KISS Konvention
at the Westin Hotel
photos and review by Paul Lee
There are major rock ‘n’ roll events and then there are monumental rock ‘n’ roll events. The Worldwide KISS Konvention in Boston fits into the latter category. There have been KISS conventions all over the world, but none of them compare in sheer magnitude to this one. It came, it rocked, and it shook the Westin hotel, much to the dismay of the other guests.
For a mere $100, a figure sure to weed out the casuals from the diehards, KISSaholics were treated to a wealth of nostalgia, paraphernalia, and absolute KISS mania. Being a KISS fan of old, I was caught up in the hype and energy of the convention. I arrived at the Westin on a sweltering Saturday morning and despite the intense heat and humidity, a line was already forming. The convention had not even started and these maniacs, mostly dressed in black tees and jeans, were going to see this event from its opening at noon to the midnight finale.
After getting my prestigious-looking KISS Konvention badge that looked like a back stage laminate, I travelled to the fourth floor. As I entered, I was handed a glossy and brightly adorned program describing the background of the convention. My senses nearly tripped their overload circuits when I entered the convention room. In front of me stood four mannequins, faces painted and decked out in original KISS garb. It was almost more than my adrenal gland could handle. KISS maniacs, brandishing their cameras, let loose a volley of bulb flashes to capture these famed suits of rock armor. Later, I discovered another room that contained at least ten more classic costumes.
Tables surrounding the perimeter of the convention room were full of KISS paraphernalia and dealers banking on the mania to pull in some cash. Hordes of fans surrounded them. Every piece of KISS merchandise imaginable was available: Match books, radios, dolls, photos, pencils, condoms, playing cards – the list is endless. People were paying some big money for items like Japanese imports of Love Gun and KISS Alive II. It was over a hundred bucks a pop for some pieces of vinyl. This was like a comic book convention gone awry.
As I walked around and talked with some of the KISSnuts, I began to understand just how devoted (addicted) some of them are. Joe came all the way from Syracuse directly after work the previous day, and drove directly to Boston without sleep. His energy was high, and the tribal, Gene Simmons/Bat-face tattoo on his arm proved this guy was a life-long fan. Nicco, head of the European KISS Army, travels with the convention all over to sell his wares. I even met a guy who claims to have seen KISS 45 times. To these folks, this convention was better than heaven.
For the next few hours, classic KISS footage was presented on two large screens. Present drummer Eric Singer did a drum clinic, promoted his endorsed equipment, answered questions, and played along with DAT-recorded KISS songs. Bruce Kulick did a similar clinic for guitarists. This was neat enough, but only whetted the KISSmaniacs’ appetites to see Gene and Paul join in on an acoustic set.
Next came the much anticipated question and answer session with all four currnet KISS members. It mostly revolved around the classic KISS of the ’70s with then members Ace Frehley and Peter Chris. With over five hundred excited fans watching, two assistants handed around a microphone. People asked questions like: “Paul, when you went with a groupie, would you sleep with her with or without your makeup on?” Paul replied something like “It depends what they wanted.” A young woman told KISS that it was their music that helped her beat her bout with cancer, and Gene invited her on stage to kiss them all. It went on for over an hour with all sorts of interesting questions and responses.
Finally, for well over an hour, KISS played many of their classic songs such as “Christine Sixteen,” “Strutter,” “Goin’ Blind,” “Plaster Caster” and some post-Peter and Ace songs. The fans were encouraged to shout out their favorite song requests, which resulted in a deafening roar between songs. Of course, KISS put on a fun and lively performance, playing loads of songs including a country rendition of “God of Thunder.” By the time they’d finished, I had been at the convention for nine hours and had to leave before the cover band (who were decked out in 1975 makeup and armor) began.
In these crazed ’90s, KISS is a different beast than they once were. But they’ve survived. They’ve become more of a corporation now than a rock band, but that enables them to let their fans relive the past better. Forget not that KISS were once the wildest, most outrageous and most marketed rock animals on Earth. As incredibly consumer-oriented as this event was, the convention still was a great time and a great way for their fans to get closer to them. A testament to KISS’ incredible enduring legacy.
