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Just writing to let you know about the most bizarre afternoon of my life! I am a KISS fan from South Australia, and happen to be in a couple of local bands in my town. I played with one of my bands at a party for a friend of mine Belinda, a child care worker, who won a national award for child care recently. This was a big party to celebrate her great achievement, and several of the little kiddies she looks after were there.
The first song we played at the party was "Rock and roll all nite", and I soon found myself playing to a cluster of energetic young kiddies, bopping around like crazy. I soon taught them how to do the "metal fist" (index and pinky fingers held up), and had them all yelling "METAL!!!" at the top of their lungs. They all started to refer to me as "Rock Star", which was kind of an honour I must say!
Anyway, in the following weeks at Woodleigh (the child care centre), all the kids started going "Rock Star" crazy! (I learned this from Belinda's updates). I got them a KISS CD (which apparently got a good thrashing every single day, especially "Rock and roll all nite"), and they were always doing the metal fist and screaming "METAL!!!". Belinda and the other chicks who work at Woodleigh decided to have a big "metal party" for the kids, as they were all going rock'n'roll mad... and I was to be the special guest!
So we arranged a date that I could take the afternoon off work, and come along with my guitar to play them a few songs. Let me say I was definitely NOT prepared for what was waiting for me!
I rocked up to find a horde of screaming rock-crazy kids, half of which were done up in full KISS make-up! I'm talking kids between 2 and 4 years old here! They were all dressed up in their coolest rock'n'roll style gear, and were proudly saluting me with their metal fists held high! I was quite taken aback to say the least! They were all going mental!
Then I got to the main part of the centre, and discovered the walls totally covered in posters all in black and silver, with the words "metal" and "rock star" all over them, and pictures of the metal fist! They had made themselves cut-out guitars, and done heaps of drawings and stuff all in the name of rock'n'roll! It was bizarre. They even had a big cake with the metal fist iced onto it!
I went outside with the "metal munchkins" and set up my amplifier. I played "Rock and roll all nite" for them and they went ballistic. I gave them guitar picks, showed them some photos from various gigs I've played, and proudly showed them my framed photo of me with KISS from my platinum experience in Adelaide! They were quite in awe.
I was then mobbed and had a guided tour of the playground and other outdoor areas from the metal munchkins. I still couldn't get over the little tackers in their KISS make-up! Belinda and the others did a great job with them.
I eventually got presented with a special t-shirt with "We Love Rock Star" on it, by the metal munchkins (which I've since worn proudly). After a few hours of mayhem, I left the place feeling totally drained of energy, but extremely gleeful. It was like some kind of therapy! KISS Kids relieve stress!
I have enclosed a few pictures from the afternoon for your enjoyment. I know the kids would go absolutely mental if you posted a couple on your site! The little "Genes" looked excellent! They all say a big "hello!" and are probably bopping to the KISS CD right now.
Thanks for all the years of great work. You've truly earned everything you have, including a whole new fan-base of tiny Aussie KISS kids! If you saw them, you would have been just as proud as I was. Long live Gene, and long live KISS!!!
Respect and regards,
Tristan from Loxton.
I came across this on the norwegian kissarmy pages, I know it's probably bad for your asshole image, but to me this was inspiring to read.
http://www.friendsofjeff.com/Frames/ConPhotos_Set.htm
Christian Meyer, Norway
Gene:
 WABC-TV ch-7 in NYC is pushjing their "live from NY" morning line-up (ABC Morning News, Goodmorning America, Regis & Kelly, Tony Danza, and "The View". The music bed for the spot is "Back in the New York Groove". It's cool to hear...
Tom
Have you ever knowingly lied to your fans?
Response from Gene:
Yes. For years. Decades. When I pretended the entire band was straight. Some were not.
 Wanted to thank you, Gene, for putting out "Now that you're gone." Last summer my Dad - who, if I understand things correctly, was similar to yours in terms of being a responsible parent - had a heart attack and was severely disabled. He contacted me a week prior to his death and I spent a week with him, until he died. During that time I had just bought "***hole" and during the long drives to and from his house I listened to it. It was a great time to explore a new album during those two hour treks.
Anyway, I became very angry and upset at the world during that week, and was becoming a real destructive person to be around. I had not cried, nor would I, I said. Until I heard "You left us when I was much too young..." and I stopped and cried beside highway 4 for an hour. And then I stopped being such an ***hole myself. Thanks for being willing to put yourself out there.
Alwaysbeen a fan, even though you might think it's weird, me being a Christian and Republican and coming from a different worldview. Actually, you have a lot of real Republican values, except for the sexual ones. But I have never had a problem with being a Christian and Kiss fan...
