He was ready to rock and roll all night and, in the end, it was a crazy night in Adelaide Rock City for devoted KISS fan Kingsley.
Kingsley, supported by AnglicareSA through Nunga House, was lucky enough to catch the iconic rockers at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre as part of the End of the Road Tour.
The experience – indescribable.
“I couldn’t believe I was there,” Kingsley says, the memories of the concert still fresh in his mind. “It gave me chills.
“I’ve always wanted to go to a concert and be in the crowd. I read about different people coming to Adelaide all the time, like Justin Bieber and Selina Gomez.
“When I was younger, I had a KISS poster up in my room. I’ve always liked the whole band, but Paul Stanley is the best.”
Nunga House is a supported independent living facility within AnglicareSA’s Exceptional Needs program, providing First Nations men with support that is culturally appropriate and customer focused.
Each customer is assisted with the supports they require to maintain connection to family, community, culture, and spirituality.
The opportunity to be part of the legendary rock act’s final world tour coming about following a conversation between AnglicareSA Exceptional Needs Team Leader Matthew McKinlay, Kinglsey, and his housemate Adrian.
“At that time, the concert was set for March 2022,” Matthew says. “I got in contact with Ticketek to price the tickets and ensure that they had companion tickets issued as well.
“Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the March concert was delayed to around May/June, and then delayed again to August 30 – thankfully that date didn’t change.”
As the big night approached however, COVID threw in one final hurdle.
Close contact isolation requirements meant Adrian would miss out on seeing one of his favourite bands.
Missing the concert may have been disappointing, but music-loving Adrian hasn’t let it get him down.
“It’s OK, Gun n Roses are coming this year and I hope I can go see them at the Adelaide Oval,” Adrian says with a smile, with Kingsley just as excited to see Axl Rose, Slash and co.
A guitarist himself, Adrian says he was introduced to heavy metal at a young age, however his go-to KISS song is Shandi – a ballad from their 1980 album Unmasked which was a hit in the Australian music charts.
“With their make-up – The Starchild, The Demon, The Spaceman, and The Catman – as well as their costumes, people used to say they were monsters,” Adrian says.
“But then they come out with a heartbreaker like Shandi, it’s a beautiful song.”
Matthew says it was important to try to make the KISS concert dream a reality as Kingsley and Adrian come from backgrounds of going without and not having big dreams.
“I made sure to work with Adrian and Kingsley to identify the concert they wanted to go to, I supported them to secure the funding and then worked the Exceptional Needs team to make it happen,” he says.
“Adrian and Kingsley enjoy a range of activities each week, from Aboriginal Men’s groups, church, gym, and bushwalking through to weekly community barbeques and special outings.”