"KISS" Fan Is My Nephew!

This was the headline of the YouTube video... Kiss Fan Get's Thumped Dawson Creek BC.

Matthew is a welder by trade.  And one of the best in the industry, I might add.  The most kind- hearted person, you'll ever meet.  A very hard worker,  but he also likes to play hard, during downtime.  Maybe a little to hard.   Matt is also my nephew.  (His mom is my wife's sister.)

Summer of 2011.  For Matt it'll be a summer that won't soon be forgotten... at least not by him.

He was working in the Dawson Creek, BC area at the time.  And had purchased tickets to the upcoming "KISS" concert for June 30.

As the evening of the greatly anticipated show finally begins and "KISS" is introduced, a good majority of the crowd are already, no doubt, somewhat intoxicated, and are more than ready for the 'night' of their lives.

About twenty minutes into the concert, with everyone in the building going wild, Matt has to take a quick washroom break.  Not!

As he headed in the direction of the washroom, he actually had to walk along the left side of the stage area, and toward the back.

Upon returning... he had a great idea.  With no security in site, he thought it would be a chance of a lifetime, to quickly run up on the stage, get a closer look at the 'boys' and exit, stage left, and maybe nobody would even notice.  Well, as it turned out, it was not a good idea.  (really Matt, what were you thinking?)

He had about twelve feet of black curtains that he had to peel his way through, before reaching the edge of the stage itself.  When finally there, he saw one security guy with headphones on and he appeared to be preoccupied with writing something in a notepad.  So he had no problem making his entrance from the back side of the stage.

Still unnoticed by any security people at this point, he edged his way closer to the singers. Than sprinted across the stage between the drummer and the group.   He remembers being wowed by the size of the boots they wear during the show.  And shocked at the massive crowd that are now all focusing in on him.  But it all ended there...

Out of, what appeared to be nowhere, he was pounced on by three security guys.  And literally dragged of the stage.   But not without some resistance.  With his two hands firmly gripping the edge of the stage, and the three of them trying desperately to get him out of there, he finally gave in, when one of his fingers were broken, in the shuffle. 

This all happened within seconds, but not without getting the attention of the group as they continued to play, and looking to their right, to see what the commotion was all about.  One of the guitar players waved a "bye bye" to Matt, as he disappeared out of site of the stage area, but no one missed a beat.

The police were called immediately.  And Matt was soon escorted to the cruiser, by three uniformed officers.

While inside the car, and before they drive away, one of the officers looks at Matt and says, "So, hey man, lucky you... so what does Gene Simmons really look like up close, did you get a good look at him?"

They appeared to be a lot more interested in learning more about 'KISS' than they were in Matt.  

After a few more questions, another officer finally asks, "Now, what are we gonna do with this guy?"  

"I say we let him go" says another.

"Nope, we can't do that, we're gonna have to take him in... just won't look right if we let him go here."

Finally at the police station, Matt was stripped of his personal belongings and handed over to the prison guard on duty that night. 

Being the social person, that Matt is, they both had a very long talk that night... him and the prison guard.  They covered just about everything, before it was time to lock him up... but only for one night. 

Because Matt was found to be such a nice, decent, sensible person, the guard gave him an extra pillow, blanket, and some reading material for the night.  Something that was unheard off, by prison guards in that area.

The next morning Matt was released and free to go.  No charges were ever laid against him. 

We all love you Matt!  But next time, plan your strategies a little more in advance...