul Berlingieri of Kiss Army headquarters, Sault Ste. Marie division, was 'ecstatic' when his favourite rockers announced they would conduct their upcoming summer and fall tour based on the whims of their fans.

'I figured there must be a way to get people to vote,' said Berlingieri, who in real life is a 33-year-old elementary school teacher.

In what is believed to be the first-ever 'fan-directed tour,' Kiss is literally asking their fans to tell them where to go, 'whether they have to play a big city like Detroit or a corn field in Iowa,' he said.

That was two weeks ago. Berlingieri's ecstasy turned to something else in the following days as he logged on to kissonline.com and, despite his most diligent voting efforts, watched Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., linger around the bottom end of the top 200 cities. All that changed this week. He and a friend contacted Trevor Zachary, marketing and events manager for the Essar Centre, who spread the word.

By mid-Monday, the Sault was closer to the top 100; by Tuesday morning, it had cracked the Top 10. An apparent frenzy of voting leapfrogged it to No. 3 by 3:30 p. m.

The Sault is surrounded mostly by much larger centres, most Canadian.

Winnipeg has topped the list from the beginning, followed Tuesday by Oshawa, Kingston. After the Sault, Calgary, Toronto, Dallas, Peterborough, Ottawa and Edmonton round out the list.

Votes are weighted on a per-capita basis, so Belingieri is confident the Sault is on the map for a typical 20-to 25-city tour.

But even he couldn't have predicted 'we'd get up there that fast. I guess I didn't realize how many closet fans there are out there.'

Though the city boasts a 'strong nucleus' of fans it's not a hotbed of Kiss Army members, he said. Rather, he thinks the typical resident is attracted to the idea of seeing the spectacle that Kiss has become known for in its 35-year career.

'I think Kiss has been around so long that everybody knows about them and their fantastic stage show. It's a show you have to see at least once in your life.'

KOL FAN LETTER

Hi Eric & KISS,

My name is Alan Armada and this is my photo with you at The Roxy disco after the show in Buenos Aires. You signed my arm and I tattooed your autograph!

We are waiting for you and the guys to come back again!!!

Thanks, Alan

LETTERS click here

KOL FAN LETTER

Hi KISS & the KISS ARMY,

I would like to show everybody my tattoo of Tommy`s autograph.I met him during the afterparty in Buenos Aires on April 5th.

Thanks Tommy and KISS for such a wonderful show !!!

Alejandro Rizzotti. Cordoba, Argentina

LETTERS click here

KISS POSTER IN METAL MAGAZINE

Here's a cool KISS poster that was printed in the last issue of the Venezuelan Metal Magazine 'MATTEY.'

REVENGE TOUR KICK-OFF

This day in KISSTORY April 23rd, 1992

KISS kicks off the Revenge Club Tour in San Francisco. This is Eric Singer's first tour with KISS.

Set List: Love Gun / Deuce / Heaven's On Fire / Parasite / Shout It Out Loud / Strutter / Calling Dr. Love / I Was Made For Lovin' You / Unholy / 100,000 Years / Take It Off / God Of Thunder / Firehouse / Tears Are Falling / I Love It Loud / I Stole Your Love / Cold Gin / Detroit Rock City / I Want You / God Gave Rock And Roll To You II / Rock And Roll All Nite

THANK YOU, TOMMY THAYER

Hi Tommy!,

We wanted to thank Tommy so much for taking this picture with us. Traveling from Los Angeles to Buenos Aires was worth every minute just to see KISS up close. The show was absolutely amazing - you guys never disappoint the fans. This was a dream come true. KISS was,is and will always be the BEST band in the world!!!

Hugs and KISSes, KISS ARMY VIXENS

LETTERS click here

KISS ARMY MEMBERS-ONLY TICKET PRESALE

A KISS ARMY Members-Only ticket presale for the Ottawa, Canada KISS show begins today at 12PM (EST).

Presale starts: Wednesday, April 22 @ 12PM (EST) Presale ends: Friday, April 24 @ 11:59 PM (EST)

While supplies last, KISS ARMY Members will have access to MEMBERS-Only tickets for the following KISS Concert date:

KISS at 2009 Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest Ottawa, Canada July 15, 2009

Meet & Greet upgrade packages will also be available starting @ 12PM (EST)

If you are a Premium KISS ARMY Member: LOGIN NOW.

If your membership to the KISS ARMY has expired: RENEW NOW. If you are not a premium member of the KISS ARMY and would like to participate in the presale: JOIN NOW.

CALL TO ARMS FOR KISS ARMY

This article ran on the front page of yesterday's Peterborough Examiner

DEMAND KISS: Peterborough now running seventh in rock band's online poll to pick 40 cities for tour

Posted By SARAH DEETH , EXAMINER STAFF WRITER

Darryl Andrews is calling on members of the KISS Army to unite, lead the charge and vote for Peterborough in an online contest that could bring the rock band to the city.

