By: Michael Drukarsh
For the 8th year in a row, Paul “Starchild” Taskas and his Kiss cover band Rock and Roll Over will be headlining KissCFGoodbye, a charity event to raise money for cystic fibrosis, a cause that hits very close to home for Paul.
A rare genetic disease that roughly 4500 Canadians are currently living with, cystic fibrosis has no cure. But, thanks to the money raised by events like KissCFGoobye there have been major advancements in treatment.
Paul’s daughter Tori, the inspiration behind KissCFGoodbye, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at an early age. Although she did quite well up until her teenage years, Tori now has to be hospitalized for about four months out of the year with a minimum stay of two weeks for treatment. According to dad though, Tori is a “trooper and a fighter” and is currently in her second year at the College of Veterinarians at Gulph.
As front man for Rock and Roll Over and having connections throughout the Toronto music scene, Paul, after 13 years or so of thinking about it, finally made the decision to bring his vision of KissCFGoodye to fruition. Contacting friends of his, who happened to be owners of one of rock’s legendary venues, The Opera House, and realizing that this was possible, Paul “threw it out there, and you just crossed your(sic) fingers and we had the first year 350 people and ever since then we've had no less than 400, 500, 550 every year”.
Hosted by the one and only Rudy Blair and sharing the stage with Rock and Roll Over this year will be the Blushing Brides, “The World's Most Dangerous Tribute to the Music of the Rolling Stones”, and Toronto’s own Monkey Wrench delivering the best of the Foo Fighters. Each band has a fifty minute set bringing high energy and hit after hit to those in attendance. And of course, headliner Rock and Roll Over will be bringing the full 70s Kiss experience with full light show and costumes from that era. And, as if that wasn’t enough, Tori herself might just show up to treat the audience to a few songs as well.
Up to this point, the concert event has raised just over $90 000, after expenses, for cystic fibrosis. Paul has always been conscious of keeping a “family feel” for KissCFGoodbye, shying away from corporate sponsorship in favour of letting the event itself shine. This year though, Carstar out of Scarborough has stepped up and donated a ton of great prizes. This means that not only will ticket purchases help out, but once in the venue concert goers have a chance to enter raffles for some very impressive prizes. According to Paul, “when you are in the room you’ll feel the love. It’s not like you are sitting in a banquet hall. There are very minimal speeches. I try to keep it exciting”. There will also be make-up artists on hand to transform the audience into The Demon, The Spaceman, The Catman, or The Starchild.
The 8th annual KissCFGoodbye takes place Saturday, Sep 28, 2024 at the Opera House in Downtown Toronto. Doors open at 7, Rudy Blair hits the stage at 8, bands start at 8:15 and the event wraps up just after midnight. Raffles will be held between each set with every prize valued at a minimum of $1000.
If you want to ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIGHT and give those living with cystic fibrosis and chance to PARTY EVERY DAY then this is the event for you! Tickets and information for KissCFGoodbye, including Tori’s story can be found at KissCFGoodbye!
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