It is now November 22, 2003, My best friend, (since 5th grade) Leslie and I are taking a four hour road trip to meet KISS ! OMG !! After all these years we're FINALLY going to meet "The Hottest Band In The World"!
Here's a brief rundown of our Platinum Experience.
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Upon arriving at the coliseum, we walk up to the will call window to get our tix... We're 3rd row Tommy's side ! Very good seats !!!! The concert was AWESOME as always !! In time past I've had interaction with all the band members except for Paul, but tonight he acknowledges me twice and during the introduction to "Lick It Up" he pointed at me and says "this next song comes off our 1982 album...the year YOU were born." :) While I know he has said this at other shows... but being my birthday is one month away to the date and the fact he is waaaay off base... it made me SMILE ... really BIG !!! ;)
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OK, show's over... time to go backstage..... OMG !!! Is this really happening?!?! We're escorted to a waiting area where they collect our paper work, explain the rules, form a line...and then "THE HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD" enters the room !!! (Thank you, God!!) Everyone is cheering and the band seems to be in high spirits !! I am sooo overwhelmed !!!! The photos begin.....
OK, my turn....OMG !!! OMG !!!! Both Tommy and Paul see this "look" on my face... Tommy is waving me over and Paul says with open arms "Come on over, baby! " Tommy grabs hold of my arm in the likeness of... you're standing right here beside me! :O Pete looks at me and says "Are you ready to be molested?" LOL I simply cannot believe this !! It's Leslie's turn....she falls right into Paul's arms and the look on her face says it all !!! Just look at that beautiful pix !!! I'm sooo happy for her! She has loved Paul since we were kids !!!!!
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Photos are over.... time to meet 'n greet...we didn't say a whole lot to the guys...because we're just in AWE !!! Paul is gorgeous !! I can't get over him and boy, does he give nice hugs!! Gene is, well Gene...Tongue and all !! ;) LOL He was humping Leslie's backside while he signed her poster!!! :O LOL Pete is a doll...very humble !! I was taken aback while he was signing my solo album... he asked me "So, do you miss Ace??" *gasp* (is he psychic?! I had no intentions of bring up Ace in conversation!) I replied ... "yes, yes, of course I do." He then said "he missed him too, but he really liked working with Tommy, he's cool !" I replied (still stunned ...) "Oh yes, I like Tommy too" ! Tommy is doing an incredible job !!! He's great...signed everything and I mean everything !!!! Not only did I get a hug, but a kiss as well !!! My happy little self was walking around with black paint on my lips !!!! LOL :)
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Simply unforgettable !!! Our only complaint... it went by waaaay too fast !!!!!! BUT, We are very, very grateful !!! It was a freakin' BLAST (we still can't believe it happened) and are very hopeful we'll get ONE more shot to go Platinum !!!!
Sincerely,
Marilyn and Leslie
Coastal Carolina
John and Wendy,
Thanks for allowing us to share this priceless experience on your site !!
ROCK ON !!!
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When KISS finished there show I proceeded to the area that we were to meet Jeffery and we received all of our instructions. Then we followed him to the meet and greet area. Got photo instructions and then KISS came in and everyone went crazy. It was all like a dream. I was standing there getting ready for my photo and Paul said, "Hey I saw you out there, Did you have a good time?" I replied the time of my life. Then I got my photo with the Hottest Band In the world. I was in a state of shock I think, I was saying to myself, "Self, Can you believe this, standing here getting your photo taken with KISS." Way to cool. After all the photos were taken we got to meet and interact with the band, and get autographs. All the members of KISS were very nice and easy to talk to and I began to relax a little and untie my tongue and ask a couple of questions. Then after about 20-25 minutes the band had to leave and we all left too. On the way out Jeffery gave as all signed tour programs and we could go out and watch Aerosmith if we wanted. I opted out and headed to the parking lot to leave. After all what just took place could hardly be topped. I must say it was worth every dollar, a once in a lifetime chance, and a dream come true. It only took me 27 years to meet KISS and this experience will stay with me for the rest of my days.