The KISS Army is the name of the group's fan club and a general term describing KISS fans.

Andrews, the 38-year-old co-owner of Hair's the Thing on Dublin Street, has loved KISS for most of his life, describing the band as the perfect blend of rock stars and super heroes.

'KISS has been part of my life since I was six years old,' he said.

Andrews has seen KISS in concert 24 times, attended fan conventions and watched the band through its different phases.

Now he's watching the band's resurgence of popularity, he said.

But he's always had to travel to other cities to see them, and the contest creates the possibility of taking his two daughters to the show.

'And here's a chance to have them come play in your neck of the woods,' he said.

'When you see a KISS show, it's a whole other experience,' he said. 'They're larger than life.'

When he heard about the contest he immediately linked to the voting web-site from his Facebook account, Andrews said.

That's gotten his friends and family voting, he said, but he wants to see a strong effort from everyone.

Even those who don't like KISS should vote, he said, because the band's fame will shed positive light on concert venues such as the Memorial Centre.

'We need to get more acts in there. We need to get more bands,' he said.

A KISS concert would also bring additional money and fun into the city, he said.

And if Peterborough wins, Andrews promises his hair salon will step up and help fans prepare for the show.

'We'll be having a big hair thing if KISS comes to town,' Andrew said.

KISS CARD NAMED 'CARD OF THE DAY'

The Sports Card Info web site, a popular site dedicated to trading cards, named the Gene costume KISS IKONS card as their 'Card of the Day!'

KISS AT CISCO OTTAWA BLUESFEST

KISS will rock the stage at this year s Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest on Wednesday, July 15.

Tickets go on sale to the general public Saturday April 25, 2009 at 10 a.m. As a KISS Army fan club member, you have access to an incredible pre-sale offer starting at noon on Wednesday April 22nd, 2009. You can buy a day ticket for the 15th, a Gold Circle reserved seat or a 12-day full festival passport before anyone else.

For more info on the Festival visit http://www.ottawabluesfest.ca/ .

Stay tuned to KOL for additional presale details tonight.

PAUL STANLEY INSTANT WINNER IKONS CARD

Thanks to Ken Kozyra for sending us this image of the Paul Stanley Instant Winner IKONS Trading Card!

Ken just won himself a Paul autographed 8 x 10!

CLICK HERE to visit the KISS Trading Cards Website.

RALLY FOR KIDS WITH CANCER

The Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup is an exclusive car rally designed to raise much needed funds for Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and PADRES Contra El Cáncer. The money raised will be going towards cancer research, care, and treatment, in the hopes of one day ending children's cancer.

Gene is participating in this event, which will be taking place in Los Angeles on May 1st and 2nd, and will also be launched across North America throughout the year.

To learn more about this wonderful charity and this particular event, please visit:

RALLYFORKIDS.COM

If you would like to sponsor Gene and support his participation in this cause, please visit:

GENE SIMMONS DONATION PAGE

KISS DAZZLED CARACAS

By: Diego Soteldo/El-nacional.com Translated for KISSONLINE by Jill Cataldo Photo: Santiago Nuñez/Luis Eduardo G.

KISS dazzled Caracas with its impressive, hallucinogenic rock show!

The band offered a full two-hour concert with lights, fire and explosions, in which fans listened to classics like Rock and Roll All Nite, Lick It Up and I Was Made For Lovin' You.

In Thursday's press conference, Gene Simmons said: 'This show will be an incredible spectacle that has never been seen here before.' This was what the people thought when they attended yesterday's KISS concert in the Rinconada.

Gene Simmons (bass and voice) Paul...

KOL FAN LETTER

Hi KISS,

After 32 years of waiting I finally heard 'Alright Caracas, You Want the best.... and almost crying I couldn't believe what I was experiencing. I always wanted to be in the first row at a KISS concert and on Friday 17th my dream came alive!!!

That was a magical night for my wife Matilde and I who didn't stop singing during 2 and a half hours.

Thanks to all the KISS Army of Venezuela. Thanks to Dean Snowden and Danny from the KISS family too.

We love you and hope to see you soon!!!!!!!!

Juan Carlos

LETTERS click here

KOL FAN LETTER

KISS!

Wanted to send you this photo from front page of 'The Detroit News' (www.detnews.com) photo gallery of the last Red Wings game.....enjoy!

KISS / Red Wings fans (left to right) Mike Miller of Westland, Allie Cichon of Livonia, James Wimp of Milford and Josh Bennett of Westland dressed up as the members of KISS, whose song 'Detroit Rock City' is played before games at Joe Louis Arena. Photographer: John T. Greilick/The Detroit News

RJ Overmyer Ann Arbor, MI

LETTERS click here