Face painted rockers known for their tongue flinging, fire breathing, blood spitting and electrified stage show will soon come to an end, but local Kiss fans have one last chance to catch the band as they descend upon Ames tonight at Hilton Coliseum. The Iowa division of the Kiss Army, the nickname of die-hard Kiss fans, will celebrate a 27-year career with the masters of rocking all-night and partying every day. Kiss have developed a special connection with fans that rivals bands like the Grateful Dead. No one in central Iowa feels that special bond with Kiss more than former ISU student and fencing club member Tom Anderson. The 40-year-old Kiss psychofan has been obsessed with the group since February of 1977 and will be in attendance tonight to bid farewell to his four heroes. “I never lost interest in Kiss through all the different incarnations,” he said. “I think they’re the hottest band in the world.” Anderson’s love of rock music and super heroes drew him into the Kiss Army and he hasn’t looked back since. “These guys are like another Beatles,” he said. “They just seem larger than life.” Anderson has seen Kiss in concert six times and would have seen a seventh show had the Pope not been in Iowa. “My dad talked me out of going,” he said. “I wish now, with the Pope being in Des Moines, that Kiss would have postponed that concert.” Each year, Anderson spends about $200 on assorted Kiss memorabilia and he has amassed a large collection that he keeps at his parent’s farm in State Center. Anderson has every LP the band has recorded, including some imports from Germany. Out of all of his CDs, cassettes, action figures, posters, T-shirts and magazines, his most prized Kiss possessions are his two original Kiss Marvel comic books from the 70s. However, Kiss’ appeal isn’t limited to the generations that grew up with them in their heyday. Chris Seiler, sophomore in business, will celebrate his 21st birthday tonight in the sixth row. Seiler has been a loyal fan since he was 10 years old and first saw the band in concert when he was in eighth grade. “I can’t wait to see those pyros,” he said. “I want a guitar pick pretty bad.” The theatrics and stage show that comes from a Kiss show grabbed Seiler’s attention and he has never forgotten about the band. “I know a wide variety of their songs and their face paint and the history behind them [attracted me],” he said. David Stuart, associate professor of music who teaches a class on the history of rock `n’ roll, said there are no crystal clear answers to explain why bands like Kiss have achieved cult followings. “Nothing really makes sense when you think about it in certain ways, in other ways it makes perfect sense,” he said. “They are what they are, and they’ve managed to have a period of time where they were really popular and the things that they did were popular.” Stuart said Kiss hasn’t changed much over the years and that may be one reason they have persevered. “I think that they continue to be real genuine in what they do,” he said. “Sometimes when groups try to change their style to match whatever the new thing is, they’re not as good at it as the people who are new. Yet they’re not doing their old thing anymore and either people look at them and think `God, what are you trying to do here?’ or they just ignore them.” Stuart added that the music is also a big factor. “They have good songs. People like their stuff,” he said. Bands that have developed cult followings have survived for several years and generations, Stuart said. “It’s hard to develop a cult about a band that’s only been here for six months,” he said. When a group lasts for about four years, they could potentially achieve cult status, Stuart added. “It may be just because you have several generations of fans who are so into them, and it becomes a cult,” he said. Anderson and Seiler are evidence of Kiss’ popularity spanning several generations. Anderson was first introduced to the kabuki painted superstars on a 1970s TV show called “Midnight Special.” “I thought they looked pretty weird,” he said. “They looked like four Alice Coopers.” His love for the band has never wavered and in 1996, he began drawing posters of the band as a tribute. The drawings span the band’s tours from 1975-79 and 1996-present. Each poster is laminated on red or blue poster board and accurately represents the band and the costumes of the era. “Drawing these posters and selling them has been the biggest thing in my life,” he said. “I feel like I’m a champion at drawing these posters.” Anderson sells his handcrafted posters at record shows and sports card and comic book shows across Iowa, but he doesn’t create the posters to make a profit. “I just do it for fun,” he said. As big of an influence Kiss has been in his life, Anderson will feel a loss when Kiss finally hangs up the platform boots after this tour. “The guys are around 50 years old and I don’t know how they’ll look when they’re in Kiss makeup when they’re 60,” he said. However, Anderson was overjoyed that Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss and Paul Stanley joined forces for a final farewell. “I wondered if that would ever happen,” he said. “It’s kind of a big dream come true.” Seiler will shed no tears for the band’s farewell, but will celebrate a legendary career with them. “They’ve had a great run,” he said. “All good things have to come to an end.”