The Engleson Files

I am not too sure where to begin with KISS but there is no question this band left a very lasting impression on me as a young child. It was during the 70’s when they started making it really big and their presence during that time was very dominant. I can remember buying KISS hockey cards (or KISS cards) and being somewhat intrigued/frightened of Gene Simmons; Mom always found my cards and threw them away fearing her youngest child was traveling down a path alongside the devil. Anyways, one year when I was 6 or 7 years old (I forget exactly) our family traveled down to California and did a quick stop over in San Diego to visit Shamoo (The Killer Whale) and the rest of the gang at the San Diego Zoo. While there, the first meaningful event was a giant tropical bird taking a big white dump on my brother’s head - you could only imagine the laughter we shared as a family at that moment! But then soon after it was my turn and it was all thanks to Gene Simmons: to our surprise KISS happened to be at the San Diego Zoo while we were there and all four of them were decked out in their full demonic attire. I can remember seeing the group in the distance walking down towards us. There was a crowd surrounding them and I remember slowly beginning to hide behind my Dad’s legs as they got closer. As we approached it is my guess that Gene Simmons saw a scared little child and decided to have some fun with him. As we pulled up next to him he stared directly at me with those evil Gene Simmons eyes, stopped, bent down to my level and then stuck his long tongue out at me. It was one of the most horrific scenes I have ever encountered as a child and can remember crying profusely afterward - quite literally he scared the shit out of me! For years that Gene Simmons moment haunted me in my dreams and has never left my mind since. So, that’s where I was, where were you?