To start at the beginning, my friend Beaux has a band called Airiel Down. They are local but they have played all over the world including having a song at the Olympics and their songs air in many other countries. I found this band when they were opening up for Jani Lane (Warrant) in Greensboro. I usually hate opening bands, but everyone has to start somewhere! But these guys were good. REALLY good. I bought their CD that night and listened to it the whole way home. For some reason, Beaux remembered me when I friended him on Myspace and loved the name I'd picked out on there: "Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-Cherry Bomb!" This was a reference to Joan Jett's song (from the Runaways) as well as a reference to the change in color of my hair. He now refuses to call me anything but some form of Cherry Bomb. Kinda cute. So that's how we've kind of become friends. I'm a huge supporter of his band. So when they entered a contest against other Raleigh bands to garner a position as the front runner for KISS, I was all over it. Getting people to check them out and vote for them. They came in second place but KISS personally picked them. I precisely bought my lawn tickets to the show.
I invited my friend Kelli (also my vocal coach) as I figured that she would enjoy it since Beaux referred her services to me in the first place. She agreed and got excited but it was premature. She'd completely forgotten that she had already committed to performing at a child's baptism that same night. So I put out a search for anyone who wanted to go to the concert with me. Pete answered that request. He picked me up and we are on our way to get some cheap lunch. We first stop at Chick-fil-a, not realizing it's Sunday and all of a sudden his phone rings. He says: "Who is calling me from area code 312? Ignore!" We realize Chick-fil-a is closed and head over to Wendy's. His phone rings again from the same phone number. Pete: "I'm gonna pick it up." So he stops the truck and answers the phone. All of a sudden he says: "Well, I've got one other person with me right now." and then he punches me in the arm. What the?? He gets off the phone and announces that Paul Stanley has left 2 tickets and backstage passes for him at the Will Call desk. Woooooohooooo!
We park in VIP parking and head up to grab our tickets. By the time we get back, there's this really nice couple beside us who we instantly become friends with. Time for the concert so we head in and quickly discover that having All Access passes gets you two things. #1 being the obvious, we get access to everywhere. Backstage (which pretty much consists of a hallway where nothing is really happening), and pretty much anywhere you want to go. Because what happens is you start walking towards a blockade and people just wave you through. In fact, if you're waiting in a line, they will wave you over to another section to get through so you don't have to wait. The #2 thing it gets you is dirty looks from everyone not wearing a pass. We check out Beaux's band for awhile and then head backstage after they finish to congratulate him. I get the biggest hug and a look like: "What are you doing back here?" He thought I only had lawn seats. He tells my friend Pete what a great girl I am and we exchange compliments over each other's hair. He says he wasn't sure if he would see me since I had lawn tickets and it's a big lawn!
After this we head out to the lawn area and begin texting various people we knew would be there including our new friends from the parking lot. We decide to head up to the 96 Rock Party Deck and meet up with another friend, James, who'd promised me a beer. Meanwhile, this chick trips and falls flat on her face. There was a whole line of us sitting on the bench in front of where she fell. I was the only girl. And I was the only one to jump up and help her too. Shortly after that, a man walks by yelling: "Heather! Heather!" No one is answering so I say: "Hi." This gets a laugh and an explanation that I'm a Heather too. All of a sudden Pete & I notice that it's about 7:30 and we ought to head down to our meet n' greet with KISS. As we leave, the other Heather tells me to enjoy the show. This is what I love about concerts. Between helping the girl who fell and the other Heather, everyone is so friendly. Well, until some of them get drunk, act stupid, and piss off the other drunkards.
We get in line to meet KISS but are quickly ushered over to another line. We have red wristbands and therefore we'll be meeting them first. We get brought into a tent and everyone is excited! I'm shaking so bad, I can't believe I'm going to actually meet them! They walk in one by one we are placed in front of them for pictures. It's my turn. Oh my God, oh my God, omigod!!!!! All I can do is look at them with this dumb look. Gene Simmons opens his arms and I think he's going in for a hug so I hug him. Turns out he was only putting his arm around my neck. Oh man, I'm SUCH a dork! Afterwards I'm so shaky I can't even walk. The whole experience was so surreal.
Then the concert begins and I can't stop jumping up and down when they come out on the stage. Pete turns to me and says: "Hey! We know those guys!!!!" After one or two songs, Pete heads up to the pit area and tells me to try in a few minutes. So halfway through the next song I saunter up there, flash my pass, and I'm IN! I'm so close I can touch the stage! Tommy Thayer is playing just for me! He is, isn't he? I keep smiling at him and giving him the thumbs up, grooving to the tunes and he flips a signed pick my way. Unfortunately it landed on the OTHER side of the barrier and I can't reach it. Thankfully Pete is tall and was able to just reach it. He hands it to me and I immediately drop it again! Thankfully it landed closer this time so I got the pick! Paul Stanley is flinging the picks like crazy. However, I do not want one of Paul Stanley's picks. He has a habit of licking them first or putting them in his mouth and spitting them at you. I'm just too much of a germaphobe to grab at one of those.
Now a lot of people have sort of boycotted them since there are only 2 original members of KISS in the band. But I kinda fell in love with Tommy Thayer and his guitar prowess so who freakin' cares? The dude totally paid his dues. In fact, he was in a KISS tribute band and they noticed him. Gene Simmons asked him to be his assistant and he took the job. He was running his ass off for the guy. So when Ace Frehley left the band, Tommy was their first choice. And he rocks!
My ears are still ringing and I feel hungover even though I only had one beer. Woke up with a killer headache today too. Totally worth it!
Gene Simmons
Paul Stanley
Tommy Thayer
Eric Singer
