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Theatrical preview for "Detroit Rock City"
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August 16, 1999
Web posted at: 1:20 p.m. EDT (1720 GMT)

From Dennis Michael
CNN Entertainment News Correspondent

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Picture the 1970s. Polyester's last stand. Amid the boogie knights and dancing queens are four headbangers whose idea of "living happily ever after" means embarking on a cross-country trip to see the loudest and weirdest rock band since "Spinal Tap": KISS.

Lead singer Gene Simmons has produced a film on that premise -- "Detroit Rock City" opened Friday.

"It's 'Dazed and Confused' (1993) mixed with 'The Wizard of Oz' (1939)," says cast member Sam Huntington, "because we all go on our own little journey. It's not all random stories. We each gain something at the end. There's four of us, and we all go off and we have our little journey, and we mature, and we change and become better people."

If not better people, certainly deafer people. Most of the actors -- Huntington (Jam), Edward Furlong (Hawk), Giuseppe Andrews (Lex), James DeBello (Trip) -- were drinking formula when Simmons was spitting blood. But the young cast quickly picked up the tone of the times and a passion for the band.

"KISS is great," DeBello raves.

Furlong takes his praise a bit further saying, "KISS is the most brilliant band ever to be alive, and Gene Simmons is the coolest guy that ever lived."

DISCUSSION:

Is heavy metal making a comeback? Go to the boards!

Not every character in the film believes that the rock 'n' roll kabuki champions were the coolest rockers who ever lived. Lin Shaye, who also starred as the landlord in "Kingpin" (1996) and the well-tanned neighbor in "There's Something About Mary" (1998) plays a mother who believes KISS stands for "Knights in Satan's Service." Her character resorts to burning concert tickets.

Shaye says she'd never resort to those tactics with her own children. "That whole controlling thing really doesn't work," she says. "It's more about guidance, and I hope that's the kind of mom I am."

It wasn't necessary for the stars of "Detroit Rock City" to make a dramatic odyssey in real life to see KISS. Not only did they perform extensively in the movie, but they also played at the premiere.

For anyone else who wants a shot at seeing KISS live in concert, the "Detroit Rock City" Web site is conducting a lottery for free tickets to a KISS concert in Las Vegas next week, complete with backstage passes.

"Detroit Rock City" is a production of CNN Interactive sister company New Line Cinema, a Time Warner property.