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From: Winnipeg Free Press 'MY parents were always a little concerned about me," says Mark Sawatzky about his childhood. "I mean, there's something definitely weird about a little kid walking around singing "Put your hand in my pocket and grab onto my rocket..." Sawatzky was four years old in 1977, the year his older sister brought home a copy of Alive II by storied rock band KISS. Sharon, Lois and Bram never stood a chance. By the time Sawatzky reached grade school, the Elmwood youth was spending his entire allowance on records, T-shirts, bubble gum cards: anything he could turn up featuring the group's trademark image. Tracking down stuff wasn't difficult. By 1978, officially sanctioned KISS merchandise had become a major source of revenue for the much-decorated outfit. Products released under the watchful eye of then-manager Bill Aucoin included comic books, dolls, makeup kits and Halloween masks. In 1979 alone, worshippers scooped up an estimated $100 million worth of KISS belt buckles, Zippo lighters and (blush) condoms, among much, much more. That same year, membership in the band's fan club, the KISS Army, topped 100,000. (On a related note, all 100,000-plus agreed that the band's 1978 TV movie -- KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park -- sucked.) Fast forward almost 30 years. Sawatzky now has a wife, two cats and a basement that can only be described as a shrine to his still-favourite band. The room's blood-red walls are laden with shelves packed with action figures from every phase of the foursome's career. Still-sealed puzzles, games and lunchboxes are in full supply. So, too, are dozens upon dozens of KISS records, CDs, 8-tracks and cassettes. In one corner, Sawatzky even has an unopened bottle of KISS This wine. In another rests a line of body fragrances: "KISS Him" for guys, "KISS Her" for gals. ("After the bath, the rockin' begins with this lightly scented splash" boast the labels on both.) Aside from a few holdovers from his youth, the majority of Sawatzky's collection has been purchased in the last decade or so. "It started in earnest when I got a real job," he says, noting that he works at Le Chateau when he isn't busy counting his KISS coins or folding his KISS towels. "When I started having extra cash I told myself, 'It's now time to buy back a piece of my youth.'" Sawatzky's showcase collectible is a fully functioning Bally pinball machine, circa 1978. He picked it up on eBay a couple of years ago and fetched it from Dryden, Ont. "There's no end to it, really; new stuff comes out every year," he says when asked what could possibly remain on his want-list. One piece of merchandise Sawatzky is taking a pass on for now is the KISS Kasket. That's right -- true die-hards can now purchase an actual coffin decorated with KISS logos and snapshots of the band. Upon its release in 2001, bassist GENE SIMMONS quipped, "I love livin', but this makes the alternative look pretty damn good." As an added bonus, the Kasket is guaranteed waterproof in the event consumers want to use it as a fancy-dancy beer-cooler in the, uh, meantime. Since 2001, Sawatzky has taken his passion for all things KISS one step further. When he isn't touring with Winnipeg rock band the Harlots, Sawatzky is the drummer for local KISS tribute act the PAUL STANLEYs. "We play in the band because we're all huge KISS fans," Sawatzky says. "That's different from a lot of KISS tribute bands where one of the guys is on stage simply because he can breathe fire." Although the PAUL STANLEYs offer up note-for-note renditions of KISS's greatest hits, the band members' tongues are planted firmly in their cheeks when they're rock and rolling all night and/or partying every day. "Hell, KISS make fun of themselves all the time," Sawatzky says. (On Dec. 16, the PAUL STANLEYs will stage their annual Merry Kiss-mas show at the Zoo in Osborne Village. Tickets are $5 at the door.) It turns out that the most cherished pieces in Sawatzky's collection are among the least expensive. "I would have to say it's the magazines my mom used to bring home for me," he says, noting that his mother has since passed on. "Here was this nice lady trying to do the family thing, but at the same time walking into what amounted to 1970s head shops to buy her son a KISS magazine. Those are the types of things I consider really special." |
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