Randy had his "Kiss Experience" on Thanksgiving weekend. AND what an experience it was! I am posting his pictures that he took and his own words. I hope that you enjoy it.
This is Randy's picture with the band.
Here is Randy's journal entry of his backstage meet and greet:
(It is kind of long, since there was alot to tell, but I know that you will enjoy reading it.)
I thought it would be a good idea to get my thoughts down about my KISS backstage experience while the memories are still fresh in my mind. For a lifelong KISS fan, this was a dream come true. The atmosphere here at the Palm Casino and Resort was electrifying as KISS fans lined up to see their idols perform. I was one of the lucky few who were able to go backstage and greet the band before the show.
I met Dean Snowden, the Event Coordinator, at 6PM in front of the Box Office at the Pearl Concert Theater. I received all of my backstage gear and instructions. I was informed that KISS was running behind and that I needed to come back at 7PM. As you can imagine, after waiting for weeks, another hour seemed like an eternity. So I wandered around the casino and proudly displayed my backstage pass hanging around my neck. I chatted with several of the other KISS ARMY members and shared experiences and collector’s items. We KISS fans are all one big happy family.
The time arrived to meet Dean in front of the box office again. My heart was racing and the adrenaline was pumping. I was finally going to meet KISS in all their grease paint, platform shoes, and leather. We took an elevator up to the next floor into a remote area of the ballroom. There were signs on the conference room doors. One sign said KISS VIP and another said KISS Meet and Greet. I later found out that the KISS VIP was for family, friends, and members of the press. The other room of course is where I would be meeting the band.
We waited several more minutes until Dean informed us that KISS would be arriving in 15 minutes. My heart skipped a beat, but I was ready. During the wait, I was able to make friends with the owner of Graceland Wedding Chapel. He was the spitting image of Elvis Presley. He told us how he had met Gene Simmons personally during one of Gene's many visits to Las Vegas. He also shared with us stories of celebrities that had been married at his chapel (Jon Bon Jovi, Ace Frehley, Jay Leno, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Aaron Neville). He even took a call from Toby Keith’s representative about a wedding they are planning. I asked if I could get a picture with him and he agreed.
Dean finally announced he was taking us into the meet and greet room. He gave us a brief synopsis of the rules and what to expect when meeting the band. I was ready. This is what I had waited for. The doors opened and we walked in.
The room was small with a big banner of the KISS Alive 35 World Tour against one wall. Dean had us line up along the wall. He explained that KISS would be entering through the door across from where I stood. I waited with anticipation. A man with a suit and several gadgets protruding from his ear peeked in looked around and said "clear!" The door opened wide and in came Paul Stanley. He stopped and gave a traditional Paul Stanley pose by pouting his lips and standing a good 7 feet tall with his glittery costume and big hair. You could smell the Aquanet as soon as he walked in the room. A resounding "HELLO PEOPLE" came from the voice I have known all my life. Paul walked over and took his position under the banner. Next Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer walked in with another loud cheer from the small group. But where was Gene? The Demon walked in last and truly set the tone for what KISS is all about. He quickly put his hands up in the air and uncurled that famous tongue from his mouth. I didn’t know a small group could scream so loud.
Dean quickly got us started with taking pictures with the band. I was not able to take any of my own pictures until he was done taking pictures of us with the band. One of the rules outlined earlier. I was toward the back of the line, so I waited in anticipation as each member of the group went up and had their picture taken. My heart was pounding as you can imagine. There was a stereo in the room playing songs from KISS’s new album Sonic Boom. Every few minutes, Paul would start singing along to one of his own songs. I was just amazed at the crispness and power of his voice. It just filled up the room.
