CADILLAC — Thursday, October 9th marks the 50th anniversary of when the legendary rock band kiss made a surprise visit to Cadillac high school.
Many events are set to take place to mark the momentous occasion later in the week.
The high school is holding a special tailgate prior to the football game; the high school band is performing a halftime KISS presentation and a drone show after the game.
Also, a rockumentary will be shown on Saturday and tribute band, Mr. Speed is performing on Sunday.
Nine and Ten News spoke to 3 sisters who were students at the time, to find out what it was like and how they plan to celebrate the anniversary.
Mary (Porter) Stubbs was a senior in 1975, and head cheerleader. She said at the time she didn’t know who KISS was, but the football team had been listening to them to get them pumped for games.
“So that’s where the connection came in and they showed up. This rock group came to little Cadillac Michigan to perform just for us. It’s just really, really something special. They performed and they left in a helicopter. It’s pretty cool. We didn’t know until the very last minute. I think they just wanted to keep it under wraps so that, you know, people wouldn’t come from all over,” said Mary.
She said she has saved a lot of photos and has fond memories of that day. Mary was chosen as ‘Miss Kissable’ for her class.
“Each class picked a ‘Miss Kissable’ girl and the seniors chose me. So, the four of us got to have photographs with the four KISS band members. And to be like this close to someone famous was a very unique situation,” said Mary.
Mary said she’s excited for the KISS activities happening on Friday. She said she would definitely be there.
“It will be fun to celebrate 50 years and Friday night, they’re having a tailgate prior to the football game. And there will be special tents for the class of 75, 76 and 77 will be escorted to the stadium where we get to sit with our classmates,” said Mary.
Angie (Porter) Brugger was a freshman and junior varsity cheerleader at the time. She said the whole student body was in the parking lot when they arrived.
“The whole thing was magical. I remember when they were out here on the football field and as we all gathered here to say goodbye to them, and they all ran to the helicopter and jumped in and then they threw out their pamphlets that said, ‘Cadillac High kids, we love you,” said Angie.
Angie said she’s become a huge fan of KISS since then and talks about that day often.
“I talked to a lot of people about it. When we meet somebody and we say we’re from Cadillac and they say, oh, you know, KISS, they came to Cadillac, you were there? So, it’s you know, it always brings back those great memories,” said Angie.
Laura Porter, an 8th grader at the middle school at the time, still got to take part in some of the excitement
She said she didn’t know much about KISS beforehand but definitely got an education quickly.
“I can remember when they first arrived, they pulled up in limos on the front lawn and each of the guys were in their own vehicle. And Gene Simmons comes up and he’s standing up in this limousine and he’s breathing fire. And we were just like, in awe total,” said Angie.
Laura said she’s looking forward to this weekend. She plans to help out with facepainting at the tailgate just like she did the last time KISS came to town decades ago.
“It’s just going to be a fun time and it’s going to be one heck of a reunion for, you know, several grades of people because, you know, junior high through the high school. That’s a lot of people. And it was just such a memorable event,” said Laura.