Call to arms for the KISS Army

DEMAND KISS: Peterborough now running seventh in rock band's online poll to pick 40 cities for tour

By SARAH DEETH , Peterborough Examiner STAFF WRITER
Published April 21, 2009

Darryl Andrews is calling on members of the KISS Army to unite, lead the charge and vote for Peterborough in an online contest that could bring the rock band to the city. The KISS Army is the name of the group's fan club and a general term describing KISS fans.

Andrews, the 38-year-old co-owner of Hair's the Thing on Dublin Street, has loved KISS for most of his life, describing the band as the perfect blend of rock stars and super heroes. "KISS has been part of my life since I was six years old," he said. Andrews has seen KISS in concert 24 times, attended fan conventions and watched the band through its different phases.
Now he's watching the band's resurgence of popularity, he said.

But he's always had to travel to other cities to see them, and the contest creates the possibility of taking his two daughters to the show. "And here's a chance to have them come play in your neck of the woods," he said. "When you see a KISS show, it's a whole other experience," he said. "They're larger than life."

When he heard about the contest he immediately linked to the voting web-site from his Facebook account, Andrews said. That's gotten his friends and family voting, he said, but he wants to see a strong effort from everyone.

Even those who don't like KISS should vote, he said, because the band's fame will shed positive light on concert venues such as the Memorial Centre.
"We need to get more acts in there. We need to get more bands," he said.
A KISS concert would also bring additional money and fun into the city, he said.
And if Peterborough wins, Andrews promises his hair salon will step up and help fans prepare for the show.

"We'll be having a big hair thing if KISS comes to town," Andrews said.