On Saturday, January 4, 2003, we attended An Audience With Peter Criss at the Holiday Inn in King of Prussia, PA. When we arrived, we were given a plastic bag with an expo flyer, a laminated pass and entries to fill out for the trip to Australia, private meeting with Peter and other drawings. Most of the vendors were already set up which was cool because then there were things to look at while waiting for the Peter events. Once again, we have to thank Keith from KISSshop for the great deals he gave us on official KISS merchandise.

They had the drawings for prizes, the trip to Australia and the private meeting with Peter. When Peter finally came out he looked really good and was in a great mood. He did the question and answer. We were almost all the way in the back and there wasn't a microphone for the questions being asked so we could hardly hear them. We could hear Peter pretty good but some of the answers made no sense since we didn't know what the question was. Peter did say he hadn't talked to Ace in almost two years. He also said he had no idea that the Early Years book had come out until a few weeks ago when someone mentioned it to him. He said he had nothing to do with that book. Peter seemed to be having a great time. Someone asked him to sing Beth and he said no, he was there to talk, not sing. He also mentioned that he would have a book out and that it would explain his teardrop from the last few Farewell Shows he played at.

When they announced it was time to meet Peter there was some confusion in the lineup procedure. Basically wherever we were standing was where we ended up in line and whoever happened to be down by the stage ended up in front. For a long time we didn't move but finally the line started to move and it went pretty fast from there. When we were almost up to Peter, there was a table where his wife, Gigi, was selling drumheads for $45.00 and a picture from the Farewell Tour where Peter had his teardrop for $25.00. Peter would sign one item and then as many drumheads or pictures that you bought. Also, if you wanted something else signed he would sign it as long as you had bought one of those two items. It was cool to talk to Gigi. She was very pretty and very nice.

Peter was sitting at a table and you could go around the back with him and get your picture taken. If you handed your camera to one of the guys up there with Peter he would take your picture. Jamie went up first and gave Peter a sweatshirt. Peter liked the sweatshirt and surprised Jamie with a kiss.

When Wendy got to Peter she gave him a drumhead she had purchased from Gigi and her solo album to autograph and told him that even though she wasn't a KISS fan until 2000 she had his solo album hanging on her wall for years because she thought the picture was so cool. Peter was really nice. He stood up and put his arm around her when they had their picture taken. After that she showed him her purse strap that had all Peter buttons on the front and he said that that just blows his mind. He seemed amazed that she would have so many Peter buttons.

John was able to have Peter sign his 1977 Kiss comic book. He already had Gene, Paul, and Ace's signatures on it so Peter Criss' sigature made the book complete. John was also able to get one of the Peter Criss' drumheads signed.

The tribute band "Dressed to Kill" was scheduled to perform that night but they didn't.

Other than not having a microphone for the question and answer session and the lineup procedure being so confusing, overall, it was a great experience. Peter really seemed to be enjoying all his fans and was very thankful that we all came to meet him.