SWEEEET, that's so SWEEEEET. I'm glad for you both!! :o) Really....
Don't get overly excited about it, though! NO tongue jobs, man. The add-ons look
rather cheap and lifeless, even when donated by a pig.

ampfixer
I'm sure that a lot of our hero's are actually zero's in real life. I used to fantasize about meeting my guitar hero's when I was a kid; I still do. Now that I've read books and seen documentaries, such as the Eagles' doc., I've come to realize that most are ego maniacs that are socially crippled and morally bankrupt.
 
Gene Simmons is very up-front about who he is. He's also up-front about his lust and passion for control. Probably one of the smartest guys on the planet when it comes to business and monetizing fame.

To be honest, I've never cared much for meeting musicians and actors that I liked. I'm just not good at worshiping, even though I like to pretend, for fun, such as with Jimmy Page. I mean, he is probably my biggest musical influence, but he's just a human being. 
 
I've seen so many people humiliating themselves when they meet a star - it's almost like they have no dignity. I can't imagine myself losing contenance simply because I get to meet someone famous and I certainly wouldn't want people to act like that around me. 

bitflipper
I guess I'm in the wrong age demographic, but I've never cared for KISS. I'm just impressed you can rattle off their names, and probably even know the lyrics.
 
Nevertheless, I'd happily pony up the 10 bucks if I was in town. It's for a good cause, 'cause what else are Clark County kids going to study? Croupier school?

I didn't get to hear them much in the 70's, though I was vaguely aware of them. But I was just a kid and the only music I listened to came from my parents' record collection, mostly Elvis. Then I heard Creatures of the Night when I was 11 and I was hooked. That's the album that started it all for me. My tastes evolved and as I grew older, I moved to different things, more "serious" stuff.
 
For whatever reason, a few years ago I dug out those old albums and started listening again. I love the fact that most of their music is a simple celebration of life and oneself. No tormented artist, no college poetry, no self-absorbed ramblings.
 
If I want poetry or philosophy, I'll read a book. If I want to be blown away by music, I'll listen to to classical music or jazz. Looking for depth in pop culture is likely end up in a compromise in most cases. 
 
Furthermore, reading their history, I was blown away by the level of commitment those guys showed in the early day, their professionalism (well, mostly Paul and Gene) and the discipline behind it all. Seeing how big entertainment companies such as Cirque du Soleil work, I couldn't help but trace a parallel, and as such, feel that KISS were way ahead of their time in many respect. 
 
I know many people discard them as being only image with no substance, but I think that in many cases, its actually the people that can't get past the make up and the stage show.
 
Me I like the music. Detroit Rock City, Love Gun and all those songs - to me that's all great rock and roll music, make up or no make up. I'd be pretty happy if I wrote anything like that.

Rain
A week from now, I'll be playing live with my wife!
...
Actually, I never felt as comfortable playing music with someone. All the stress seems to vanish.
 ...
 

Congrats ... that is indeed a nice touch and something super special! Best feeling ... you can write books around it! Not to mention play music ... !!!

Rain
 
To be honest, I've never cared much for meeting musicians and actors that I liked. I'm just not good at worshiping, even though I like to pretend, for fun, such as with Jimmy Page. I mean, he is probably my biggest musical influence, but he's just a human being. 
 
...

This was the nicest thing about GONG ... there were no stars, and taking pictures was fun and fine. And they were all well spoken, polite and more accommodating than they had to be! I don't think that I have enjoyed being with any band more than them! I specially enjoyed spending time with Gilly and Mike, however small that was!

I've had a few encounters with "famous" people and they actually spent more time with me because I treated them like a normal human and not like a rabid fan.  Partied a few times with Eddie Van Halen at a well-known West Hollywood club (he never knew I played guitar, we talked about anything but), had a beer with Joe Montana (talked about golf), etc.  The closest I came to acting like a fan was when I went to watch my friends play a gig and got to sit with Bob Moog in 2003.
 
You know that some prefer to be "worshiped" (David Lee Roth is one example that comes to mind), but I could never stand that type so I rarely ever met any of them.

Good on you... get someone to make a bootleg video!! please.
 
Julien

jbow
Good on you... get someone to make a bootleg video!! please.
 
Julien

The whole thing is broadcasted - though it might be a bit long for someone to sit through: the event starts at 9pm PST and if previous years are any indication, may very well run past 4 am. But I should have links to our performances some times afterwards.

Rain
The whole thing is broadcasted - though it might be a bit long for someone to sit through: the event starts at 9pm PST and if previous years are any indication, may very well run past 4 am. But I should have links to our performances some times afterwards.

Definitely gotta catch that one ... hurry up!!!!!!!!

Well, had a great evening in spite of it all.
 
"It all" being:
 
- I was given the list of songs I played on a week in advance and we didn't get to rehearse much except for one song.
 
- Though I'd booked a cab hours in advance to make sure I was there half an hour before the pre-show meeting (7:30), they never showed up and I eventually managed to get there w/ friends. Hours late (10:15). And missing that one song we had properly rehearsed.
 
- The other guitarist went way out of tune during the chorus of the first song I played - which threw me off a bit.
 
- The wireless system I was using on one of the other two songs gave up during the break where I was the only one onstage playing.
 
- The one song I think went not so bad (except for some drums issue) we had never actually rehearsed and I was thrown onstage with a bunch of cats who'd never went through the song together.
 
 
But we had a great time nonetheless - and in the end, that's what KISS music is all about. Having a good time, celebrating. I did a pretty good Ace Frehley of myself offstage (partying and getting drunk), having fun with people, sharing KISS memories w/ fans and musicians.
 
And we managed to raise $28 000 for the Imagine Foundation! Not a bad evening.