Winchester man has assembled an 896-piece collection of rock band

By Monty Tayloe / The Winchester Star
Photo by Scott Mason/The Winchester Star

His grandparents say that when 4-year-old Benji Knee came to live with them in 1976, the obsession had already begun.

Born with Down syndrome, he brought his favorite toys to make the move easier: Four long-haired dolls - one each for Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley, and Gene Simmons - the original lineup of the face-painted hard-rock band KISS.

"They're the hottest band in the world," Benji said 34 years later, standing in front of a dresser stuffed with KISS T-shirts.

His dolls are now just a small part of a 896-piece KISS collection that has taken over his grandparents' basement, his bedroom, and now even the family living room.

"This is his whole life," said Benji's grandfather (and retired city treasurer) Walter "Skeeter" Knee, 75, standing in the basement Benji calls his office.

We've now passed the 1 million fans mark on Facebook! The Army, the tribe, the family continues to grow at a pace that staggers even us. Anyone who has seen us on one of the last two tours knows we've taken KISS to a whole new level. You deserve it. We deserve it. It's only getting better. We're only getting stronger. We're only getting started.

Thanks a million!

You Wanted The Best, You GOT the Best!

Paul, Tommy, Eric and Gene

OFFICIAL KISS FACEBOOK PAGE

Check out these these KISS tattoos from KISS' Cincinnati fan meet and greet!

Here's KISS in front of a packed Riverbend Music Center last night in Cincinnati!

Photo by Dean Snowden for KISSonline.

KISS kicks off tour to help wounded warriors

By ELOISE OGDEN

When fair-goers packed the new grandstand for the KISS concert last Saturday night at the North Dakota State Fair, they also were helping military members returning from war who have been wounded.

Minot was the second stop for the rock group's 32-city North American "The Hottest Show on Earth" tour.

Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyo., was the first stop, the night before Minot, where KISS kicked off donating $1 from every concert ticket sold to go to Central Savannah River Area Wounded Warrior Care Project in Augusta, Ga. The tour ends in Fontana, Calif., Sept. 25.

The KISS concert in Cheyenne had a total attendance of 16,715 people and $15,884 will go to the Wounded Warrior Care Project, Cheyenne Frontier Days officials said.

Laurie Ott, of Augusta, executive director of the CRSA Wounded Warrior Care Project, hearing the number of tickets sold at the State Fair's KISS show, said, "That's just incredible." KISS also reportedly played to record-breaking crowds in Cheyenne.

Maria Menounos' Rockin' KISS Makeover

It's all smiles when KISS rock stars Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley make their way onto the set of Access Hollywood for an interview with Maria Menounos in Burbank, Calif., on July 19, 2010

Check out the KISS Army at KISS' Pittsbugh-area show last night!

Here are some more great shots of fans from last night's show in the Pittsburgh area!

KISS IS EVERYWHERE!

KISS was featured Tuesday, July 27, 2010 in the "La Nacion" newspaper in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The article was about KISS' current tour, and includes a picture from the KISS show in Buenos Aires, April 5, 2009.

Thanks to Marcelo Garcia for sending the image to KISSOnline.

Here's a tweet from Lady Gaga yesterday:

I push harder, dance longer, bleed stronger. I don't want the greatest KISS tribute band of all time, I want the real band. I want KISS.

Paul responded from the KISS Twitter - KISSOfficial:

Lady Gaga - You Wanted The Best, You Got the Best. We're out on our Hottest Show On Earth Tour. Pick your city and join us. Paul

KISS!

The Dream,..Take my 5 kids to experience Dad's fav band, from a front row experience. age 6-15. We rushed home, edited a nice sampler of the show from a kids pov, so it would be on kiss facebook.. PLEASE POST IT! We were hoping to inspire more families to take the kids!

Thanks again,
Gary Atencio

LETTERS

Introducing the new line of RTC officially licensed KISS HDTV LED televisions. Featuring the legendary logos of KISS, the KISS LED TV is one of the finest LED televisions on the market.

These televisions will make the ultimate statement in your home, bar, restaurant or wherever the KISS HD LED televisions find their homes.

This first limited edition KISS LED Television is available in three sizes: 32", 40" and 46". This collector's edition KISS LED TV is limited to 15,000 pieces worldwide and features a diamond plated look to the casing with the KISS logos embossed on each side. The live image of KISS appears on the screen for eight seconds when the TV is powered on and includes a collector's edition packaging.

The KISS LED Televisions offer razor sharp clarity with 1080Pfull high definition resolution and a 120HZ refresh rate delivering sharp, blur free images. The dynamic 3,000,000:1 contrast ratio presents deeper blacks and brighter whites with colors that stand out brilliantly adding to the rich detail and deep contrast on this HDTV.

http://kisshdtv.com/

KISS!

My wife gave me this Gene Simmons cake for my 40th birthday!

Thanks,
Balazs

LETTERS

Stop by Hottest Show on Earth Tour sponsor Dr Pepper's website to visit their interactive KISS Tour map, and to KISS Yourself!

Explore the Dr Pepper map and find out when KISS will be in town near you!

DR PEPPER KISS MAP

Transform your photos with Dr Pepper Cherry!

Think you have looks smooth enough to rock out with KISS? Here is your chance to see if you can pull off the look. To KISS Yourself and experience the Amazingly Smooth taste of Dr Pepper Cherry, just select a photo with a clean shot of your face. Read to take the stage?

KISS YOURSELF

A few weeks ago we went to the Indianapolis Children's museum to check out the 'Rock Stars, Cars & Guitars theme going on there... very cool! They have the reunion costumes and mannequins, KISS Prowler and a few KISS guitars.

Anyway, we saw a great HUGE billboard advertising the exhibit... I was able to get a good shot of it!

Rick Reese

LETTERS