Ultimate Story

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=95 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <nobanner>  </B><B>CONCERTDREAMS</B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CONCERTDREAMS"><B>home</B></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Complete Dream">The Complete Dream</A>   |   <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Final Dream">The Final Dream</A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Ultimate Dream">The Ultimate Dream</A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Paul Stanley Tour Shots">Paul Stanley Tour Shots</A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Gene Simmons Tour Shots">  Gene Simmons Tour Shots</A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ace Frehley Tour Shots">Ace Frehley Tour Shots</A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Peter Criss Tour Shots">Peter Criss Tour Shots</A>   |   <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bruce Kulick">Bruce Kulick</A>   |   <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eric Singer">Eric Singer</A>   |   <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tommy Thayer">Tommy Thayer</A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Kiss Tour Shots"> Kiss Tour Shots</A>   |   <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stage Setup">Stage Setup</A>   |   <B>Ultimate Story</B>   |   <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bill Acoin">Bill Acoin</A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Doc McGhee ">Doc McGhee </A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ted Nugent Book Signing">Ted Nugent Book Signing</A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tour Souvenirs">Tour Souvenirs</A>   |   <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kiss Expos">Kiss Expos</A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fans with Kiss">Fans with Kiss</A>   |   <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Marys Internet Photos">Mary's Internet Photos</A>   |   <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="70s 80s MegaBands">70`s - 80`s MegaBands</A>   |   <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Favorite Links">Favorite Links</A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us Guestbook">Contact Us & Guestbook</A>   |   <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whats New">What's New</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=385 BGCOLOR="#A6CAF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I> <nobanner>  Ultimate Story</I></div> <div>      This is my KISS saga, the story of a KISS fanatic. I have been a fan for years, but was elevated to the rank of fanatic after I saw them live for the first time during their Reunion Tour. My first live KISS concert was in 1996 and took place in Cleveland, Ohio. My husband and I had floor seats thirty rows back. When the curtain fell and we laid eyes on the legend, we stood in awe! My husband kept saying,"I don't believe it's really them!" He stood with his mouth open! That was the start of my journey into KISS craziness. We then saw them in reserved seats in Dayton, Ohio. At that point I decided that I wanted up close to the band. Didn't want to be a face lost in the crowd, I wanted to interact with the band.</div> <div>      When KISS announced The Psycho Circus Tour, I decided to call a broker, pay the bucks, and hopefully get up front. After waiting forever, and within one week of the concert, I got the news that we had front row seats on Ace's side! I couldn't believe it! Our friend was lucky enough to get second row right behind us. We went to the concert in a daze! My husband even dropped his ticket in the arena without realizing it. Thank goodness the friend was behind us and picked up the ticket. I had a special airbrushed T-shirt with Paul's face across the front and he noticed it immediately, even pointing it out to Ace! I was in heaven! We got a pic from each member of the band, except Gene. It was the last song and my husband was alittle down because Gene is his favorite of the four. Suddenly, he felt something on his arm; he looked down to see Gene's pic on his arm! Gene wasn't even on our side of the stage. I was now definitely hooked.</div> <div>      When the band announced their Farewell Tour, my husband just groaned because he knew that it would cost him lots of money and I would probably drive him nuts! He was right! I was on the phone to the broker putting in my order for Cleveland, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana. I was guaranteed rows one through five but would not find out what I had until right before the concerts!</div> <div>      Well, the Cleveland concert came closer and I was on the phone everyday to the broker. It was the day before the concert and I still did not have my tickets. I called the broker nearly hysterically and was told that the best they could do was fifth row all the way to the side. I was heartbroken; after first row, fifth seemed a mile away and all the way to the side. They ended up refunded some money and giving us eighth row dead center.</div> <div>       The concert was great as always but I was alittle disappointed that there was no interaction with the band. On the last song, when Paul came out to the edge of the stage, I decided to stand on the chair to see if Paul would remember my shirt (I wore the airbrushed shirt). As soon as I stood up, Paul gave me a huge smile and pointed right at me! The people around me went nuts!</div> <div>      Then came my concert in Indianapolis. The broker assured me, that they should be able to get up front. When the tickets arrived, they were sixth row and not even one through five as promised. I called and was advised that there were four rows of pit seats and they weren't included in the count. I was extremely disappointed. Ask my husband whom I drove to a near breakdown by now!</div> <div>      I went to the concert with my chin hanging down. It was an outdoor concert and it had started to rain. We got to the gate and they wouldn't let us take in signs we had made! Well then security took us to our seats. We just kept moving closer to the front and I couldn't believe it! They had removed the pit seats so our seats were actually in the second row! Right after the concert started, security said "there's plenty of room at the rail, go on up" I was now front row against the stage! I couldn't believe my luck. I had brought a pair of lacy black panties with me, in case I got a chance to get close enough to Paul! It was my chance. I waved the panties at Paul; he smiled, nodded, and waved me on. I threw them at his feet and he picked them up, playing a whole song with them on his guitar! I even have photos of them on his guitar! Then Gene kept throwing water on me until I was soaked! This experience made the Columbus experience seem trifle! We ended up with pics from each member and my husband got a mic windscreen cover that had Gene's makeup on it!