CADILLAC — On an October morning in 1975, Cadillac became the loudest small town in America.
The football field was likely in the decor of the autumn season as autumn leaves were brightly colored and the faint smell of popcorn filled the stands. The high school gym echoed from amplifiers, and, in the heart of the homecoming parade, four men in black leather, platform boots and face paint waved to a stunned but excited crowd.
It was KISS — yes, that KISS — strutting through a northern Michigan town better known for lumber history than for hosting rock legends.
That visit put Cadillac on the map of rock-and-roll destinations, and, during an upcoming October weekend, the city is preparing to rock and roll all night and party every day.
While the story is steeped in Cadillac and rock history, if you haven’t heard it before, here’s a quick recap.
The band’s visit wasn’t a fluke; it was the payoff to an unlikely football turnaround. A year earlier, the Cadillac High School Vikings had stumbled out of the gate in 1974 with two straight losses — a shock after their undefeated season the year before.
Assistant Coach Jim Neff, looking for a spark, decided the team needed more than pep talks — they needed power chords. He dropped the needle on the band’s records, filling the locker room with KISS anthems before games and practices.
The Vikings won their next seven games and shared the conference championship.
When Neff wrote to thank the band, KISS did more than write back — they showed up.