Hi KISS,

I'm writing this for a friend (Donnie Coleman), who has absolutely devoted his entire life to KISS, and all that KISS stands for. In his house, he has a complete room (20'x20') that is a 'decorated shrine' to KISS. There are numerous trophies, posters, wallpaper, border, photos, memorabilia, and multiple pieces of 'one-of-a-kind' KISS items. It is truly a sight to behold. His collection of KISS items numbers in the hundreds. He has been to a number of your concerts, but has never had the pleasure of meeting any of you. It would be his biggest-life-thrill to do so.

Donnie has a 'highly modified' Ford F-150 pickup truck that he has maintained in Showroom Condition since he purchased it brand new in 1997. To date, he has spent over $75,000 in modifications to this truck, and has won countless automobile shows with it. I'm sending you a few photos of the truck to show you what I mean.

The photos do not do the truck justice. It is a flawless vehicle, and it's never been driven. It rolls on and off an enclosed trailer for the purpose of viewing at auto shows. He has taken the 'Best of Show' honors (and trophies) a number of times, and the truck continues to blow people away whenever they view it. The interior of the truck (as well as the exterior) is magnificent. Truly, a one-of-a-kind vehicle.

Kindest regards,

Ed Adams

LETTERS

Hi KISS,

Here's a fun one!

During the annual South Dakota Governor's Conference on Tourism awards banquet last Thursday night, Governor Mike Rounds (who is entering the last year of his administration) presented the "Top 10 Things I'll miss as a Former Governor." Number 2 was "My backstage access to the legends of rock and roll will probably be severely limited" and this picture of the Governor with KISS was shown on several big screens.

Chad Coppess
Senior Photographer
South Dakota Tourism & State Development

Here are some more photos of KISS at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. The band stopped by to promote the new KISS - Dr Pepper Super bowl commercial. The commercial will be aired in the 2nd quarter of the big game on February 7th. Over 100,000,000 viewers are expected to tune in for the game!

Photos by Steve Freeman

The KISS Cofeehouse has been chosen as the best coffeehouse on the Grand Strand. The "Grand Strand" is over a 60 mile stretch of coast line, from the North Carolina border, all the way down to Georgetown, SC. This was the inaugural "Best of the Grand Strand" contest featuring more than 500 of the Grand Strand's best local businesses, in over 65 categories, and was voted on by the local viewing area's viewers! In all, over 11,000 votes were cast by viewers!

Coffee with attitude didn't exist in the marketplace until the KISS Coffeehouse exploded onto the scene in Myrtle Beach, SC. KISS Coffeehouse is a stimulating environment to drink a stimulating beverage.

Hi KISS & the KISS Army!!

Check out this awesome KISS St. Gene stained glass window I found on Break.com.

Seems like everywhere I look there is a KISS reference....KISS really is everywhere!!

Best,
Jeff McManus

LETTERS

This KISS image is featured in a TV commercial for a European Political Party, CIU. The ad features a diverse group of images and basically says "This is the new face of the CIU (Federation Nationalist Convergence and Union.)"

View the ad.

Paul Stanley, Eric Singer, Tommy Thayer, and Gene Simmons of KISS ring the NYSE closing bell at New York Stock Exchange on January 25, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

CLICK here to view a gallery of KISS photos from their visit to the NYSE.

I'm a huge KISS fan since '79 (with "Dynasty" album)! After all these years of loyalty to KISS, I'm proud to announce the birth of my KISS broadcast - 'KISSIN' TIME' (started January 5, 2010). It is located in a small region of France (Bourgogne) and presented by myself on RADIO MORVAN 95.8.

The broadcast is live on RADIO MORVAN 95.8 (local radio) every Tuesday & Saturday from 8 to 9 PM. It is also transmitted on the net and with podcasts. The show has been a big success with so many KISS fans in France & worldwide.

We have the same passion here in France about KISS... we are united with the KISS Army around the world! We love it loud !

Laurent Lahierle

LETTERS

Today, January 25, legendary rock band KISS and "I'm a Pepper" ad icon David Naughton are teaming up with Dr Pepper Snapple Group CEO Larry Young to ring The Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange in celebration of the 125th Anniversary of Dr Pepper - America's oldest major soft drink.

Gene Simmons, a.k.a. "Dr Love" and star of the current "Trust Me, I'm a Doctor" ad campaign, will also be featured with all of his KISS band mates in an upcoming Super Bowl ad for Dr Pepper Cherry. Naughton, star of the classic Dr Pepper commercials and the 1981 film An American Werewolf in London, is ranked by AOL.com as one of the "Top 25 Ad Icons of All Time."

In addition to ringing the NYSE Closing Bell, Dr Pepper also has a special anniversary surprise planned that no one will want to miss.

Webcast:
A live webcast of The Opening Bell (beginning at 9:29 a.m.) and of The Closing Bell (beginning at 3:59 p.m.) will be available on the homepage of nyse.com.

The French star band "Les Enfoires" will release a cover of KISS' "I Was Made For Lovin' You" entitled "Si L'On S'Aimait, Si." The song will benefit the charity "Les Restos Du Coeur" ("Restaurants of the Heart"), which distributes food packages and hot meals to the needy.

"Les Enfoires" features almost 40 top French music stars, and their CD sales and TV audience is always one of the biggest in France each year.

Here's a commercial featuring a clip of the song.

Check out these great photos of the KISS Army. Please keep the photos and letters coming to KOL...the band really loves seeing them!

WOW...awesome KISS caricatures by Keith and Kevin Bolick. Some of their earlier artwork currently hangs on the walls of the KISS Coffehouse in Myrtle Beach, SC!

KISS!

We love "Family Jewels" and my 4 year old son still loves to put on the makeup, dress up and rock out to KISS dvds (copying Paul's stage moves). I still have glue on my kitchen floor from the three months it took my husband to make the Destroyer costume.

Thanks for the excitement!
Sincerely Lora and Noel Wentworth
Wentworth Music Education Centre.

LETTERS

Hello KISS Army !!!

You never know where you'll find KISS! I shot this photo at shopping station in Curitiba, Brazil. It's a sign for a fast food restaurant inside the station.

Rock on !!

Kate, Brazil

LETTERS

The Hughes Brothers talk KISS

The Hughes Brothers is the collective name for American twin brothers and film directors, producers and writers Albert and Allen Hughes. They are known for co-directing such visceral, and often violent, movies as Menace II Society, From Hell and, their latest - The Book of Eli.

When we were younger, growing up in Detroit, the inevitable yearly Halloween fight would take place: Who was going to be Gene Simmons, "the Demon" of the rock band KISS, that year? We would fight and fight until one of us folded or our mother would settle it by making both of us Gene Simmons. Great! Two half-breed Gene Simmons mutants walking down the block with pillowcases filled with candy. Yeah, Mom, thanks. That's really going to help with the confusion of being a twin.

I do recall that one year one of us folded and went out as Peter Criss' "Catman," black and white make-up running down our cheeks from the tears of disappointment, settling for the lesser known, less exciting member of KISS, who possessed none of Simmons' powers-bloody-mouthed, fire-breathing, serpent-sized, cunnilingus-dazzling tongue!