News Archive July 2011

Bayfest: KISS Opens Sarnia's Music Festival With A Bang
From: The Observer
by Tara Jeffrey
Posted: July 7, 2011

The 'Gods of Thunder' didn't disappoint Wednesday with an explosive concert that wowed Sarnia Rock City and kicked off Bayfest just right.

Clad in their signature makeup and sparkling get-up, KISS members Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer proved they're as outrageous as ever, with thunderous pyrotechnics and an elaborate stage show that opened in a flurry of fireballs and explosions.

The band took the stage at 10 p.m. sharp, opening with hit singles Modern Day Delilah and Cold Gin.

"So remember I said, 'Can we come back and see ya, people?' And you said 'yeah...'" shouted Stanley to a raucous crowd.

"We're baa-ack!"

The headline show opening Bayfest marked KISS's second Sarnia visit in three years.

"We definitely started off with a bang," said festival organizer Michele Stokley, scrambling backstage to keep the chaos in order. "It's been a long day - we started off at 5 a.m. just to be ready for KISS. It can get demanding with them, but you always know it's going to be an incredible show."

Stokley, who's been at the helm of the massive outdoor music festival for 13 years, said it's always the first show that's the most nerve-wracking.

"It's when you get all the kinks out," she said. "But you notice that, even after all these years, you still forget a couple of things."

The KISS Army - complete with elaborate make-up and costume - was in full force amid more than 13,500 at Centennial Park.

Even as the Gene Simmons Family Jewels motorcoach rolled in, fans and staff stopped to snap pics on their cameras and cell phones.

When "The Demon" himself finally arrived, he was spotted shaking hands and mingling backstage.

The band also requested four copies of The Observer to read featuring stories about lead guitarist Tommy Thayer and their backstage 'wish list.'

Meanwhile, diehard fans braved the heat standing in line, including Chris Buscema, who pitched a tent and camped out at the VIP entrance overnight.

"I'm totally taking advantage of KISS being back in Sarnia for a second time," said the 20-year-old, who scored backstage VIP Meet and Greet passes, after catching the eye of Bayfest organizers at The Observer's Superfan contest and Sarnia's Canada Day Parade.

"The whole atmosphere is really amazing, and what they bring to the show - there's nothing quite like it," said Buscema, who walked to Picker's Alley that afternoon to buy an authentic Gene Simmons Axe bass guitar for the blood-spitting frontman to sign.

"This is about the greatest thing I've ever had the experience to do."