Half a Century Later, KISS Returns to the Spotlight

When I was a little kid, I remember the story of KISS coming to Cadillac. Now, 50 years later, the city is celebrating one of the most famous visits from the rock icons.

A couple of years ago, I visited Cadillac to see the monument that was put up in front of the high school where KISS landed on the football field in a helicopter.

Kiss in Cadillac

In 1975, the band KISS made a historic visit to Cadillac, Michigan, for the high school's homecoming celebration. This event, which included a concert in the high school gym, has become a celebrated part of both KISS and Cadillac history.

KISS visited after the Cadillac High School football team had been struggling, and the coach started playing the band's music in the locker room to pump up the team before games. The team started winning every game and eventually won a championship.

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KISS was so moved by the story that they decided to visit Cadillac during the high school's homecoming festivities. It was arguably one of the most iconic high school homecomings in history

KISS Tribute Brings Rock Back to Michigan After 50 Years

October 9, 2025, will mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary visit KISS made to Cadillac, and the city plans to celebrate the moment again. According to MLive, events will begin in August and lead up to a three-day anniversary celebration taking place October 9–12.

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I just signed up for the mailing list for the event since I will probably attend in Cadillac that weekend to take part in the festivities. There will be an expanded Kisstory tour, live concerts, Cadillac High School Tailgate & Gameday Museum exhibit, Cadillac "Kiss50" Rock-u-mentary, a 5K race, and more. To learn more about all the events that are taking place now through October 12, click here.

👇BELOW: Kiss Visit Cadillac Michigan in 1975👇