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Fighting? Amigo's? Did you really show up to review this bar? My first tootache at 51 and it's lasted over two months. Memories are a wonderful part of life. Don't judge a man by his tongue August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 January 09 February 09 March 09 April 09 May 09 June 09 July 09 August 09 September 09 October 09 November 09 
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Don't judge a man by his tongue
The only time I listened to music was in the car. I was a hard working young mother. When I wasn't working I was taking children to and from games, practice, or grandmas house. Like so many young people, I lived my life in a never ending hurry. I didn't realize how fast life was flying by. Though I've always been a huge music fan, there was awhile when I really didn't listen to music. I remember friends asking if I liked the group KISS. I had no idea who KISS was. My friends were shocked, "you know the guy with the long tongue". Then I saw a few pictures of them. Gene would always be sticking out his tongue and I thought he was pretty disgusting. I couldn't believe this weirdo was so popular. I mean how many people went around sticking out their tongues? I had an instant dislike for Gene Simmons and KISS. This was shocking in itself because I don't dislike people. I loved the songs Beth and Rock & Roll All Night, but I didn't know they were KISS songs. Through the years, each time I heard KISS mentioned I would cringe and think UGH!!! FAST FORWARD TWENTY YEARS. I'm about 45, being the workaholic I was, I thought I would take a second job and work at the Rabobank so I could enjoy free concerts while getting paid. One of the concerts I got to do was, you guessed it KISS! The first thing that surprised me was how many of the fans came dressed up. I mean if you go to a country concert, you will definitely see some people in a cowboy hat and a few western shirts. This was different, there were so many people dressed as Gene Simmons. They donned elaborate costumes and high platform boots and shoes, it was amazing. I stood at the feet of this God of a man, wearing his demon costume and I was awestruck. KISS put on the absolute best concert I've ever seen in my life. I'm sure the show they put on for the audience was probably the most costly I've seen as well. I liked everything from the first note to the speech at the end. I came away from that concert a different woman. I really liked KISS, but I loved everything about Gene Simmons. Yes I even liked the tongue. I watched Gene move, play, stick out his tongue, toss guitar pics. He did everything right. I was told last week that Gene never got into drugs and alcohol. I regret judging this group simply because a man stuck his tongue out. He's probably made more money sticking out his tongue than most of us have made working hard. Way to go Gene, I'm glad it worked for you. No matter what the cost, save my seat, I'll be there for the next reunion concert! Anyone know where I can find a costume?
4 comments from 4 users
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posted by
woofwoof
on Aug 17, 2007 at 09:02 AM
Born in Israel under the name Chaim Witz, Gene Simmons (he's Jewish) relocated to Brooklyn at the age of 9 with his mother, a Hungarian immigrant and the only member of her family to survive the Holocaust. I saw KISS when I was 17 in Chicago, in 1976. Since then I've seen the band two more times. The last one being here at the Rabobank Arena. For the longest time, I would say I was (and kind of still am) a "closet" fan. Some people think the band is demonic, and they just don't understand it's pretty good Rock n Roll. But you put it the way I put, it's one of the best *SHOWS* every put on, in my opinion. Very entertaining....I even named one of my cats after a KISS song....Strutter. posted by
blognroll
on Aug 17, 2007 at 04:15 PM
This is what they call tongue-in-cheek : O)
posted by
damitjanet
on Aug 17, 2007 at 09:49 PM
KISS ~ (My Family's KISS Story). 11 Years ago ~ My husband and I decided to take my oldest sons to the KISS Reunion Concert Tour in Sacramento, CA for his 12 birthday. The best way to discribe my son before that concert was my lil' Republican. Alway had docker or khakis on and a collared shirt. Always tucked his shirt into this pants and his pants were never sagging. At the Reunion concert it amazed me the amount of families at the concert. It was a time when generations tried to bridge what they remembered from their youth to show to their kids. My husbands first concert as a teenager was KISS years earlier in the late 70's and early 80's. I myself had only gone to one KISS concert here in Bakersfield at the Civic in the Mid 80's. Not a big fan but my husband was. So this Reunion Concert was a right of passage for my son. It was the first time my son got to go to a concert. It was also the first time I saw my son play an air guitar. Fast forward 11 years later. My husband is now my ex-husband. My lil' Republican is still my lil' Republican but gone are the Dockers and the collard shirts. Replaced with Concert T-shirts and he has 7 guitars and it a totally music nut. I can not count the number of concerts my sons have gone to but when ever and where ever they both make it a point to go to concerts. Over the years I have seen my son go through all the changes from the spikie hair to the all black clothing. thankfully he is no longer in that dark part of his growing up. The hair is still spiked but he has added color to his wardrobe. Still no dockers but I can live with that. And if you can believe it my boys and I just went to the Social Distortion concert last month at the Dome. Not really my type of music but I enjoy being a part of my kids world and their music. Nothing like seeing your 18 year old baby be in a mosh pit. I sat and bit my nails all night. I wanted to run up and save him from what I thought was shear danger but stood back and saw that my son was now a grown man. If you have not had a chance to watch I would suggest you look at the show "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" on A&E TV on Sunday nights. posted by
Janigirl
on Aug 19, 2007 at 10:18 PM
Wow woof, thanks for the info. I didn't know that his mother was from Hungary or the story of her being the only holocaust survivor in her family, what a tragedy. Now that makes me wish he would move to Brooklyn and take his family to be near her or move her to CA. I've seen her a few times on his show. She's a sweetheart. DamitJanet, I was also at the Social Distortion concert. I actually love their stuff. I wasn't a fan until about 5 years ago. They are my husbands favorite band. It was way too hot in the dome for me...So I was the lady standing in the doorway between the arena and the concession stand under the only air flow I could find. I couldn't believe the promotion guy didn't have some huge industrial fans. I would have been scared if anyone I know was in the mosh pit, it was crazy in there! But what I wouldn't give to have that kind of energy. Some of those kids and adults were nonstop the entire show. I do watch Gene Simmons Family Jewels. In fact I TIVO it. I don't want to miss it. I just think he seems to be such a stand up guy. A workaholic who truly loves his family. You should come out to an Elevation 406 show at Amigos. They play every Friday 7:30-11:30.
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