Adventures in My Mind
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Oct 31, 2007
Happy Halloween
When I was a kid, I wanted to be Gene Simmons. Here is Gene in a vintage pic from around 1977. The Love Gun and Alive II period. Yes! I know that much about the band. I told you: I wanted to be Gene Simmons.
Anyway, I also love Halloween. Always have. So it was obvious that I would combine my two loves. I wanted to be Gene so much that I dressed as him three years in row for Halloween, 1977-79. It was great! With a cheap makeup kit from K-Mart, a borrowed wig, and some strategically place aluminum foil, I was transformed into a bona fide Rock God.
Tongue (not nearly as long as His) thrust out, eyes rolled back, arms thrust high in full rock & roll salute, I was a sight to behold. I prowled the halls of my elementary school and the streets of my hometown like a pint-sized doppelganger of my idol.
My friend, Jimmy Tanner, was also a huge KISS fanatic. He joined me those three years as alternating members of the band. One year, Paul Stanley. The next, Peter Criss. And finally, Ace Frehley. He may have wanted to honor all of our musical heroes, but I could do no less than fully honor the one and true God of Thunder.
Those three years were the best of my Trick or Treating years. The remaining years were spent as uninspired hobos or zombies or punk rockers. The care and detail of those costumes could never match the passion I showed for The Demon. Sure I still got plenty of candy, but it was never the same.
So tonight, 30 years later, I'm hitting the streets again with my own kids. Not as Gene (at least not on the outside), but the memories are alive and well.
Happy Halloween!
4 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 10:37 AM
