Official Itinerary of the KISS visit to Cadillac

This is the official itinerary for the KISS visit to Cadillac from Rock Steady, Inc., which was the band's management company at the time. Over the years I've heard all kinds of stories about people who claim they partied with the band. As you can see, their time was pretty well scheduled, so all the party claims are total fabrications -- never happened. I was with the band for virtually the entire time and we had private security guards protecting each band member. --Jim Neff

Wednesday, October 8, 1975

1:00PM - 2:00PM KISS will call WATT-AM Radio in Cadillac and do a radio interview via telephone.

Thursday, October 9, 1975

12:00PM KISS arrives at hotel in Cadillac and puts on makeup. Lunch will be served for band in their rooms. Lunch for the press will be available in the Hotel restaurant between 12-2:OOPM. (Hotel Caberfae Motor Lodge - Highway 55 West, Cadillac, Michigan. (616) 775-2458.

2:30PM KISS takes publicity photos at Cadillac Firehouse. They are escorted to Firehouse by Police Escort and the Police Escort will stay with us wherever we go in Cadillac.

3:00PM KISS arrives by limousine at Cadillac High School. The 'cars with band members will always have two KISS members and two press members riding together. The two press correspondents might be different each trip, so that all the press people get a chance to talk with the whole group. On arrival at the school there will be students lined up on both sides of the walkway (like a military lineup) to welcome the band, the school cheerleaders, the KISS Defense football team, the school orchestra (50-60 pieces), the homecoming Queen (Anne Claypool), and Cadillac High School Principal John Laurent.

3:05PM KISS walks through crowd to school doors, principal welcomes the group, band cuts (or chews, whichever the case may be!) ceremonial ribbon across school doors to commemorate the event.

3:15PM KISS is escorted to a classroom for screening of film of the Student KISS Mime Show.

3:30PM KISS escorted to another classroom to meet KISS Defense Team. Team takes photo with band and asks a few questions.

3:45PM KISS go to football field to take photos with the Team.

4:00PM KISS take photos on field with Cheerleaders and Homecoming Queen

4:15PM KISS take photos with school band (In full makeup)

4:30PM KISS take pictures with winners of school contest. The four winners get personalized autographed albums and get to meet KISS.

4:45PM KISS takes photo amongst students (in full KISS makeup) who have been congregating in the bleachers to watch the ceremonial photos being taken. The students have been in the cafeteria putting on makeup and come out onto the football field as they get their makeup on. The school faculty will also be gathering on the field (in full KISS makeup) as their classes end.

5:00PM KISS goes to gym for sound check. (The press and 20-30 kids between the ages of 4-10 (in KISS makeup) are the only people allowed in gym during sound check). KISS will take a photo with young kids.

5:30PM KISS leave school for site of the KISS Float being completed. This is four blocks from school. KISS takes photos at float as finishing touches are being added and then continue on to Hotel.

6:00PM KISS arrive back at Hotel to rest and have dinner in their rooms. Dinner for the press and our guests will be available in the Hotel restaurant between 6:00PM - 7:45PM.

7:45PM Rally begins at school, with students in full KISS makeup, school cheerleaders and school band. There is a tug of war-between the Juniors and the Seniors before the bonfire ire. At 7:45 KISS leaves Hotel in limousines for High School.

8:00PM KISS arrives at school site for Bonfire. To commence the ceremonial Bonfire, Gene Simmons jumps out of limousine, blows two flames of fire and jumps back in lanoline. Students light ceremonial bonfire while limousine escorts KISS to backstage.

8:30PM Concert begins with local school band ("Double Yellow Line"). They play for twenty minutes (8:30PM - 8:50PM)

9:15PM KISS concert performance begins.

11:30PM KISS leaves school site via limousines and returns to Hotel.

12:00PM There will be a small reception for KISS, the press and our guests in the banquet room of the hotel. The reception will be for approximately 30-45 minutes before band retires.

Friday, October 10, 1975

9:30AM Town officials arrive at Hotel to put on makeup.

10:30AM KISS holds press breakfast at Hotel in the Grenadier Dining Room (in full makeup) with the press, Mayor Raymond "Pete" Wagner (Paul), City Manager Donald Mason (Ace), Cadillac High School Principal John Laurent (Gene), Superintendent Of Schools William Smith (Peter), State Senator John F. Toepp, Cadillac High Football Coach Dave Brines (Master of Ceremonies) and Assistant Football Coach Jim Neff. (All of the above mentioned people will be sitting at the head table with KISS and all will be in full KISS makeup). After breakfast the Mayor will make a speech and give KISS the Key To The City. Following this, Paul Stanley will make a short speech on behalf of KISS and present the above officials engraved plaques from KISS.

12:15PM KISS leaves Hotel and proceeds to site of Homecoming Parade. This is approximately 4 1/2 miles from Hotel.

12:30PM The Parade begins and KISS rides in Parade in a KISS float. KISS "Alive" LP is playing through PA system on float while KISS hands out candy kisses and KISS photographs from the float. Jr. Smalling and Mark (special effects) will ride on KISS float. The float titles of the other floats are "Dressed To Kill", "Hotter Than Hell", "Kiss Of Death" and "KISS Is Alive".

1:00PM Parade arrives at the end of Main Street where limousine is waiting to take KISS to the Football field. (The field is approximately 1/4 mile from end of Main Street. *Note: The Main Street will be called KISS Street for the day and the street signs will all read KISS Street.)

1:10PM KISS leaves football field in a helicopter. They circle the field twice and drop 4,000 flyers onto field. (Flyers read, "Cadillac High KISS Loves You."). Helicopter lands at Cadillac Airport (two minute ride) where KISS takes off makeup and drive by limousine to Traverse City, Michigan for Commercial flight.