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.

Dear KISS,

On Tuesday night, my 7-year-old son and I traveled 4 1/2 hours from Sacramento to see KISS in Paso Robles. I was about my son's age when the "Love Gun" tour came to San Francisco, but my parents wouldn't let me go. My son is a huge KISS fan and I didn't want to deny him this opportunity. We really had a blast in Paso Robles, cheering and singing along to our favorite KISS songs and just having a blast. I will always cherish this show and I'm sure my son will, too. Thanks KISS for rocking hard and creating great memories for the parents and kids out there. Rock on!

Thanks for a great father-son adventure!

Chris and Diego

LETTERS click here

The editor of Guitar Player Magazine wrote the following on the publication's Facebook page:

"Heard 5 songs. If you dig KISS, you're gonna dig this new album. Paul sings his ass off. Eric plays some amazingly powerful drums. Gene was finally made to play all of his bass parts (apparently, in the past, if someone had a cool bass idea, he let them play it), and he DOES have a pretty driving sound. Finally, Paul and Tommy's guitars sound HUGE -- with some fab riffs and '70s-style solos."

Report & Photo by Bret Moiseff for KISSONLINE.

KISS rocked Paso Robles, California Tuesday night, blowing the place up just as Paul had promised. Kids and parents alike were in KISS make-up, and the enthusiastic crowd seemed to love the show from start to finish. Starting with Deuce, and working their way through the Alive 35 setlist, the band switched gears to finish with some other classics, including Love Gun and Detroit Rock City. Paul spoke about the new album and tour coming this fall! KISS ended the concert with a full fireworks spectacular. After the show, the merchandise booths were packed with fans, some of whom traveled from around the world for this one-off California show!

Thank you for a splendid performance at the Mid-State Fair. We all enjoyed the show but these kids were absolutely thrilled!

Best,
Gabriela

LETTERS click here

Hi KISS!

I want to share with you this picture. It is from my daughter, Andrea's third birthday party! We all had our faces painted and enjoyed some of your music. My 3 year old became a fan since last April when you came to perform in Peru and I played some DVDs before going to the concert.

I went so see you with my wife and my brothers and it was AWESOME! Little Andrea didn't have the chance to see you on stage and keeps asking when will she be able to see play. She asks me to play "I Was Made For Lovin' You","Sure Know Something","Shout it Out Loud", and "Deuce", this last one is not only a sing along but a dance along! We all dance together as you do on stage.

I hope that you can come back soon, so I can take Andrea this time!

Best,
Jose Silva - Kima, Peru

LETTERS click here

The 2009 Cincinnati KISS FAN Expo will be held Sunday, September 13h from 11:00PM to 8:00PM Holiday Inn Eastgate 4501 Eastgate Blvd. Cincinnati Oh. 45245.

Special guest is Bruce Kulick! Bruce will do a Q/A and be available for photos and autographs throughout the day.

Children 12 and under get in free! KISS merchandise and collectibles will be on sale throughout the day. There will be giveaways and contests too.

KISSONLINE will be attending the Expo.

CLICK here for more info.

Hi KISS!

We just saw KISS rock the capital here in Ottawa, Canada and it was an amazing show!! That night my 2 1/2 year old son Cooper became a Jr. KISS ARMY member and wanted to send his thanks for such a great show with this pic! He has memorized all the band member names and can sing a few lines of 'Lick it up' already. I think its time to burn down the disney room and make it a KISS room!!Thanks again guys and ROCK ON!!!

Neville Black

LETTERS click here

Here's the Radio advertisement for the KISS Coffeehouse's 3rd Anniversary party with Eric Singer on August 1st, 2009!

Looks like Gene is a Motor Bike Cross Racer too!

This picture was taken last weekend in Lichtenvoorde, Holland at a festival with over 130,000 visitors. It's a Music, Motor Bike Cross Racing and Circus festival in the middle of nowhere... but KISS is there!!

Thanks to Erwin Frazer for the picture!

KISS will perform Tuesday night at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles.

KISS, one of the most influential rock bands of all time, will be performing in the Main Grandstand Arena at 7:30 p.m.

You can buy tickets at the California Mid-State Fair box office, online at www.midstatefair.com, any Vallitix outlet, or charge by phone at 1-800-909-FAIR. In addition, a special phone number has been added to better serve ticket buyers: 866-872-2007.

Here are a few more photos of the KISS Army rockin' out at KISS' Quebec show last week.

Photos by Spiro Papadatos for KISSONLINE.

Hi KISS & THE KISS ARMY!

Check out this KISS Canada poster I made featuring the photos I took last week. This is my way of thanking KISS for coming to Canada.

I have been a fan since day one.

I have been in the concert photography business for 25 years (shooting over 2500 concerts). It all started for me because of KISS.

The shows at Rama were my first opportunity to shoot the band.

All the best,

Terry Wilson

COFFEEHOUSE'S 3RD ANNIVERSARY

Alright Myrtle Beach! You Wanted the Best, You Got the Best! The KISS Coffeehouse 3rd Anniversary Party will be an all day and night rock & roll party featuring very special guest, KISS drummer Eric Singer. With the new KISS album being released in the fall, this will be a great opportunity to meet with Eric and ask him questions about the new record, his song and the tour.

Fans purchasing the Double Platinum package will also receive a message from Eric (his Audiograph!), recorded especially for you while you meet with him. This message will be downloaded onto the KISS Coffeehouse recordable keychain and will become the ultimate collectible! Eric's personal Audiograph will also be saved digitally and will be emailed to each fan within one week of the event.

All photos taken with Eric will also be available for download within a week of the event on Flickr. We'll email everyone the link when the photos are up!

KISSONLINE will be onsite and a KISS Tribute band will keep things rolling through the nite!

We hope to see you all on August 1st!

Tickets are on sale now at www.kisscoffeehouse.com

Here's the final winning clip in the Ultimate KISS Fan Contest. This entry is from Nigel Dreiner & friends.

NIGEL has a problem, he is completely obsessed with KISS. Lucky for him, his friends care enough about his addiction that they are coming straight to the band members themselves for assistance!

Check out Gene's groupies on the computer screen.