Finally, it was my turn. Paul signaled me over and I quickly walked up to him with my guitar in hand, camera, and a few other items. The time had come to stand next to my idols. Could I handle it? Eric Singer says to me “here let me take some of these things out of your hands”. He takes my album, camera, and marker and gives it to Dean. I asked if it was OK to keep my guitar in the picture. Paul Stanley spoke up and said “whatever you would like man.” I was elated. Dean spoke up and asked me to move further back. I did and before I knew it Paul Stanley and Eric Singer were crowding around me. Paul stuck his arm out over my shoulder and gave a quick thumbs-up and the camera snapped two pictures. Paul gave me a pat on the back and I went back to my place against the wall.
Now it was time for autographs and a chance to talk with my idols. The only thing going through my mind was “what am I going to say?” The other thing going through my mind was not to say or do anything stupid. The band started making their way around to each of us. Being in the back of the line, I had to wait for several minutes. Paul was the first to make his way around the group. He finally made it to me and said “How ya doin’?” in his familiar New York accent. I told him that I was doing great. He asked me where on my guitar I wanted him to sign. I showed him a place I had reserved just for him. While he was signing, I was soaking in all the stardom and just taking in the presence of this larger than life character. When he was done signing I looked into his eyes and told him how much I appreciated all he has brought to my life and that he was absolutely my favorite person on earth. He said “thank you very much”. I could tell he was genuinely grateful as he is of all their fans. I then asked him if he could sign my wife’s scrap book page. We chatted for another couple of minutes and then he told me to enjoy the show.
I was star struck at this point (no pun intended). But now that I had talked with Paul, it was time to meet the rest of the band. Up next was Tommy Thayer. Tommy was pretty quiet, but he signed all my stuff and I thanked him for everything. Next was Eric Singer. This man is quite the character. I got to watch him talk to a little boy ahead of me (probably about 8 years old). It was great listening to him interact with him. He finally came up to me and asked me how I was doing. We chatted briefly and then he moved on to the next fan.
Last but certainly not least was Gene Simmons. I don’t know if it was because I was toward the back of the line and he was the last to come around, but I ended up being able to talk with him for quite some time. We talked about his show Family Jewels. I asked if he could sign the scrapbook page for my wife. In typical Gene style he said, “yeah…I know all about that.” We then talked about Shannon and Nick and if they were in town with him. He said they were at home as they had enough of touring around with him. I then shared that we had watched their webcast on Facebook from their show at the Staples center in Los Angeles. Being the business man he is, he said that he had not seen it yet and asked me how it was. I told him it was great and that they should do more webcasts. He gave me the big Gene smile and said thank you. A few of us stayed to chat with Gene and just take in his persona. I almost forgot to have him sign my guitar. Before he walked away, I quickly said “Gene, I forgot, would you please sign my guitar?” He said “absolutely” and asked me where I would like him to sign it.
Gene was quickly whisked away by one of the guys in a suit and what remained of our small group filed out of the room with stars in our eyes and a little weakness in the knees.
I quickly took my things back to the room and made my way back downstairs to see the show. The opening band had already finished and they were getting the KISS stage set ready to go. In typical KISS fashion, the show was loud and thunderous with lots of smoke, fire, confetti, and things going boom. My seats were right next to the stage, so I was able to see everything very well and was practically able to reach out and touch them. Tommy shot fireworks out of his guitar, Gene drooled blood, Eric rotated on his drum set, and Paul showed off his voice during a short solo from him. The band literally blew up the place during Detroit Rock City, the last song of the evening, and we all left the theater smelling and looking like we had just been through a war. Smoke hung like a cloud in the theater. KISS had once again proven what a rock concert is all about.
As I look back on this experience, it was everything I had imagined it to be. You always wish you could have more time to talk with the people who have influenced and shaped your life so much. But I was happy to have spent the time I did with the guys and am coming home with lots of autographs and memories that will last a lifetime. KISS has got me through the good times in my life and the bad times as well. I don’t think I would have survived some of my teenage years without a little help from Paul and Gene. A big thank you to my wife and kids for indulging me in my love of the band and for allowing me to come spend the night here in Las Vegas with the Hottest Band in the World….KISS!
