By Johna Till Johnson
This week’s Photo Challenge is Kiss.
What with Couples, and Love, and Valentine’s Day, we’ve had entirely too much romantic stuff lately. So, for something completely different—
.
A few months back, a friend and client invited me to a corporate event.
Not your typical corporate event: It was a “Battle of the Bands”, in which employee-musicians competed in front of a crowd of hundreds of other employees and business partners.
Knowing my friend is a huge fan of the rock group KISS, I volunteered to come dressed in full KISS attire.
Okay, actually I didn’t volunteer. My business partner volunteered me, as in, “I’m sure Johna would love to dress up!”
Hmm… I’d love to, but… As the president and CEO of an up-and-coming technology research firm, did I really want to show up in front of clients and other professionals dressed like a rock star? Isn’t there something about, you know, having an image to uphold?
Upon further consideration, it took me about a nanosecond to agree with the idea. (After all, if I were diehard about maintaining a professional image, I wouldn’t be sporting a Billy Idol ‘do.)
Much longer, though, were the preparations.
First: Which member should I emulate? I was only dimly aware of the individual band members. My friend the KISS connoisseur advised that although Gene Simmons is better known, Ace Frehley’ Paul Stanley’s makeup is easier to do. (Note: As alert readers have noted, it was actually Paul Stanley’s makeup we emulated. I was confused by listening to “New York Groove” while writing this….)
Paul it was!
Then there were the logistics. Prior to the Battle of the Bands, there was an actual formal(ish) event during which we technology folks were to get briefed on the company’s products and services. The CEO would be attending. Did I want to show up at this event in KISS makeup?
In the end, I decided against that plan of action. Instead, after the event, my friend and I swiftly changed into KISS gear and did our makeup, rocking out to the sound of “New York Groove”.
The results? I think we were a rocking pair of Pauls! And my friend accessorized with a blow-up guitar…
By sheer coincidence, some time before Vlad had taken a photo of a Gene Simmons lookalike at the Hallowe’en festivities on the Upper East Side. He didn’t recognize the costume, though: I had to provide some additional context.
After all, by then I was an expert in KISS!
________________________________________________________
Great minds think alike!: To Mother Earth, with Love
Vladimir Brezina
Johna Till Johnson
Excellent! That must have been great fun. And you two look great! :)
Thanks, I’ll let him know!
Great take on the challenge. THat is Paul, not Ace though!
You are so right! I need to update the post. That’s what happens when I dare to call myself an expert in anything ;-).
Ha ha. My brother was a Kiss fanatic when we were kids – only reason I know all the names.
I was hoping someone would come up with this KISS :)
Bravo!
Thanks! It was Vlad’s idea, actually.
Awesome.
Thanks!
Good interpretation!
Thanks! Vlad’s idea, again!
Love it! Best kiss ever :)
Thanks! We had fun.
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One of my elder brother’s favourite groups… I remember he had two posters in his room, one that showed Kiss and another one with King Kong hanging from the Empire State Building. :)
Your brother has (had?) good taste!
Well, he is my brother. :)
:-)
Excellent for the theme – for years ago I was at a KISS live concert… :-)
Great story and wonderful shots… :-)
Thanks! The shots are from random bystanders, on my friend’s camera. (All except the last one, which Vlad took).
I LOVE THIS well of course any ROCKER would! :)
My taste runs more towards punk, but no self-respecting Gen-Xer would turn down the chance to be KISS in public! :-) Well, actually I guess it depends on your definition of “self-respect”… :-)
:) so very true :)
The KISS of kisses. Nicely done, Johna!
Thanks!
Love it … glad you let your ‘hair’ down!
What there is of it :-) Thank you!
Nicee !!! I like the KISS !! :)
Excellent!! :-)
They have a good music
So Johna tells me ;-)
means that listen good music :)
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Great!!
;-) :-P ;-)
:-) :-)
What fun, but as an above poster pointed out, and being a Kiss fan myself I noticed, that’s Paul Stanley’s make-up, not Ace’s :-D
You’re so right, Jeff! Correction made. Thanks for reading (and noticing).
I can’t believe there was only one other person that did(at least at the time I had first commented). I guess Kiss fans are a dying breed :-D
This made me smile :-)
Wonderful! As you can see, I was doing plenty of smiling, too!
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Nicely done–like your interpretation of the theme.
Thanks! I’d take credit, but the idea was Vlad’s. (He basically said, “Tonight you have to write a blog post–I need you to write it up because I can’t.) I love getting writing assignments like that, especially on Friday evenings…..
How fun, Johna!
It totally was, Lynn! The whole evening was amazing. My favorite part was when the fiftyish, rather buttoned-down CEO ended up crowd surfing—and none of his employees dropped him!
how fun! i loved scrolling through this narrative!!!! thanks for taking us along; the event was surely a success!
Thanks, Z! It was a successful event–and lots of fun for me!
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Great Kiss twist. : )
Thanks! It was Vlad’s idea, as noted above, so he should get the credit.
Great interpretation!
Thanks!
LOVE it! A classic KISS reflection ~ Kat
Thanks, Kat!
VERY Creative indeed!
You’ll have to credit my friend and Vlad most of the creativity… I just followed instructions :-).
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excellent!!
Thanks!
A brilliant interpretation. I wish I could have done it myself. Well done.
Thank you! (Hear that, Vlad: “Brilliant interpretation”…)
Too cool! Nice selection
Thanks!
Looks like a lot of fun. And perfect for the KISS theme. :-)
It was serious fun!.
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Ahahaha.. The band kiss, and their signature heavy make up! :D
Exactly!
Fantastic!!
Thanks!
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Good job on the makeup and good picture for the kiss challenge. I was going to buy a big hershey kiss candy, but I didn’t.
It was a hell of a lot of fun to do the makeup. I learned tips about makeup I’ve never known….And I think you listened to your better angels on the giant Hershey kiss! It would have been a wonderful photograph but *such* a temptation….
A fun take on the challenge!!! ;-)
We thought so! :-)
My absolute pleasure having you join me for a memorable night!!!
From our 65yr old CEO crowd-surfing, to the awesome photos rocking out….. That was my favorite analyst event ever!!!!!!
Thanks for making it so much fun.
And you have the special honor of being the only woman I have ever put makeup on and you looked AMAZING!!!
Your friend. Bernard
No WAY is your CEO 65! I felt bad about even saying “fiftyish”–maybe I should just stick with “prime of life” from now on!!
Didn’t we have fun?
And the music was great, too—even though I don’t recall them playing KISS. Next time, Bernard–you can’t let them get away without it!!
That is great. Love the make up and the spirit behind it.
Thanks, Kerry!
I grew up listening to Scorpions, AC/DC, Def Leppard and KISS just to name a few, and KISS is still one of my favorites!! Love your post
:-) Thanks so much for visiting and commenting!
Hi Valdimir,
Too cool! I am not a fan( I will admit, KISS was hot when I was in high school) but, KISS is fun :) Great makeup job, guys!!
Not me in this case! I didn’t even know about KISS until Johna educated me afterwards… :-)
Hi Xpat…. Thanks! I was not a fan back then, either, but listening to the music now makes me seriously wonder why–it’s bouncy, driven, melodic.. everything you want in a rock band!
Just brilliant :-D
Thanks, Madhu!