Fan Conventions

I've only heard of the Stryper and KISS fan conventions, but unfortunately have never been able to attend. Sounds like an amazing time though. Has anyone been to these or to conventions for any other bands (I'm curious as to what other bands have done them before)?

I went to the New York/New Jersey KISS Conventions (later known as "KISS Expos" when KISS started doing their own and copyrighted the "Convention" term) for a couple of years during the 1990s. They were a lot of nerdy fun, I was mainly there for the CD shopping but it was always cool to walk around checking out all the vintage collectibles and merch, and to geek out meeting the special guests -- in my years there I met Vinnie Vincent (who was a douche), Peter Criss (cool guy) and Eric Singer (also cool), as well as the late Bill Aucoin (original KISS manager) and some related KISS hangers-on like John Regan and Richie Scarlett of Frehley's Comet, KISS ghost performer/Comet member/David Letterman drummer Anton Fig, Ron something-or-other from Wicked Lester, etc. The KISS tribute bands that closed out the conventions were always fun to watch too.

Those conventions filled a void for fans in the early 90s who wanted to recapture some of that 70s makeup-era vibe that the real band wasn't providing at the time. When the reunion happened, people kinda lost interest in the whole convention/tribute scene. The last one I went to was 1997 (post-reunion) and it was the least fun - fewer dealers, fewer people, the vibe just wasn't the same as it had been in past years.

There's a cool documentary about the KISS tribute/convention scene during that period called "KISS LOVES YOU" that I hold near and dear to my heart cuz I'm in it for about two seconds, cuz a camera crew was visiting the '95 Convention while I was waiting on line outside for the doors to open, haha.

I've never gone to any band exclusive conventions, but I have gone to my share of general music expos. Purchased allot of cds over the years at those things. I've noticed though that over the last 2 or 3 years, they've started catering more to vinyl sales than cds, which does me no good.

I have a buddy that has gone to a few Beatles conventions and he's asked me to go with him. Maybe someday I will, just to check it out. But I'm not that hardcore of a collector that I need some rare vinyl 45 of 'Love Me Do' recorded in the bathroom of some Hamburg brothel with Pete Best on overturned pots and George Harrison playing lead on a wash board.

Quote :

There's a cool documentary about the KISS tribute/convention scene during that period called "KISS LOVES YOU" that I hold near and dear to my heart cuz I'm in it for about two seconds, cuz a camera crew was visiting the '95 Convention while I was waiting on line outside for the doors to open, haha.

Very cool; I've never heard of that documentary before now, but I'm going to try and find it tonight!

I've always wondered why Maiden didn't have these conventions.

I went to a KISS Expo in Atlanta. Like FF said it's a pretty cool yet nerdy experience. I loved checking out a lot of the vintage memorabilia. If I was rich I might would be owning some of it now. I did get to meet Ron Keel and Tod Howarth of Frehley's Comet at the expo I attended. I enjoyed going but haven't went to one since.

I've never been either, but you would think in this day and age of "reunions" and nostalgia that some of the bigger groups or even the lesser ones, as a package, would think this a great idea to reconnect with their fan base.

I mean a merch table, some swap meet styled sellers, a few Q&A's and meet n greets and maybe a performance or 2 to round things out...

Sounds like a solid idea to me! Heck think Comicon and Zombicon and Pornocon and and and...

glassprison wrote:

Quote :

There's a cool documentary about the KISS tribute/convention scene during that period called "KISS LOVES YOU" that I hold near and dear to my heart cuz I'm in it for about two seconds, cuz a camera crew was visiting the '95 Convention while I was waiting on line outside for the doors to open, haha.

Very cool; I've never heard of that documentary before now, but I'm going to try and find it tonight!

You can watch it online (legally) at the "SnagFilms" documentary web site:

http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/kiss_loves_you

This is a screenshot of my film debut. (I'm the one on the right holding my jacket open. The dude with the "F*ck off, I'm too Metal for this sh*t" scowl is my brother. Haha)

mc666 went to a Necrotised Taint convention once, but as he's the only person who has ever heard of them he was there alone!   

I've only ever been to a Stryper convention and that was because Ultimatum was on the bill. I quite enjoyed seeing all the old merchandise and costumes from the band's glory days and getting to meet them all. It's was quite fun.

Boris2008 wrote:

mc666 went to a Necrotised Taint convention once, but as he's the only person who has ever heard of them he was there alone!   

My own taint was necrotised. I thought it was a support group.

Went to an official KISS Convention back around 95 or 96. It was attended by the band where they performed an unplugged show.I met each member and had them autograph my blue vinyl Alive III. All in all, a great time.

mc666 wrote:

Boris2008 wrote:

mc666 went to a Necrotised Taint convention once, but as he's the only person who has ever heard of them he was there alone!   

My own taint was necrotised. I thought it was a support group.

You gotta be careful on those sailboats dude.

Always wanted to go to a Stryper Expo but they're usually too far away from me.

I've started noticing more and more musicians popping up at horror cons. Dee Snider was at Monsterpalooza last year, and I've seen ads for other cons advertising Doyle, Dr. Chud, and Michale Graves from the Misfits as well as Eerie Von from Samhain and Danzig.

I'm really surprised there has started to be rock/metal cons where they have guests, records, memorabilia, movie, guitar workshops, etc.