Hey guys!

I have been a huge KISS fan ever since I can remember. I was born in 1974, so I've followed you my whole life. I'm 36 now and my 4 year old son, Maddox, is following in his dad's footsteps. I've promised to take him to the next show here in Nashville, TN. I wanted to share this photo collage with you. The kid you see on the left is me in 1978. The kid on the right is Maddox a few weeks ago. Oh, and the red KISS t-shirt he has on... that was mine at age 4. Like father like Son.

Thanks guys! - Joe & Maddox

LETTERS

by: Matthew Wilkening
photo by Dean Snowden for KISSOnline

Even using only a portion of their typical stage setup, Kiss delivered a dazzling concert to a packed crowd at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H. last night.

The band is taking a break from recording their next studio album to play a relatively brief series of concerts in smaller towns, the kind of places they haven’t played in several years, in what they’re dubbing the “Lost Cities” tour.

Their full arsenal of ramps, lights and flying rigs won’t fit in these venues, so the band had to rely a bit more on their music to entertain the crowd. Accordingly, Paul Stanley and company chose an 18-song set list heavy on classic rockers from their ’70s heyday, which they performed in a faithful, muscular and energetic manner.

Many fans criticize Stanley and co-founder Gene Simmons for hiring Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer to wear the makeup made famous by original guitarist Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss while filling their roles in the band.

But, it was pretty clear from the 2000 farewell tour that the original lineup’s chemistry was no longer intact. The energy and precision the new guys bring to the table seems to have re-invigorated the old guard, especially Stanley, who’s added a bit more of a knowing wink to his delivery of wonderfully adolescent songs like ‘Love Gun.’

A couple of recently absent Kiss classics made their return to the show for this tour, with Simmons once again spitting up blood before the Godzilla-like crawl of ‘God of Thunder,’ and the band’s oft-hidden Beatles love shining through in the surprisingly melodic instrumental coda of ‘Do You Love Me?’

The show proved that the music is, jokes aside, the most important factor in Kiss’ nearly forty-year career. That said, when we say it was a stripped-down show, of course that’s a relative term. The band still soared above the crowd on big hydraulic lifts, and set off more fireworks than my hometown did on the 4th of July. At one point Singer even blew up part of the stage with a bazooka.

In short, even at a small town show, Kiss delivered big for their audience.

Check out the explosive ending to KISS' rockin' Manchester show in this fan-filmed clip of "Shout It Out Loud" and "Rock And Roll All Nite".

Here's KISS with the audience at the packed Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, NH last night.

_{Photo by Dean Snowden}

Here's fan-filmed clips of "Love Gun", "I Love It Loud" and "Beth" from the Manchester KISS show last night.

Thanks to Dale Kemp for sharing his wonderful KISS story with KISSOnline!

Where: Ft McMurray, AB, Canada
When: July 2, 2011
What: KISS

I have to share one of the Greatest Weekends of my Life!!

A few months ago, I heard KISS were planning a LOST CITIES TOUR. and it was stopping in Ft McMurray, AB much to my surprise! Thought this would be a great chance to ask my two boys (Alex 9 & Dylan 5) if they would like to go to a KISS show. They both said “sure”!

Next step, ask them if they would like to dress up! Dylan thought it would be great to go as Gene while Alex opted for no dress up whatsoever (at 9 apparently its “embarrassing” lol). It was all fine by me…go with the flow!

Then I saw the chance to take home Paul’s Smashed Guitar! I have been front and center hoping to take that guitar home from every KISS show I have been to including Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Auckland N.Z., and several shows in Australia. Add the chance to sit down with the Starchild one on one and it was the opportunity of a lifetime!

I debated the cost versus the experience I’d get – for about five minutes – then the Universe said “DO IT !!”

Hi KISS Army,

This quilt was made for me out of a history of KISS tshirts from concerts and club activities by a good friend named Angie. It was a front page article in my home town newspaper - The York News Times. It is a very unique item and I thought I would share it with all the KISS fans in the world.

Sincerely,
Dennis Michalski JR. York, NE

LETTERS

Here are some of the many great fan photos sent to KISSOnline recently!

Keep them coming, KISS Army...we love seeing them!

KISS opens Mountain Laurel Center Wednesday

By Josh McAuliffe (Staff Writer)

After a four-year hiatus, live music will return to the Mountain Laurel Pocono Mountains Performing Arts Center this week. And what better band to rechristen the place than the kings of rock music showmanship, the one and only KISS.

