Here's KISS with the massive crowd in Sarnia last night.

In the photos: KISS fans Nicole Vander Zanden, left, and Chantel Brooker donned their face paint and stuck out their tongues at Sarnia Bayfest 2011. The 18-year-old girls made the trip up to see KISS.

Hunter Snyder, 7, spreads his bat wings to show off his Gene Simmons costume at Sarnia Bayfest 2011. The boy from Attica, New York, has been to five KISS shows.

By TYLER KULA, The Observer

Brian Maxwell's bedroom in Collingwood, Ont. is a thousand dollar shrine to the rock band KISS.

"Everybody thinks I'm crazy," said the 16-year-old, who was decked out in Gene Simmons-esque 'Demon' makeup Wednesday.

Maxwell was among the first in line to see the iconic rockers take the stage opening night at Sarnia's Bayfest music festival.

"They're not just a band, they're superheroes," said Maxwell, shortly after buying another $195 worth of KISS swag — a shirt, sweater, signed photo, signed drumsticks, poster and a bandana to add to his collection.

"I think there's maybe about 200 KISS logos in my room," he said.

Many of the more than 15,000-member KISS Army that poured into Centennial Park sported makeup and other regalia in homage to the band.

Thanks to Macarena Quirola for sending us this video of his little brother rocking out as Paul at "Talent Night." Nelson won the competition!

Here's KISS with the record-setting crowd in Fort McMurray last night.

_{Photo by Dean Snowden for KOL}

Last year I hosted a band from Sweden through the Seattle Swedish club. The director didn't know if they were a punk industrial band or a marching band. I didn't care. I love music. I often host musicians. I love people and I love meeting world travelers and showing them my fantastic city. I didn't even know if they were going to be men or women. Turned out to be 4 guys in their early 30's from Goteburg. I am a single gal, late 40's. They were a clean-cut, acoustic folk band and super groovy guys. We knew we had our Viking heritage in common and we weren't sure what else.

Within moments of their arrival, it turned out, we had both recently been to KISS concerts, from our different places across the world. We were different ages, different genders and lived clear across the globe, but we had all been KISS'ed. When we arrived at my house, from their airport pick up, we went straight to the stereo, put on some old vinyl, (on the record player, not our bodies!) and cranked up KISS. Language barriers and age differences made way for the commonality of KISS. From my albums, we headed to youtube and computer photos, and then they showed me KISS shreds. I had never seen a 'shred' before and we laughed with the utmost respectful devotion to our pagan gods of rock!

KISS created the connection for strangers through their music. The boys spent four days of their US tour with me and they are forever my buddies and brothers, bonded at the start, by the songs and band that we both love. KISS created that for us, beyond music to the mere humanity of connection and friendship. Thanks KISS, your impact can be more than you imagine. Your affect can be big and brash, loud and bright, or simply subtle and sweet when strangers meet. Sweden KISS'ed Seattle and we all loved our KISS music, concerts and crazy shreds!

ThanKs for that Konnection, KISS!

Kitten

While tickets to KISS — the most anticipated summer concert in Fort McMurray — were sold out in record time, those quick enough to buy them are now selling them at more than double for profit.

MacDonald Island Park announced Friday that tickets were sold out in just under 25 minutes, 30 minutes quicker than last year's Northern Classic.

VIP tickets cost $250 and general tickets cost $99. A total 9,000 tickets were sold.

Meanwhile, on sites like Kijiji, tickets are being sold at double the price ranging from $250 to $500.

One seller is putting up $500 for a premium seat, row 8 for a VIP ticket.

Another seller had 16 tickets, selling 12 in just one day at $250 each.

Scalping may not come as a surprise as Fort McMurray is KISS's only stop in Alberta.

Thanks to Nick Xenos for sending KISSOnline this picture of his girlfriend and her Hello Kitty KISS Tattoo.

LETTERS

Today was my birthday. My daughter who is 10, made this card just for me. Needless to say, it was the best ever!!!!

John H

LETTERS

Friday I got to go to Spokane to visit my friend Eric Singer. I was really happy because I didn’t see Eric for a real long time! We went to the big arena place and waited for Eric. Then some nice guy came and said hi, it was Eric, but I didn’t recognize him because he had a pony tail. I asked Daddy if this was Eric, he said YES. Eric took us to the concert stage and me and Eric went to see his drums. They are very cool. Then me and my mom and dad sat on the chairs and there was a lot of noise coming from the speakers. Then we got to watch KISS sing some songs at the sound check. I really like the sound check, its soo cool. Then when KISS was done the sound check, I got to go play Eric’s drums while he had to go get his KISS suit on. This nice guy was there, his name is Paul and he is Eric’s drum tech guy. He was a nice guy. Then we went to this other place where there was some drinks and some really good cakes and muffins. We waited for Eric, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Gene Simmons to come for pictures. They are my friends and I got a nice picture with them. We had to go to our seats after that. The concert was really cool. I liked it a lot. There was lots of snow when KISS sang Party Everyday (Rock n Roll All Night) and that was the coolest, and some good explosions and the fire was really HOT. It was soo awesome! I had a really good time and I hope I get to go visit Eric again soon and go to the sound check and concert cause it was so awesome.

From Jonah Rocks (typed by Mom)

www.jonahrocks.com

Check out these fantastic KISS cupcakes from the band's catering last night.

Thanks to drummer extraordinaire and recently, KOL roving reporter, Eric Singer for snapping the photo.

Hey KISS!

Thanks for having such a great show today in Abbotsford. Can't wait to see you guys again! I lost my voice and sprained my neck because I was singing my heart out and I was mastering the art of headbanging. To thank you guys, I decided to paint a group picture of you guys on my school wall above the lockers, which will be there forever. PS: I love you. Thank you for signing my record. I'm sad that I couldn't meet you guys in person, but I promise that you'll see me again as an artist of some kind.

Much love and KISSES,
Jessica

LETTERS

Here are a few photos Eric Singer took yesterday on the way to the venue in Prince George! The photo on the left is Mr. PG, the mascot of Prince George, Canada appearing as Gene Simmons! The photo on the right is the CN Centre sign featuring the KISS logo.

KISS lived up to its reputation on Wednesday at CN Centre, pleasing fans with a visual extravaganza, playing songs like Do You Love Me, Rock and Roll All Night, and Beth.

CLICK HERE to browse the Prince George Citizen's KISS gallery.

Check out this fan's awesome KISS tattoos spotted at the band meet-and-greet in Kamloops!

Photos by Dean Snowden.

PHOTO SPECIAL: KISS rocks Abbotsford inside the AESC

Photograph by: Darren McDonald, Times

Legendary rock group KISS pulled no punches inside Abbotsford’s AESC Monday, June 27, 2011. Blazing their way through a full catalogue of songs and shouting “Abbotsford, are you ready to rock?!” throughout the night, the band — Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer – put on a truly spectacular show that left the large crowd with wide smiles and ringing ears.

CLICK HERE to view the Abbotsford Times KISS Photo Gallery