So I have had some requests to share this story from a few years ago. The band KISS was playing at the Fargo Dome in Fargo ND. Those that know me know I have a knack for trying to meet celebrities and get backstage at big events. I have been a KISS fan since I was 7 and was very excited to finally see them in concert. This is when they had just put the makeup back on (thank God) and the four original members were all together.
I was standing just to the left of this picture, ok not really.
So me and a friend decided to go up there that afternoon and watch the semis unload and see what we could see. As we were strolling around the dome to find our best spot to “stake things out”, we came across an open door. Well, an open door spells open invitation and we sauntered into the dome. It was perfect we had a birds eye view of the KISS road team setting up the stage and the various props. As we watched for awhile, there suddenly came this idea. You could almost see the light bulb go off right above our heads. “Let’s go down there and really get an up close and personal view. So we marched down the stairs right onto the dome floor. There were about 60 people milling about so it was easy to just blend in. Suddenly one of the road managers yelled out “all right everybody; we need you all on the south side to help move the stage. Suddenly the whole crowd was moving to the south side and we with them. The next thing I know, I am grabbing onto the KISS stage and helping move it (it was on rollers) . Imagine my elation at getting to help move the KISS stage. When finished, I stood there looking around grinning like an idiot but was quickly interrupted by a rough voice that told me I was getting paid to stand around and that I needed to help bring in guitars. Who was I to tell him I was getting paid at all. I didn’t want to get into trouble with my fake job so I walked around to the back. Ted Nugent was the opening act and apparently has so many guitars they need to be brought in on a wagon. By this time I have the self appointed title of “Keeper of Nuges Guitars” and am happily unloading them to stage left. Now my new “boss” rolls over and tells me that the oxygen tanks need to be put up in the front. So I take my dolly ( I still don’t really know where I got the dolly but I am chalking it up to the KISS GODS) and moving rather larger oxygen tanks to the front. At one point , the guy in front of me almost drops his (amateur) One of the roadies yells at him that if that falls, the person behind him (which is me) could die. Well, my new non-paying, no benefits and potentially illegal job just got dangerous. What was the point of the Oxygen tanks? Apparently they have something to do with all the pyro that KISS lets off during their show. After carefully unloading these deathtraps, a man approaches me with a skeptical look. This is it! I am going to get busted. When he reaches me, he asks if I work there. I reply “well I am working” Nice answer, no lie here maybe a bit of deceit but I WAS working at the time. He then tells me he needs to place the backup generator for the show. Sometimes during show, KISS will blow the generator and need their backup to be in a safe place. I nodded knowingly. After all, I am a member of the KISS army. I looked over to the back left and saw the perfect spot. “over there, I pointed” to which he gave me a nod and a thanks dude. Now what is the perfect spot? Well, when you are panicking, it’s the first spot you see and that’s exactly where I pointed to. And you know what? That’s exactly where it sat that night at the show.
Not much to report after that. At one point somebody told me to take lunch, so I did. KISS does not serve very good sloppy joes and then they told us to report to the floor right after the show.
So, the show was great. If you ever get the chance to see KISS live, do it! To my knowledge, my backup generator was not called upon but sat safe all night in its spot.
After the show, we just stayed on the floor and waited. Sure enough, there came my crew and they started working. However, this time, two guys who looked to be in charge came our way. The first was the road manager for KISS . He looked at me and my friend, then back to the other guy and said “These guys aren’t with us”. The second guy who turned out to be the Dome manager said “well they aren’t my guys” At which point, they both turned to us and asked the inevitable question. “Who are you guys” My friend was quick thinking and said “Some guys with long hair asked us to help setup” A beautiful answer on so many levels. It’s technically true. When pressed for who this was, we said “well he had on a black t-shirt”. Now, you may know this already but that description fits not only the entire roadie team but also ANY roadie that has every worked for any band. Finally they told us that we would not be paid for our efforts. Maybe by your standards we will not be paid but I just found out what it is like to be a roadie for KISS. I have carried and cared for Nuge’s guitars. I was almost killed in oxygen tank mis-hap. I got to take lunch. I am the one who decided where the backup generator went for the show. I touched the stage. The stage that has blood stains from Gene’s wicked ass bass solo and he spits blood all over. Oh I was paid kind sir. I was paid more than you can imagine. I didn’t say any of that, we just muttered “ok” and left.
As a side note, we headed up to the private airport in Fargo right after that. Shortly thereafter, a van rolled up and had all four members of KISS in it. They were unbelievable nice. My friend got all four original members to sign his shirt.