Wednesday night, Gene Simmons and his fellow face-painted icons will play the first show at the Bushkill amphitheater since 2007. From there, the venue will host comic Larry the Cable Guy, ZZ Top, the Beach Boys with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and the Monkees.

Those in attendance will be among the last fans to see KISS for some time, as the band is finishing up the final leg of a two-and-a-half-year world tour, one that made a stop at Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain last summer.

"When KISS comes to town, it's like the circus is coming to town. It's a must-see," said the band's lead guitarist, Tommy Thayer, during a recent phone interview. "It's something you have to see at least once in your life."

While the tour might be wrapping up, the band is as busy as ever these days. They're recording tracks for their next studio album, the first since 2009's "Sonic Boom," putting the final touches on the fourth volume of their DVD history, "Kissology," and gearing up for the first KISS Kruise, in which the band will spend a week sailing the Caribbean with their most devoted fans.

"We're going to turn the KISS Army into the KISS Navy. We're going to turn that cruise ship into a battleship," cracked Mr. Thayer, who joined the band in 2002, when original lead guitarist Ace Frehley departed for the second time.

Thanks to Fran Stewart for sending KISSOnline this picture of the KISS banner at Verizon Arena in Manchester! KISS will rock the New Hampshire KISS Army there tonight!

REMEMBER A GREAT FRIEND

Today would have been Eric Carr's 61st Birthday. Please take a moment and remember a great friend and an incredible drummer, who loved his fans as much as they loved him!

The Mountain Laurel Pocono Mountains Performing Arts Center will reopen this week with KISS.

Do not miss this awesome opportunity to see KISS rock out and light up the sky in the Pocono Mountains.

Come experience our Bikes, BBQ and Booths from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13 at our Rock n' Ride Rally before KISS takes the stage that evening.

Local vendors will be on hand, as well as carnival games for the kids. In addition, a number of contests will be ongoing throughout the day: Longest Tongue Contest, Best KISS Makeup, and Baddest Bike! The winner of each contest gets to meet KISS!

Thanks to our sponsors, we're extending one of our exclusive discount packages to our online fans! Get over 30% off on lawn tickets. Get your $39 lawn tickets at Ticketmaster and use promotion code "SPONSOR" Get your tickets before there gone!!

CLICK HERE to buy your KISS tickets now.

By David Newel

In the Photo: Members of iconic rock group Kiss, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer, Paul Stanley and Eric Singer (back) were the headliners at this past weekend’s Salmon Festival in Grand Falls-Windsor. More than 20,000 fans endured a driving rain that started just prior to the band’s two-hour show.

Rock icons Kiss, including founding members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, did not disappoint throngs of fans that converged on Grand Falls-Windsor for this year’s Salmon Festival concert Saturday night.

After opening acts Fefe Dobson, The Orchestra, Down With Webster and Smashmouth played under sunny skies, clouds moved in as if on cue, but the crowd’s enthusiasm shone through.

The headliners, known for their outlandish makeup and costumes and spectacular pyrotechnics, performed many of their hits, including “Shout It Out Loud,” “Detroit Rock City,” and “Beth”.

Grand Falls-Windsor Mayor Al Hawkins said the event was huge for the town.

“Grand Falls-Windsor is a concert centre,” he said. “We are pretty happy. When you look at the amount of money people will leave in the town, we are happy.”

Here's KISS with the record crowd in Grand Falls-Windsor last night.

_{Photo by Dean Snowden for KISSOnline}

Tweets just in about the show:

Amazing, outstanding, fantastic concert!! Well worth all the rain :D = Meghan Perry

Just screamed, sang, and rocked out to KISS at Salmon Fest - Tyler Gallant

KISS was amazing at the salmon fest! Well worth drowning! - Patrick Pynn

Just got home from Salmon Fest .. KISS was AMAZING!!!! - Danielle Goulding

KISS Just Rocked Salmonfest!!!! - Kayla Lundrigan

One word: amazing - Susan Fudge

KISS,

BayFest Rocks Again!!!! A tribute to Paul, and thanks to KISS for rockin' out BayFest once again! My six year old daughter Taylor was ready to go the day the BayFest tickets went on sale - she could hardly wait! Taylor proudly caught her first KISS concert at BayFest in 2009 and loved you guys from the first explosion and KISS anthem! This year she anxiously awaited her favorite tune FIREHOUSE once again this year - sporting a Paul Stanley-style hat! The smoke...the sirens...the whole nine yards..thanks a MILLION.....she awaits your return...

Taylor and Dad

LETTERS