</div> <div>      Well, most fans would have been thrilled with these experiences, but as my husband puts it, I'm greedy! All I could say was "I didn't get to meet Paul." I wanted to meet Paul before they were done touring, and my dream was to have the airbrushed T-shirt signed by Paul and retired. My husband would just laugh and shake his head. We went to other concerts during this tour, Cincinnati, Columbus, Louisville. After each show, I pouted and said,"But I didn't meet Paul." My husband must have the patience of a saint!</div> <div>      My husband thought the whole ordeal was over when KISS announced that they were coming to Dayton, Ohio (our own backyard) I was thrilled but my husband thought, "here we go again!" The next day I was on the phone to the broker. I was assured that they had a strong hold on this particular arena, and I would have no problem getting in rows one or two. Well, I had some anxious weeks waiting to see where my seats were. I also got excellent reserved seats for some friends, my mother, and my daughter.</div> <div>      Mentioning my mother, that is a story in itself. My mother was a hard core country music fan. I kept telling her about KISS, but she wanted nothing to do with them. Then prior to the Psycho Circus Tour, she saw a clip of a concert and said," You know, they would be pretty cool to see live." I told her at that time, that I would take her to a concert when they came around. I took her to Dayton, Ohio during the Psycho Circus Tour. This country music fan stood for two hours and sang and danced the whole time! I had recruited a new member into the KISS Army! I asked her after the concert what she thought of Gene and Paul and she replied "Men that look that good make you want to go home and slap your husband!" That was my Mom talking! She now blares their music in her car and from her stereo!</div> <div>      I got my tickets to the concert and I was in the fourth row! This wasn't row one or two. Now, I will say that most fans would give their right arm for these seats but they weren't what I wanted! My husband and I decided that I should not wear my usual T-shirt and jeans. This time I would dress a little like a groupie and see what would happen. Prior to the concert I took my leather biker jacket and had Paul's face airbrushed across the back. It turned out great. So I arrived at the arena in my outfit with my jacket. Boy, did it work! Security moved me into the front row. My husband brought our daughter into the fourth row and she was in heaven! There were three generations of Paul Stanley women at this concert; my eleven-year-old daughter, my fifty-five year old mother, and myself!</div> <div>       Just a few weeks before the concert, my husband met someone that has worked at the arena for years. He knows all the local security and has free reign backstage. My husband told him on several occasions what a huge Paul fan I am. He pleaded with him to try to get me backstage. The gentleman said that he wasn't sure if he could be there but he would try. He told me to stand at my seat after the concert and if he made it he would come get me.</div> <div>      The curtain dropped, the boys descended and I started the greatest experience of my life! I held up a sign that read "I wanna get myself KISSED!" Paul saw the sign and turned around and wiggled his butt at me. Then he saw my jacket and gave me a little hip action. Then I waved a pair of red panties at him and I couldn't believe his response! He dropped to the stage, rolled to the edge and reached out for me to hand him my panties. He just lay there looking into my eyes! Then he played the whole song with the panties in his hand! Gene kept coming over soaking me with water from his water bottle. Ace came over and winked. I was in shock. At one point, I held up my jacket again and asked Paul if he would sign it and he said"Yes" I couldn't believe it! </div> <div>      Then came the end of the show and I just stood in my place. Suddenly, I heard "Let's go backstage" There was the man that my husband had met. We walked right past security and into a hallway. He told me "When you see Paul, call his name and step out" Sure enough after he showered, Paul walked right past me on his way to his waiting car. I said "Paul" and stepped out. He smiled and I started to say would you sign this. Before I got it out he said, "Sure, come here." He signed my jacket, my airbrushed shirt, and posed for a picture. Security didn't use the flash on the first shot. I told Paul " I know you hear it all the time but I am truly your #1 fan and you cannot leave without getting a picture that will turn out!" He smiled, handed security the camera and said," Take another picture." That is my million-dollar photo! I then asked Paul "I know you see millions of fans but by any chance do you remember me from all the times up close?" He looked right at me, smiled again and said, "I know you!" WOW!! My knees went weak!</div> <div>      Two weeks later I went to the Columbus, Ohio show with my jacket. I was sitting in the fifth row to the side. I saw their manager Doc McGhee and showed him my jacket. He moved me to the front row but did not change my ticket. I was up front for a few songs before arena security moved me back because my ticket wasn't marked. I was there long enough to get some excellent photos but not long enough to get Paul's attention. From the fifth row, I held up my jacket. Paul came to that side, smiled, winked, and gave me his signature point. Then on the very last song, Paul again came to my side. He looked at me, smiled and nodded. All my friends said, "He just said good-bye to you!"</div> <div>      To end the perfect story, while watching The Last KISS PPV, I was in the second crowd shot front row and then several times after that. KISS had shot crowd scenes in Dayton, Ohio! I am part of Kisstory and my biggest dream came true! I have retired my T-shirt and I have memories that money could never buy!</div> <bR> <div>                                                                    Mary</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>