News Archive November 2010

Atlanta Halloween 2010 KISS Expo
From: Neil Gido
Posted: November 4, 2010

The Atlanta Expo on Halloween 2010 promoted by Phil Elliot was very fun, mainly because of getting to hang out with Peter while assisting with the KISS Museum/KISS Asylum tables, as well as getting to talk KISS all day with many fans with a variety of KISS styles of fandom and collectors senses.

Everything you could imagine was there featuring an exceptional assortment of albums from around the world, posters, promo items, 70s toys, 90s toys, clothes, and all the current KISS regalia! I didn't find anything major; however I am a fairly seasoned collector. My favorite score was a completely intact 1980 J.C. Penny Christmas catalog featuring a full page of KISS goodies including the toy guitar, record player, LP & Cassette cases, microphone & amp, etc. Now I need to see if they've got an address for what may now be an abandoned warehouse which I can raid to find some lost KISS goods in storage (just kidding�well half-kidding.)

There was also a music store representing there called "Rock Bottom Music" after the KISS song who sold out of several Cort Gene basses they brought, some Washburn Paul acoustics, and an Ibanez Iceman bass among many other cool things including the Cort catalog, KISS guitar straps & picks, etc. Their shirts had the Ibanez PS-10 and Axe bass on it and they also had a cute doggie shirt with a picture of a puppy wearing Gene makeup.

One unique item I saw was an Originals songbook that had been rebound in a hard cover by a library and on the spine, they printed KISS The Originals. In the back it had a library card for checking out the book. He ended up selling it for $500. A lot of people dropped a lot of cash at the event.

Bruce Kulick, John Corabi, and Bobby Blotzer (Ratt drummer & KISS fan I hope) were also at their own tables selling CDs, autographs 8x10s etc. Author of KISS & Tell (old Ace buddy,) Gordon GG Gebert was selling his new version of his book & copies of his old ones.

The trivia questions were good, the costume contest was great & the Q&As with Gordon, John & then Bruce were awesome and funny too. The face painter did a superb job on everyone who wanted it for free! There were many crazy characters including a guy wearing a Bart Simmons shirt (self explanatory,) a guy wearing all RARO attire (hat, board shorts, button-up shirt & KISS shades, & the most memorable person dressed up as "Queen Simmons"�this was a very tall male in fishnet stockings, leather skirt, platform boots making him ridiculously tall, and Gene face paint with red bow on his Gene hair bun, along with creepy red lipstick and he would pout like Paul and do a "herky-jerk" and then he spoke with a heavy southern accent� the guy was simply hilarious!

The Bruce & John acoustic set was fun & very well played. John is a funny guy with his between song comments too. You can see some videos of "Beth" & "Hard Luck Woman" on YouTube.

The acoustic set performed by Corabi & Kulick though not in order below included KISS, Union & some new John Corabi solo songs�

Hard Luck Woman (opening song)
Love (I Don't Need It Anymore)
October Morning Wind
No Friend of Mine
Oh Darling (Beatles jam also appeared on Japan version of the 1st Union CD sounded great)
Man in the Moon (John played most of this Scream song by himself, then Bruce came back from the restroom & joined just in time for the guitar solo/instrumental section)
Never Get To Say Goodbye
Crash
Hypnotized
Robin's Song
Beth

Bruce later appeared dressed up as what I liked to call "Count Kulicka." He even had a dribble of blood coming down his chin like the Gene solo LP cover.

The all-girl tribute band "Black Diamond" was great! They had a temp male drummer/KISS fan from a Beatles tribute band filling in for their usual female drummer The Goddess Of Thunder was on bass playing the Cort Axe & Gene $immons Punisher basses through a Gene $immons Ampeg signature amp rig. Needless to say, the bass sounded excellent. They also had the '75 era candelabra on stage as well as the '77 era serpent, and a nice flashing KISS logo I need for my collection (haha!) The spacewoman's guitar solo smoked, was enthusiastic & had some Aceisms as well as some familiar melodies. The she-Paul sounded exceptional on vocals and also gave some great down to earth yet amusing between song banters. She also played an Ibanez Iceman custom done with rhinestones.

I hope the southern expos continue in Atlanta and/or Nashville. Fun & enhanced KISS collections were had by all!