KISS Concert Raises Over $1 Million for Military Museum

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Monday, September 15, 2014

Byron Beck, GoLocalPDX Features Editor

Rick and Erika Miller hosted the 2014 All Star Salute to the Oregon Military at their historic island estate in Lake Oswego on Sunday night. With less than 200 guests, the night raised over one million dollars. The monies raised, perhaps the largest amount ever for an event in Oregon for that size crowd, was to help create exhibits for the soon-to-be-built Brigadier General James B. Thayer Oregon Military Museum. 

The large sum was raised in large part due to the general’s own son, Tommy Thayer, who invited his bandmates to perform at the fundraiser.

It didn’t hurt that his fellow band members comprise one of the most iconic rock bands of all time.  

Yes, KISS played in a backyard in Lake Oswego. Okay, it wasn’t just any backyard. Rick anf Erik Miller live on a gorgeous lakeside estate known as Jantzen Island. 

The starry night included a pool-side cocktail hour, an incredible dinner from The Art of Catering, a live auction, performances by saxophonist Patrick Lamb and Julianne Johnson, and to top it all off an epic, unplugged, truly epic concert by the one and only KISS with members Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer and Portland’s own Tommy Thayer. 

The boys in this band had just completed a huge tour where they played for 600,000 fans. And, now here they were, in Lake Oswego on a Sunday playing for less than 200 good folks. Who just so happened to pay $2,500 a plate for the honor of attending this once-in-a-lifetime dinner and show. Donor tables kicked off at $75,000 and went up to $150,000.

Guests included Rick and Erika Miller and their family, Executive Director of the Historical Outreach Foundation Alisha Hamel, Tom and Kathy Withcombe, Dan and Sallie Dutton, Steve and Sue Larson, Mike Erickson, Al Fleenor, Paul Stoos, Scott Didier, John Bladholm, Jody Stahancyk, John Crawford, Marilyn and Darrell Brett, Tonya and Rick Mahler and emcee Steve Dunn. Congrats to Amy Maxwell for helping to create such an incredible night of rock and roll history...in Lake Oswego!

To see Byron Beck's photos of the night please click here. 

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Related Slideshow: Slideshow: KISS Concert In Lake Oswego

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