"Hello, Shwa. Did you really think we weren't coming to see you? You know we love our big cities but we were always coming." - KISS singer Paul Stanley
OSHAWA -- Let's just say they have KISSed and made up.
And the love affair is stronger than it ever has been. Nothing like a little rock 'n' roll meditation to heal some hard feelings.
It's not often the noise is actually louder even weeks before an actual KISS concert.
But one lesson in all of this is never mess with "Shwa Rock City."
It's not the first time this rock 'n' roll all night and party every day town has made rock history.
When the Rolling Stones played this town 30 years ago it was court-ordered.
When KISS rocked "the Shwa" last night it was fan-ordered.
"I like that," says KISS lead guitarist Tommy Thayer. "That's a pretty good lead-in."
And it's true. "Wow, I didn't know that about the Stones," says Thayer. "That's cool."
While a judge sentenced Keith Richards of the Stones to play a concert for the blind here for his drug troubles, Oshawa fans scored this massive show by insisting Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer and Thayer play here as part of their new tour.
Twice.
First was through having the most votes on a KISS website contest.
But when Oshawa was not mentioned on KISS's 2009/10 tour, all hell broke loose.
Accusations of being snubbed started to fly and then an irritated Simmons scolded the media for spoiling a surprise.
It was all a great storyline, says Thayer: "But we were always going to play Oshawa. That's where our fans are. They are KISS-crazy in Oshawa. Of course we were going to play there."
It's in the books now and Mayor John Gray says while Oshawa has forgotten all about the controversy, it will never forget the special night of Oct. 7, 2009.
"It's amazing to have a show like this here," says a beaming mayor who met the band before the show. "And the fans of Oshawa got a nice, intimate setting to see them."
It was the same kind of buzz on the street as when the Generals won the Memorial Cup.
"Oshawa needed some good news," says Jillian Steen, who with pal Tim Crust were painted up in KISS army colours. "I think it has been fantastic."
Thayer tells me that on the way up in the plane the band was talking about the importance of the show and there were no ill effects of what they feel was a misunderstanding. He says Gene was in a great mood and excited about the show. When he arrived at General Motors Place at 6:30 p.m., he had a big smile on his face as he pointed at fans.
"It's all about the fans," says Thayer.
And they are great fans. Loyal and dedicated.
Jock Hockley drove in from London, Ont., for his 53rd KISS concert. And he has a tattoo of the band on his arm -- with the signatures of the band members etched in from where they actually signed.
Chris Bernst flew in from Vancouver.
Thayer gets it because he was a fan himself. He worked in a band called Black and Blue, which opened for KISS, a KISS tribute band and worked for the band on a series of projects offstage.
"So for me to be up on the stage is pretty incredible," he says, adding he pinches himself every day.
The rowdy and excited crowd of 5,500 chanted: "We want KISS."
And they didn't disappoint hitting the stage like demons with King Of The Night Time World followed by Deuce.
The Oshawa crowd showed KISS the meaning of appreciation.
"This is awesome," said Jeff McRae who waited nine hours for tickets for his better half, Debbie Harris, and sister, Kathleen Demareski, who was celebrating her 50th birthday,
For Oshawa that was definitely a memorable evening. But Thayer says for KISS it was, too.
