By Troy Moon

Jan DeStafney's son has been breathing fire in the backyard.

And on Monday, she's going to see the men who influenced her son to pour lighter fluid in his mouth and spit flames.

DeStafney, 57, is going to see Kiss today at the Pensacola Civic Center. She only knows of one song - the one about "rock and roll all night" - but she just has to see what the fuss is all about.

"I have to see what's so exciting about these people," she said. "Because they have mesmerized my son for all these years."

Kiss - a troupe of fire-breathing, blood-spewing, costumed comic book rock legends - has mesmerized millions since forming in December 1972 and has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide. Though perceived early on by some critics and parents as dark and sinister, most of the world has come to see Kiss as a sort of harmless escapist fantasy - a live-action cartoon with a hard rock soundtrack.

Yet their fans, even the grown-ups with mortgages and children of their own, still are devoted to the Kiss Army - the band's long-running, fan-organized fan club - who have no intention of leaving the band's service.

My 2 year old son Jack getting his Halloween test make-up run for our little KISS costume...

Chris Alexander



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Just wanted to share this "freeze frame" of my son Corrado who appeared on "Good Morning America"...."Rocking All Night Long With KISS" segment yesterday on ABC!!!

It was a blast to see my little guy dressed up like Paul Stanley and on the same show with his idols!...definately a "momento" to be cherished!!!!

Rock On,

Corrado Mazzuca

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Check out this great fan-filmed clip of Tommy singing "Shock Me" at last night's show in Greenville!

Good Morning America went behind-the-scenes with KISS at their Nassau Coliseum show! ABC's Kate Snow takes viewers backstage to discuss the band's lengthy career and loyal fan following... and she even tries on Paul's platform boots. Take a look!

By KATE SNOW and DESIREE ADIB
Photo by Keysha McGrady

Fans of All Ages Still Flock to Band's High-Energy Concerts

Those grease-painted glam lords of campy metal are at back at it. Thirty-five years after their first album, Kiss has just put out "Sonic Boom," a new studio disc that's being sold exclusively next to the Cheerios and Windex at Walmart stores nationwide.

It has been 11 years since their last album, and despite their age -- singer and bassist Gene Simmons is 60 years old, while singer/guitarist Paul Stanley is 57 -- they are strapping on platform heels, smearing on the makeup and hitting big arenas nationwide for a 47-city tour.

"If the audience really wants you, they keep calling you back," says band co-founder Simmons. "I mean, look at us. I couldn't be in any other band, I'm a misfit. I'm an outsider. I can't be in the [Rolling] Stones or U2. Those little people would get in my way."

Outspoken singer Simmons may capture the spotlight as the fire-breathing face of Kiss, but "Sonic Boom" was the brainchild of Stanley. The two original members are joined by guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, replacing Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.

"I could never imagine that we would be doing this this long, 35 to 40 years later and to be selling out," says Stanley. "I mean I could certainly see some of the guys in the band being in a padded cell thinking they were playing for a big crowd still. But here we are doing this, and it's amazing!"

By Sean Daly

Did Gene Simmons just make a lewd comment about my mom? And did the Demon just call me a woman? And what was that hand gesture by Paul Stanley?

All these neuroses fired in my head as I interviewed - on television, no less -the glam-rock kings in Kiss, who appeared in full makeup for a recent televised press junket. The glam-rockers play the St. Pete Times Forum on Wednesday. They are also promoting a new album, Sonic Boom, their first full-length in 11 years.

In a just-for-fun twist, I pulled on my fancy pants, hopped in an anchor's chair and chatted up bassist Simmons, singer Stanley, guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer via satellite...

Gene, Paul, Tommy, and Eric,

We just wanted to say thanks for performing at the Hampton Coliseum last night. It was classic KISS and the entire concert was awesome! We know you typically play large arenas, but we really appreciate you rockin' Hampton Roads.

All the best,
Sales Family
Chesapeake, Virginia

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Hi KISS!

I'm a French fan, and I would like to congratulate you on SONIC BOOM! This album kicks serious A.S.S and I think it's going to be one of my favorite! Each one of you put your heart in this record and I really can feel it when I listen to this album. Tommy's solo are amazing! Check out the video I made of "When Lightning Strikes!" I put the make-up and picked up my guitar (on my knees and pray...) and recorded it as a tribute to Tommy. I never learned playing the guitar, I'm a left-handed but I always play on a right-handed, so sometimes it sounds a little bit strange (especially during the solos...) But I made that with all my heart. Hope you enjoyed the video, and I hope you'll come back soon touring in Europe. Last year in Paris was amazing!

Rémi from France

My video :

Here's a KISSONLINE EXCLUSIVE video clip of KISS performing "Strutter" live at Madison Square Garden last weekend!

Check out this interview with Tommy from Scotland's Classic Rock station 96.3!

Check out this great fan-filmed video clip of "Detroit Rock City" from last night's Hampton show!

By Mike Doyle

When I was 5 years old, I remember rocking out to KISS downstairs in our family room pretty much every evening before dinner.

My Mom would yell at me to come to the table and sit with the family, but I couldn't. Not until the explosions were finished going off at the end of KISS Alive II would I appear at the dinner table.

I had the makeup kit and the trading cards. I remember applying the small rose tattoo that was included in the Alive II album sleeve to my shoulder, and pretending I was Paul Stanley. KISS was magical to kids back in the 70s.

On Friday night, I was reminded of that magic. The "Hottest Band In The World" made a stop at Hampton Coliseum on Friday night, as KISS returned to Hampton Roads.

By Mike Kernels

From the mind of Freddie Hamm:

KISS concert. T-minus several hours and anxiously counting.

KISS T-shirt. Check.

KISS belt buckle. Check.

KISS body spray. Seriously. "It actually smells good." Make that a big check.

KISS face paint. Ready to be applied. Estimated time: 45 minutes - minimum.

"I'm that fanatical," says Hamm, 18, of Virginia Beach.

And he's not alone. For a legion of KISS fans, painting their faces for a concert is like an American Express card: You don't leave home without it.

"Just throwing it on is not an option. If you're a diehard fan, you want to do it just like them. Attention to detail is important."

Because the makeup of KISS singer Paul Stanley, for instance, consists of only a white face and a black star over one eye, it's an easy 20 minutes for Hamm.

Guitarist Tommy Thayer? That's 45 minutes.

Frontman Gene Simmons? Also 45. "Unless you're doing his hair," Hamm says.

To get drummer Eric Singer right for Friday's show, Hamm will use a combination of white, black, silver and green creams, lipstick and something that doesn't come with a bar code: patience.

"It is," he admits, "a pain... to put on."

Guys,

I've been a major KISS fan since I was a little kid, when my dad bought me Double Platinum. After that, KISS music was part of my life. Now as a 38 year old father, one of my dreams came true, and I got to take my family to a KISS concert. We were center stage, 13th row on the floor in Philly, and my kids loved every second of it. I love this picture because it reminds me of many great KISS album covers.

Thanks KISS!!

Pete Rahtjen

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