To KISS or not to KISS, that is the question.

I received an email today for concert tickets to the October 28th KISS concert at the Sommet Center in Nashville.

I would have to take the night off, not always easy to do during the fall.  So do I burn a day off?

Those that know me know it’s no secret that I was a member of the original KISS Army fan club.

Bucky Mill, Mike Echelberger & me October 1976

I recently dug up the lone picture from an 8th grade halloween costume contest.  We won first place. (I think three other people entered).  My mom still playfully whines about all the sparkles left on the carpet after I used Elmer’s glue to decorate my father’s black ski pants.

My room in my tween years had posters of Joe Namath, Len Dawson and Archie Manning on one side and posters of KISS on the other side.

While driving into work today I pondered why my parents were so okay with me being a huge KISS fan.

So I went to the sources.

After my mother stopped laughing at the question this afternoon, she calmed down and said, “They were simply singers on a stage, going nuts and finding a way to make money.  What was the harm.?”

Moments later, my father echoed her thoughts.

“What damage was it doing?  You have to pick what is important and not important.  While you were blaring your music, it reminded me that I turned up the radio when Stan Kenton was on.  I loved his progressive jazz and you know what? My parents didn’t have me turn it down.  You have to pick your battles. I’m not sure your mother and I picked all the right ones but you kids turned out okay.”

So there you have it. 

I consider the KISS songs on my ipod a guilty pleasure.  Going to the concert would be a hoot to see the various generations.  My mom is right.  They are a bunch of guys on a stage, going nuts and making money.  Okay, October 28th would be MY money.

For all the memories of my youth, it could be pennies per serving.  Pennies per song.

Money well spent.

Any of you have similar stories?

And one more question:

Uh, boss… can I have the night off?