From: Robert M. Fletcher
I was one of a couple hundred fans that was cast as an extra in the filming of the new Pepsi Kiss commercial, and all I can really say is WHAT A NIGHT!! We arrived at the Desert Sky Pavillion at around 5:15P.M. They had a special area for us to sign in at, and once we signed in and had our photo taken, we were told to enjoy the catered food and snacks, and ALL the drinks(Pepsi) and other soft drinks we could handle. We ate and around 7:00P.M. we were led down a path to the "Set" as they called it; "Heaven" is what I called it.

We were put into position and given our instructions, and after that Paul Stanley came out and played with the audience for a while, then Peter appeared at his kit, Gene was a few minutes later, and finally Ace came out, and I must say, in light of all the recent Ace bashings that Ace was in TOP FORM, he looked fit and trim, and I don't think I've ever seen him look that good, he didn't look smashed, and was very aware.

Next, that little adorable girl in the Pepsi commercials came out, and she was dressed as a member of KISS, well kinda like all members in one, anyway she came out and had a little guitar like Paul's washburn, with the rhinestones and all. They lip synched numerous times to a Kiss Pepsi tune, that was actually pretty damn catchy.

At around 9:30 or so, Ace said he had a plane to catch and he would see us all on Saturday, then they did close-ups of Peter, and the little girl got filmed a lot, then they said we were all but done, and to return to the sign in area, and finish all the paper work needed to get paid(Which was $100.00 a piece), after that we were told that we were released, and could go home....

Well, this will be a night I will remember for the rest of my life, and Saturday and Sunday as well being that I was lucky enough to win 2nd Row tickets to the Tucson, AZ show.

From: Steve Hoyle
OK, here is the lowdown of being in the KISS ARMY in Phoenix on Thursday, March 9th. My wife & I got the callback late Wednesday nite to be in the PEPSI/KISS commercial. We knew we'd go but the KISS Expo was that night too, and we already had tickets. So we got to the Commercial at 5:00 , sat around for 2 hrs. while people checked in. Then later we were escorted down to center stage.That's when we got first glimpse of the NEW stage for the FAREWELL tour...it was like the Psycho Circus tour stage ...but better. It had the same dual KISS signs w/ the video screen in the middle. The stage had way more guitar amps, and stairs on either side of Pete's drum set which Ace quickly walked up & then turned around & yelled "now how am I gonna get down". They were pretty steep.

First out comes Paul, then later Gene {who signed my KISS alive 2 Import CD gatefold cover...after stomping it with his demon boots}.Then Ace & Peter. And then what I had most feared... the PEPSI girl was there!!!!! Allie or Haillie, whatever. She was dressed like an Ace-Paul combo, with a variation on all four members make-up. After some headbanging lessons from Gene & Paul, they all rocked out on the new KISS version of the PEPSI song.They did camera close-ups on each member, then on the band as a whole, then several takes with the lil' PEPSI girl jamming, especially with Gene. These two hit it off. By the end of the shoot, she was stomping,wiggling tongue, and throwing guitar picks to the crowd as well as the DEMON himself.

All went great, especially between camera takes when the band was harrassed by the fans, and they obliged to some autographs { as well as did the lil' girl}.Doc Mcghee was hanging out on stage, and I bugged him to death to hook me up with the other 3 guys auto's. He didn't, but I didn't push'em hard enough. He was so laid back, really cool guy. The band did an interview with ET {Entertainment Tonight} right up on the stage between shooting sessions. We did some more takes with all the members getting into it and rockin' around the lil' PEPSI girl { who had an Identicl Paul model guitar...scaled down.} Ace had the smoking guitar from hell, which they shot one run and then hesitated to start again, while Ace was consumed in the smoke , giving the "roll'em" gesture until his smoke bomb died out.

Shortly after, he surprisingly walked to the mic and announced he had to catch a plane and that he enjoyed the shoot. I later found out from "the" Eric Singer, that Ace's dad died Tuesday , so he was leaving to attend the matter. That explained the weired abrupt leaving of Ace as the other's looked surprised but didn't say a word. They carried on with the shoot. Peter was eventually noticed missing. He left about the time Ace did. The old guy ,grandpa, from the PEPSI commercial was there too. He had leather pants & a KISS shirt w/ a suit jacket. He didn't do much. I'm not sure if he was filmed with the concert scenes. Anyway, everyone was notified to pack it in, and they thanked everyone involved.The crowd of fans, and I mean FANS, because if you weren't one going in, then you sure as hell were coming out. Especially the "agency extras". We all returned to the tents outside to fill out release forms & stuff.I can't believe we got to hang so up close & personal with THE FOUR WHO ARE ONE...and we get paid $100. It was such an experience. The commercial is expected to air on the Academy Awards show , later this month.

Then , it was off to whatever was left of the KISS Expo at Club Rio in Tempe. We got there at 11:00, had just missed Bruce Kulick & John Corabi's acoustic set. Bruce was hanging out in the crowd, really casual, pretty buzzed {hahaha}. Eric Singer & Glamnation rocked out and got pretty silly. The new lunchboxes were there too. I got one, but there is no thermos. Still, pretty sweet. The Guardian of the Gods was there{Andre}. It was a small crowd, but still pretty cool. Eric did signings after the show & I got him to sign my Carnival Of Souls cd cover w/ Bruce. That's when he said Ace was supposed to show up and jam on Shock Me w/ Glamnation. But, unfortunately he didn't because of his father's death." GOD rest ye the man who spawned us the SPACEACE!!!!!!! ". All in all, it is was a fuckin' killer evening for the KISS ARMY. I also will have pics from the concert shoot & of the KISSonline semi, ready to post online soon.

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