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Biography
The KISS Army is the official fan club for the United States|American rock band Kiss (band)|KISS , as well as the unofficial name used to refer to KISS fans in general. It was started unofficially in 1975, by fans Bill Starkey and Jay Evans. http://terrehauteliving.com/coverstory/248/
History
In January 1975, Starkey and Evans, two teenage KISS fans from Terre Haute, Indiana , began contacting local radio station WVTS in an effort to get KISS music played. After being repeatedly turned down by program director Rich Dickerson , Starkey and Evans began calling WVTS claiming to be "the KISS Army." Additionally, they sent letters to the station and signed them, "Bill Starkey–President of the KISS Army," and "Jay Evans–Field Marshall."Gooch, Curt and Jeff Suhs. KISS Alive Forever: The Complete Touring History . Billboard Books, 2002. ISBN 0-8230-8322-5 By July 1975, WVTS had begun to play KISS records, often referring to the KISS Army. Some of the letters included threats to blow up the station.cite web |url= http://www.indstate.edu/iq/Geek_Issue/Kiss_Army.htm |title=A KISS Army of One: The Birth of the Ultimate Rock 'N' Roll Club |accessdate=2006-11-20 |last=Jarman |first=Jason |year=2005 |month=Spring |publisher= iQ Magazine |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20060909004331/ http://www.indstate.edu/iq/Geek_Issue/Kiss_Army.htm |archivedate = 2006-09-09 Before long, listeners started calling the station asking how they could enlist.
Dickerson worked with Starkey and Evans to provide advance promotion for a KISS concert at the new Hulman Center|Hulman Civic-University Center in Terre Haute. Before the show, KISS publicist Alan Miller contacted Starkey to discuss the KISS Army. At Miller's request, Starkey and Evans took phone calls on the air at WVTS to recruit as many members as possible for the KISS Army. As a result of these efforts, the November 21 show sold out (10,000 seats). During the concert, Starkey was brought on stage and given a plaque by KISS. On November 21, 2010 the KISS Army turned 35 to celebrate it the Mayor of Terre Haute declared it KISS Army day and co founder Bill Starky spent the day as guest DJ for 105.5 the river A Terre Haute radio station playing KISS music.
Soon after the Terre Haute concert, the KISS Army became the official fan club of the group. Order forms for the KISS Army first appeared in November 1976's Destroyer (Kiss album)|Destroyer . Former head of KISS merchandising Ron Boutwell estimated that the fan club (at its peak) earned United States dollar|US$ 5,000 per day, and had nearly 100,000 members.Leaf, David and Ken Sharp. KISS: Behind the Mask: The Official Authorized Biography , Warner Books, 2003. ISBN 0-446-53073-5 After a period of inactivity, KISS announced the re-launch of the KISS Army as the group's official fan club on August 23, 2007. On May 29, 2008, Condoleezza Rice , the United States Secretary of State enlisted in the KISS Army.cite web |url= http://www.usatoday.com/life/2008-05-30-condoleezarice_N.htm? csp=34 |title=Condoleezza Rice enlists in KISS Army fan club |accessdate=2008-05-30 |last=Lee |first=Matthew|date=30 May 2008|publisher= USA Today
Popular culture
The fanbase of Martin O'Donnell was named, "The Marty Army" as a joke at Marty's expense by Matt Soell and Max Hoberman.
Peter Griffin from Family Guy has been a member of the KISS Army since 1977.
On The Daily Show , Jon Stewart remarked in regards to US Army 's readiness after being engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan that "the only armies we have left are Kiss and Salvation Army|Salvation and they don't get along too well".
On That Metal Show , Don Jamison said, "They've got an army that's very powerful. I think the KISS Army's in Iraq right now".
In Season 1 of the popular TV series The Mighty Boosh (TV series)|The Mighty Boosh , Vince is often seen wearing a Kiss Army patch on his sleeve.
Referenced multiple times in the film Detroit Rock City (film)|Detroit Rock City .
In the online web-comic http://www.erfworld.com 'Erfworld', the most elite soldiers under the employ of Warlord Stanley the Tool are referred to as the 'Knights in Stanley's Service', which obviously abbreviates to KISS. The reference is further reinforced by their black, white and silver warpaint (imitating KISS's style), black leather 'armor' and are all equipped with axes. (Again, a nod to Gene Simmons, whose bass guitar is modeled to look like a literal axe.)cite web |url= http://www.erfworld.com/book-1-archive/? px=%2F076.jpg |title=Erfworld, Book One - 'The Battle for Gobwin Knob' Page 76 |accessdate=2009-05-07 |last=Balder |first=Rob |year=2008 |publisher= Giant In The Playground Games also during the 35th anniversary Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley phoned in to the radio station and members of The KISS Army surrounded the radio station.
On the List of The Big Bang Theory episodes (season 3)|season 3 episode of The Big Bang Theory , "The Gothowitz Deviation", Penny asks Howard "Did the Kiss Army repeal don't ask don't tell? ".
See also
Blue Army (Aerosmith)|Blue Army
Turbojugend
Notes and references
Reflist Kiss Category:Kiss (band)|Army Category:Fan clubs Category:1975 establishments
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Copyright Citations
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