Take care!
Jonathan Chapman
Response from Gene:
And I have never had a problem with being a Jewish man and being in KISS.
Dear Mr. Simmons
 In Australian we recently held Federal Elections. Our Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, was re-elected with a swing towards his government.
I am proud of our Prime Minister, he has good values and is a good leader, supports America in the fight against Terrorism and Values the Australian / American alliance.
Mr Howard and President Bush are good friends. To Quote Mr Bush when he addressed out Parliment : "I recently called Mr Howard a 'Man of Steel', This is American for Fair Dunkum"
I wish your country the best in you forth coming elections.
David
 Some gal that I work with tell's me that you are the ugliest dude she has seen. Is this true? Print this on your web site and reply to to it. If you don't then what she said is true and I will make it a goal to get it out to all of the world. Rhettisimus
Response from Gene:
I am the ugliest. And her point is?
Gene,
 It seems we live in a time where we are constantly gettting confusing information from our leaders and other spokespersons with whom we rely in which we really need to to have some form of translation to understand.
I recommend the following for anybody who wants the truth told as straight and as succintly as possible. To break it down in its simplest form, such as the "chicken crossing the road" example, is the best way I have found to truly understand our leaders' intents. See if you agree.
Jim
Why did the chicken cross the road?
GEORGE W BUSH
We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.
COLIN POWELL
Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.
HANS BLIX
We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.
JOHN KERRY
Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it!
RALPH NADER
The chicken's habitat on the other side of the road had been polluted by unchecked industrial greed. The chicken did not reach the unspoiled habitat on the other side of the road because it was crushed by the wheels of a gas-guzzling SUV.
PAT BUCHANAN
To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.
RUSH LIMBAUGH
I don't know why the chicken crossed the road, but I'll bet it was getting a government grant to cross the road, and I'll bet that somebody out there is already forming a support group to help chickens with crossing-the-road syndrome. Can you believe this?!? How much more of this can real Americans take? Chickens crossing the road paid for by their tax dollars. And when I say tax dollars, I'm talking about your money, money the government took from you to build a road for chickens to cross.
MARTHA STEWART
No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.
DR SEUSS
Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.
ERNEST HEMINGWAY
To die in the rain. Alone.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR
I envision a world where all chickens will be free to cross roads without having their motives called into question.
GRANDPA
In my day, we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.
BARBARA WALTERS
Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the ! heartwarming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its life long dream of crossing the road.
JOHN LENNON
Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together - in peace.
ARISTOTLE
It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.
KARL MARX
It was an historic inevitability.
CAPTAIN KIRK
To boldly go where no chicken has ever gone before.
SIGMUND FREUD
The fact that you are at all concerned that the chicken crossed the road reveals your underlying sexual insecurity.
BILL GATES
I have just witnessed eChicken2003, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook. Internet explorer is an integral part of eChicken.
A LBERT EINSTEIN
Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?
BILL CLINTON
I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What is your definition of chicken?
AL GORE
I invented the chicken!
COLONEL SANDERS
Did I miss one?
Response from Gene:
Very funny,..accurate, too. I like George Bush's approach. Pragmatic.
Dear Mr. Simmons,
 I did enjoy your thoughts on the American Entrepreneur, and Living the Dream. I agree with you on all levels. I must admit that I was somewhat dissapointed that there was no mention of the contributions of women. Shall we not forget Harriet Tubman, who brought about great change during the Civil War Era- a time when women of all shades had to fight for equal rights, and the struggle for woman sufferage began? Or 1932- Amelia Earhart. First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. 1961- Wilma Rudolph sets a new world record int he 100 meter dash. 1981- Sandra Day O'Connor. First woman to sit on the US Supreme Court. 1997- A museum dedicated to the works of Georgie O'Keeffe is opened in Sante Fe, New Mexico. (Just to name a few...) I realize that these women did not invent the plane or telephone, but they had a dream and chose to spread it to others. Their contributions to America are nothing short of amazing and inspirational. As a young woman artist/photographer, I find strength from their stories and continue to fight for what I believe, what I am, and what I can become. Thank you for reminding me that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
Sincerely,
Allison White
Response from Gene:
Women should be honored. But, let's not forget the streets and highways we walk and drive on, the buildings we work and live in...in fact the entire physical world was and continues to be built by the hand of man
Honor the man.
Dear Gene:
My wildflower's have changed form for the fall in Little Italy, so I needed to add a GENE SIMMON'S pumpkin to put an edge to my garden for Halloween; the artist is amazing!!!!! I got it at Air Zone in East Haven, CT.
Take care,
Lisa Sacco
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