by: Christopher Franchi
On Tuesday, April 2, 2013, the worldwide KISS community lost not only one of the best retailers, but one of the most genuine, honest, friendly, and well-liked people in the KISS world. Hans Paulson, the owner/operator of kiss4sale.com passed away, at the young age of 45. He leaves behind his loving wife Angie, and children Cameron, Alyssa and Zak.
I met Hans when I was a guest at the New York KISS Expo back in 2003. We immediately hit it off and were friends from that day forward. Who could not like a guy with a 24 hour smile, so full of energy, a love for what he did, a greater love for his wife and kids. Just an amazing guy. Instantly likable from the moment you’d meet him.
We went on to become close friends. Even though we were separated by Lake Michigan, we always talked on the phone, sometimes for hours, while I had to endure the sound of his loud tape gun, as he would be busy packing KISS collectibles to send out to the world. It was a sound I grew to love, and the sound that ensured the stability of his wonderful family. This was how Hans made his living. His love for KISS grew into a business, and there probably isn’t a KISS fan out there that hasn’t at one time or another, bought something from Hans’ website. He had it all, and if he didn’t have what you wanted, he’d get it. That’s just the kind of guy he was, and this is why his customers came back again and again.
While KISS was on the World Domination Tour, I was scheduled to shoot the Detroit show for the band, for use in their magazine. I requested a second VIP pass for Hans, who would double as my assistant for the day. He didn’t know squat about photography, but
he pulled off a convincing assistant and we went on to spend the day with KISS. Hans was warned up front, not to shoot any photos. That was MY job. KISS wanted control over what would be taken, and what ultimately would be seen. Standard fare for a concert photog. So there I was, sitting on the stage while the band whipped through a few songs for sound check. I sat Hans in the front row to watch while I did my job. I was sitting stage left, on Paul and Tommy’s side, while Gene was playing on the right, and in between us was a huge stack of road cases. Gene was out of eye site unless I walked around the mass of cases to get some shots. Just then, Gene stops playing mid song, and barks into the microphone,”Hey! Who the hell are you, and why are you taking pictures?” I look over and see Hans with his little instamatic in the air, snapping pics of Gene. I walk over and lean around the stack of cases and tell Gene it’s OK, he’s with me, and asked Hans to put his camera away. He did and everything resumed. After sound check, I hop down into the pit, at the foot of the massive DTE Energy Music Theater stage. With half a smile I say,”What the heck were you doing? You KNOW they said no photos!” He looked at me and said, with that trademark Hans shiny white toothed grin,”Exactly. I sure pissed Gene off, didn’t I?”, and he proceeded to giggle his butt off. That was Hans. Ever playful. He didn’t want the photos. He just wanted to miff Gene off. “Gene has enough money to buy himself a better mood” he giggled, as we walked backstage to check the agenda for the rest of the day.
There was no bigger fan of the work I did for KISS, during my tenure, from 2003 to 2006. The last time we spoke, the day before I lost him, he said “God damn it, Franchi… Why aren’t you a millionaire? Your KISS work was the best ever, and I bet they’d take you back in a heartbeat. They’d be stupid not to. What they put out now is no where NEAR what you did.” He meant every word too. I’m not passing that along to toot my own whistle. Not at all. I pass it along because I’m grateful for that. He was a great motivator and supporter. You can take 3 guesses who he asked to design all of his advertising. Yep, I did it all. Gladly. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for a friend like Hans. It made me feel good because he was so proud about that. That’s what Hans did. Made you feel good.
As these past few days have crawled by since his passing, an outpouring of sympathy and respect has blanketed facebook. It was wonderful to read so many stories from KISS fans that mirrored my own. It only confirmed that what he and I shared was not so special, in that he was the same great man to everyone he met.
I will miss him very much. I loved him like a brother, and his absence will never be filled in my life. It’s a loss I will have to eventually come to terms with, as will many of you. This is not a man that can so easily be replaced. He was one of a kind. A true friend, a wonderful, proud father, a devoted, loving husband, and a man who was loved by many, in his community of River Falls, Wisconsin, and around the world.
So in a matter only fitting, “Everyone around the world, raise your glasses”… Here’s to you, Hans.
Please join the family in a celebration of his life at 12 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at Ezekiel Lutheran Church in River Falls. Visitation will be 2 hours prior to the service at the church.
Memorials are preferred to the family
Cashman Hill Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the family. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.hillfuneralservice.com.