Portland Maine, Platinum by: Leanne St.Germain

This was my 3rd Platinum. Technically it was the 4th that I bought. I already bought my platinum for Boston for Nov. 26th Being from around here, for some reason I thought Portland would be a good place to do Platinum as I figured it might not be a huge group of people. Better for me. It was a total “impulse purchase.” Yes, I caved in. Good work, guys. The “few platinums remain” thing really got to me.

OK, I drive the 2 hours from Boston to Portland, Maine. Just me, myself and I. I get to my hotel and after taking a shower I sit down to ponder just how much fun this platinum will be before I start to get ready. I did have one small concern. Since I had purchased this so late, I hadn’t received the platinum shirt and the instructions you get with a platinum package. I knew what it would say but I had not received it, as it was short notice. I had emailed Mike at KOL but hadn’t received a response yet. I wasn’t too worried, as I knew that I had received the confirmation page on fanfire when I ordered it.

I get a call on my cell phone. Since my caller ID doesn’t list a number or a name I decide not to take it. I’ve got more important things to do then take some unimportant phone call right now. Hey, baby, I’m going Platinum! After approximately 10 minutes I remember the call that I didn’t answer and glance at my cell phone and see that whoever it was that called left me voice mail. Hmmmm, wonder what the message is……………

This was my message:
Leanne, how are you it’s Jeff calling from KISS. I wanted to let you know in case you can receive this message before showtime that there is a meet and greet for you personally, taking place before the show at 7:30 in the dressing room. You’ll pick up your tickets at will call and Dean will come out and collect you at your seat and bring you back at 7:30. If you have any questions……blah blah blah. Call me at blah blah blah
Have a good time. Thank you.

Uh………..EXCUSE ME??????? What the HELL is this guy talking about?? I sit there at the desk in my room with a look on my face that I would have paid someone to capture on film. I just sat there staring at my cell phone. At first I thought that he was just calling in response to my email. And it became a tad obvious that this was not the case at all.

And the thing is, although I can’t believe what I’m hearing, I actually recognize Jeff’s voice. So it isn’t a joke but it sure sounds like a phone call you’d LIKE to get but never in a million years, would get. In a daze I call my friend John……….totally wigging out. He is almost wigging out as much as me and tells me to call Jeff and then “call me right back.” LOL

Well I call and yes, this is how it is all going to happen. “Really?” Yes. Well, maybe they are doing this for everyone? Nope. Maybe I’m just the lucky one who gets to go back before……..like it’s a new thing…….and then there is a “normal platinum meet and greet” later. No. It’s JUST ME……ALONE?? BEFORE the band goes on? In their dressing room? Behind the …………SUPERMAN CURTAIN???? YES! And all this is because why?
For whatever reasons (who cares!):

I AM THE ONLY PLATINUM PERSON TONIGHT.

Those of you who have done the Platinum Package know how incredible this is. You are with between say, 15 and 24 other people. I was not. Even those of you who haven’t have to know just how incredible this sounds. Just me and KISS, pre-show (literally!), dressing room, behind the Superman curtain, yadda yadda yadda.

I finish getting ready for the show, walk down to the venue, get my stuff at will-call and take my seat for the last 15 minutes of the opening band. I am very much aware as I still am, that I am the envy of every KISS fan that has ever lived. I was pretty sure myself that this sort of thing almost never happens. And when I heard everyone that ought to know these things confirm it…….all the more in shock was I, then and now. The opening band is done. Good. I make my way from my second row seat to stage right where I meet Dean. And then he takes me on my little journey backstage. Not to the usual “meet and greet” room that we have all gone to that is well out of the way of everything. I’m led right to in front of this famous curtain.

People actually refer to me as “the fan” which is in a nice way, as many people seemed aware of my unusual circumstances. I meet Gigi Criss, Peter’s wife. She has to be one of the nicest, friendliest people I have ever met. She made me feel so welcome back there as I waited. She was told I was “the fan” and she knew about me and asked me my name. Then she told me she had a present for me. She then gave me one of Peter’s green pics. Such a nice lady! The only picture I take back there is of this famous Superman curtain. I had to get a pic of that. Not because I was there but because I was going behind it and the thought of it was simply too cool for words.

Well it was my time to go back there. It is just me and the band (and Dean, who took the pictures). They were all so good to me. My only regret is that I simply couldn’t get past how unique this all was. I just couldn’t wrap my brain around the fact that I was on their “sacred turf”. I’ve met them all a few times and would, by now, be a LITTLE more comfortable but I simply couldn’t believe that I had the undivided attention of all 4 of them at the same time. Paul told me that they were going to cancel this but they knew I had done this before and that was why they didn’t. Stick a fork me with that one……..I was done. He told me this a few times. Gene said it to me as well. I’m sure one of the reasons they repeated it was the shocked look on my face. It was such a nice thing to say to me. I really felt that this was such an honor. They were all very cool to talk to and I had a blast. There was a funny comment that I didn’t see coming at all and wished to God that I wasn’t so overwhelmed by it all, because I should have been able to come back with a good one myself.

I also got my two photos taken. My Boston photos came out so nice. I looked like I posed professionally my whole life. But I think I look like a goofball in my Vegas ones and only slightly less goofy in these. It’s all Paul’s fault. I just keep trying to keep a poised and semi intelligent look on my face but it just ain’t working. And if he doesn’t stop (can I say this?) humping me from behind during the photos………..WELL, THAT’LL BE JUST FINE, BABY! I’d much rather explain a goofy expression on my face than to miss out on the fun that is KISS. And a special nod to Peter. After my photos, I was still so bewildered by this whole experience that I didn’t know what else to do. He then turned to me and asked, “Is there anything we can do for you?” Luckily he followed it up with, “do you have anything you’d like us to sign?” Oh my god, thank you. I would have walked out of there forgetting all of this. They all signed my first platinum picture and my sleeve from the KISSTORY book. Thanks again, Peter. When it was time for them to go on, I hugged them all and only wished I could have apologized to them for having so little intelligent conversation. I still couldn’t believe I was back there and didn’t have to share their time with anyone. Sorry guys, I hope this review tells you how much this all meant to me. I know what an honor it is to let a fan into your “world” moments before a show and I loved every minute of it!

I will never forget how special this whole night was for me. I know that this was every KISS fans dream and it was happening to me. I have to thank Dean for holding my hand thru this and taking the pictures. Also, I’d like to thank Jeff for leaving me a voice mail that will go into the hall of fame of voice mails. And Gigi Criss for making me feel so at home back there. She was just a great lady and I’m so happy to have met her.

But mostly I have to thank Paul, Gene, Peter and Tommy. This was just the best time in the world. Not simply the meet and greet but the whole idea of what I got to experience and how it felt from the moment I found out that I was the only “special fan” that night. It would have been incredible just being the only platinum person of the night but you guys made it even more special for me by doing it the way that you did. I felt like queen for a night. I love you all and thank you so much!