(“KISS Inc.” airs on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 8 and 11 pm ET as part of a CNN Presents hour.)

“My favorite piece of merchandising is me.”

Gene Simmons, the co-founder of KISS, is taking us on a tour of his home office.

It’s not so much an office, but a gigantic display of everything KISS, the band that started in 1973 and has grown into one of the most recognizable brands in the world.

We’re here to see many of the 3,000 items that KISS has licensed, from the coffin sitting locked on the floor, to the colorful condoms hanging on the wall.

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Eddie Balandas, whose growling South Side sneer can be heard booming out the intro for the album “KISS Alive II,” died in a fitting way for a former security chief and roadie for the grease-painted rockers.

Mr. Balandas loved to mingle with KISS fans and answer their questions about a band that took Kabuki makeup to a level exceeded only by the group’s longevity – which rivals that of a Galapagos tortoise.

After appearing at the Oct. 9 KISS Expo in Hillside – where the audience greeted him like a favorite uncle – Mr. Balandas rode his motorized scooter back to his suite at the Best Western Hotel.

He was found dead in his room the following day. Mr. Balandas, 59, who had congestive heart failure, had been in declining health.

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There comes a time when a fan finds a want to create and give a gift to their favourite band for no more of a reason than to have hopes that the gift is enjoyed by the band. Sadly, no one really knows what happens to the gift after you give them, but this time, I knew! Here is what happened.

Back in July 26, 2011, I had KISS meet and greet tickets at Casino Rama, Ontario and decided to both give a gift and to have the band sign a copy for me to keep. But what to give? I thought the best gift would be a photo I took from the front row at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, Toronto KISS show back in 2010 of Gene making funny faces It was difficult to choose just one photo as they were all quite unique. The best resolve was to create a five pose collage, of sorts, of Gene and then print off two 8 x 10 photos, putting one in a nice black frame (making sure to put my name and address on the back). I called the photo, and very original it was, my “Multi-Gene” photo.

July 26, 2011 Casino Rama KISS meet and greet I was nervous and ecstatic as I waited to present my photo gift to Gene. When it was time for the band to do the rounds and meet with the fans, I presented my gift and asked if he would like to have a copy to keep. Gene stopped, looked at it and then said, “Yes, please.” I asked him to sign a copy for me, of which he gladly did then posed for a photo with me. At this point I was glowing with excitement that I actually presented and Gene accepted my gift.

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KISSonline is back from the KISS Kruise, and now that we’re not hindered by a slow 11K satellite internet connection, we’ve got lot of great video to share with you! Check out “Take Me” and “Comin’ Home” from the first night’s show, and “Getaway” from KISS’ second night concert!