Photos

These photos have been in my collection since the visit. I've also included some taken from old newspapers and magazines. Please note that in December 2002 the book pictured below came out and it contained some of the best vintage photos of the KISS/Cadillac event. -- Jim Neff

KISS: The Early Years

This new book came out in December 2002 and has 16 pages of KISS/Cadillac Pictures. Click here to buy a copy.

	City Hall also housed the firehouse, so here the guys pose in front of both.
	One of the city officials made an impression on KISS, the parking meter lady. Would you write a ticket for Gene's limo?
	At the sound check before the concert, the band hosted several children from the Cadillac area. You're never too young to be KISSed.
	Here's Gene with some kids. Check the boots!
	Paul hugs some kids, too. Notice that even the kids wore KISS makeup that day.
	The concert in the gym was the big highlight of the event. Every piece of equipment used at Detroit's Cobo Hall was packed into the gym. It was so loud, people heard the concert clearly from 2 miles away. Here Ace does his thing.
	Gene really played to the crowd that night.
	Paul was flying high.
	And Peter seemed to have a great time.
	Of course, Gene's fire breathing took center stage. He even ignited the Homecoming bonfire with his flames.
	This is another view of Gene spitting fire. It was taken by Ron Puruleski, Class of '76, who was 10 feet from the stage.
	Every student of CHS was there. Look at the painted faces!
	More painted faces. We charged 50-cents for the makeup.
	Here's a shot from the Grand Rapids Press showing Gene clawing the crowd.
	Gene caught in flames by the Grand Rapids Press.
	Here's a photo from the Cadillac Evening News. Read the caption.
	A close-up of two KISS fans.
	When KISS spent time in the halls of CHS, they met several students. here they pose with the cheerleaders.
	And as the photo caption says, pretty faces were the order of the day.
	The day after the concert, KISS attended a breakfast with city and school dignitaries. Paul accepted a key to the city.
	KISS gave everyone plaques making them honorary members of the band. I still have mine. The plaque presented to the students of CHS was stolen from the display case at CHS and has never been found.
	Jim Neff (left) has breakfast with Ace.
	Peter with Superintendent Bill Smith (right).
	Later, during the parade, main street was renamed KISS Boulevard.
	And KISS took over Cadillac with their very own homecoming float.
	KISS left Cadillac via helicopter from the football field. As they flew away, thousands of these flyers were tossed to their adoring fans below. These are still treasured collector items.
	Here's the actual ticket to the KISS show in the CHS gym. (Thanks to Brian "Birdman" Edwards for providing this picture.)
	Another memento much sought after is the 1976 yearbook. Here is page one of the inside cover.
	And here is page 2.
	One of the best things about the whole experience is that KISS never forgot Cadillac. Every time they toured, they made sure I received VIP passes. Here is what some of the passes looked like.
	More passes.
	More passes.
	Still more passes.
	But the best invitation of all was for New Year's Eve 1976 when KISS played New York and had a party after the concert. They flew my wife and I to the Big Apple, set us up in a hotel, and had a limo for us.

Cadillac Photo Gallery