" The only regret I have from this awesome experience is that my fiancee, Linda could not be there to share it with me. Since we have been together we have seen KISS numerous times and been to many places to see KISS. She's my partner and I just wish she could have been there."
Let me end by thanking Paul, Gene, Peter and Tommy for the time of my life and thank you to Kissonline for helping make it all happen.
KISS ROCKS
Sincerely,
James Black / PS10JIMMY
Where do I begin? My best friend and I decided on April the 18th (when KISS did a radio show w/Aerosmith to announce tour dates) that we would do 3 concerts down here in our lovely Southern states. We both said, Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh almost simultaneously. We would do at least one of them Platinum for SURE! So pre-sale day came and I scored 2 Platinum tickets, Oh MY GOD! It still did not seem real. This has been a lifelong dream for us!
So, the Atlanta show came first, 9th row, and Saliva opened with a Click, Click BOOM! Kick ass set… Then the hummmmmmmm….. YOU wanted the best (well you know the deal)… and down from the sky came our Boyz! We rocked so hard! PEACE to the KISS ARMY! We had made a banner that said" TAKE ME" Platinum Southern Bellz.
Every member of KISS acknowledged the banner and smiled! So afterwards, I wrote into Genesimmons.com and asked him if he saw the banner? That he needed to look for it in Charlotte because his Platinum Southern Bellz would be there !! Well, he posted my letter on his website on Thursday the 18th. WAY COOL! So now we are 1day away from Platinum but so was Isabel! A lovely hurricane that was headed straight for N.C. L !! But it was gonna take more than Isabel to mess up our Platinum plans!
The next day was PLATINUM, Friday night- Sept. 19th- Charlotte, N.C. So we spruced up like true Southern Bellz would and off we went. The ticket counter was great! Everything was waiting on us, we felt like royalty. The concert was AWESOME and our seats were PREMO ! We rocked OUT! So after the last cord of R&RAN, we headed to the side gate where Jeff (the coordinator) was waiting on us. He checked our names and passes and welcomed us. Once a few rules were gone over, the gate opened, I think I’m dreaming! We were escorted to a nice tent set-up out back with nothing but a camera set-up on a tripod. After more rules, in comes KISS in full gear!
Cheers echoed in the Southern night air as finally…Our Boyz were there! KISS lined up in front of the camera and so did we. Darlene went first, which is SO not her. She is SO shy; I’m the loud one. But the way the line got set-up she was going first. Everyone was star struck and kinda quiet. Then they motioned her over.. "Heeeeeyyyy Baaabbby!", she said. I was astonished! She was actually talking to them! So Paul replies: "HeeeyyyyBaaaaby yourself!" That started it! The crowd lit up! Gene decides to get out of line, go over to Darlene and practice his, let’s say "technical maneuvers" on her! All I could hear was her screaming with glee! Then my turn! So I looked at Paul and said: " I want to be like an OREO. The creamy white filling between YOU and YOU(pointing at Gene)." Then Paul says, I’ll show you creamy white filling all day long!" He takes me and drapes, YES I said DRAPED his arms all over me. He holds my hand! Although my thoughts were "How sweet" Darlene informed me later that he did it to protect himself from where my hands wanted to GO! Hmmm… I could just go on & on. The Boyz were divine! Paul signed my shoulder with a Sharpie and I had it tattooed the next day in Raleigh which is another story in itself !! All of them signed our TAKE ME banner, and Gene wrote lovely sentiments on it. Paul gave out hugs, Darlene scored with Gene, that’s for sure! Peter hugged me and got his make-up on my face
then said "Hey LOOK- Ya got whiska’s" in a very NY accent. Tommy was wonderful and treated us well. All in all, I cannot describe the way I felt. Euphoric, untamed, sheer BLISS would come close. Then after our meet and greet -back out into the real world. Aerosmith was ringing in the air but we were numb! There’s no way in hell that a thousand dollars could have bought what we just got! Some things in life you just can’t buy and that was one of them. I will NEVER forget it, ever.
All my love to the Band and all our friends whom we ROCKED with!
(Go John & Wendy!)
Peace and Love,
The Southern Bellzzzzzzz
Allison Ballenger and Darlene Rios
Spartanburg, South Carolina
