Attention Rock Fans:
You can bring KISS to Kent.
Last week ShoWare Center officials put out the call – via their Web site – asking fans to vote for bringing the 70s-icon band to the center.
Fans can put in their plug by going to www.showarecenter.com.
The votes, if high enough, could bring KISS to Kent during the band’s North American tour that starts in September.
KISS formed in 1972 and still tours, with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, two of the original four members. Relative newcomers Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer are currently touring with Simmons and Stanley in South America. The group is known for its trademark face paint and stage outfits.
ShoWare Marketing Director Beth Sylves said this is the first time she has heard of a major touring act that allows fans to pick where the band plays.
“I like it, it makes sense,” she said. “It’s an interesting use of a Web-based application. Maybe it’s not something you would expect for the Kiss demographic, but I think it’s a great idea.”
KISS promoters have not yet announced a deadline for the votes or how many cities will be selected to be part of the North American tour that starts in September.
“Hopefully, the idea works and we get a show,” Sylves said.
KISS is working with Eventful.com, an event-based social networking site, to determine where the band plays based on votes in each market.
Voters in Kent are part of the Seattle-metro market. But Sylves hopes that because each vote is counted by zip code, enough votes in the Kent area could influence the band to play at the ShoWare Center rather than another venue in the Seattle area.
“I think they’re great,” Sylves said on the chances of booking KISS. “It’s a delicate balance. If there’s an overwhelming response (in Seattle), they might think our building is too small. But it can’t hurt if a nice number of Kent-area residents put their zip code in.”
Voters can go to the Eventful Web site to track the rankings of cities based on the number of votes for each town. The campaign just started last week.
On Tuesday, the Seattle-metro area was at No. 25, just behind Nashville and one spot ahead of Miami. Winnipeg, Ontario in Canada was ranked at No.1.
“I think it would be a great show for 7,000 people,” Sylves said of a KISS concert at the ShoWare Center. “Fans would be close to the performers. It’s the venue I’d prefer to see KISS.”
Kiss was slated to play the White River Amphitheater in 2004, but the group canceled the show when Simmons became ill.
For more information, go to www.showarecenter.com, www.eventful.com/kiss or www.kissonline.com.
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