4th Annual KISS CF GOODBYE Sept. 29th, 2018

2018's KISS CF Goodbye 4 was a huge success held at The Toronto Opera House on Sept. 29th & keeps getting bigger & bigger with every passing year, all in support of those suffering, Cystic Fibrosis, just like organizer Tori Taskas.  There are over 2,000 mutation or strains of CF, the average CF patient spend up to the equivalent of 4 months of missed full-time work, doing life-sustaining treatments.  Also, Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children & young adults. At present, there is no cure.  CF causes various effects on the body, but mainly affects the digestive system & lungs. The degree of severity differs from person to person, however, the persistence & ongoing infection in the lungs, with the destruction of lung & loss of lung function, will eventually lead to death in the majority of people with CF.

Typical complications caused by CF are:

• Difficulty digesting fats & proteins
• Malnutrition & vitamin deficiencies because of inability to absorb nutrients
• Progressive lung damage from chronic infections & aberrant inflammation
• CF-related diabetes
• Sinus infections.    It is estimated that one in every 3,600 children born in Canada will have CF. More than 4,100 Canadian children, adolescents, & adults with cystic fibrosis attend specialized CF clinics.  Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that occurs when a child inherits two abnormal genes, one from each parent. Approximately, one in 25 Canadians carry an abnormal version of the gene responsible for CF.  Carriers do not have Cystic Fibrosis, nor do they exhibit any of the symptoms of the disease.  When two parents who are carriers have a child, there is a 25 percent chance that the child will be born with CF; there is also a 50 percent chance that the child will be a carrier.  This hits close to home for organizers, father & daughter, Paul & Tori Taskas.  Tori was born with CF & Paul has taken to his musical talent to make a difference in the lives of many.  He has been involved in music for nearly 30 years & is the ultimate rock star dad.  Paul even wrote a beautiful song for Tori regarding her journey.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX68WFDthuw

  Paul has fronted the rock n roll sensation known as Canada's Premier Tribute to KISS ~ Rock n Roll Over for 6 years and back 4 years ago he created this amazing fundraiser not just for his daughter but with his daughter for all those suffering across Canada, to raise awareness & funds for Cystic Fibrosis in hopes of finding a cure!!. On average this event has raised over $30,000 in a mere 4 years.

Paul’s daughter Tori was born with Cystic Fibrosis in 1998.  She is now 20 & doing well, but unlike other kids her age, her day begins & ends with hours of therapy & medicine in order to keep her lungs & body healthy.  Tori is also very passionate about music & is a graduate of Musical Theater at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts. 

RC Ricci as The Demon seen below engaged the audience with his blood spewing moment in the limelight.

Jukebox Heroes, simply 1 of the best bands I have heard in a very long time.  This premier concert band perfected a stellar tribute identical to Foreigner.  They had the groove going wonderfully as they rocked us through some of the best-selling songs on this planet.  There were no Head Games as they delivered their versions musically & I was mesmerized by how identical Jay Ezs vocals were to Lou Gramm. Steve Major on Guitar/Additional Keyboards/Backing Vocals, Tony Cutrone on Keyboards/Backing Vocals, Zo Lapadula on Bass Guitar/backing vocals with Glenn Nash on Drums/Samples/Backing Vocals easily played it all down leaving heavy goosebumps. Then slowing down a tad with Waiting for a Girl Like You, then ripped it right back into being a Dirty White Boy, making it Feel Like The 1st Time for me.  It was Urgent, I just had to join the standing O & sing along,  definitely not Cold as Ice in that full house Toronto Opera House.  Surely you will want to witness these boys for yourself, join this fast-moving entity & become a Juke Box Hero today!!  www.jukeboxheroes.ca   

