KISS THIS! tribute band dedicates music video to 10-year-old girl who passed away from cancer

KISS THIS! is a tribute band to one of the most iconic bands of all time. Based in Buffalo, NY, started by founder John Jeffrey in 2000, the majority of the current lineup (featuring Taylor Stursa portraying KISS member “Gene Simmons”) has remained the same since 2015.

In 2023, KISS THIS! were contacted by Tera Di Leo from “Making Memories that Last Forever,” to present a “bucket list” wish to 10 year old KISS fan, Abrielle Lynch, who has been battling a form of cancer called Neuroblastoma for the last 4 years.

On August 22nd, KISS THIS! band members John Jeffrey and Taylor Stursa presented Abrielle and her family with tickets to see KISS perform on their final Farewell, “End of the Road” tour on October 22nd (obtained by the Making Memories that Last Forever organization).

John and KISS drummer Eric Singer made this experience extra special for Abrielle, by arranging for Abrielle to meet the actual “KISS” band before the concert and got a photo with all 4 members.

In 2020, KISS THIS! started the “Buffalo Rock City” project, by releasing KISS tribute albums, which featured collaboration recordings with other Buffalo & Western New York musicians and also featured National/Worldwide ‘celebrity’ guest stars. Each album released allocated the profits to be donated to a specific Buffalo based charitable donation (Compass House, Music Is Art & the Maria Love Fund). With each release, KISS THIS! has raised thousands of dollars for these organizations.

KISS THIS! currently has plans to release a CD boxed set of these recordings (in December of 2024), which includes a bonus disc of previously unreleased KISS covers.

One of the songs which will be included is a song called “Mr. Make Believe” (a track from Gene Simmons 1978 KISS solo album), and vocalist Dave Comer (who hails from LA, part of the West coast based band, Killset), flew in to Western New York to join the members of KISS THIS! to film a video for the song, which is being as a tribute to Abrielle Lynch.

The video features live performance recorded at Buntsy’s Band Stand (owned and operated by Dave Bunts) in Webster, NY (from March 26th), along with studio footage of the recording of the song, and footage recorded of Abrielle’s meeting with John and Taylor last August.

“Mr. Make Believe” speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, the aftermath, and wishing to disassociate with ones own pain.

The band felt the meaning song was very representative of the plight Abrielle was going through, and felt it would be a fitting tribute.

Abrielle Lynch passed away on March 25 after a brave and courageous battle. Our hearts are with her family at this difficult time.