Rock Fest gets KISS
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By The Chippewa Herald
Wednesday, July 18, 2007 10:03 AM CDT
Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer won’t be the only ones in Cadott Saturday night with painted faces and crazy outfits.
Simmons and Stanley formed KISS in 1973 and hit it big within the next two years with their rock anthem, “Rock and Roll All Nite.”
The band is well known for its theatrical shows that has included fire-breathing and other outlandish acts.
“I think they’ll be quite a few others — a lot of lookalikes,” predicts Jim Buetow.
Buetow, marketing director for the group that puts on Rock Fest each July, is referring to the KISS Army that tends to follow the veteran rock band everywhere.
“They will be doing their full makeup thing,” Buetow said.
KISS is the 11 p.m. headliner Saturday, following Chicago and Collective Soul.
Chicago got its start in the late 1960s as the Chicago Transit Authority, and its sound was driven by both horns and guitars. They were simultaneously an album and a Top 40 band, and a constant presence on both AM and FM radio.
Saturday is one of two nights that caters to veteran rock acts. The other is Thursday’s kickoff, with all four acts having roots that go back at least to the 1980s, and some well before then.
Deep Purple, in the 11 p.m. cleanup spot, authored the classics “Smoke on the Water” and “Hush.”
The band is preceded by the New Cars, with two main members of the band being joined by Todd Rundgren, who has replaced former lead singer Ric Ocasek.
Rundgren, another ‘70s singer, was responsible for two big hits of the period (“Hello, It’s Me” and “I Saw the Light”) and later the novelty tune “Bang on the Drum All Day.”
Also playing Thursday are Dennis DeYoung, former lead singer of Styx, and World Classic Rockers, consisting of former members of Steppenwolf, Journey, Santana, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Toto.
The other half of Rock Fest is dominated by alternative rock bands, and Buetow said that is not by accident.
“Mike (Asher, who runs both Country Fest and Rock Fest) tries to match them as close as he can,” Buetow said.
Uncle Cracker and Grand Funk Railroad play Friday, with the final two acts of the day being Fuel and Godsmack.
The Boston-based alternative metal group Godsmack dates back to ‘97, and its popular tunes include “Whatever” and “Keep Away.”
Alternative rockers Fuel are no strangers to modern rock radio. The band got its start in ‘96, and its biggest hit is, “Hemorrhage (In My Hands),”
Then on Sunday, Third Eye Blind and 3 Doors Down close out the ‘07 Fest.
3 Doors Down, a Mississippi band, burst onto the scene in 2000 with the smash, “Kryptonite,”. “When I’m Gone” and “Here Without You” also broke into the top 5.
Camping changes
At Country Fest last month, Following last month’s death at Country Fest, Rock Fest has instituted some changes in response to the tragedy.
Tara Grant, 21, of Spring Valley, died in a tent from carbon monoxide poisoning. The source was electric generator fumes from the adjoining campsite.
Buetow said Rock Fest has opened a tent-only camping area across County S from the music site, and fest personnel will be notifying campers of the new feature.
Buetow said in the campground rules they recommend using a carbon monoxide detector with a generator, to help ensure it is working properly.
“We’re emphasizing campers pay attention to how you’re setting up,” he said.
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