All the way from L.A, WANTED the most accurate Bon Jovi Tribute my jaw dropping in awe instantly with that 1st chord struck & 1st lick sung.  The clothes, the moves, the total excitable package for a Bon Jovi lover like me.  Wanted Tribute was the smoothest transition, usually, you can tell the difference between a tribute to original act & you just couldn't do that with WANTED.   They studied well & replicated a world-class delivery blowing many a fans mind.  Lay Your Hands On Me kicked their smoking sexy set off, followed by You Give Love A Bad Name.  Their stage personality was infectious, making you Raise Your Hands.  This engaging performance brought I'll Be There for You right into a Blaze of Glory, making you never want to Runaway.  It's My Life & I tell you I am gonna see this act any chance that I can, again & again.  Dead or Alive, WANTED should be your next fix.  This band rocks you on a Bed of Roses as you Keep the Faith while Living on aPrayer.   Visit www.wantedtribute.com

 

 RC Ricci & Paul Taskas took turns alternating between Gene Simons & Paul Stanley songs as they covered the KISS 1975 era catalog.  True entertainers, I thoroughly enjoyed their stage presence, the bang on look & sound alike, absolutely PRICELESS!  GENE Captivated us with the hit God of Thunder roaring loudly Calling Dr. Love as PAUL cut a scorching pathway, making you kinda thirsty for some Cold Gin, especially after a steamy version of Fire House right into Love Gun.

Photo was taken by Deb Draper 

This act is a guaranteed mood enhancer every show, which led us up to the last song of the night as 

Paul Taskas (frontman fundraiser organizer) &

Konstantinos Borilvos, alongside RC Ricci shone brightly like a Black Diamond as 
Kon Z presented a small guitar smoke show to the attentive full house.   
Joining the stage with dad for a 3 song encore was daughter organizer Tori Taskas, her closest friends & all performers of the night.  With the harmonies & strength in numbers, you truly felt the love as they projected I Was Made For Loving You, & I Love It Loud as they encouraged us to let loose our inner child.  Leaving us in the rock n roll frame of mind, thanks to this high energy, now all I know is, I Wanna Rock n Roll All Night. www. This magical night ran smooth thanks to the MC, entertainer & radio personality, Rudy Blair. https://www.facebook.com/RockAndRollOverCanada/videos/888554644549338  A special message from Paul Taskas, "Hello everyone, I just want to say thanks so much on behalf of my daughter Tori and I for making our event a success. With the help of your donations & support, we raised close to $8,000 for CF Canada this year. Honestly from the bottom of my heart, it means so much to me. I spend so much time organizing this event & it really would not be possible without your help. Cystic Fibrosis has no cure, only affects just over 4000 people in Canada & YOU have now helped raise awareness & funds for research.  We had over 400 people attend this year have raised over $30,000 over the last few 4 years. I hope I can count on you again next year & together we can bring this event to another level & raise more money.  Thanks again.  Paul "   Huge thank you to everyone who contributed including our amazing friend & Canadian Rock Legend, the award-winning vocalist from BC, 
Darby Mills xo.

Paul Taskas, before transformation to Paul Stanley, was thrilled to hold up 1 of the many fabulous donated draw items, like the fabulous T-shirt, signed poster, NEW CD & guitar pics from Canadian Music Icon, Darby Mills.

 Stay tuned for 2019's KISS CF GOODBYE 5

Saturday, September 28th, 2019 8pm at the Opera House.

or You can donate to this great cause by clicking on over to www.kisscfgoodbye.com

Being disabled, yet permitted a way to follow my dreams is a miracle.  Just being allowed to express my musical thoughts thru words or photos, of performances I had the honor to have witnessed, is Priceless.  Seeing shows and exhibits then entrusted to write my thoughts down into a 450-word column is a dream fulfilled.  I want to thank The Wire Megazine for the best 5 years of treasured moments-JUNOs 2015, Steven Tyler 2016, CCMA 2016 and 2018, Howard Jones 2016, 2017, 2018 x's 2 just to name but a few.  My own determination comes from seeing all of you doing tremendous things for special people, drawing my heart to help! 

Volunteer your time & make a difference in the lives of many!  

~ Deb Draper volunteer photojournalist.